Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

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.