Extension shifts to regional service model

They put the "cooperative" into Cornell Cooperative Extension.

The extension offices across Northern New York have long been working together on agricultural and nutritional education programs. Now, youth activities will reorganize to fit that same region. In the future, administrative duties also may be handled on a regional basis.

"We are facing some tough realities of the cost of doing business," Jefferson County Executive Director Richard L. Halpin said.

For extension, the region includes Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Franklin, Clinton and Essex counties. Some programs also include other counties. Working on a regional basis is happening across the state, but the north country is on the "leading edge" of the drive, Mr. Halpin said.

"What we're looking at now is organizing 4-H across the north country instead of along the I-81 corridor," Lewis County Executive Director Michelle E. Ledoux said. "4-H is not going to shift as quickly because the year has already started."

One challenge is to maintain the same level of services for a diversifying field of agriculture while federal funding decreases.

"Dairy agriculture is still very much king," Mr. Halpin said. "But at the same time, our agriculture is becoming more diverse and that will only accelerate as we look to the future."

The offices will continue to rely on specialized staff in different extension offices in the region. Lewis County has a maple specialist, St. Lawrence County has a small-livestock specialist and Jefferson has a consumer horticulture specialist on staff.

Agricultural educators go to other counties for training and assistance.

"In return, we're able to pick up expertise in other areas," said Clive B. Chambers, executive director of extension in St. Lawrence County. "It's impossible to maintain our level of services unless we work together."

The expectation of dollar-for-dollar exchanges of services is unrealistic, Mr. Chambers said.

"Once you start counting money, you're misusing time and it could also end the sharing you're trying to encourage."