Weekly Radio Program Update for Oct 24

What’s Going on @UVICES Weekly Radio Program on WUVI Radio | 3pm October 24, 2018

UVI COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE·WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018

"Your trusted source for reliable information backed by eXperts."

3pm Today on What’s Going on @UVICES? VIDEO | AUDIO

Summer Recap, Current Offerings, Grant Availability, Guests & More

A weekly radio program on WUVI hosted by UVI Extension Specialist DaraMonifah Cooper sharing information or lively interviews about services with UVICES Community Partners, Stakeholders, Administrators, Staff or Current and Past Clients as they share experiences and examples of how we all work together in responding to the needs of the community. For more info or to watch the live video stream of the radio program visit: ces.uvi.edu ON TODAY’S SHOW: 1. Recap of our Summer Youth Programs: Sewing, Nutrition, AgDiscovery 2. Current offerings including workshops and courses - Sewing, Batik 3. Guest, Mr. William "Bill" Martin, American Red Cross External Relations AD, American Red Cross Micro Grant Available for Farmers 4. Upcoming Activities & Events: Pesticide Trainings and Certifications, DOA Fertilizer Use and Management Workshop Oct. 11 9am-12pm @UVICELL, World Food Day Oct. 14 & St. Thomas - St. John Agriculture and Food Fair Committee Nov. 17 & 18 5. Guest Dr. Wendy V. Coram Vialet of UVI Center for the Study of Spirituality and Professionalism shares about the Interfaith Wellness Festivals which took place the past two weekends on both campuses. What Else is Going On @UVICES? ON GOING ACTIVITIES AT OUR CES OFFICE 1. Sewing Classes | Wed Mornings 2. Batik Classes | Mon/Tues Mornings 3. Computer & Technology Courses - Mobile Device Workshops Starting Soon! 4. CES Demonstration Garden 5. CES Pesticide Training & Certifications

MISSED TODAY’S TOPICS? PAST SHOW's ARCHIVED HERE (Audio and Video links loaded by the end of the day on Wednesdays)

Questions? Contact DaraMonifah Cooper, M.A. | Extension Communication Specialist, New Media University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service 340.693.1081 "Responding to the Needs of the Community" in the areas of Agriculture & Natural Resources, 4-H/Family & Consumer Sciences and Communications, Technology & Distance Education! eXtending Knowledge; Changing Lives! Connect with us online: ces.uvi.edu FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | SOUNDCLOUD

Weekly Radio Program Update for Jan 9

What’s Going on @UVICES Weekly Radio Program on WUVI Radio | 3pm January 9, 2019

UVI COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE·WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2019

"Your trusted source for reliable information backed by eXperts."

3pm Today on What’s Going on @UVICES? VIDEO | AUDIO

Summer Recap, Current Offerings, Grant Availability, Guests & More

A weekly radio program on WUVI hosted by UVI Extension Specialist DaraMonifah Cooper sharing information or lively interviews about services with UVICES Community Partners, Stakeholders, Administrators, Staff or Current and Past Clients as they share experiences and examples of how we all work together in responding to the needs of the community. For more info or to watch the live video stream of the radio program visit: ces.uvi.edu ON TODAY’S SHOW: 1. Recap of our What is the UVI Cooperative Extension Sevice 2. Current offerings including workshops and courses - Computer, Sewing, Batik 3.. Upcoming Activities & Events: Bordeaux Fair & AgriFest 2019 What Else is Going On @UVICES? ON GOING ACTIVITIES AT OUR CES OFFICE 1. Sewing Classes | Wed Mornings 2. Batik Classes | Mon/Tues Mornings 3. Computer & Technology Courses - Basic Computer Class Starting Thurs!

