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MINUTES
NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL ASSOCIATION
STATE
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION DIRECTORS

One Hundred Sixty-Ninth Meeting
March 28-31, 2004
Perdido Beach, AL

ATTENDEES: Wendy Wintersteen, Chair (IA); Mary Anne Lila (IL); Randy Woodson and Marshall Martin (IN); Forrest Chumley (KS); Ian Gray, Gary Lemme, Jan Bokemeier, Doreen Woodward, Kelly Millenbaugh (MI); Phil Larsen, Bert Stromberg, Sarah Greening (MN); Tom Payne and John Gardner (MO); Darrell Nelson and Nancy Betts (NE); Steven Slack, David Benfield, Bill Ravlin (OH); Kevin Kephart (SD); Margaret Dentine (WI); Ralph Otto (CSREES); Larry Newell (CSREES, Civil Rights); Daryl Lund and Nicole Nelson (NCRA).

Sunday, March 28, 2004

4:00pm - 6:00pm

REGISTRATION

6:30pm - 8:00pm

RECEPTION FOR ALL

  

Monday, March 29, 2004

7:00am - 8:00am

BREAKFAST

8:15am - 12:00pm

JOINT MEETING

8:15

J1

Call to Order, Welcome and Approval of Joint Agenda - Wendy Wintersteen and Greg Weidemann

8:20

J2

ESCOP Core Committee Reports:

 

 

J2a

Communication and Marketing - Jerry Arkin, Chair

 

 

J2b

Budget and Legislative - Darrell Nelson, Chair

 

 

J2c

Science and Technology - Nancy Cox, Chair

 

 

J2d

Partnerships - Margaret Dentine and Susan Barefoot, NC and SO Reps

 

 

J2e

Planning - Virginia Clark Johnson, Chair

 

 

J2f

Executive Committee - Ian Gray, ESCOP Chair

8:50

J3

National Institute for Agricultural Security Report - DC Coston

8:55

J4

CSREES Report - Ralph Otto

9:05

J5

ARS Report - Charles Onstead and Darrell Cole

9:15

J6

Collaborative Opportunities with DOE - Jim Fischer

10:00

BREAK

10:30

J7

NIMSS Update - Daryl Lund

10:40

J8

PIPRA Update - Nancy Cox (KY) and Bill Brown (FL)

10:50

J9

NRSP Four-Year Budget Requests (reports and clarifying questions only):

 

 

J9a

NRSP-3 - Jerry Arkin

 

 

J9b

NRSP-5 - DC Coston and Randy Woodson

 

 

J9c

NRSP-8 - Jerry Cherry and Margaret Dentine

11:20

J10

NRSP One-Year Budget Request (report and clarifying questions only):

 

 

J10a

NRSP-6 - Bob Westerman and Steve Slack

11:30

J11

NRSP Project Renewals and Five-Year Budget Requests (reports and clarifying questions only):

 

 

J11a

NRSP-1 - Bill Brown (FL) and Darrell Nelson

 

 

J11b

NRSP-4 - Mary Duryea and Gary Lemme

 

 

J11c

NRSP-7 - Don Robertson

 

 J12

Obesity Initiative - Daryl Lund

12:00-1:00pm

JOINT LUNCH

1:45-5:00pm

NCRA SESSION

1:45

NC1

Call to Order - Wendy Wintersteen

 

NC2

Approval of the September 2003 Minutes - Wendy Wintersteen (Available at http://www.wisc.edu/ncra/Sept2003.htm)

 

NC3

Adoption of Agenda

1:50

NC4

Executive Committee Report and Interim Actions of the Chair - Wendy Wintersteen (Refer to ED Report)

2:00

NC5

Executive Director's Report - Daryl Lund

 

 

NC5a

Activities since September 2003

 

 

NC5b

NCRA Office Update

 

 

NC5c

National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (N-CFAR) Membership

 

 

NC5d

Revision of the NCRA Review Forms

 

 

NC5e

Impact Statements and the BAC

 

 

NC5f

Multistate Nomenclatures

2:50

BREAK

3:15

NC6

Increased Efficiency and Focus in the Multistate Project System - Wendy Wintersteen

4:15

NCRA EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

NCRA Office FY '04 Budget - Wendy Wintersteen, Margaret Dentine, Daryl Lund

 

ED Annual Report - Wendy Wintersteen, Daryl Lund

 

