Annual/Termination Reports:

[04/05/2004] [07/25/2005] [01/30/2006] [09/01/2006] [04/17/2008] [12/23/2008] [04/20/2010] [03/22/2017] [12/07/2017] [09/03/2018] [06/05/2020] [05/14/2021] [05/09/2023]

Report Information

Participants

Jerry Bennett Univ. Florida, Agronomy (Chair)
Jim Barrentine Univ. Arkansas;
Michael Barrett Univ. Kentucky;
Keith Cassel NC State Univ., Soil Science;
John Havlin NC State Univ., Soil Science;
Steven Hodges VPI & SU;
Mark Hussey Texas A&M Univ.;
Preston Jones CSREES/USDA;
Freddie Martin Louisiana State Univ.;
Frank Matta Mississippi State Univ.;
Ramesh Reddy Univ. Florida, Soil & Water Sci.;
Jim Stiegler Oklahoma State Univ.;
Tom Stalker NC State Univ., Crop Science (Secretary);
Clarence Watson Assoc. Director, MAFES (Administrative Advisor);
David Weaver Auburn Univ.;
Larry West Univ. Georgia;
Eric Young Executive Director, SAAESD;

Brief Summary of Minutes

2003 SRAC-1 Advisory Meeting; November 4, 2003 Denver, CO;



Jerry Bennett, presiding;





7:00 am - Welcome



Clarence Watson:



New Administrative Advisor to SRAC-1.

1) Jerry Bennett was appointed Chair of SARC-1 in the Spring, 2003.

2) Suggested that officers of SARC-1 consist of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary.

3) Reviewed mission: A) Manage multi-state research; B) review on-going programs;C) liaison to state directors.





John Havlin:



Reviewed Agriculture Telecommunications Proposal.

Proposed M.S. degree (non thesis) in Soil and Environmental Science. NC State and Florida Universities will take the lead in the program because they have a critical number of distance education courses in the major. Thirty-four to 36 credits are proposed. SRAC-1 was proposed as a review organization for the program. Several core courses remain to be developed, and degree is proposed with 3 to 6 hours of field-oriented workshops. There are several problems to be worked out, including tuition and credit transfers among institutions.



Preston Jones:



Restated that SRAC-1 Committee is important for idea exchange. The Federal budget remains in limbo, but the proposed budget appears to be stable for agriculture.



Eric Young:



The Research Directors are trying to increase interactions with the committee as well as the committee?s workload. Eleven of 15 Southern Information Exchange Groups need to be reviewed. Outcome assessments need to be conducted and reported.



Three multi-state projects need to be reviewed. Committee members had difficulty accessing report information.



Steve Hodges:



Definitions of participation in groups is a problem. Many investigators participate in the multi-state projects that are not listed in documents.



General discussion:



Research directors have a problem identifying people to fill gaps in research, and they need tools to facilitate identification of people and expertise. They intend to develop a spreadsheet of investigators, fields of study, etc. in Southern region and bordering states.



Directors want mid-term review of multi-state projects. Pointed or directed reviews are not conducted. Feedback in written form should be sent to project leaders.



M. Hussey:



Department heads need information to review as attachments.



Jim Barrentine:



Heads need bullets of accomplishments, goals and milestones for assessments.



Surveys (see Appendix A in attachment).



Mix of data, need to break FTE into more groups, for example, some states send data as on-campus faculty only, others all faculty in state. USDA faculty are omitted from the list.





State Reports:



University of Arkansas:



The Walton Foundation has donated $200 million to the university. They will be supplementing fellowships and endowing chairs. The university wants to grow from 16,000 to 22,000 students. The department sponsors a golf classic to obtain funds and last year raised $15,000. The department is trying to make their curriculum more flexible by adding laboratories in environmental science. A GPS course is being developed. There were no salary increases last year in Arkansas.



Auburn University:



Budget reductions have not occurred and faculty received a 6% salary increase. The department is having a CREES review and the university is in the middle of a SACs review. The College of Agriculture is searching for a new dean and director of research.



University of Florida - Agronomy:



The University of Florida now has 48,000 students and a new president. Budgets decreased 10% during the past 2-3 years. A turfgrass breeder is being hired and an extension weed science position is open. The peanut breeder is retiring and Dan Gorbet has agreed to stay in his position to have a 2-year transition. Last year there was a 2% salary increase for everyone. A system exists where full professors apply for salary increases (9%) every 7 years, and this is a good opportunity to keep faculty productive. The department has 33 graduate students.



University of Florida - Soil and Water Science:



The teaching program at the undergraduate level has been decreasing in size and the department is thinking about developing a concentration rather than a major. Short courses are being developed which are fee-based. Funds are used to pay bonuses to the department?s faculty. There has been a 30% reduction in the soil science faculty, and the department believes that permission will be granted to fill four positions in the area of nutrient management and extension.



University of Georgia:



Al Smith retired and Don Shilling from Florida will be the new head on January 1, 2004. Last year the department received a 2 ½% budget cut and an additional 5% is expected next year. No one is being asked to leave, but the administration has identified positions to be targeted. There were no salary increases last year.



Undergraduate majors total 53 students, with 25 in Turfgrass Science, 18 in Soil Science and 10 in Crop Science. The university has a policy that majors must have at least 10 students graduate per year, so Plant Pathology and Entomology are in trouble with numbers. The department has been asked to roll Soil Science and Crop Science majors together. The college has a large Biological Science program and campus-wide concentrations are being set up under this program, and Crops, Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Soils will be a part.



The university plans to cap the number of students at 33,000. The average SAT score for admission is a little over 1200. A new program has started at Tifton in Agriculture and Environmental Technology and the University of Georgia has partnered with Abraham Baldwin College to develop the program, which appears to be highly successful.



Kentucky:



The college has undergone major changes, including merging with another college and combining departments. The numbers in Plant and Soil Science have decreased and the Agronomy Department has had a name change to Plant and Soil Science. It is now difficult to teach needed courses because of few faculty. There have been five new hires, including ones in soil physics, crop genomics, plant regulation, plant science/medicinals, and a dark tobacco specialist with is a shared position between Kentucky and Tennessee. The department has moved into a new building, and it is now housed in two facilities. Last year there was a 3% salary increase.



Louisiana State University:



The university now has 30,000 students. A weed specialist in turf and ornamentals was recently hired and there is a vacant position in soils.



Mississippi State University:



A new president was hired at the university. There are 17,000 students enrolled, with 1% of the students in the college. The department has 61 faculty and two have been replaced during the last year, including one in ornamentals and the second in forages. Minority hiring has become a priority.



North Carolina State University -- Crop Science:



The College of Agriculture Dean (Jim Oblinger) accepted the position of Provost at NCSU. Johnny Wynne is the Interim Dean and Steve Leath is the Interim Director of Research. The University is in the middle of a SACs Review. Permanent reversions from departments are continuing, with a little over 16% for extension and 21% for research during the past 3 years; most reversions were from salaries. Operating budgets have also been cut in half. Philip Morris Inc. is funding faculty in the college with a $17 million grant to sequence the tobacco genome. A Turfgrass Center is being created with the help of $600,000 in state-appropriated funding.



Two faculty have left the department, including ones in plant physiology and aquatic weed management. One new faculty was hired in the area of cellulose synthesis and a second in agroecology. During the coming year the department will conduct searches for a second agroecology lecturer and a tobacco breeder. The USDA is planning to add a wheat genomics laboratory in the department and to replace a plant physiology position.



The Average SAT score for the undergraduate program is 1240. The department has 14 students with a crop concentration and 115 with a turfgrass concentration in the Agriculture Institute (2-year degree) program. In the 4-year undergraduate program there are 28 students with a crops orientation and 75 turfgrass science majors. The number of graduate students has risen from 55 in 2003 to 72 currently, with an equal number of M.S. and Ph.D. students.



North Carolina State University - Soil Science:



There have been two retirements in the department during the past year and one new hire in the plant nutrient management area (20% extension : 80% research). Distance learning is being promoted both within the college and department. The building where most of Soil Science is housed is planned for a $12.4 million renovation in 2005, and the faculty and staff will be relocated for an undetermined period of time. A CREES review is scheduled for April 2004. No salary increases were given last year, but a one-time bonus of $550.



Oklahoma State University:



The budget was reduced by 9.5% last year and there is a buy-out program. The university has a new president and 24,500 students. There were no general salary increases last year, but a $500 bonus. A few faculty received 3-7% increases.



The college is undergoing a reorganization where Entomology Plant Pathology will be combined with Crops and Forestry, Plant and Soil Science, Rangeland Management will combine to form a natural resources department. The department lost six faculty last year and the positions will not be replaced.



Texas A&M University:



Four faculty retired last year, including three in soils, and 4 faculty were hired, including ones in extension turf, small grains extension, cropping systems, and crop physiology. Teaching soil science is becoming difficult because critical areas are not being replaced. There was a 7% reversion last year, with the Ag. Experiment Station being cut 12% in research and 8% in extension. Faculty received a 2% salary increase based on merit. Pay increases are different in extension and research than in the rest of the university. Faculty can be nominated for increases of $8,500 per year and 4 of the department?s faculty received this amount last year.



The University has a new Food and Nutritional Sciences Department with 10 faculty. There are 45,000 students at the university. The Department has 147 undergraduates, of which 103 are turfgrass science majors and 44 are soil and crop science majors. There is talk about merging departments. .



Virginia Tech University:



Last year the department lost 4 faculty on campus and others off campus as well as 17 staff members. There was a 21% budget reduction to the college last year. The dean of academics and dean of extension have retired. The operating budget has decreased 51% since 2002. The university spent $6 million on early retirement program. There was 3.5% salary increase last year.



Students in Environmental science are being reduced from 500 to 200. In the department there are 77 majors in crop and soils (40 are turf majors) and 93 in environmental science. Two crop genetics positions are open on campus. The college is restructuring, in large part due to student number caps.



New Officers:



- Chair: Michael Barrett



- Vice Chair: Mark Hussey



- Secretary: Tom Stalker





Future meetings (see Appendix B in attachment for history of meeting locations):



- The 2004 meeting will be held in Kentucky during the latter part of September.



- The 2005 meeting will be held in Washington DC.;



Adjourned: 10:25 am

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

Back to top

Report Information

Participants

Bennett, Jerry (jmbt@mail.ifas.ufl.edu) - Univ. Florida, Agronomy

Barrett, Michael (mbarrett@email.uky.edu) - Univ. Kentucky

Collins, Michael (mcollins@pss.msstate.edu) - Mississippi State University

Hodges, Steven (hodges@vt.edu) - VPI & SU

Hussey, Mark (mhussey@tamu.edu) - Texas A&M Univ.

Pinkerton, Bruce () - Clemson Univ.

