WAAESD / agInnovation South Joint Spring Meeting Minutes
March 22 – 25, 2010
Virginia Beach, Virginia

 

Participants:

BarbaraAllen-Diaz, CA
Jerry Arkin, GA
Jan Auyong, OR
Susan Barefoot, SC
David Boethel, LA
Bill Brown, TN
Ralph Cavalieri, WA
Mark Cochran, AR
Nancy Cox, KY
LeRoy Daugherty, NM
Richard Guthrie, AL
Bret Hess, WY
Ching Yuan Hu, HI
Jeff Jacobsen, MT
Michael Kahn, WA
Colin Kaltenbach, AZ
Carol Lewis, AK
Steven Loring, NM
Robert Matteri, CA
Michael McGuire, CO
Mark McLellan, FL
Reuben Moore, MS
David Morrison, LA
Saied Mostaghimi, VA
Craig Nessler, TX		 James Rakocy, VI
Elvin Roman-Paoli, PR
John Russin, LA
Bob Shulstad, GA
David Smith, NC
Lee Sommers, CO
Clarence Watson, OK
Greg Wiecko, GU
Steve Workman, KY 
Executive Director’s Office:
Mike Harrington, WAAESD
Eric Young, agInnovation South
Harriet Sykes, WAAESD
Liaisons:
Ed King, ARS – Stoneville, MS
Dan Upchurch, ARS
Other guests:
Don Albrecht, WRDC
Bo Beaulieu, SRDC
Annabelle Fuselier, VA
Arlen Leholm, NCRA
Ralph Otto, NIFA

 

Minutes:

 

Monday, March 22
3:30 – 5:00 pm WAAESD Executive Committee Meeting – Linkhorn Boardroom
4:00 – 6:60 pm  Registration – Grand Foyer Ballroom
6:00 – 8:00 pm Joint Welcome Reception – Ocean Grand Foyer Room

 

Tuesday, March 23
6:30 – 8:00 am Joint Breakfast – Ocean Grand Foyer Room
8:00 – 12:00 pm Joint WAAESD and agInnovation South Meeting – Cape Hatteras Ballroom
8:00 Call to Order and Introductions – Carol Lewis and Mark McLellan
8:15 – 8:45 J1 NIFA and AFRI Updates – Ralph Otto
In meeting discussion:

  • Molly John – Interim Under Secretary
  • Roger Beachy – Interim Chief Scientist
  • Almost done with NIFA reorganization document
    • 4 sub-institutes
      • Food Production & Sustainability – Deb Sheely – interim leader
      • Bioenergy, Climate Change & Environment – Frank Boetler – interim leader
      • Food Safety & Nutrition – Ralph Otto – interim leader
      • Youth Family & Community – Dan Kugler – interim leader
    • Office of grants management
    • Office of information technology
    • Office of international programs
  • AFRI RFAs released yesterday
    • 6 RFAs released
    • Need to carefully read whicever RFA you’re interested in
    • 1st paragraph asks for stakeholder input, want feedback on RFA
    • Deadline indicates proposals have to be accepted before deadline by grants.gov
      • Need to start submission a few days before deadline
  • $64 Million set aside in Farm Bill in one RFA to address department’s priorities, called foundational grants, which are research only
  • NIFA Fellows RFA should be out in 2 or 3 weeks
  • Increase inAFRI proposed for 2011 comes mostly from 406 lines and special grants
    • At least 30% of AFRI has to be spent on integrated programs so activities under current 406 lines can be funded but need new approaches
  • Mandatory Lines
    • New program of $10 Million for sustainable agriculture in 2011 budget, to be managed by regional sustainable agriculture centers

 
8:45 – 9:15 J2 ARS Update – Ed King and Bob Matteri
In meeting discussion:

  • $61.5 Million in proposed increases and $53 Million in program terminations that are mostly earmarks
  • Some earmarks being eliminated are being moved into base budget for related programs
  • Considering establishing a 3rd Associate Administrator of ARS to oversee ARS tech transfer, intellectual propoerty, and grant activity
  • A significant portion of the $9 Million proposed for crop breeding would go to the plant germplasm system
9:15 – 9:45 J3 Regional Rural Development Centers, Enhancing Collaboration with the SAES’s – Bo Beaulieu (SRDC Director) and Don Albrecht (WRDC Director)

  • Don Albrecht, director of the Western Rural Development Center, and Bo Beaulieu, director of the Southern Rural Development Center, will provide input on the set of key rural development research issues that are vital to the long-term health of rural America.  Discussion will center on how the research priorities of the Agricultural Experiments Stations in the two regions might more effectively embrace these rural development issues.