MISSED TODAY’S TOPICS? PAST SHOW's ARCHIVED HERE (Audio and Video links loaded by the end of the day on Wednesdays)

Questions? Contact DaraMonifah Cooper, M.A. | Extension Communication Specialist, New Media University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service 340.693.1081 "Responding to the Needs of the Community" in the areas of Agriculture & Natural Resources, 4-H/Family & Consumer Sciences and Communications, Technology & Distance Education! eXtending Knowledge; Changing Lives! Connect with us online: ces.uvi.edu FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | SOUNDCLOUD

Weekly Radio Program Update for Oct 3rd

What’s Going on @UVICES Weekly Radio Program on WUVI Radio | 3pm October 3, 2018

UVI COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE·WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2018

"Your trusted source for reliable information backed by eXperts." 3pm Today on What’s Going on @UVICES? VIDEO

Summer Recap, Current Offerings, Grant Availability, Guests & More

A weekly radio program on WUVI hosted by UVI Extension Specialist DaraMonifah Cooper sharing information or lively interviews about services with UVICES Community Partners, Stakeholders, Administrators, Staff or Current and Past Clients as they share experiences and examples of how we all work together in responding to the needs of the community. For more info or to watch the live video stream of the radio program visit: ces.uvi.edu ON TODAY’S SHOW: 1. Recap of our Summer Youth Programs: Sewing, Nutrition, AgDiscovery 2. Current offerings including workshops and courses - Sewing, Batik 3. Guest, Mr. William "Bill" Martin, American Red Cross External Relations AD, American Red Cross Micro Grant Available for Farmers 4. Upcoming Activities & Events: Pesticide Trainings and Certifications, DOA Fertilizer Use and Management Workshop Oct. 11 9am-12pm @UVICELL, World Food Day Oct. 14 & St. Thomas - St. John Agriculture and Food Fair Committee Nov. 17 & 18 5. Guest Dr. Wendy V. Coram Vialet of UVI Center for the Study of Spirituality and Professionalism shares about the Interfaith Wellness Festivals which took place the past two weekends on both campuses. What Else is Going On @UVICES? ON GOING ACTIVITIES AT OUR CES OFFICE 1. Sewing Classes | Wed Mornings 2. Batik Classes | Mon/Tues Mornings 3. Computer & Technology Courses - Mobile Device Workshops Starting Soon! 4. CES Demonstration Garden 5. CES Pesticide Trainings & Certifications

MORE DETAILS

• AgDiscovery Summer Youth Program 2018

The annual AgDiscovery program is a summer youth camp that took place for the third year at the University of the Virgin Islands Albert A. Sheen St. Croix campus under the direction of UVI CES and AES. AgDiscovery is an outreach program that helps middle through high school aged students explore careers in animal science, veterinary medicine, agribusiness, plant pathology, aquaculture, and much more. This 2-week program allowed participants to live on our college campus and learn about agricultural science from university professors, practicing veterinarians, farmers, industry representatives, and professionals working for the U.S. government. Students who participate in AgDiscovery gain experience through hands-on labs, workshops, field trips and other group and team building activities. In 2017, for the 1st time, out of over 20 other Universities, UVI was featured on the booklet cover with a photo of a student from the USVI who is studying abroad. This year's images and videos were also sought out by the USDA APHIS office for promotion of the coming year's programs and advertising booklet which is used by all of the participating Universities. For additional information please contact the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service - Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr. at (340) 693-1083, email louis.petersen@live.uvi.edu (St. Thomas).

• American Red Cross USVI Small Farmers Micro Grant Program

Applications are available for micro grants up to $2,000.00 for U.S. Virgin Islands small farmers to help them recover and build resilience from the catastrophic damage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. The grant is funded by the American Red Cross through the generosity of our donors and administered by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands in partnership with the VI Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and Cooperative Extension Services (CES) of University of the Virgin Islands, and USDA Farm Service Agency. The Micro Grant Program for Small Farmers is designed to meet some of the “gaps” in assistance from Federal and Territorial government recovery programs. The grants will cover the loss or damage to farm outbuildings, water tanks, other support structures, and fixtures needed to operate a small farm. The funds may be used for the new construction, repairs, and replacement of these essential structures and fixtures. Repairs or replacements that have already been done to these structures will be eligible for reimbursement.

• Pesticide Trainings & Certification

On Wednesday, October 10^th at 6pm to 8pm, Dr. Amy Dreyes, Cooperative Extension Service & Department Of Agriculture will be conducting a Pest Identification and Control workshop at the CELL training room focusing on CES Best Pest Management Practices and Pesticide Safety Trainings, Examination & Applicator Certifications. Trainings include knowledge of structural pests, weeds on the roadway, ornamental and turf and agricultural pests. Pesticides (and many other new chemicals) are being researched, created, and approved every day by EPA. Correctly identify your pest, know its weaknesses, and identify a mix of tools and practices to reduce its presence. If a pesticide is involved, Always carefully review the product label (as it is the law) and Safety Data Sheet for every chemical brought into the field, golf course, hotel, household, industrial site. The label will provide you with detailed information about the chemical including how to work with it, what target pest and site is approved, how to protect yourself from it, what to do in case of an emergency, any potential health effects and much more. Learn more about pesticide hazards in the environment, multiple ways to minimize pests, etc. by taking a training led by Dr. Amy J. Dreves, a pest management specialist. She will most likely be traveling to St. Thomas to present Pesticide Training Sessions in November and December. Watch for notice.

PAST ACTIVITY

MISSED TODAY’S TOPICS? PAST SHOW's ARCHIVED HERE (Audio and Video links loaded by the end of the day on Wednesdays)

DaraMonifah Cooper, M.A. | Extension Communication Specialist, New Media University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service 340.693.1081 "Responding to the Needs of the Community" in the areas of Agriculture & Natural Resources, 4-H/Family & Consumer Sciences and Communications, Technology & Distance Education! eXtending Knowledge; Changing Lives! Connect with us online: ces.uvi.edu FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | SOUNDCLOUD

AgDiscovery 2018

Getting to Know You - Orientation Day at AgDiscovery 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DAY 1 FACEBOOK PHOTO ALBUM:

AGDISCOVERY 2018 ORIENTATION DAY

So day one and two went a little something like this...

The Airport Pickup

The last nine students arrived and swept away into the two vans which will be used for their transportation throughout the program.

Click the PLAY BUTTON (triangle in circle) to watch the Facebook Video with DaraMonifah Cooper, Extension PR

The Fraco Truck

Intro to the island's crushed ice, flavored drinks is how the students were greeted on campus as they connected with each other under the shade of a common student hangout behind the dorms.

Meet & Greet... Rules & Regs

Campers met the administrators and became familiarized with the history, purpose and members of the village that allows AgDiscovery to be what it is.

Dinner

The UVI Cafeteria provided dinner just for us!

Team Building Ice Breakers

There's nothing like building trust amongst teens by sitting them down and sharing in the race to jump over each others legs. Also, M&Ms came in handy for facilitating a circular truth be it told session where all the students answered a question based on the color of the candy.

Lights Out!

10:30 pm is the official time for students to tone it down and lay it down in preparation for the next day as well as in consideration of the other Summer Bridge students staying in the campus dorms.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DAY 1 FACEBOOK PHOTO ALBUM:

AGDISCOVERY 2018 ORIENTATION DAY

Bug Lady Chat Demo: Whiteflies on Legislature's Mahogany Trees

"The Bug Lady" Dr. Amy J. Dreves,

UVICES Pest Management Specialist

Click to watch the Facebook Video with Dr. Dreves

and DaraMonifah Cooper, UVICES Communications Agent.
FACEBOOK PHOTO ALBUM

Mahogany tree infested with whiteflies on leaves

The woolly cotton whitefly, a sucking insect, was found feeding heavily on the leaves of mature mahogany trees at the Legislature Building on St. Thomas. These whiteflies excrete a sticky honeydew substance on the leaves that was dripping on the cars parked below the trees.

To minimize the pest, soap, oil, neem spray and/or a systemic insecticide can be used to decrease pest numbers. Also, a black sooty mold will grow on the honeydew, which cuts off photosynthesis. If not addressed, the trees vigor and growth can be compromised. So basically you need to reduce the whitefly numbers to save the trees and protect your cars.

Other info: Whitefly Damage
Insect Control: Soaps and Detergents
Sooty Mold

AgDiscovery 2017 USVI

We spent week one on the island of St. Croix enjoying the first part of the AgDiscovery summer program at the University of the Virgin Islands. To follow us along the way connect with us @UVICES online via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube to stay updated. Facebook live videos to be added*

Click to view brochure

See how 20 students from all over the USA (with a few locals from the Virgin Islands) are getting the experience of a lifetime learning about agriculture and related fields, while rooming in the dorms for two weeks at the AgDiscovery summer program. All happening at the University of the Virgin Islands, Albert A. Sheen, St. Croix campus. 

AgDiscovery is an outreach program to help students learn about careers in animal science, veterinary medicine, agribusiness and plant pathology. To find out more information about this program click on the 2017 AgDiscovery brochure

DAY 1 | Photo Album
Meet & Greet
Along with a few local students, twenty "AgDiscoverers" from as far West as California to North as Seattle took the first afternoon/evening to get acquainted with each other and the staff.

DAY 2 | Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3 | Video 4 | Video 5 | Photo Album
OH SHEEP! 
One sheep, two sheep, from scooping out sheep poop first thing in the morning to checking through ultrasound technology to see if they're pregnant... then collecting/checking their stool and blood samples for parasites and anemia, AgDiscovery campers spent the first day getting to know Agriculture deeper than ever before, from the inside out, literally.


DAY 3 | Video 1 | Photo Album
This Lil Piggy went to Market... as a dish.
This little piggy's going to market... on a plate. After a trip to the Abattoir, AgDiscoverers now know the procedure that pigs endure when being slaughtered at the VI Department of Agriculture. Then after lunch (no pig today), they walked over to the Research and Extension Center to learn horticulture from Dr. Stuart Weiss and went along with him to the greenhouse to learn about sooty mold and other potential hazards to plants. They ended the day making smoothies with 4-H Ambassadors in the CES Kitchen Lab.


DAY 4 | Video 1 | Photo Album
2 'Ponics & an Eggfruit
Water water everywhere, putting it to use. Day 3 was about Hydro and Aquaponics systems. They helped to make and then enjoyed eggfruit smoothies with the 4-H staff in the CES Kitchen Lab.


DAY 5 | Video 1 | Video 2 | Photo AlbumPlanting Sugar Cane, Sejah Farm & Cruzan Rum Factory
Measuring the field area, Laying out the tubing and Planting sugar cane was how this day started with AgDiscovery campers having hands on setting up a SWEET hydroponics system. Then they visited their first local farm with Yvette and Dale Brown giving them an experience of local plant identification, herding lamb and making fruit smoothies. They got a quick tour of the Cruzan Rum factory before heading back on campus.

DAY 6 | Video 1 | Photo Album
Ridge 2 Reef Certified Organic Farm & Salt River Bay Historic Preserve
AgDiscovery campers took a long, winding, and bumpy trip up the mountain to the only USDA Approved Organic Farm in the USVI, Ridge to Reef Fa rm and spoke with it's Director before heading to the Salt River Bay National Park site for a hike on tribal Taino land and left with jewelry that they made during the visit.

DAY 7 | Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3 | Photo Album
Farmers Market, Whim Museum, Town & Beach
What would learning about local agriculture be like without a trip to the farmers market? A little historical edutainment at the Whim Museum gave the campers a new appreciation for the rich history of the islands and making it to town and the beach before eating on the Boardwalk was an excellent way to wrap up a full day...week!

Stay tuned for week 2 videos, photos, etc. starting with these: 

DAY 8 | Video 1 | Photo Album

AgDiscovery Day 8: Early Morning Sunrise to Sunset on a Beach
AgDiscovery campers took yet another long, winding, and bumpy trip all the way across the island after a 4 am rise to wait for the sunrise at Point Udall, the Eastern most point of the USA.An early morning dip and nap at Cramer's Park beach was followed by brunch at the Blue Water Terrace before they traveled back across the island touring until they arrived at Rainbow beach, where they stayed til sunset.