Reddy, Ramesh (krr@mail.ifas.ufl.edu) - Univ. Florida, Soil & Water Sci.

Shilling, Don (dgs@uga.edu) - Univ. Georgia

Stiegler, Jim (jamessh@okstate.edu) - Oklahoma State Univ.

Stalker, Tom (tom_stalker@ncsu.edu) - NC State Univ., Crop Sci.

Touchton, Joe (touchjt@auburn.edu) - Auburn

Watson, Clarence (cwatson@mafes.msstate.edu) - Assoc. Director, MAFES

Brief Summary of Minutes

September 7, 2004,
Hilton Suites Hotel, Louisville, KY

8:15 a.m. Mike Barrett opened the meeting



Presentations:



Dean Scott Smith - Dean of College of Agriculture, Univ. Kentucky


The college budget is flat. The college is having many joint appointments with other colleges, which serves a broader clientele. Extension has initiatives in health, dentistry, fine arts and design. Agronomy and Plant Pathology are part of a good biotechnology program. The Tobacco Research Center is concentrating on secondary products.



The college has approximately $23 million in grant funds, which is a 3-fold increase over 3 years ago. A USDA presence has been re-established where a Forage Livestock program has added four scientists.



The college has joined with the Department of Home Economics and increased the undergraduate numbers from 1100 to 1800 undergraduates. The college will change its name to the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.



Plant pharmaceuticals, especially in tobacco is a growing area, with the Agronomy Department having several large grants. The horse industry is the largest industry in the state, and the forage program is being supported by horse industry. The food processing industry is the second largest in the country in terms of start-up companies.



Variety development work at Kentucky has decreased to the small grains and forage grass programs. Glenn Collins has been instrumental in keeping the molecular and traditional programs working together. Most of the molecular biology in the college is conducted in the Agronomy Department.



Clarence Watson - SAC-1 Administrator



The NIMS website (National Information Management System) has a multitude of information, including:
1) New Research Areas and program
2) 2) New Regional Projects and programs
3) Evaluations of the research portfolio at the national level
4) Mid term reviews of multi-state projects (this has not worked well, and is being revised). Department heads may be asked to recommend reviewers.
5) Database of faculty expertise at experiment stations is being developed


There are no "off-the-top" funds taken from the Southern Regional Experiment stations except for the S-9 project (USDA germplasm collection at Griffin, GA).



Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center



The center is funded by a half-cent tax on cigarettes and has about a $3 million/year operating budget. It is state funded and is intended to enhance nontraditional agriculture, new crops and alternate uses for tobacco. The Center has three functions:
1) Fund and conduct research
2) Oversee patents and intellectual properties for Kentucky
3) Facilitate transition of technologies to farmers by facilitating licensing, spin-off companies and serve as an agriculture technology incubator.



Companies have already extracted human-grade proteins from tobacco. Five well-established companies in the U.S. are in the plant medical products business, for example, Large Scale Biology, KY and CA; Chologen, St. Louis, MO; and Planet Biotechnology, Hayward, CA. Approximate 30 additional start-up companies are in Kentucky. The center has initiated an internship program to place students into companies, which was started by a NSF Partnership for Innovation grant.



A major concern is identifying tobacco types so transgenics do not become mixed with the traditional tobacco crop. Interspecific crosses are produced to create sterile triploids as well as plants easily identified in the field. The strategy has been to contact pharmaceutical companies first and then develop joint products.



Agriculture Biotechnology Baccalaureate Degree - Glenn Collins, Director



The degree represents a science and math degree and requires a senior research project for which students receive 4 credits. The degree is interdisciplinary and administered by the Agronomy Department. There are several degree tracks, including agriculture, medicine, public health, arts and science, dentistry, and pharmacy. A coordinating committee of five members from different departments oversees the program. The program started in 1988 and currently has 180 students (44 graduated last year). Recruiting has been most effective through high school science teachers, vs. high school advisors.



Tours 11:30 a.m.  5:30 p.m.



Tours of Three Chimneys Horse Farm and Woodford Reserve Distillery.



September 8, 2004

Plant Science Building, Univ. Kentucky



8:15 a.m. Meeting opened by Mike Barrett



The minutes of the 2003 meeting were approved.



The 2005 meeting will be Florida, with a proposed date in August.



State Reports (see attachment)



Adjourned 12:00 noon

Accomplishments

The SAC-001 committee reviewed two Development Committee requests (s-301 and S-303) and one proposal (S_Temp 1282) duing the period covered by this report.

Publications

Impact Statements

Back to top

Report Information

Participants

Mike Barrett, Chair, (mbarrett@uky.edu) - Plant & Soil Science Dept., Univ. Kentucky;
H. Thomas Stalker, Secretary, (Tom_Stalker@ncsu.edu) - Crop Science Dept., NC State Univ.;
Jim Barrentine, (jbarren@uark.edu) - Crop, Soil & Environmental Science, Univ. Arkansas;
Ben Edge, (bedge@clemson.edu) - Entomology, Soil & Plant Science Dept., Clemson Univ.;
Keith Cassel, (keith_cassel@ncsu.edu) - Soil Science Dept., NC State Univ. ;
Mike Collins, (mcollins@pss.msstate.edu ) - Plant & Soil Sciences Dept., Mississippi State Univ.;
Jerry Bennett, (JMPT@ufl.edu) - Agronomy Dept., Univ. Florida;
Steve Hodges, (hodges@vt.edu) - Crop & Soil Environmental Science, Virginia Tech ;
J. Preston Jones, (jpjones@csrees.usda.gov) - CSREES/USDA;
Ramesh Reddy, (krr@ifas.ufl.edu) - Soil & Water Sciences Dept., Univ. Florida ;
Joe Touchton, (touchjt@auburn.edu) - Agronomy & Soils Dept., Auburn Univ.;
Clarence Watson, (cwatson@mafes.msstate.edu) - MAFES Administration, Mississippi State Univ.;
Eric Young, (eric_young@ncsu.edu) - SAAESD

Brief Summary of Minutes

August 24, 2005

Program:

7:30 am - 10:30 am Travel to Plant Science Research and Education Center, Citra

10:30 am - 12 noon Butterfly Gardens tour

12:00 noon Lunch

12:30 pm Meeting called to order by Mike Barrett

Clarence Watson): The SRAC-1 Group is more active than during past years, and appears to be functioning well. There have been several project reviews during the past year, with 8-9 responses for each project. The process has been simplified with 'yes/no' responses, but comments are still appreciated and they are used by the administration. Both an email link and an attachment are sent via email when projects are to be reviewed. The plant breeding proposal recently submitted had very little detail and it needs to be revised.

Eric Young: The animal science projects are given to different department heads who are responsible of reviewing them, and then at their annual meetings the projects are reviewed by the entire group. The horticulture and the SRAC-1 groups review proposals as individuals, but proposals are not analyzed for budgets. However, if concerns are raised during the electronic reviews, then proposals are looked at in more detail.

Mike Barrett: How important is more input to the project review process?

Eric Young: Input is very important. There are several types of projects, including: 1) Information Exchange Groups (now Coordinating Groups), which are research focused. 2) The Southern Extension Research Activity (SERA) is integrated with research and extension, but they are not expected to conduct research. A SRAC group of department heads serves as the primary reviewer. 3) S- projects are regional projects and are expected to have research outputs. The SRAC is the initial reviewer of objectives, little detail is presented, and there is an explanation about how interactions are to take place and about the projects' relevance. The corrected project then goes to state directors after which a full proposal is written and reviewed by peer review.

The recently reviewed Plant breeding Coordinating Committee did not have enough specificity. The Multistate Committee agreed and sent the proposal back to the writing committee. The Southern Directors are very supportive of this effort.

Tom Stalker: How was the plant breeding list put together? I did not see a list of participants when I reviewed the proposal.

Eric Young: The Director in each state adds names in an Appendix E. Adding names to SERAs is easy but additions to S- projects are difficult.

Clarence Watson: An Appendix E will be sent with future proposals to give reviewers access to the list participants.

Steve Hodges: Participation by faculty was not listed on the last two variety programs reviewed.

Eric Young: A list of participants is now required on all new proposals.

Clarence Watson: Many projects are active with many participants, but few names are listed.

Jerry Bennett: Multi-state project participation has been decreasing in Florida because faculty receive little credit for these activities.

Eric Young: If you are in a regional project, you do not have to be included on the state Hatch project that is associated with it. Federal funding for travel is sent to experiment station directors and at least $500 should be available for travel to meetings. Multistate projects must account for 25% of federal HATCH funds.

Mike Bennett: In Kentucky, the Dean forwards funds to the department and it is then used for specific projects.

Clarence Watson: Faculty do not see an advantage for being on multi-state committees.

Eric Young: Only faculty interested should be on the committee anyway.

Clarence Watson: Does the group want to be more involved?

Group consensus: The way things are being done now is acceptable.

Eric Young: A National Germplasm System Task Force has been established by state Directors and a National Germplasm Coordination Committee has been formed with nine members:

• Experiment Stations: Ken Graften, Lee Sommers, Jerry Arkin
  
• ARS Peter Bretting, Candace Gardner, Dwayne Buxton
  
• CREES: Ann Marie Thro, Ed Kaleikau, P. S. Benepal
  
  
• Tom Fretz (NE Region): Will help with committee functions.

Charge: To advise the ARS and CREES about the national depository system and about distribution and status of germplasm.

Task: Funding is needed for all of the germplasm depositories. [Collections are held in both national and regional sites, and there are many collections at state experiment stations, for example, the clover collection in Kentucky and the tobacco collection in North Carolina]. The committee will review funds going through experiment stations. Additional members could be added, e.g., representatives from Foundation Seeds or individuals with expertise in intellectual property.

Preston Jones: If the funds do not apply to processing or production, federal funds can be used for tobacco germplasm maintenance.

Eric Young: Grantsmanship workshops will be held on September 7-8 in Washington DC. The workshop is full and has about 170 people registered.

Another workshop will focus on NRI integrated proposals on January 19, 2006 in Baton Rouge, LA. The workshop is co-sponsored by the Southern Directors for research and extension. NRI is not receiving many integrated research and extension proposals. Extension personnel need to be more involved in the review panels. Registration will begin in late September 2006.

Steve Hodges: Two integrated research/extension programs in Virginia were rejected before program review because the NRI people changed objectives after the RFA was published. This jeopardizes the integrity of the program and it is not being ethically run. Names and details available.

Preston Jones: Are case studies being planned?

Eric Young: This is for an internal use by NRI. A workshop is being planned to look at the process.

Ramesh Reddy: What review level is necessary before a project is funded?

Eric Young: NRI has the highest percentage of unfunded/fundable proposals.

Multi-Institutional Collaboration Assistance is available at the website
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/saaesd//Multistate.htm.

