Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 am by Chair Rasmussen. Following self introductions, the agenda was approved as submitted. The minutes were reviewed. Motion to approve minutes was made by Clayton and seconded by Goldsbrough and passed unanimously. A subcommittee of Hammerschmidt, Blodgett, and Rasmussen were approved as the nominating committee. Another subcommittee of Hoeft and Steadman were approved as the site selection committee for the 2009 meeting. Administrative Advisor Slack report: 1. He commended the group for holding a joint meeting with counterparts in other regions the prior day. Most of those in attendance at the meeting on Feb 2, were from NC and SE regions. 2. Reminded the group that all renewals and requests for new projects must be submitted by late Feb. 3. Reported that Chris Hamilton is new Exec. Secr. of administrative office of NCRA/NIMSS. 4. Reported that Federal Budget will be released on Feb 5. Anticipating that Exp. Sta. will need to be proactive in keeping HATCH budget as there is continued pressure to convert to more competitive grants. Farm bill is in conference between Senate and House. New bill contains language on structure of CSREES- may be name change to NIFA. Specialty crops have been highlighted for funding, but this is not new money, but rather money will be taken from current budget. Specialty crops funds will most likely be allocated in a competitive grants program. CSREES Representative Cardwell report: 1. National coordinating group establishing criteria for Clean Plant Network. Initial intent of the program was to establish location where materials could be sent to clean it from viruses and/or facility that would maintain disease free root or bud stock tissue. 2. Biofuels- competitive grants program for 50 million for ten years. 3. Shared brochures that highlighted several of the funding programs including NRI, IPM , Renewal Energy and Biobased Products. 4. Encouraged the group to stress the importance of having a strong section on the extension program that will be developed for the proposal. Must show that a program will be delivered and that there will be a follow up survey to determine the success of the program. 5. Plant biosecurity NRI has been reopened. National Plant Diagnostic Network - Ray Hammerschmidt indicated that this program was renewed for an additional 5 years. Suggestions from the review included: 1. Increase diagnostic training for CCAs. 2. Improve communication with other interest groups- industry, government, etc. 3. Enhance efforts in entomology and weed science 4. Now developing an accreditation process for laboratories involved in NPDN. Discussion that followed indicated a concern about lack of trained diagnosticians available in the work place. Suggestion was made to invite someone to attend next year's session to describe the problem and offer a potential solution to overcome the problem. A survey of the profile of individual departments was conducted. Data were compiled and shared on faculty number, salaries, starting salaries, student numbers, graduate stipends, post doc stipends, budget distribution between research, teaching, and extension. Dr. Clayton was nominated for the position of incoming Secretary, to serve as Chair in 2010. He was unanimously elected to the position. The site selection committee recommended that the 2009 meetings be held in Ponce Puerto Rico in late January or early February. Meeting at this location will allow individuals to view the winter nursery program of a commercial operation as well as that run by the Illinois Crop Improvement Association. In addition, those that wish can travel to Mayaguez to visit the University and begin recruiting. Discussion was held on the future of meeting with other regions. Options being considered for 2010 include: 1. Cease and desist 2. Limit it to southern and NC 3. Hold national and consider going to DC 4. Hold it in conjunction with APS Carol will Chair APS Dept. Head breakfast in 2008 and will discuss the possibility of a national meeting of Heads. A total of 12 projects were reviewed. One termination, two midterm reviews, and the rest were informational reviews. State reports: Nebraska: 17 faculty. Changing name of department to Plant Pathology and Microbiology. Will have new position in fungal genomics. Initiating Dr. of Plant Health and Biosecurity curriculum. Michigan State: 14 tenure track faculty. 2 new positions in last year. Minnesota: 26 faculty, including 6 adjunct faculty from six different units. One new faculty fungal biologist- hired in past year. Total of 25 graduate students, with 18 of them being domestic. Biocontainment level 2 greenhouse recently completed and level 3 facility due for completion in winter of 2008. Missouri: 9 tenure track faculty. 14 graduate students, 4 of which are domestic. Indiana: 26 tenure track faculty, of which 14 consider themselves plant pathology.1 retirement in 2007 (Huber). 28 graduate students (45% international). Iowa: 17 faculty. 36 graduate students, half of which are majoring in plant pathology. One new hire in 2007 in plant-associated microbial ecology. North Dakota: 14 tenure track faculty. 3 new hires in 2007- fusarium head blight and fungal biology, dry bean/pulse crop diseases and fungal biology, row crop extension. 23 graduate students- majority international. Wisconsin: 17 faculty. 1 retirement and 1 new hire in 2007. 44 graduate students. Illinois: 31 faculty of which 9 are plant pathologists. 66 graduate students. Initiated surcharge tuition of $1000 per student in last academic year. Initiated plant breeding center with funding of 1.3 million from industry and 80% salary of the director from the Provost office. Kansas: 20 state faculty- hired 7 faculty by end of this month over 3 year period. 3.5% merit increase last year. Deferred maintenance has accumulated to level of 750 million. Adding undergraduate minor in bioinformatics and genomics. South Dakota: 33 tenure track faculty. 36 graduate students with approximately 50% international. A seed technology building is in the planning process.

Regional projects were reviewed and actions taken on those at mid term as well as one that will be terminated. Discussed issues of mutual concern and interest.