Cooperative Extension Service

Cooperative Extension Service
Main Office - East Pasco County Fairgrounds 36702 State Road 52 Dade City, FL 33525-5198 Phone: 352-521-4288 FAX: 352-523-1921 Central access phone number: 813-996-7341, ext. 4288	Satellite Office - West West Pasco Government Center Public Works/Utilities Bldg.,Room 109 7530 Little Road New Port Richey, FL 34654 Phone: 727-847-8177 FAX: 727-847-8179 Central access phone number: 813-996-7341, ext. 8177

You may visit the Cooperative Extension Web site at http://pasco.ifas.ufl.edu

Cooperative Extension is a partnership between the County, United States Department of Agriculture, and the state land-grant universities (University of Florida and Florida A. & M. University) established by Congress in 1914.

Cooperative Extension offers a variety of programs:

4-H and youth education
family and consumer sciences
environmental horticulture
pasture management
energy and water conservation
volunteer development
- 4-H leaders and co-leaders
- Florida Association of Home and Community Education (HCE)
- Master Gardeners
And much more

DESIRED IMPACT:

To develop and deliver practical, educational programs to meet the needs of Pasco County residents in the following five areas: Environmental Horticulture including plant and pest identifications, integrated pest management, pesticide applicator training and examinations, water conservation and protection of water quality through Florida-friendly landscaping; Sustainable Agriculture including livestock and pasture management and youth livestock programs; 4-H and Youth Development for both rural and urban youth including school enrichment; Family and Consumer Sciences programs in food, nutrition, health and safety, family economic stability, housing, energy, environment and water conservation. To recruit, manage, and encourage volunteers (Master Gardeners, 4-H leaders, Florida Association of Home and Community Education volunteers, and Advisory Committees) so as to more broadly extend our educational programs to the public.

OPERATIONAL GOALS AND PROGRAMS:

Congress established the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) in 1914 to bring research-based information in agriculture, home economics, and related subjects from the universities to the people within their own communities. CES is a partnership between county governments, the state Land-Grant colleges, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Florida CES has offices in all 67 counties. Pasco County's Extension Service is an open door to the wealth of resources available within the University of Florida and Florida A&M University. Pasco County Cooperative Extension has four professional faculty. Three multi-county extension agents serve Pasco residents (marine, dairy, and family life). The previous vegetable and poultry multi-county agent positions are now funded entirely by Hillsborough County for Hillsborough residents. Four paraprofessionals and three support staff help the Pasco County agents deliver educational programs and specific on-demand information to Pasco's residents.