Scientist expertise: The CRIS system can sort by field of science or organism; all 1862 institutions in the Southern Region, bordering states and 1890 institutions are listed in the database.

Outlying Research Station database: This is a locator of experiment stations. The database can search activities by instruction and research activities on the stations. It is updated annually and links to web pages for experiment stations are embedded into the site. Many multi-state projects include funding for shared facilities.

MOAs and MOUs for multi-institutional collaboration: Either shared faculty or shared facilities.

The elimination of formula funding was proposed in 2005. The potential loss would include 500 faculty, 350 staff, 250 other professions, and 500 graduate assistantships. Congress did not support any of the proposals, but the issue will resurface. Impacts will be important to maintain support, and it appears that someone wants all federal funding to be competitive; however, the base funds allows us to be competitive.

Committee adjourned, traveled to the butterfly curation/research facility, and reconvened after lunch.

2:00 pm Robert McGovern, Director of Doctor of Plant Medicine Program (DPM)
http://www.dpm.ifas.ufl.edu

(See attachment for details)

2:20 pm Wendy Graham, University Florida Water Institute

(See attachment for details)

2:45 pm Jim Cato, Senior Associate Dean and Director, School of Natural Resources and Environment; Director Florida Sea Grant College Program
See attachment


3:10 Break

3:25 Sabine Grunewald, Distance Education Program in the Soil and Water Science Department

(See attachment for details)

4:30 pm Preston Jones: Hopefully the federal budget will be approved earlier than during past years. The President's proposal to cut Hatch funding was not approved by Congress. With the retirement of A. J. Dye, there has been approval for an active NPL position that will combine forages and rangeland and it will be housed in Natural Resources. The forage and rangeland people have never worked well together, and hopefully the change will enhance interaction. Preston is retiring at the end of the year.

Real time accountability is needed. The CRIS system is 18 months behind real time and there is no good way to retrieve information about the way funds were used.

The line items increase each year, in large part because of the inability to designate funds for problem solving. Forages and plant breeding are two examples were there are great needs, but no resources are allocated. Forages are produced on more than 50% of managed lands in the U.S., but little support is given to these crops.



August 25, 2005

8:25 am - Business Meeting



Approved minutes from 2004. Minutes from this years meeting will be distributed by email.



Nominations/elections:;

• Steve Hodges elected chair
  
• Mike Collins elected vice chair

Locations for next year:

Arkansas on the agenda; missed Washington last year; March or April is the best time for the group to go to Washington. We need good objectives, and if we want to meet with the national program leaders, September is a better time to attend. For NSF leaders and awards programs October is best for grants administrators. CSREES conference facilities can be used for meetings.

Joe Touchton: Preference is September so we can interact with national program staff.

Mike Collins: From a regional standpoint, going to Washington to meet congressional staff would not be of much value.

Keith Cassel: As part of the Soil Science Society of America executive group, I went to Washington and dynamite programs were put on for the group. However, it took a year to plan the program.

Jim Ballington: It would be of most value to meet with granting administrators. September is a difficult month for his schedule.

Clarence Watson: Department of Energy also has many new programs.

The consensus of the group is to meet in Washington during 2006. September 6-7, 2006 is a potential target. Twenty people will be an upper limit on participants.

Mike Barrett: Suggested that the group should form a web site with minutes, history, and PowerPoint presentations. Clarence offered to help set up a web site, and Mike will take the lead in this activity.

Tennessee (Neal Rhodes) has never attended the meeting and we need to contact him.

Recognition for Preston: The group made a Statement of Thanks for his long service to the Southern Region and CSREES.

Jim Ballington: Southern branch of ASA is a good meeting and graduate students should be encouraged to attend.

State Reports: (See attachment for details)

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

Back to top

Report Information

Participants

Steve Hodges, Chair (hodges@vt.edu) - Virginia Tech
Shilling, Donn (dgs@uga.edu) - Univ. Georgia
Culin, Joe, (jculin@CLEMSON.EDU) - Clemson University
Jerry Bennett, (JMPT@ufl.edu) - Univ. Florida
Martin, Freddie (fmartin@agctr.lsu.edu) - Louisiana State University
Micahel Barrett (mbarrett@uky.edu) - Plant & Soil Science Dept., Univ. Kentucky
Reddy, Ramesh (krr@ifas.ufl.edu) - Univ. Florida
Touchton, Joe (touchjt@auburn.edu) - Auburn Univ.
Bacon, Robert (rbacon@uark.edu) - Univ. Arkansas
Grandle, George (ggrandle@utk.edu) - Univ. Tennessee
Smith, Wayne (cwsmith@tamu.edu) - Texas A&M Univ.
Watson, Clarence, Admin Advisor (c.watson@okstate.edu) - Oklahoam State Univ.
Mary Ann Rozum, (mrozum@csrees.usda.gov) CSREES/USDA

Brief Summary of Minutes

Washington, DC

29 AUGUST 2006

Opening comments - Steve Hodges

USDA, DOE and EPA sessions will occur this morning and early afternoon in USDA / CSREES Waterfront Center. NSF will begin at 2:30pm in NSF building. SRAC-1 business meeting will be Wednesday morning in Waterfront Center.

USDA ********************************************************

Deb Sheely: overview of NRI programs (handouts)

* Beginning in 2007, all proposals must be submitted through GRANTS.GOV. All attachments must be in pdf format. Because of this, deadlines will change and there will be multiple programs with the same deadline. In 2007, more programs will require "letters of intent" for approval prior to submission of full proposals.

* Integrated programs include research, extension, and teaching components. These must be stakeholder driven and outcome oriented. They should have sustainable education initiative.

* In 2006, main areas included water quality, food safety, and IPM. 2007 priorities will likely be similar.

* Will include ~22% (of $180 million total) of NRI funding.


Pat Hipple: Renewable energy
* Current programs include biosystems / bioproducts. These fall under:
* SARE
* Biobased products and bioenergy
* Small Business Research Program
* Rural Development of USDA
* Risk Management Agency
* Some NRI if written with correct slant
* NEW  Human dimensions in relation to shift to biobased technologies
* PowerPoint handout has examples of completed projects as examples

Ann Lichens-Park: Microbial Programs
* Plant - Microbe Associations
* In 2006 had $5.4 million with 12-13% funding rate
* Projects must be systems that are economically important or important to agricultural sustainability
* Basic research projects must have clear transfer plan for applicability
* Microbial Genomics
* Will have RFP in 2007, not in 2006.
* Organism studied must be completely or almost completely sequenced
* Must be important to US agriculture
* Microbial Genome Sequencing (in conjunction with NSF)
* Has approximately 25% funding rate
* High throughput sequencing projects

Diana Jenkins: Managed Systems (handout)
* In 2006 had $4.5 million with 23% funding rate
* Research only programs have cap of $400,000
* Integrated programs have cap of $500,000
* Includes 7 programs (see handout)
8 Must have agricultural link, but can be crop, forest, or urban-rural interface systems
* Collaboration (multi disciplinary, multi state) carries considerable weight in reviews
* Will require approval of a letter of intent in 2007 prior to proposal submission
* Can be linked to BS or graduate funding opportunities if funded in either Research or Integrated categories

* Agricultural Prosperity
* Had $5 million in 2006 with ~23% funding rate
* Work to support small and medium sized farms

Greg Smith: Higher Education Programs
* Multicultural Scholars (Audrey Trotman is National Program Leader [NPL])
* Provides funding to recruit students to enhance ethnic and racial diversity or 1st generation students
* Must have student / faculty mentor links
* Can subcontract with 2-year institutions in transition programs
* Can include remedial or enrichment activities
* National Needs Fellowships (Audrey Trotman is NPL)
* MS or PhD Fellowships in areas of national need
* Higher Education Challenge Grants (Greg Smith is NPL)
* In 2006 awards ranged from $150 - 500K with 35-40% funding rate
* For faculty teaching at BS level
* Must include how it meets needs of agriculture

John Sherwood: Microbial Observatories (handout)
* These are submitted to NSF but jointly funded with NRI
* Cover microbial interactions and systems processes
* Funds at ~$2 million per Microbial Observatory

* Plant Biosecurity (Liang-Shiou Lin is NPL)
* In 2006 had $4 million with ~20% funding rate


Gail McLean & Ed Kaleikau: Plant Sciences
* 2005 was Rosaceae
* 2006 was Fabaceae
* 2007 will likely be Solanaceae
* Plant Biology
* Funds projects dealing with agriculturally important plants or model systems with agricultural implications
* Environmental Stress (both Research and Integrated)
* Genetic Mechanisms
* Agricultural Plant Biochemistry
* Growth & Development
* NOTE: See their web site for information on stakeholder workshop

Mary Ann Rozum & Mike O'Neill: Water
* Watershed Analysis (Integrated) (~22% funding rate)
* These are 3-4 year projects examining human impacts on watersheds and land use impacts on water quality
* In 2008 will likely include integrated studies on water / energy / agriculture in relation to biofuel production
* Water Research (~24% funding rate)
* Targets pathogens in drinking water and pathogens in irrigation water used on produce production
* Includes source, fate, and transport
* Producer management behavior
* Environmental policy incentives in water conservation
* Soils (Nancy Cavallaro is NPL)
* Interdisciplinary projects examining soil quality and sustainability

Chavonda Jacobs-Young: Biobased Programs (71.2)
* Includes:
* Post-harvest use of feed stocks
* Identification of unique feed stocks use
* Development of technology for conversion
* Biocatalyst development
* Joint with Dept. of Energy - Plant feed stock genomics for bioenergy production

DOE *********************************************************
Jim Fischer

* Mentioned the Advanced Renewable Energy Conference (10-12 Oct 2006)
* PowerPoint on energy sources and uses


EPA ********************************************************
Charlotte White

* Applied research
* Discussed the National Risk Management Laboratory in St. Louis, and National Center on Environmental Research in Washington, DC
* Source tracking of pathogens and other manure-related materials
* Environmental technology verification program (Do things work the way we think they do?)