DAY 9 | Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3 | Video 4 | Photo Album

AgDiscovery Day 9: Visit to the Department, Diving Cows & Party!The day started with a visit to the VI Department of Agriculture where campers got to tour the grounds (including the mango tree orchard), meet a few of the staff and learn two ways of grafting trees. Next was a trip to see the Senepol cows at Langford farm where the University's Agriculture Experiment Station does their research. The day ended with a cultural night party on campus including a young local steelpan player, mocojumbie dancing and local cuisine.

DAY 10 | Video 1 | Photo Album

AgDiscovery Day 10: APHIS Info, Interviews, 4-H Health Ambassadors & AgRobotics So what exactly IS APHIS*? After a morning of info, jeopardy and interviews with Cheryle L. Blakely and Tami Whyte, AgDiscovery campers can explain it best. Next 4-H Health Ambassadors taught about the importance of eating a healthy breakfast, played who done it and had students running into each other with a game of train wreck. Then they built, programmed and raced agricultural robot plows with Extension Assistant Director Marthious Clavier as they got hands on into the field of AgTech put to use at its best.

DAY 11 | Photo Album

AgDiscovery Day 11: GLG Plants & Produce Farmer Grantley Samuel If you want to learn the best, learn from how the best do it. After a morning with Customs and Border Protection (no photos to share due to CBP policy), the campers went across the street and down the road to visit farmer that has been honored to be the Farmer of the Year mote than once. The learned hands on and through talking with him, how he works, advertises and sells his plants and produce as well as his beekeeping business. They also saw the students in the summer camp run on his farm.
The live videos and photos are shared on the UVICES Facebook page, Instagram account and Youtube Channel as well as automatically tweeted out from those platforms as well.

We post using the hashtags #AgDiscovery #USVI along with some others like #YouthInAg #AgCommunications etc.

Watch the interview below as collaborators share their reflections after opening day of the AgDiscovery 2017 Youth Camp held at the University of the Virgin Islands Albert A. Sheen St. Croix campus. Click the photo below to watch the video:

From left to right: Sarah Dahl-Smith, UVI Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Specialist; Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr., UVI Cooperative Extension Service Assistant Director, Agriculture and Natural Resources (St. Thomas-St. John District); Tammy H. Lowry, AgDiscovery Program Manager & Management/Program Analyst (Office of Civil Rights, Diversity, and Inclusion (USDA); Kai Nielsen, Camp Site Coordinator.

AgDiscovery 2017 USVI Opening Reflections

Why fly to the middle of the Atlantic on a small Caribbean island to learn about Agriculture? Why not?

Along with a few local students, twenty "AgDiscoverers" from as far West as California to North as Seattle landed today on the island of St. Croix to begin their two-week journey together as part of the AgDiscovery summer program at the University of the Virgin Islands. To follow them along the way visit our website's current event page and connect with us @UVICES online to stay updated.

"I think the program will
really benefit them a lot which is what the program is designed to do to
generate interest and expose the kids to you know all fields of agriculture. I
think they'll get a lot out of it."
~Tammy H. Lowry, AgDiscovery Program Manager & Management/Program Analyst (Office of Civil Rights, Diversity, and Inclusion (USDA)

The live videos and photos will be shared on the UVICES Facebook page, Instagram account and Youtube Channel as well as automatically tweeted out from those platforms as well.

• Live Videos || Day 1 | Day 2a, 2b, 2c
• Photo Albums: Day 1 || Day 2
• Coordinators Interview*

We post using the hashtags #AgDiscovery #USVI along with some others like #YouthInAg #AgCommunications etc.

Collaborators share their reflections after opening day of the AgDiscovery 2017 Youth Camp held at the University of the Virgin Islands Albert A. Sheen St. Croix campus. Click the photo below to watch the video:

From left to right: Sarah Dahl-Smith, UVI Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Specialist; Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr., UVI Cooperative Extension Service Assistant Director, Agriculture and Natural Resources (St. Thomas-St. John District); Tammy H. Lowry, AgDiscovery Program Manager & Management/Program Analyst (Office of Civil Rights, Diversity, and Inclusion (USDA); Kai Nielsen, Camp Site Coordinator.

eXtending Knowledge; Changing Lives, join us as we share the journey of AgDiscovery with youth in the U.S. Virgin Islands as they prepare themselves to change the world.