Adjourn - Dinner on your own

  

Tuesday, March 30, 2004

7:00am - 8:00am

BREAKFAST

8:00am - 12:00pm

NCRA SESSION

8:00

NC7

Multistate Research Committee - Marshall Martin

Click here to view the MRC Agenda (in Excel format)

NC7a

MRC Project Recommendations

NC7b

NRSP Discussion (see NRSP Review Website at: http://www.wisc.edu/ncra/2004NRSP-reviews.htm)

9:40

NC8

Nominations Committee Report - Bert Stromberg

10:00-10:30am

BREAK

10:30-11:30am

JOINT SESSION

10:30

J13

Potential LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Project on Mississippi River Basin - Daryl Lund

Click here for Powerpoint Presentation

11:00

J14

Research Highlights from Auburn - John Jensen

Speakers:

"Big Science in the Genomics Era: How the Catfish Genome Project Fits" - Dr. John Liu, Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures

"Poultry Products Safety & Quality Peaks of Excellence Program" - Dr. Pat Curtis, Department of Poultry Science

"Turfgrass Research at Auburn University" - Dr. Beth Guertal, Department of Agronomy and Soils

12:00-4:30pm

JOINT LUNCH AND AGRICULTURAL TOUR FOR ALL

6:30pm

SURF AND TURF DINNER FOR ALL

 

Wednesday, March 30, 2004

7:00am - 8:00am

BREAKFAST

8:15am - 12:00pm

NCRA SESSION

8:15

NC9

Sun Grant Initiative - Kevin Kephart

8:30

NC10

Update on Tribal colleges in the North Central Region - Wade Gordon

9:00

NC11

Regional Dairy Research, Teaching, and Extension - Wendy Wintersteen, Steve Slack, Phil Larsen

9:30

BREAK

10:00

NC12

Report from Each SAES on Budget

 

 

NC12a

Ohio State Review of Economic Impacts

Steve Slack passed around copies of the OSU Batelle Study (Phase I) as well as a sign-up for anyone interested in the Phase II information. Any questions should be sent to OARDC. Wendy Wintersteen also shared that Iowa State had utilized Batelle at their campus as well. The Iowa State results can be found at http://www.state.ia.us/ided/.

 

 

NC12b

Budgets, Administration, Etc.

11:15

NC13

Resolutions - Marshall Martin

11:25

NC14

Other

 

 

NC14a

Business Officers' Meeting

 

 

NC14b

Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)

 

 

NC14c

Animal Health Protection (FY05 Appropriations Request)

 

 

NC14d

NC-7 and NC-1100 FY05 Budgets

 

 

NC14e

Spring 2005 Meeting

11:45

NC15

Announcements - Wendy Wintersteen

  • North Central Regional Summer Meeting - Illini Center, Chicago, IL - July 13-15, 2004
  • All COPs/ESCOP meeting - TBA
  • ESS Meeting, SAES/ARD Directors Workshop, North Central Regional Fall Meeting - Renaissance Hotel, Oklahoma City, OK - September 26-29, 2004

11:55

NC16

Summary and Review of Assignments - Wendy Wintersteen

12:00pm

Adjourn

 


Agenda Items

Item J2: ESCOP Core Committee Reports

 Item J2a: Communication and Marketing

Presenter: Jerry Arkin

Background:

The committee has been dormant since January 2002; however, with the appointment of a new Chairperson and Executive Vice Chair, the committee has been recharged this winter. They met via teleconference on February 20, 2004, and agreed on the following actions:

1. Assist Wally Huffman with the edit and revision of the Counterfactual Study for a broader audience. Wendy Wintersteen will assist.

2. Tom Fretz will check with Wally Huffman on how 1890s were handled in the study. A suggestion was made to segment the group since the 1890s have fewer formula funds.

3. Review the Science Roadmap and develop strategies on how to keep it on our partners' radar screen. Should milestones be tracked and reported on a regular basis?

4. Initiate the process of including the Science Roadmap and the Counterfactual Study in next year's Agriculture Exhibit on the Hill - Jerry Arkin and Tom Fretz.

5. Continue discussion on communication vs. marketing, and the committee's future course of actions.

The committee plans to meet again by teleconference in April.

Jerry relayed that the committee is trying to identify specifics such as what exactly to communicate, who to communicate to, and how effective the communications are on their audience. Any comments or questions should be directed to him at garkin@uga.edu.