C-FARE ********************************************************
Tamara Wagester

* Policy Issues
* How to exert influence
* through societies
* through Universities / NASULGC
* through involvement in regional activities
* Advocacy / outreach & education
* testimony before committees or comments to agencies
* meet with Congressional / Agency staff
* briefings
* be active with your societies
* join listserves to receive information on issues
* AAAS

NSF ********************************************************
George Wilson -- Legislative / Public Affairs

Henry Gholz -- Environmental Biology
* CD as handout

* funding rate ~10%
* Areas
* Biocomplexity
* Ecology of infectious diseases with NIH
* human-social dynamics
* Tree of Life
* Frontiers in Integrative Biology
* NEON - National Ecological Observatory Network
* RFI in September 2006 (www.neon.nsf.org)
* Microbial Observatories with NRI
* Early Careers Programs
* Education
* Underrepresented groups
* Synthesis & Interpretation
* OPUS - Opportunities for promoting understanding / synthesis
* End of career awards (6 1/2 months salary)

Cindy Lee -- Engineering
* New divisions (Handout slide 2)
* Disciplines include: CBET (where agron & soils most likely fits), CMMI, ECCS
* Crosscutting areas include: EEC, IIP, EFRI
* Waters network (likely 2008)

Sonia Ortega -- Graduate funding
* GK-12 (institution applies)
* Graduate Research Fellowships (student applies)
* Integrative graduate education and research traineeships (institution applies)
* Alliances for Graduate education and the Professoriate (AGEP)
* minority support for recruiting, mentoring, retention, degree completion

Thomas Baerwald -- Environmental Research & Education
* $1 billion (10-15% NSF budget)
* Most awarded through other NSF standing programs
* CNH has Nov 2006 deadline
* Future directions
* Observational networks
* cyber infrastructure
* complex environmental systems
* water
* environmental education
* broadening participation in ERE work force (diversity issues)

Marge Cavanaugh, Art Goldstein, Jill Karsten -- Geology
* Earth science
* deep earth (probably not agron & soils)
* surface: hydrological science, geomorphology, landuse dynamics, geobiology
* New solicitation: Critical Zone Observatories
* Intent letter due October 2006 -- Must be Integrated
* Full Proposal in December 2006
* Geoscience education (K-12 through graduate)
* targets underrepresented groups in geosciences
* many of these have 1994 Tribal participants
* NSF Division of Undergraduate Education
* curriculum improvement
* RU sites

30 AUGUST 2006



SRAC-1 Business Meeting


Clarence Watson  Administrative LAdvisor to SAC-1
* OK State (since last April, previously at MS State)
* Project reviews  only if have folks in discipline
* Recommendation to cut formula funds in current budget. Budget is not final at this time.
* CREATE 21 recommendation comes from NASULGC to:
* double Ag Res budgets to state
* retain current level & structure of formula funds
* new funds would be 70% competitive and 30% formula
* includes 1890's & 1994's funding
* proposes elimination of earmarked monies
* proposed as part of research title of Farm Bill
* all "COP" groups asked to vote to continue moving this way with the votes due 15 September
* SUN Grant centers (TN and OKCenter) alternative energy research funding

Joe Touchton -- Auburn
* 3 new positions upcoming
extension: small grains
extension: weeds
research: soil chemistry
* turfgrass majors are declining (B.S.)

Jerry Bennet - Univ. Florida (agronomy)
* university pushing an increase in number of graduate students
* starting salaries $68,000-$73,000 (asst. prof.)
* includes "invasive aquatic plants"
* proposed name change from Agronomy to Crop & Weed Science
* have a new "turf breeder"
* looking for:
whole plant turn physiologist
enviromental agronomist  nutrient
agroecologist with an international program emphasis
* agroecology distance ed program will start '07
goes with the existing soils distance ed program
* salary  3% cost of living; 1.2% merit


Ramesh Reddy - Univ. Florida (soil science)
* Promotion & Tenure standards going up will be set at college/univ. level
* 20 on-campus and 14 off-campus faculty
* nutrient management is main area of emphasis (9 new faculty)
* contaminated sites / aquatic soils*8 environmental water emphasis
* student information
* "Soil & Water Sci" ~4 students (lot of minors ~20)
* "Env. Mgt & Nat Res"  15 students on 6 off campus Ft. Pierce
* have total of ~ 70 Grad Students with ~50 off-campus (MS) in both ICRASAT and in Columbia

use UFL HUBS to offer this internationally
* also for non-trad students working full time
* have a new Water Institute

Michael Barrett - Univ. Kentucky
* Univ wants to grow
* BS (Hort/Plant & Soil Sci/Ag Biotech/Env. Res)
* has Assistantships $350k/yr
* Added tuition ~$25k/Student
* Proposed Hires
Plant biochemist  or  soils  air quality
Extension Waste Application to Soil
Extension Water Quality
Research Environmental Chemist

* 3.5% July 1 + 1.5% Jan 1  mostly merit or to address compression
* have phased retirements up to 5 yr 50% salary then have to leave
* Assoc Dean Ext killed in CONAIR crash
* Top 20 by 2020
* Univ proposed 650 faculty hires
* Legislature is funding move up
* All faculty moved to state $ off of Hatch $
* Increase grad #'s, Ph.D. 5/year MS 7/yr
* New Sustainable Agriculture Major in college (received a USDA Challenge Grant to do the development for this)
* Equine initiative  linked to both industry & pleasure horses
* new For Fee extension pasture evaluation program


Joe Culin - Clemson
* New Dean Alan Sams, Texas A & M, start January 2007
* Faculty that have left:
* 2 weed science faculty
* soil fert
* retired faculty
* paedology
* New faculty hires:
forages (extension / research)
soil chemistry (research teaching)
soil fertility (extension / research)
agronomy (extension / research)
mycology (research / teaching)
nematology (research / teaching)
cotton entomology (research / extension)

* Will revise faculty evaluation system in 2007
* Have new BS in Soil Science & Sustainable Crop Systems that includes
soils
sustainable agriculture /IPM
agricultural biotechnology

* current faculty
~ 6 agronomy & 1 soils faculty
* students
~ 5 agronomy graduates & 2 soils graduates
* no hard assistantships for either RAs or TAs
* technician salary buy-down
* salary for 2006 -- 3% merit given between 0-6%
* US News just ranked Clemson at #30 (ranked 74 five years ago)

George Grandle - Univ. Tennessee
* Pretty good budget last 2 years
* 2% salary (1% cost of living/1% merit)
* 10 FTE soils faculty
* soil test lab moved to Pest/Livestock diagnostics
* joint PhD program including entomology, plant pathology and soils
* "Soils & Civilization" is a general education course with ~ 95 students


Steve Hodges - VPI
* Have a new building (some space) 6 plant labs & 3 soils labs
* B.S. program
108 agronomy majors (40 in turfgrass & 68 agronomy)
120 environmental science majors
* Ag & Life Sci has articulation agreement with all 2 year schools
(GPR & course list = auto admission)
* 6 TA's (8 this year)
* 8% grad fringe includes health insurance
* Faculty now have a required grant $ amount
now $80k / yr
2012 will be $400 k / yr

* Searching for
open-grassland ecosystems management (= forage ext)
pathogen transport

* Filled
nutrient mgt
*
* 3.5% salary increase



Joe Touchton will do a follow up email survey for new assistant professor salaries and startup packages.

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Participants

Cullen, Joe - Clemson University; Collins, Mike - Mississippi State University; Grant, George - University of Tennessee; Martin, Freddy - Louisiana State University; Baltensperger, David - Texas A&M University; Hodges, Steve - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Bennett, Jerry - University of Florida; Watson, Clarence - Oklahoma State University (Administrative Advisor); Porter, Dave - Oklahoma State University; Bacon, Robert - University of Arkansas; Barrett, Michael - University of Kentucky.

Brief Summary of Minutes

Southern Regional Department Heads (SAC-01) Minutes


Sunday Nov 4, 4:00 pm


New Orleans, LA


Meeting was called to order by Dr. Steven Hodges

Meeting sites for 2008 were discussed. It was unanimously accepted that if possible Mike Wagger and David Smith from the Soil and Crop Science departments, respectively, at North Carolina State would host next years meeting.

Baltensperger moved and Bennett seconded that Mike Collins be accepted as chair by unanimous ballot. Approved.

Baltensperger was elected as secretary.

Dr. Clarence Watson gave an overview on:


-- Budget at federal level is still up in the air


-- Procedures for regional project reviews


-- NIFA/CREATE 21 spirited discussion

State Reports:


Each state gave an overview of the situation at their University. In general Florida and Virginia have been hit by the housing slump and are facing budget reduction issues. The other states tended to be in a more positive situation.

We discussed that a national department heads group was meeting the following day to discuss some issues, but that we need to reenergize this regional group so that it plays a valuable role in good decision making by sharing information.

Meeting was adjourned.

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Participants

Wagger, Michael (Michael_wagger@ncsu.edu) - North Carolina State University

Smith, David North (wdavid_smith@ncsu.edu) - North Carolina State University

Baltensperger,David (dbaltensperger@ag.tamu.edu) - Texas A&M University

Varco, Jac J. (jvarco@pss.msstate.edu) - Mississippi State University

Weaver, David (weavedb@auburn.edu) - Auburn University

Bennett, Jerry (jmbt@ufl.edu) - University of Florida

Barrett, Michael (mbarrett@uky.edu) - University of Kentucky

Hodges, Steven (hodges@vt.edu) - Virginia Tech

Martin, Freddie (fmartin@agcenter.lsu.edu) - Louisiana State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes

Southern Crops and Soils Department Heads

Aug. 11-12, 2008

North Carolina State



North Carolina State University served as host for the 2008 meetings and expression of appreciation for the meals, tours and local arrangements is hereby given to co-host David Smith and Michael Wagger.



2008 Attendees:

Michael Wagger, North Carolina State University Michael_wagger@ncsu.edu

David Smith, North Carolina State University wdavid_smith@ncsu.edu

David Baltensperger, Texas A&M University dbaltensperger@ag.tamu.edu

Jac J. Varco, Mississippi State University jvarco@pss.msstate.edu

David Weaver, Auburn University weavedb@auburn.edu

Jerry Bennett, University of Florida jmbt@ufl.edu

Michael Barrett, University of Kentucky mbarrett@uky.edu

Steven Hodges, Virginia Tech hodges@vt.edu

Freddie Martin, Louisiana State University fmartin@agcenter.lsu.edu

Meeting began at 4:00 pm with a tour of the NCSU sedimentation education center, waste water training, and turfgrass field lab. A meal was provided by the hosts with special support from their staff and Mrs. Smith--Thanks.



Following dinner Keith Oakley, Executive Director of Advancement, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, NCSU lead a discussion of the role of Department Heads in fund raising. Meeting adjourned for the evening at 9:30 pm.



Tuesday morning began with introductions and discussion in Williams Hall.



Administrative comments presented in behalf of Clarence Watson included:

1. The need to elect officers
   
   
2. The need to select a location for next year
   
   
3. Appreciation for help with project reviews
   
   
4. Multi-state research award
   
   

Election of officers followed: David Baltensperger was elected chair for the next year and David Smith and Michael Wagger were elected co-chair/secretary elect for the next year.



Next meeting will be held at Mississippi State University with Jac Varco hosting. Dr. Bennet is in search of rotation of locations that was developed in the past, but collective memory was that Mississippi was skipped the previous year.