In meeting discussion:

  • Don – WRDC
    • Western priorities
      • Enhance human capacity
      • Create vibrant rural communities
      • Promote sustainable natural resource development
  • Bo – SRDC – Rural Development Research Priorities SAAED Meeting
    • Rural development center’s can contribute to most of ESS priorities
    • SRDC has been awarded an ERS grant making them a RIDGE Center that will fund work in social & economic issues related to food assistance programs
9:45 – 10:00 J4 BAA Policy Board of Directors Report – Nancy Cox
10:00 – 10:30 am Joint Break – Ocean Grand Foyer Room
10:30 – 10:45 J5 Cornerstone Advocacy Report -Jim Richards (by phone)
In meeting discussion:

  • President’s budget is the best we’ve had
  • All earmark funds were put into AFRI, which has not happened in past
  • House is not allowing earmarks for for-profit entities
  • System’s efforts on capacity lines has been very good and member response seems to be good also
  • Communication on Legislation & Policy (formerly Farm Bill Committee) is beginning to work on 2012 Farm Bill
    • Sections will be asked to submit requests for changes or additions by mid-July
10:45 – 11:00 J6 ESCOP Budget & Legislative Committee Report – Jeff Jacobsen, C.Y. Hu, Bill Brown, Bob Shulstad
11:00 – 11:20 J7 Federal Budget Situation, General Discussion
In meeting discussion:

  • Need to help Roger succeed because it will help the Land Grant Universisties, but we need to work to improve the partnership
  • ESCOP is working on arranging a meeting with Roger
  • Hard to predict where earmarks will go, Sentate still wants earmarks, including some Senate Democrats
    • May go back to 2008 earmarks levels and elimate any that are new since then
    • Or may roll them into Hatch as in 2007
    • As ARS scientists go after more grants, partnerships with Land Grant University scientists will be even more important
State Budget Situation Discussion
(estimate as of 3/23/10, percent may not be accurate, please contact the AES director of the state to obtain more accurate data)

  • FL – 22% down now ~ another 5% coming
    • 700 faculty – 500 faculty
  • WY- 10% cut now
  • TX – 5% cut
  • KY – 1.5% cut now, recession after elections
  • NM – 10% total cut
  • VA – 14% total cut
  • MS – 8.66% total cut
  • AR – 4.5% total cut
  • GA – 9.66% total cut ~ 8% more cuts plus 12.8% for ’11
  • OK – 10% total cut
  • AL – 32% total cut
  • MT – 3% plus 5-10% cut
  • SC – 40% total cut now ~ 22% for academic ~ 18% research/extension
  • Alaksa – 3% cut
  • CA – 20% cut
  • VI – 3% cut
  • HI – 10% cut now ~ 3% new cut
  • PR – 9% cut
  • CO – 3% cut now ~ 5% new cut, 4.7% cut next year
  • LA – 12.5% total cut ~ 4% new cut
  • TN – 8% total cut ~ 3-4% new cut
  • NC – 10% new cut ~ 5% reversion
  • Guam – 5% increase
  • OR – 10% cut now ~ 10-20% cut coming
  • WA – 21.5% cut now ~ 4-7% new cut
  • AZ – cuts back to 2006 level now
11:20 – 11:40 J8 System Communication & Marketing Committee Report – Jerry Arkin
11:40 – 12:00 J9 ESCOP Science & Technology Committee Report – Nancy Cox, John Lui and Larry Curtis
12:00 – 1:30 pm Joint Lunch – Ocean Grand Foyer Room
1:00 – 5:30 pm Joint WAAESD and agInnovation South Meetings
 1:00 -1:20 J10 National Animal Nutrition Program, New NRSP Proposal – Nancy Cox
NRSPtemp161 Proposal 2010-01-28 revision – includes appendix
J10 COX National Animal Cromwell NRSPagInnovation SouthANDWAAESD20
In meting discussion:

  • Revised proposal address reviewer’s and director’s concerns
 1:20 -2:00 J11 REEport and NRSP-1, Research Planning Using the Current Research Information System – Bob MacDonald and Michel Desbois, NIFA Office of Planning & Accountability, Bill Brown & Colin Kaltenbach
NRSP1NoCostExtension
In meeting discussion:

