02/26/08 Extension.org and the Idaho involvement

Three University of Idaho extension professors have helped develop the personal finance section of a new website, www.eXtension.org. Marilyn Bischoff, a Boise-based family economics specialist and Ada County Extension educator Beverly Healy contributed to the estate planning section of eXtension.org. Erik Anderson who leads the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences education communications unit served as the instructional design expert for the website's financial section. The website was launched by USDA last week. BUCHANAN "All of America will now have access to the high quality research based information that's been the hallmark of Extension for 94 years." USDA Undersecretary Gale Buchanan says this website has a myriad of resources contained in what are called communities of practice. BUCHANAN "Consumers across this nation will be able to tap into the wealth of knowledge within our land grant universities and their partners to find credible information." The experts assembled 36 thousand responses to frequently asked questions. In addition the site offers links to the more than three thousand cooperative extension offices in a partnership of local governments, colleges and universities nationwide. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott