A34-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 27, 2002
(Continued from Page A 10)
unemployment rolls beginning
July 1,2002.
This reduction would be the
largest decrease in funding for
agricultural research and exten
sion in the modern history of the
College of Agricultural Sciences,
taking us back to staffing levels
and program support that were
available in the early nineties.
Tuition increases have no bear
ing on these programs, since they
are distinct line items in the bud
get. This, of course, is a recurring
problem that is exacerbated this
year by the proposed cut. Only
the legislature can offset these
shortfalls. Consequently, the Col
lege has initiated a hiring freeze
on most positions and initiated a
plan for program reduction until
the funding situation clarifies.
For the people of the common
wealth, it is perhaps more impor-
tant to put these
proposed reductions
in research and ex
tension into a con
text of impact on
programs. There is a
very wide range of
research and exten
sion programs in the
College of Agricul
tural Sciences, all of
which are developed
and in place to meet
stakeholder needs
and demands as de
termined by county
by-county needs as
sessment and
statewide stakehold
er meetings to define
issues, create pro
grams, and set prior
ities. A few of the
larger and more visi
ble programs of very
high priority to the
economic health of
the commonwealth
are illustrated below.
• The dairy foods
industry is a major
force in the U.S.
economy, ranking
approximately sixth
at $2O billion, slight
ly below telecommu
nications and slight
ly ahead of the
aerospace industry.
It is Pennsylvania’s
leading agricultural
enterprise and grow-
❖ Farm Forum ❖
ing in presence and impact. It is
also one of the largest in the
U.S., ranking behind California
and Wisconsin and just moving
ahead of New York. The re
search, teaching and extension
programs in the College of Agri
cultural Sciences represent a
“joint venture” with this indus
try to insure a stable workforce,
promote further economic devel
opment, and provide cutting
edge research and technology
transfer. The Dairy Alliance ex
tension program, in place for ap
proximately two years, is a direct
outgrowth of this cooperation.
The industry is requesting (de
manding really) more assistance.
The proposed budget will result
in significantly reduced assist
ance to this key multibillion-dol
lar commonwealth industry.
• Pennsylvania is challenged
with maintaining the security of
its food and fiber sector, both as
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a matter of national security and
economic vitality for the com
monwealth. College research,
teaching, and extension pro
grams are hard at work in part
nerships with stakeholders on
such key problems as plum pox
virus, West Nile virus, foot and
mouth disease, and, most recent
ly, an outbreak of avian influen
za affecting a poultry industry
that contributes hundreds of mil
lions of dollars to the economy of
commonwealth. In each case, we
are asked to do more to fill the
research gaps so that we can be
more effective at detection, erad
ication, and ultimately preven
tion of these challenges to the se
curity of our food and fiber
system in Pennsylvania. The
drought watch in most of Penn
sylvania’s counties further mag
nifies the gravity of these chal
lenges to Pennsylvania’s food
and fiber sector. This proposed
budget will dramatically reduce
our ability to respond.
• Pennsylvania’s hardwood
forests are the most valuable in
the U.S. and most of the world.
Research, teaching, and
extension programs con-
ducted in partnership
with this very large Penn
sylvania industry are de
signed to insure that the
forests are sustained for
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generations to come through new
research, education, and exten
sion activities. Current chal
lenges such as drought, pest
management issues including
deer overbrowsing, watershed
management, and economic
challenges are pressing the in
dustry to ask us to do more, yet
this budget will reduce our abili
ty to support this important in
dustry and communities facing
these challenges.
• We are so proud of our 4-H
program in the U.S. as it cele
brates its centennial anniversary
this year. Pennsylvania’s 4-H
programs reach more than
123,000 youth, roughly half from
farm, rural and small commu
nities and half from urban areas
and larger cities. It is one of the
largest in the U.S., yet our com
munities know so well that this
program should be growing to
reach more youth not shrinking
to reach fewer youth. The cur
rent budget will result in a small
er program in its centennial year
at a time the youth of Pennsylva
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The prominent examples
above, though not an exhaustive
listing, are illustrative of the
range of high priority areas, de-.
termined by the people of the
commonwealth, that are impor
tant to the economic vitality of
the food and fiber sector of the
state. Of the nearly 150 four-year
institutions of higher education
in Pennsylvania, no other institu
tion provides teaching, research,
and extension in any of these
areas let alone all of them.
Therefore, if we are to address
these priorities as the residents of
the commonwealth have asked
us to do, only the legislature
through its support of the Agri
cultural Research and Agricul
tural Extension line items can
provide the relatively small
amount of citizens’ resources to
meet these needs.
Pa. State Council
Of Farm Organizations