  • NRSP-1 is requesting a 1-year no cost extension through 2011 and then terminate
  • One Solution group developed recommendation that have led to REEport implementation
  • REEport is a redeployment of CRIS
  • 2 main sections – grants and formula
    • Starting October 1 all grants will be initiated through REEport
    • Starting January 15 all grant reporting will go through REEport
    • October 2011 is target for formula projects through REEport
    • Grant expenditure reporting will be separate from formula reporting
2:00 – 3:00 J12  Webcast on AFRI RFAs – Roger Beachy
3:00 – 3:30 pm Joint Break – Ocean Grand Foyer Room
3:30 – 5:00 J13 Building Teams Workshop – Arlen Leholm (NCRA Executive Director)
5:00 – 5:10 J14 NRSP-4, High Value Specialty Crop Pest Management – Mark McLellan for Mary Duryea & Mary Delany
5:10 – 5:20 J15 NRSP-6, Inter-Regional Potato Introduction Project – Larry Curtis & Craig Nessler
5:20 -5:30 J16 Questions on continuing NRSPs:

  • NRSP-7, A National Agricultural Program for Minor Use Animal Drugs – David Thawley & John Liu
6:00 pm Dinner on your own

 

Wednesday, March 24
6:30 – 8:00 am Joint Breakfast – Ocean Grand Foyer Room
8:00 – 10:30 am Joint WAAESD and agInnovation South Meeting – Cape Hatteras Ballroom
8:00 Reconvene Joint Session – Mark McLellan and Carol Lewis
8:00 – 8:45 J18  
Best Practices Session, Consolidating business functions – Lee Sommers/Susan Barefoot

  • This will be a semi-structured discussion centered on issues related to consolidation business functions; including moving functions to college level, combining various functions under one manager, implementing uniform accounting systems across college, addressing consolidation of functions from college to university level, etc.  The session will begin with brief (10 min) explanations of case studies on this issue by Lee Sommers (CO State) and Susan Barefoot (Clemson).  These opening remarks will be followed by open discussion about director’s experiences with this issue, including current situations, successes and failures, new ideas, barriers, etc.

J18 Sommers ABC at CSU mar10

  • Regional Business Center: The clemson Experiment Station and clemson Cooperative Extension Service jointly piloted a Regional Business Center in October 2009 to address personnel vacancies resulting from extreme budget cuts.  Business functions for Aiken, Bamberg, Barwell, and Orangeburg Counties were consolidated at the Edisto Research & Education Center in Blackville, SC.  Programmatic staff remained to deliver services to clients in their assigned counties.

J18 Barefoot CU Regional Business Center 2010
8:45 – 9:30 J19 Best Practices Session, Developing true multi-state partnerships in research. LeRoy Daugherty/Craig Nessler

  • This will be a semi-structured discussion centered on issues related to developing multi-state partnerships; including initiating and managing formation of new partnerships, involving industry and the private sector, terms & conditions for shared outcomes (ie intellectual property, varieties, publications, etc), continuing management of long-term partnerships, etc.  The session will begin with brief (10 min) explanations of case studies on this issue by LeRoy Daugherty (NM State) and Craig Nessler (Texas AgriLife Research).  These opening remarks will be followed by open discussion about director’s experiences with this issue, including current situations, successes and failures, new ideas, barriers, etc.

J19 Nessler agInnovation South2010
J19 Daugherty 100324 WAAESD agInnovation South 2
9:30 – 10:30 J20 Discussion on New WAAESD/agInnovation South Collaborations, Projects, or Initiatives
In meeting discussion:

  • Common issues:
    • Energy/bioenergy
    • Non-timber forest products
    • Water
    • Non-food biomass production
      • Wood utilization earmark as a vechile to collaborate on this
      • 3 sungrant centers are in South and West regions, which could also facilitate collaboration
    • Aquaculture
    • Animal behavior and handling
10:30 – 11:15 am Joint Break and Prepare for Tour – Ocean Grand Foyer Room
11:15 – 10:00 pm Joint Lunch, Tour and Dinner

 

agInnovation South Spring Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2010
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Participants:

Susan Barefoot, SC
David Boethel, LA
Bill Brown, TN
Mark Cochran, AR
Nancy Cox, KY
Richard Guthrie, AL
Mark McLellan, FL
Reuben Moore, MS
David Morrison, LA
Saied Mostaghimi, VA
Craig Nessler, TX
Jim Rakocy, VI
John Russin, LA
Bob Shulstad, GA		 David Smith, NC
Clarence Watson, OK
Steve Workman, KYExecutive Director’s Office:
Eric Young, agInnovation SouthLiaisons:
Ed King, ARS – Stoneville, MSOther guests:
Annabelle Fuselier, VA

Action Items:

Agenda # Actions Taken
S1 Agenda – Approved 
Meeting Minutes  – Approved – Clarence Watson/David Morrison
Interim Actions – Approved – David Morrison/Bob Shulstad
S2 Salary and budget policy – Approved – Bob Shulstad/Reuben Moore
FY’10/’11 budget with assessment increase – Approved – Bill Brown/David Morrison
S4 S-9 budget request with $10,000 increase – Approved – Bob Shulstad/David Morrison
S5 Merger of SAC-5 and NCAC-16 – Approved – David Morrison/Bob Shulstad
Approved – S-1032 as nominee for National Multistate Award – David Morrison/Bob Shulstad