The SRAC-1 survey results were reviewed. Discussion included variation in how data was reported and based on this Dr. Smith is going to resend the survey for modifications and to request participation from a few states that had not provided information. This was highlighted as leading to some of the most valuable discussion of the meeting.



We highlighted discussion on faculty FTE, graduate student stipends versus total costs, salary issues as we compete for top scientist, various methods of reward evaluation for full professors, finances, operating budgets, start-ups, fundraising, and marketing. Student enrollment and recruitment were discussed with a particular need to replace field oriented professionals. We also discussed the various assortments of discipline to department assignments and naming concepts utilized to delineate departments and majors.



The meeting adjourned at noon.

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Participants

Baltensperger,David (dbaltensperger@ag.tamu.edu) - Texas A&M University;
Wood, Wes (woodcha@auburn.edu) Auburn University;
LaBonte, Don (DLabonte@agcenter.lsu.edu) Louisiana State University;
Pfeiffer, Todd (tpfeiffe@email.uky.edu) - University of Kentucky;
Varco, Jac J. (jvarco@pss.msstate.edu) - Mississippi State University;
Bacon, Robert (rbacon@uark.edu) University of Arkansas;
Reinschmiedt, Lynn (rein@cals.msstate.edu) Mississippi State University;
Moore, Reuben (reubenm@mafes.msstate.edu) Mississippi State University;
Shilling, Donn (dgs@uga.edu) University of Georgia;
Watson, Clarence (c.watson@okstate.edu) - Oklahoma State University;

Brief Summary of Minutes

Annual Meeting
Mississippi State University
August 19-20, 2009


August19

We were welcomed to MSU by Lynn Reinschmiedt (Assoc. Dean, MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)and Reuben Moore (Assoc. Director, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station).

Our initial discussion included snapshot summaries of the academic and budgetary situations at our universities.

Texas A&M University -The budget for Agrilife Research increased 2%. The department enrolls more graduate students than undergraduate students. Programs in bioenergy and nutrient management have expanded, mostly through redirection in 32 positions filled statewide the past three years.


Auburn University - The program enrolls 60 undergraduate students, 30 M.S. students and 11 Ph.D. candidates. The budget situation has been a struggle with sequential budget cuts. A 12.5% budget cut was managed by reduction in state-funded technicians and GRAs. A program initiative in bioenergy has started with four faculty replacements in the past year.


University of Georgia - The University as a whole still sees a demand for enrollment with 9,000 applications for 3,500 admissions. The department has faculty members located at three campuses: Athens, Griffin, and Tifton. Two faculty positions were filled with commodity group support. The greatest concern is maintaining the core infrastructure for applied research. The department has sent ten agronomists to industry positions but sees no agronomists in the pipeline. New initiatives are in place for water resource management, bioenergy, genomics and marker based breeding. There is a new undergraduate major, Agriscience and Environmental Systems, while the Crop Science and Soil Science majors have been eliminated.


University of Arkansas - The department has 67 graduate students and 100 undergraduate students (75 in environmental science and 25 in crop management). New initiatives in water science and nutrient management have been supported.

Oklahoma State University - While the base budget decreased 5%, an 8% increase from stimulus funds resulted in a one-time 3% increase. The 5% reduction will occur next year. The department hired three new faculty members; in the future, we are likely to hire fewer replacements.


Louisiana State University - The university and department is definitely downsizing following 4% and 8% budget reductions, with more to come. The program currently enrolls 40 graduate students and has undergraduate enrollment in three areas: Environmental Management - 65 students, Horticulture - 40 students, Agronomy - 3 students. Soil remediation and Corps of Engineers activities are a focus in the department.


Mississippi State University - The undergraduate programs enroll students in multiple majors: Golf and Sports Turf - 40 students, Horticulture - 19 students, Floral Management - 8 students, Agricultural and Environmental Soil Science - 3 students. The multiple programs enroll 32 M.S. and 23 Ph.D. students. The department has initiated bioenergy research with Department of Energy support. One new faculty member, a corn agronomist, was hired.


University of Kentucky - The department participates in four college-wide undergraduate curricula: Horticulture, Plant and Soil Science - 44 students, Natural Resource Conservation and Management - 65 students, Agriculture Biotechnology - 167 students, Sustainable Agriculture (new program) - 8 students. Faculty members in the department are associated with four graduate programs: Soil Science - 9 students, Crop Science - 14 students, Plant Physiology - 20 students and Plant and Soil Sciences MS - 20 students. There is a proposal to merge the four programs into an Integrated Plant and Soil Sciences graduate program. The department closed-out eight faculty lines, filled two positions and retained three vacant positions. There are no plans to fill these vacancies immediately.


The group toured the MSU memorial rose garden led by Pam Collins, turf research led by Wayne Philley, Barry Stewart, and Gregg Munshaw and the SPAR facility with Raja Reddy.

In the evening the group discussed Intellectual Property with Chase Kasper and Chuck Rivenburgh, Office of Technology Commercialization, Mississippi State University.

August 20


Clarence Watson provided the administrative report. The 25 year project terminates 2010. The new project SAC 001 Crops and Soils requires administrative review. We will proceed with the current objectives and update SAC 001 representatives at the experiment station level. The last farm bill completely reorganized CSREES to NIFA. In current markups, earmarks are down 49 million but AFRI has increased 8.5 million in the house and 93 million in the senate.

Michael Wagger and David Smith, North Carolina State University were elected chairs for 2010, and Todd Pfeiffer University of Kentucky was chosen as vice-chair and secretary.

The meeting in 2010 will be hosted by Robert Bacon at the University of Arkansas. As most attendees liked the 2009 meeting schedule, it was suggested that we proceed similarly in 2010 with the meeting start at noon day one and ending at noon day 2.

Role of department chairs in soliciting endowments and gifts was discussed. For most of the departments' solicitation goes through development offices. Some colleges have development offices while some development officers all work for the university presidents. In several universities the department chair helps identify potential donors and helps build relationships. At Texas A&M soliciting funds takes 10% of the chair's time, but names must be cleared through the development office. Graduate assistantships are solicited through corporations.

In the past the chairs completed salary surveys to share at this meeting. These surveys were not requested this year. In 2010 Drs. Smith and Wagger are asked to conduct the salary survey.

Curriculum opportunities were discussed. Along with new majors, there is an effort to make classes fit into University General Education curricula. Texas A&M had made a push into turf, but enrollment has dropped. They had enrolled 900 students per year in the introductory turf class which fit in the General Education curriculum. Ethics in Agriculture is offered three times per year and capped at 90 students per semester. They are trying to find a way to develop a simple water class that appeals to many. LSU created an environmental management General Education Science class for 25-30 students and an organic gardening class for 40 students. At Mississippi State University, the Introduction to Floral Design course fulfills a General Education Art and Design requirement and enrolls 70 students per semester. The introductory soils course has 70 students per semester. At Auburn, the basic soils course enrolls 60-80 students per semester. At Kentucky, the course PLS 104 - Plants, Soils and People serves as a General Education science course with 150 students per semester. At Arkansas, the basic soils course enrolls 45-65 students. They tried an organic crop production course and a minor in crop biotechnology, but were unsuccessful at attracting students to these.

Start-up funds were discussed. Start-up packages were generally negotiated between the department head and the Experiment Station or the university research office. Start-up packages ranged widely among hires within a university and between universities. Lower cost start-ups ranged from 15,000 to 100,000 with higher cost start-ups moving upwards from there to $750,000.

Opportunities for collaboration among department chairs were discussed.

We express our appreciation to Dr. Jac Varco and the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences for hosting our meeting. We especially thank Donna Johnson for coordinating the meeting.


The meeting was adjourned.

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Participants

Rob Gilbert, University of Florida (co-host);
Ramesh Reddy, University of Florida (co-host);
Robert Bacon, University of Arkansas;
David Baltensperger, Texas A&M University;
John Beasley, Auburn University;
Julie Carrier, University of Tennessee;
Don Labonte, Louisiana State University;
Jeff Mullahey, North Carolina State University;
Todd Pfeiffer, University of Kentucky;
Scott Senseman, University of Tennessee;
Tommy Thompson, Virginia Tech University;
Clarence Watson, University of Arkansas (Administrative Advisor)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Southern Region Agronomy Department Heads (SAC-1)

Annual Meeting

16-17 May 2016

Gainesville, FL

 

Monday, May 16

The 2016 meeting of the Southern Region Agronomy Department Heads (SAC-1) convened in Gainesville, FL and was hosted by the University of Florida and Drs. Rob Gilbert and Ramesh Reddy. Agenda attached.

 Dr. Gilbert and R. Reddy each gave a welcome to the University of Florida campus and an overview of the agenda for the two-day meeting.  

 Dr. Clarence Watson, administrative advisor for SAC-1, began the meeting with an overview of our group’s responsibilities and an explanation of SAC-1, which is Southern Administrative Coordinating committee, and is comprised of department heads and chairs of academic departments in agronomy, crop or plant, soil and/or water science at land grant institutions across the southern region of the U.S. We are members of this committee by virtue of our positions. This group is set through 2020. The following are bullet points of topics covered by Dr. Watson.

• SAC-1 is involved in review of collaborative projects/proposals (full or pre-proposals) for multi-state funding


• NIMSS (National Information Management System) – was hacked at the University of Maryland – Clemson proposed to host the new system – this is where our business is housed and stored – annual reports are posted in NIMS


• Southern Plant Introduction Center – Gary Peterson will retire soon – position will be posted soon – it is an ARS position


• National Initiatives (AES/CES)


•        Water Security – limited traction, limited funds


•        Antibiotic Resistance – gaining traction with NIFA


•        Healthy Food Systems, Healthy People – address chronic disease problems through nutrition, plant & animal breeding and agronomics


• FY 17 Budget mark-up


•       Level funding for AES, CES, Stennis, Hatch


•       $ 25 million to AFRI


•       Senate expected to mark up this week (May 15, 2016) with no additional action until after elections in November 2016


• Southern Region Directors report


• Initiating multi-state projects


•        Contact Southern Region Directors


•        Technical reviews - 9-12 months for review and starts October 1, 2016

 Dr. Elaine Turner – Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Florida provided a welcome and an overview of the instruction program at the University of Florida in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The following bullet points are a summary of her comments.