Minutes

Time Agenda Item – Presenter
Thursday, March 25
7:00 – 8:30 am Joint Breakfast – Ocean Grand Foyer Room
7:00 – 8:30 am agInnovation South Chief Operating Officers Breakfast Meeting – False Cape Room
8:30 – 11:00 am Separate WAAESD and agInnovation South Meetings – agInnovation South – Cape Charles Ballroom
8:30 Convene agInnovation South Session – Mark McLellan
8:30 S1 Approval of Agenda, Minutes and Interim Actions – Mark McLellan
Action Taken: Agenda – approved.  Meeting minutes approved. (Clarence Watson/David Morrison)  Interim Actions approved (David Morrison/Bob Shulstad).
8:30 – 8:35 S2 Chief Operating Officers Meeting Report – Mark McLellan
Policy Statement
Action Taken: Salary and budget policy – Approved (Bob Shulstad/Reuben Moore)
Action Taken: FY’10/’11 budget with assessment increase – Approved(Bill Brown/David Morrison
 
8:35 – 8:40 S3 agInnovation South Excellence in Leadership Award Presentation – Mark McLellan

  • Mark McLellan, agInnovation South Chair, presented the annual agInnovation South Leadership Awards to Richard Guthrie and David Boethel.
8:40 – 9:00 S4 S-9 Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Utilization – Jerry Arkin

In meeting discussion:

  • Budget request with $10,000 increase will only occur if there is an increase in Hatch

Action Taken: S-9 budget request with $10,000 increase – Approved(Bob shulstad/David Morrison
9:00 – 9:15 S5 MRC Report – David Morrison

In meeting discussion:

  • Merger of SAC-5 and NCAC-16
  • Contact person will be chair of joint group
  • Designation will be “SAC-16 (joint with NCAC-16)”
  • Administrative advisor will be appointed from both regions
  • Multistate S-project groups should be encouraged to develop multi-institutional hrant proposals for external funding

Action Taken: Merger of SAC-5 and NCAC-16 – Approved (David Morrison/Bob Shulstad)
Action Taken: Approved – S-1032 as nominee for National Multistate Award – (David Morrison/Bob Shulstad)
9:15 – 9:30 S6 Executive Director’s Report – Eric Young
9:30 – 10:00 S7 agInnovation South Response to Potential WAAESD Collaborations – Mark McLellan
10:00 – 10:10 S8 2011 Spring agInnovation South Meeting, South Carolina – Susan Barefoot

  • The Clemson University Experiment Station and the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service are pleased to welcome you to Greenville, South Carolina, for the April 4-6, 2011 joint agInnovation South/ASRED meeting.

Greenville rises out of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and has become a vibrant city.  During your stay, we hope you will have time to sample our way of life.  Area restaurants offer memorable meals, and shops and boutiques display eye-catching art and fashion.  Downtown Greenville has become a walker’s paradise with a 30-acre park featuring a waterfall and footbridge.  We are proud that Main Street, where the meeting hotel is locate, has been selected as one of the Top 10 Great Streets in America by the American Planning Association.Greenville has attracted a number of international firms, including Flour and Bowater. BMW and Michelin North America are located nearby.  During the meeting, we’ll tour the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research.  CU-ICAR has attracted on-site partners including Timken, the BMW Information Technology Research Center, SAE International, INTEC and the consortium formed by Ozen Engineering Inc.  (Sunnyval, CA), CADFEM GmbH (Munich, Germany) and EnginSoft, SpA, (Trento, Italy).Springtime in Greenville is special – the dogwoods and azaleas light up the landscape and invite you to stroll on the sunny side of life.More can be seen about Greenville at:http://www.greenvillesc.gov/In meeting discussion:

  • Joint with extension
  • Greenville, SC
  • April 4-6
  • Monday through Thursday
  • Open with Monday night reception
10:10 – 10:20 S9 Resolutions Committee Report – Rick Roeder

  • Resolutions in Appreciation will be presented to Dr. Richard Guthrie, Dr. James Rakcoy and Dr. Susan Barefoot.
  • A Resolution in Appreciation will be offer to Dr. Saied Mostaghimi and the Virginia Tech Agricultural Experiment Station
10:20 – 10:30 S10 Fall agInnovation South and ESS Meetings and ESS Workshop – Mark McLellan
10:00 – 11:00 S11 Additional Agenda Items
11:00 am Adjourn and Check-out