•  Teaching and students


•  5,400 students (3,800 undergrad), 4th in size at UF


•  22 different majors among 14 academic departments


• About 50% go into the work force, 25% into grad school, 25% into professional schools (law, medicine, dentistry)


• Majority of student body in college is female (63% female in undergrad and 54% female in grad school)


• Tuition is increasing slowly – rate is about $8,000 per year, in-state


• About 35% of CALS students come in as transfers


• Ceiling on undergraduate enrollment


• 6,600 incoming freshmen total at UF


• 4,000 transfers


• 700 quota on transfers into CALS


• New President at UF is from Cornell University


• CALS Mission, Values, Vision, Goals


• Handout was given


• Engaging more with science fairs around the state and offering scholarships


• A summer camp is offered


• Relevant curricula – (handout given)


• Instructional design for face-to-face classroom instruction in addition to on-line instruction


• Getting more students involved in internships earlier in academic career


• Plant Science major – collaboration of Agronomy, Plant Pathology and Environmental Horticulture departments


• No effort to combine departments into mega-department


• UF On-line – complete on-line baccalaureate degree in Environmental Management in Agriculture and Natural Resources


• Graduate level distance education degree in Soil & Water Science (agro-ecology)


• Future – pulling soil science into plant science major


• Teaching appointment


• 12 hour rule – 12 contact hours per semester


• 100% = 4 classes X 3 hours each (state statute)


• 120 credit hours for a degree (semester)


• Tracking salaries of graduates is very difficult


• Sharing on-line courses through AG*IDEA – UF does not participate because course cost is an issue


• UF enrolment is just under 50,000 (about 36,000 undergraduates)

Dr. Nick Place – Dean of Extension and Director of Florida Cooperative Extension Service provided a welcome and an overview of IFAS Extension.

• Provided handout of calendar that includes annual report


• Florida is 3rd largest state in population behind Texas and California


• Florida is 2nd largest state in agricultural output


• There are 67 counties in Florida and UF has 13 Research and Education centers, 200 Extension specialist, 350 county / regional agents


• UF Extension has a $90 million budget


• Of the $90 million – 6% is federal, 34% is state, 28% is county and 32% is grants and contracts


• Vision – Food, Water, Climate, Obesity, Health, Youth


• Extension roadmap – pdec.ifas.ufl.edu


• Positions in UF Extension


•         Extension Specialists


•         State Specialized Agents (SSA)


•         Regional Specialized Agents (RSA)


•         Multi-County and County Agents


• Starting salaries w/ B.S. -$38K, w/M.S. - $44K


• Fixed-term positions


• Professional Development


• Hope to move to CEU model (county level)


• Needs assessment to guide efforts


• Alternative delivery strategies


• Sharing resources at regional and national levels


• Revenue Enhancement


• Ensuring access and public good


• Program enhancement and growth


• Diversity of ways to generate extramural funding


• UF Capital Campaign


•        $3 billion goal – UF


•        $250 million – IFAS


• Utilizing Sponsorships


• Intentional work with foundations, companies, individuals, etc. who want to invest and underwrite programs


• Utilizing program fees


• Urban programs – 96% of FL population lives in urban areas


• University-based Extension


• Utilizing and benefitting from vast research expertise in IFAS

Dr. Jackie Burns – Dean of Research and Director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station provided a welcome and an overview of IFAS Research

• Provided handout on IFAS research (about 8,000 handouts produced and distributed)


• Mission


•         Discover new knowledge


•         Encourage innovative study


• Research and Education Centers


• Research and Demonstration Sites


• Citrus REC established in 1917 – oldest


• Over 300 commodity groups served


• 441 on-campus faculty, 153 off-campus faculty


• 452 with research appointments


• Cultivar releases and U.S. plant patents


• $161.1 million in federal FY 2014 funding


• FY 2014/15 - $125.8 million (75% federal) awards


• Focus area (9)


• Plant and animal food systems


• Food safety and security


• Major activities of IFAS research


•    (1) Proposal processing oversight, (2) cultivar release, protection and licensing, (3) FAES capacity fund procurement and reporting, (4) Management, oversight, administration of two major research sites, (5) IFAS research program oversight, faculty retention, hiring, P&T, (6) Allocation and oversight of state and federal operating expenses to units, (7) Faculty awards and recognition, (8) Internal grant programs and undergraduate research fellowships


• Filling 44 positions in IFAS in 2016


• Faculty are innovation engines


• IFAS initiated IDC on commodity grants – 12% (the cost each proposal would bear)

Monday afternoon – travel to Plant Science REC at Citra for group discussion

 Discussion Topics

 1.    Teaching expectations per faculty teaching FTE (handout from Ramesh Reddy

•  12.5% for one 3-hour course


•  Variability from institution to institution on % per FTE


•  How you calculate teaching FTE is complicated but most southern region institutions are very similar in their calculations


•  Texas A&M – more funding credit for professor teaching than associate professor

2.    Undergraduate curriculum modifications (degree hours limitations)

•  Problem getting pre-requisites under 120 hour degree at Texas A&M


•  Creative ways to package current requirements


•  At University of Kentucky, students can individualize a B.S. in agriculture


•  Concern is loss of pre-requisites

3.    Methods for dealing with financial constraints

•  State budgets and federal funding is level or falling


•  We are leaning more on gifts/development/donors


•  Do you include or start charging fees?


•  Cost reimbursement at Texas A&M for Extension


•  Incentives for funding raising


•  At Texas AA&M, department heads have in their position description they must spend 2.5 days (10%) per month on development


•  Donations for scholarships and special causes


•  Corporate donations are difficult


•  Other creative funding – a percentage of IDC returned to the department


•  Need to share budget with faculty – UF


•  Royalties and how they are distributed

4.    IDC and charging commodity group for services

•  Concerns about commodity grants, carryover funds, how to use those funds


•  Make sure all commodity groups are treated the same unless they want to be treated separately


•  Do you develop “processing fees”, “direct costs”, “accounting fees”, “equipment maintenance” etc.?


•  At UF, discussion ongoing with commodity groups about 12.5% IDC


•  Difficult situation when faculty are pressured to test “specialty products” when you know they don’t work and company wants additional testing to justify funding

5.     Accounting packages that work

•  Varies across institutions


•  Texas A&M uses BAM


•  Lots of dollars being spent (manpower, software, etc.) on accounting systems

Tuesday, May 17

 Continuation of discussion topics

6.     Tracking employment for graduates

• University of Kentucky was charged with finding out employment of graduates of past three years


• University of Tennessee is using LinkedIn as a way to track recent graduates


• Virginia Tech has a support person and also uses LinkedIn


• UF starting a database to document milestones of students and graduates


• LinkedIn seems a great way


• Use of newsletters, Facebook and Twitter was also discussed


• Texas A&M published an internal newsletter 11 times a year


• Advisory Boards / Councils – some department have them and some don’t


• Virginia Tech has a strict set of by-laws to guide advisory board or prevent advisory board from controlling department; has good input from board

7.    Mobile communications and Extension

• University of Kentucky – Concerns about how mobile communications (web blogs, YouTube videos, etc.) count in P&T system


• University of Florida – “creative works” section in UF P&T package


• Virginia Tech – uses webinars, per review is a concern; quality of work to be judged is concern


• Texas A&M – peer review of videos; video clips not counted toward peer review but do review number of hits


• Question for the group – Is there a number of Extension publications that count per FTE for P&T?


• Difficult to determine


• North Carolina State – high tech, high touch – use of mobile communications; demographics of participants at field days and meetings has shifted from mostly producers to more consultants


• Start at first of career in developing baseline data for impact instead of waiting until 5 year P&T time to begin assessment – from David Baltensperger


• Measure output versus impact

8.    Sharing Course Online – Ramesh Reddy

• At UF there are several on-line courses


• How to share between institutions; how is compensation dispensed?


• Consortium of number of land grant institutions for sharing on-line courses


• Ramesh will be willing to work with us to determine which courses could be shared


• LSU, University of Arkansas, Oklahoma State University and Mississippi State University have a formal agreement on certain courses, specifically plant physiology


• What course would need to be offered?


• Non-degree seeking students are interested


• Certificate program at UF in agroecology; M.S. program in agroecology had an increase of 30% in students


• Send Ramesh any course list for sharing of on-line courses

9.       Multi-State Porject Development

• Southern Directors web site on how to develop


• What is benefit to faculty for developing multi-state projects


• Greatest advantage is it lead to larger more competitive grants


• No financial incentive


• Hatch – faculty salaries


• Coordinating committees – old SRIEG; meet twice a year to develop plans, develop reports


• Very useful for younger faculty


• For multi-state Hatch, there is 25% that must be used in a formal, approved project and work directly in another state


• NIMSS.org – has list of multi-state projects


• Are there ways or opportunities for our group to determine which research strengths we could collaborate on?


• We do not need to micromanage faculty but encourage new/young faculty to become involved in an existing multi-state project


• SAC-1 survey (handout was given)

 Next Meeting – will be held in May 2017 at Auburn University

 Future Meetings – University of Kentucky will host in 2018 and Mississippi State University will host in 2019

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Jeff Edwards, Oklahoma State University;
Julie Carrier, University of Tennessee;
David Baltensperger, Texas A&M University;
Scott Senseman, University of Tennessee;
Jeff Mullahey, North Carolina State University;
Robert Bacon, University of Arkansas;
Clarence Watson, University of Arkansas (Administrative Advisor);
Jeff Steiner, USDA-NIFA;
John Beasley, Auburn University (Host)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Southern Region Agronomy Department Heads (SAC-1)
Annual Meeting
18-19 May 2017
Auburn, AL

Thursday, May 18

The 2017 meeting of the Southern Region Agronomy Department Heads (SAC-1) convened in Auburn, AL and was hosted by the Auburn University and Dr. John Beasley. The meeting was held at the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center.

Attendees were:
Attendees: Jeff Edwards, Oklahoma State University; Julie Carrier, University of Tennessee; David Baltensperger, Texas A&M University; Scott Senseman, University of Tennessee; Jeff Mullahey, North Carolina State University; Robert Bacon, University of Arkansas; Clarence Watson, University of Arkansas (Administrative Advisor); Jeff Steiner, USDA-NIFA and John Beasley, Auburn University (Host)

Institutions not represented at this year’s meeting were: University of Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Clemson University, University of Florida, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University and the University of Georgia.

John Beasley gave a welcome to Auburn University and an overview of the agenda for the two-day meeting. The agenda for the meeting is listed below.

Wednesday, May 17
 Arrive in Auburn, AL
(Shuttle from Atlanta Airport – Groome Transportation (17 trips per day from ATL to AU, http://auburn.groometransportation.com/ - http://auburn.groometransportation.com/auburn-shuttle-schedule/)
(when checking the Groome Transportation schedule remember that ATL is on EDT and Auburn is on CDT)

Hotel Accomodations – The Hotel at Auburn University http://www.auhcc.com/
     241 South College Street, Auburn, AL 36830
     334-821-8200

Dinner on your own (Auburn is home to several award winning and recognized restaurants, check with John for suggestions above and beyond the routine)

 Thursday, May 18
Breakfast on your own (the restaurant at the AU Hotel, Ariccia Trattoria, has an outstanding breakfast buffet)

8:00 AM – Walk across the street from AU Hotel to Auburn University campus and Comer Hall
Comer Hall 109
8:15 – Coffee and light breakfast snacks
8:30 – Welcome and Agenda discussion – John Beasley and Clarence Watson
9:00 – Associate Dean for Research
9:30 – Associate Dean for Instruction
10:00 – Break
10:30 – Director, Alabama Cooperative Extension System – Dr. Gary Lemme Assistant Dean for Extension – Dr. Paul Mask
11:15 – SAC-1 Business – Dr. Clarence Watson Noon – Lunch (Red Barn – Ag Heritage Park)

1:30 – Tour of Auburn research facilities
 The Old Rotation, Cullars Rotation, Sports Surface Field Lab and CASIC

3:00 – CASIC Conference Room

Discussion Topics:

     A. “What new challenges are facing your department?”
     B. Federal funding – expectations under new federal administration
     C. Multi-state projects and Hatch funding
     D. Constraints on research programs – laboratory, field, funding
     E. Update on IDC and state level commodity groups
     F. Undergraduate curriculums – meeting student needs
    G. Distance education – undergraduate vs. graduate programs
    H. Graduate student training – requirements, expectations
    I. Alumni relations, development

5:00 – Leave for AU Hotel
5:30 – Transportation to Auburn University Club
5:45 – Supper with Dr. Paul Patterson, Dean of the College of Agriculture
7:30 – Transportation back to AU Hotel

Friday, May 19
Breakfast on your own
Check out of AU Hotel

Comer 109
8:30 – Coffee and light breakfast refreshments
9:00 – Discussion continued on topics from day before
11:00 – Transportation back to Atlanta airport
Noon – Lunch with Heads and Chairs with later departures

Dr. Clarence Watson, administrative advisor for SAC-1, began the meeting with an overview of our group’s responsibilities and an explanation of SAC-1, which is Southern Administrative Coordinating committee, and is comprised of department heads and chairs of academic departments in agronomy, crop or plant, soil and/or water science at land grant institutions across the southern region of the U.S. We are members of this committee by virtue of our positions. This group is set through 2020. The following are bullet points of topics covered by Dr. Watson.

• SAC-1 is involved in review of collaborative projects/proposals (full or pre-proposals) for multi-state funding


• NIMSS (National Information Management System) – needs updating on list of participation – this is where our business is housed and stored – annual reports are posted in NIMS – Appendix E is the participation report

 Dr. Henry Fadamiro – Associate Dean for Research, College of Agriculture, Auburn University

Dr. Fadamiro provided a welcome and an overview of the research programs in the College of Agriculture at Auburn University. The following is a summary of his comments. Approximately 20 new faculty members have been hired in the College of Agriculture at Auburn in the past year. Most of these hires have been in a research/teaching appointment with most research appointments at 60 or 75%. Dr. Dale Monks serves as the Director of Research Operations for Outlying Units for the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. There are 16 outlying units in the system, with 6 designated as Research and Extension Centers and 10 designated as research centers. The E.V. Smith Research Center at Shorter, AL is the closest to the Auburn University campus, approximately 30 miles west of the campus.

Dr. Amy Wright – Associate Dean of Instruction, College of Agriculture, Auburn University

Dr. Wright provided a welcome to Auburn University and the College of Agriculture followed by a discussion and overview of the academic programs in the College. Undergraduate enrollment in the college continues to increase and the 2016-2017 academic year had approximately 1,100 undergraduate students and approximately 300 graduate students. Enrollment projections for the 2017-2018 academic year look to surpass both of those numbers. The new faculty hires in the College have filled some of the missing gaps in instruction programs in some of the departments due to retirements. The College is approaching $1,000,000 in scholarships for undergraduates. Two new majors have been approved in the College, Biotechnology through the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology and Agricultural Sciences through the Department of Horticulture.

Dr. Gary Lemme – Director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Dr. Lemme provided an overview of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Alabama has 67 counties and an Extension office in all 67. The subject matter programs are delivered through Regional Extension Agents that have specific expertise, for example, agronomic crops. There are 6 Regional Extension Agents for agronomic crops in Alabama, one each for Northwest, Northeast, West Central, East Central, Southwest and Southeast Alabama.

Monday afternoon – travel tour of “The Old Rotation”, the Cullars Rotation, Sports Surface Field Lab and Center for Advanced Science, Innovation and Commerce (CASIC)

Following lunch, the group toured several locations associated with Auburn University and the College of Agriculture. Stops included “The Old Rotation”, which is on the Registry for National Historic Sites and is the longest continuous cotton rotation site starting in 1896, the Cullars Rotation, soil fertility research since 1911, the AU Sports Surface Field Laboratory and the Center for Advanced Science, Innovation and Commerce, or CASIC The CASIC facility is home to much of Auburn University’s basic research in genetics, water and computational throughput.

Discussion Topics

A. Challenges at each represented institution:

a. Oklahoma State University (Jeff Edwards) – budget cuts ($20 million)
b. University of Tennessee – Soil Science (Julie Carrier) – faculty (old vs. new), gateway soils course because of 2-year free college
c. University of Tennessee – Plant Science (Scott Senseman) – in a new building and UT hired a new Chancellor
d. Texas A&M (David Baltensperger) – IT security and meeting state laws associated with IT security, the political structure in Texas and posturing by A&M for funding, under a current hiring freeze.
e. North Carolina State University (Jeff Mulahey) – conservative political structure in North Carolina, extensive hiring (which is a good situation), challenges within the department in development/fund raising
f. University of Arkansas (Robert Bacon) – loss of positions (one hire in 6 years), especially in teaching positions
g. Auburn University (John Beasley) – AU is under a new budget model that is challenging for the College of Agriculture

B. Federal Funding:

a. Jeff Steiner from USDA-NIFA led the discussion – budget for NIFA and AFRI included $25 million bumps, a hiring freeze complicated operations within USDA
b. AFRI will be consistent
c. Faculty need to communicate accomplishments from NIFA/AFRI funding!

C. Multi-State projects and Hatch funding:

a. Faculty need to participate in Multi-State projects and create networking opportunities

D. Constraints on research programs:

a. Support from colleges on existing versus new programs
b. Matching instruction and research on faculty appointments

Friday, May 19

Discussion on SAC-1 meeting locations for next few years
 2018 – Texas A&M
 2019 – Starkville, MS
 2020 – Stillwater, OK
 2011 – Raleigh, NC
As a reference, 2015 meeting was in Knoxville, TN, 2016 in Gainesville, FL and 2017 in Auburn, AL

Continuation of discussion topics from Thursday

E. Update on IDC and state commodity groups:

a. Florida now has 12% IDC on commodity grants
b. University of Arkansas levies plot charges
c. Key question is how to work with state-based commodity groups and IDC charges
d. Unrecovered F&A is used as a match in Texas
e. At NC State, the Department of Crop & Soil Sciences is charged by the College for F&A (commodity board members impact state appropriations)

F. Undergraduate curriculums:

a. Auburn University – new Agricultural Science major
b. Student needs – more international experience and more practical experiences

G. Graduate students and Distance Education:

a. The group discussed the variability within and among institutions regarding graduate student stipends
b. Revenues generated from DE programs provide funding support for programs

Next Meeting – will be held in May 15-17, 2018 at College Station, TX (Texas A&M and David Baltensperger as host)

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

David Baltensperger TAMU (Chair and host), Mike Phillips MSU (Chair-Elect), Jeff Edwards OSU, Robert Bacon UARK, Scott Senseman UTK, Julie Carrier UTK, and Rebecca McCulley UKY (attended via web conference due to flight cancellation)

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting was held at Texas A&M University, College Station TX. The meeting began on Wednesday, May 16th with introductions and greetings from the Texas A&M and AgriLife administration.  This was followed by discussion of SAC-1 business which included updates from the administrative advisor Lesley Oliver and NIFA representative Jeff Steiner.  After a tour of the AgriLife facilities, topics of interest were discussed by the group and another tour was given of TAMU's new turf facility. The following day included discussion of additional topics of interest including alumni relations and commodity group support, and acadmic (undergraduate and graduate) programs. Detailed minutes are attached.

Accomplishments

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Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Bacon, Robert; U. Arkansas rbacon@uark.edu
Baltensperger, David D.; Texas A&M U. dbaltensperger@tamu.edu
Bates, Gary; U. Tennessee gbates@utk.edu
Beasley, John; Auburn U. jpb0035@auburn.edu
Carrier, Julie; U. Tennessee dcarrie1@utk.edu
Dodds, Darrin; Mississippi State U. dmd76@msstate.edu
Edwards, Jeff; Oklahoma State U. jeff.edwards@okstate.edu
Evans, Michael; Virginia Tech mrevans1@vt.edu
Labonte, Don; Louisiana State U. DLabonte@agcenter.lsu.edu
McCulley, Rebecca L.; U. Kentucky rebecca.mcculley@uky.edu
Mullahey, Jeff; North Carolina State U. Jeff_Mullahey@ncsu.edu
Oliver, Lesley; U. Kentucky (Admin Advisor) lesley.oliver@uky.edu
Rowland, Diane L.; U. Florida dlrowland@ufl.edu
Senseman, Scott; U. Tennessee ssensema@utk.edu
Sherrier, Janine; U. Georgia djsherrier@uga.edu
Whiles, Matthew R.; U. Florida mwhiles@ufl.edu

Brief Summary of Minutes

Following introductions by the attendees, the group welcomed Dr. Mat Ngouajio, National Science Liaison with NIFA. Dr. Ngouajio has responsibility for plant protection, plant production and organic farming across NIFA programs. As a National Science Liaison he is located in Washington, D.C. where he works closely to coordinate programs and opportunities in these areas with other federal agencies.  He can also help get inquiries to the appropriate place within NIFA as staffing continues to change as a result of the move to Kansas City and the previous contacts for many programs have changed.  He provided a brief update on NIFA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as an update on the organization’s structure and status of hiring new personnel following the move.

The group then had an open discussion of how programs are being affected by the pandemic and mechanisms being used to allow work to continue, and plan for ramping up activities.  Some discussion points:

• Laboratory and other on-campus activities have been limited by restricted occupancy rates, though the levels imposed vary by institution. Many activities limited only to those that are required to maintain critical materials, animals and equipment.


• Many campuses are preparing to allow for increased occupancy in labs starting as early as this week. Some have mask protocols in place for entering and exiting spaces. Some campuses are requiring testing prior to people returning to campus.


• Field research has been allowed to continue with proper safety measures in place. Travel restrictions (number occupants in vehicles, no overnight stays allowed, mandatory quarantine period for anyone returning from out-of-state) and PPE requirements where distancing is not possible have impacted this somewhat and increased costs.


• Both international students and new faculty have been experiencing further delays (6-8 months) in obtaining visas. Quarantine periods are being required for those coming from outside the US and should also be figured into the timing of on-boarding international students and faculty.  


• Many department heads indicated that they were finding ways to deal with the transition, but that there was a lot of confusion about operational changes and procedures, requirements for ramp up, how access to materials like PPE and testing is being handled and who is responsible for enforcement of requirements.


• One strategy implemented to help deal with the ongoing transition and communication is to hold weekly virtual informal meetings with faculty, staff and students. This has resulted in community building and group problem solving.


• Temporary work assignments are being used by at least one institution to allow students to relocate and quarantine before their assistantships officially start.


• Several institutions have automatically extended the tenure clock by one year for all pre-tenure faculty with the option of going up according to the original timetable if desired.

 

The group briefly discussed plans for upcoming meetings. Janine Sherrier at UGA agreed to host the group next year since she could not this time. As previously discussed, the group will plan to meet at UKY followed by NC State in subsequent years. The group agreed to continue meeting in mid-May and the host representative will chair the future meetings.  The group was reminded that there will be a time at the ASA meeting for department heads to meet before adjourning.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Baltensperger, David D.; Texas A&M U. dbaltensperger@tamu.edu
Beasley, John; Auburn U. jpb0035@auburn.edu
Brewster, Carlyle; Clemson U. carlylb@clemson.edu
Carrier, Julie; U. Tennessee dcarrie1@utk.edu
Dodds, Darrin; Mississippi State U. dmd76@msstate.edu
Edwards, Jeff; Oklahoma State U. jeff.edwards@okstate.edu
Grey, Timothey; U. Georgia tgrey@uga.edu
McCulley, Rebecca L.; U. Kentucky rebecca.mcculley@uky.edu
Mullahey, Jeff; North Carolina State U. Jeff_Mullahey@ncsu.edu
Nathan Slaton; U. Arkansas nslaton@uark.edu
Ngouajio, Mathieu; NIFA (official rep) mathieu.ngouajio@usda.gov
Oliver, Lesley; U. Kentucky (Admin Advisor) lesley.oliver@uky.edu
Owens, Vance; NIFA (official rep) Vance.Owens@usda.gov
Senseman, Scott; U. Tennessee ssensema@utk.edu
Stout, Mike; Louisiana State U. MStout@agcenter.lsu.edu
Whiles, Matthew R.; U. Florida mwhiles@ufl.edu

Guests from the UK College of Agriculture, Food & Environment (virtual hosts):
Nancy Cox- Dean and Vice President of Land-Grant Engagement
Carmen Agouridis- Associate Dean for Instruction
Laura Stephenson, Associate Dean for Extension
Bob Houtz, Associate Dean for Research
Seth DeBolt, Director, James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits

Brief Summary of Minutes

Introductions- We welcomed a few new members, several of which are serving in acting or interim roles, and not so new members attending the meeting for the first time. 

Administrative advisor comments- There are no Southern region crop or soil science multistate projects set to expire in 2021. There are currently no proposals for new projects, but should some be developed before our next meeting, Lesley Oliver will be in contact via email to obtain approval and comments.  

Virtual host overview- Following some general discussion (summarized below), the group was welcomed by the Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at UK, and received an overview of the college’s teaching, extension and research activities.  There was also a high-level presentation on the James B. Beam institute for Kentucky Spirits, a unique interdisciplinary endeavor supporting one of the state’s signature industries.  

NIFA update- Dr. Mat Ngouajio, National Science Liaison, and Dr. Vance Owens, a National Program Leader in the Institute of Food Production and Sustainability provided an overview of current NIFA priorities and initiatives. Staffing levels are significantly higher than they were a year ago, though this continues to be an ongoing effort.  FY2021 priorities include: containing the COVID-19 pandemic, racial justice and equity; food and nutrition security, rebuilding the rural economy, and addressing the impacts of climate change. FY21 appropriations included $4 million to support a “Farm of the Future” testbed and demonstration facility at a Land-Grant institution. NIFA also continues to improve their processes, systems and communications. This includes a revamping of their RFP and a new reporting system.  

Open discussion:

The group then had an open discussion on several topics. Some discussion points:

• COVID impacts on P&T- Most campuses seem to be granting a one-year extension in the timeline, though many faculty at some institutions are choosing not to take it. Associate to full promotions are being impacted by the limitations on international work


• Extension in a post-pandemic world- There seems to be a lot of thought and some concerns about clientele expectations for extension following the pandemic. Many have found new ways to reach audiences, but many people may expect extension to go back to the same level of in-person interaction as was before the pandemic. This will be a challenge to balance in the coming year.


• Establishing a post-COVID land grant work culture- It seems that most institutions are either already back to full on-campus activity for employees or are planning on it. Some faculty have struggled from the lack of interaction and mentorship but most have continued to be productive; it’s unclear if this will lead to a shift of faculty conducting more business while off-campus, though there will likely be a crackdown on very remote (i.e, out-of-country) work that has been seen by some.  Staff may be more reticent to come back on campus at pre-pandemic levels and may take advantage of policies at some institutions that allow for up to 2 days a week of remote work.


• State budget projections- Many are expecting flat state budget after receiving cuts ranging 6-10% last year. A number of institutions are expecting cost of living and/or merit increases this year, while others are still uncertain. At least one is also looking at adjustments to address salary compression. Overall a better outlook than last year and some departments are holding faculty searches.


• There was some discussion of turnover among the group and within our administrative structures. Turnover among members may seem higher than normal just due to the unusual year.  Many noted felling more challenges due to higher turnover rates in central university positions, like Provosts, that have impacts on overall university priorities and budgets.


• Dealing with undergraduate enrollment challenges- Many departments are struggling with dwindling enrollments. Some have revamped undergraduate programs (e.g., emphasis on ag. Ecosystems) to appeal to more students with some success. NC State has seen 50% increase in enrollments since 2017 and attributes it to better social media engagement with perspective students, as well as an institutional effort to find new pathways to admission.  


• Collaborative work on carbon market models that improve soils- This was suggest by David B. for exploration as a new multistate project. He is willing to hold a meeting to explore this further. Each member should send the names of a few people from their institutions who should be included in such a discussion, noted who would be most key.  Keep in mind that this may need to include some natural resource economists as well. Lesley O. will also review existing projects and proposal for potential overlap and meet with the group to discuss the process for creating a multistate activity.

 

The group briefly discussed plans for upcoming meetings. Jeff M. will plan to host next year’s meeting at approximately the same time (mid-May) in-person at NC State.  The group was reminded that there will be a time at the ASA meeting for department heads to meet on Sunday. Julie C. is the contact for that.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Baltensperger, David D.; Texas A&M U. dbaltensperger@tamu.edu
Beasley, John; Auburn U. jpb0035@auburn.edu
Brewster, Carlyle; Clemson U. carlylb@clemson.edu
Carrier, Julie; U. Tennessee dcarrie1@utk.edu
Dodds, Darrin; Mississippi State U. dmd76@msstate.edu
Edwards, Jeff; Oklahoma State U. jeff.edwards@okstate.edu
Evans, Michael, Virginia Tech, mrevans1@vt.edu
Grey, Timothey; U. Georgia tgrey@uga.edu
Macoon, Bisoondat, NIFA (Official rep) bisoondat.macoon@usda.gov
McCulley, Rebecca L.; U. Kentucky rebecca.mcculley@uky.edu
Mullahey, Jeff; North Carolina State U. Jeff_Mullahey@ncsu.edu
Oliver, Lesley; U. Kentucky (Admin Advisor) lesley.oliver@uky.edu
Owens, Vance; NIFA (official rep) Vance.Owens@usda.gov
Stout, Mike; Louisiana State U. MStout@agcenter.lsu.edu
Whiles, Matthew R.; U. Florida mwhiles@ufl.edu
Kakani,Gopal; Oklahoma State U. v.g.kakani@okstate.edu

Brief Summary of Minutes

Introductions and Welcome by the virtual host institution- Following introductions, the group was welcomed by John Dole, Interim Dean, and the Associate Deans of College of Ag and Life Sciences (CALS) at NC State. The provided an overview of the college’s strategic initiatives and notable achievements, including the recent completion of the new Plant Sciences Building, and unique resources in support of research, teaching and extension.  

NIFA update- Dr. Bisoondat “Mac” Macoon, and Dr. Vance Owens, provided an overview of current NIFA priorities and initiatives. Staffing levels are up and they are discussing potentially hosting meetings in the KC offices. FY2022 priorities include climate change; building equitable, resilient, and prosperous ag systems; equitable marketplaces; opportunities for economic development and improved quality of life in rural and tribal communities; attracting, inspiring, and retaining a workforce.  

Open discussion:

The group then had an open discussion on several topics. Some discussion points:

• Grant support staff and models-The groups discussed available strategies for helping faculty be more competitive for grant funding.  Some colleges have dedicated grant writing assistance in addition to what is available centrally.  Investments seems to be having payoff. Some are dealing with centralized grant assistance, which can take time to work well and suffers from high turnover.  Some departments looking to hire dedicated pre- or post-award assistance.


• There was a brief discussion about how different colleges handle covering graduate student fees as there seems to be a push to not have this covered so that students don’t have to pay it, or have their pay be sufficient to cover it on top of the base salary/stipend.


• Salary data- There was discussion of whether salary data was available for the departments.  Starting salaries for 9-month appointments of $85-90K seem common. Compression at the more senior levels is becoming a problem as the newer faculty starting salaries are increasing. Some have been able to make special adjustments this year.  It was noted that there is an Oklahoma State Survey and an AAUP salary survey accessible online that might be helpful. 


• Institutional Collaborations- the group discussed ideas about proactively putting together teams ready to respond to opportunities like the Climate-Smart Commodities.  It is hard to know what opportunities may be on the horizon, but administrators could do a better job of being strategic about emerging areas of research.  This group also discussed possible ideas for multistate projects. One topic identified was Cotton leaf dwarf virus. The group also talked about how to incentivize faculty joining multistate projects.


• Undergraduate Enrollment Trends in Agronomy/Environmental Sciences- Some shifts observed include recent drops following years trending upward; some are seeing drops in some programs but increases in others.


• Facilities- Several members are impacted by the rising costs of construction- new buildings and renovations planned have been scaled back or are not sufficient to house all faculty.  Space allocation is a problem many are facing; those with the ability to house existing faculty in new interdisciplinary buildings are generally not able to increase their overall space, so there has to be a backfill plan. Models for space allocation could be shared among the members.

The group briefly discussed plans for upcoming meetings, including whether they should hold them virtually or in person.  It was suggested that the next meeting be hosted by Virginia Tech sometime in the summer.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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