Action Requested: For information and discussion.

Item J2b: Budget and Legislative

Presenter: Darrell Nelson

FY 04 Budget:  The FY 04 budget was passed in January with an overall 0.59% reduction in all CSREES line items and a 10% cut in 33 specific line items. Many of the line items were Extension programs including EFNEP.  Pest control including IR-4 was cut 10%.


FY 05 Budget:  Priorities for the FY 05 budget were adopted at a BAC meeting Feb 9.  Priorities are (1) restore the cuts to the line items from the FY 04 budget (generally included in the President's budget request), (2) increase funding for minority-serving institutions, (3) increase EFNEP funding above the FY 03 level by $3M, and (4) increase the NRI by 10% (from $164M to $180M).  We are also committed to supporting the President's budget when he requested an increase in support for a program.  The BRT analysis reported the following: "1. Overall, USDA funding would be cut by $1.2 billion.  2. Total CSREES funding is cut by $108 million, but most of these reductions would come from congressional earmarks.  3. The National Research Initiative would increase by approximately $16 million (ten percent) over the FY 2004 enacted level.  4. Funding for many of the programs cut by 10% would be at least partially restored, including EFNEP, which would receive almost $58 million in funding under the president's request.  5. "Homeland Security" related items would increase: the plant and animal diagnostic labs would get a $22 million increase and there is a new "higher education agrosecurity education program" line item that would be funded at $5 million.  6. IFAFS authority was captured again, thereby enabling the administration to "take credit" for $260 million in budgetary "savings." In addition, there appear to be more "limitations" imposed on mandatory USDA programs, a move that could complicate efforts by our congressional champions to help the system as the budget/appropriations process moves forward." The BRT called for statements from everyone citing how the cuts would impact program.  Approximately 25 Experiment Stations responded with specific examples.  The BRT will use these to develop materials to use in support of the budget priorities.  The EDs generated approximately 40 impact statements from the multistate research portfolio, which will also be used by the BRT.


FY 06 Budget:  ESCOP went through a process (including all directors and members of the B/L Committee) to identify priorities for FY 06.  The priorities are posted on the ESCOP homepage under the B/L Committee.  The BAC and BRT will begin working on the FY 06 budget this summer.

Farm Bill Committee:  LeRoy Daugherty is chair-designate of the B/L Committee and therefore has the leadership for the Legislative part of our agenda.  He will serve on the BAA Farm Bill Committee.  ED Tom Fretz will serve as Executive Staff to the legislative function of our ESCOP B/L Committee.  Daryl Lund will continue to serve as Executive Staff for the budget function.  Jeff Armstrong, Chair of the BAA Farm Bill Committee, has called for a teleconference Thursday February 26.  The EDs (Research, Extension and Academic Programs) have volunteered to serve as staff to the Farm Bill Committee.

Action Requested: None, for information only.

 Item J2c: Science and Technology

Presenter: Nancy Cox

Background:

The Science and Technology Committee met on March 1, 2004 in Washington, D.C. prior to the ESCOP meeting. The following items were discussed:

1. ESCOP has asked the S & T Committee to conduct a more in-depth, validated needs assessment of the Science Roadmap for agriculture. A subgroup was appointed to develop a plan to do this assessment and a budget, consisting of Lou Swanson (chair), Dan Rossi and Sally Rockey. Recommendations will be presented to ESCOP at the July Joint COPS meeting.

2. ESCOP has asked the S & T Committee to recommend ways that ESCOP can assist the PIPRA initiative in it's humanitarian mission relative to intellectual property generated by public universities. The following suggestions came from the discussion:

o        The NASULGC Council of Presidents and Council of VPs for Research should consider this issue.

o        IR4 may be a model to look at for a process to use patents on minor crops.

o        The Global Challenge Program is working to leverage genomics technology for use in the developing world. Robert Ziegler is now its director and PIPRA leadership should communicate with him and explore potential collaborations.

The PIPRA subcommittee (Cox, Pueppke, and Brown) will explore this question and make further recommendations.

3. An S&T Task Force to develop a white paper on the current state of knowledge concerning prions, BSE, CJD, nvCJD, and other TSE's was proposed by Forrest Chumley, Kansas State Univ. The National Academy report on TSE that was commissioned by USDA and just completed will be examined to determine if it already accomplished what the task force would do. If not, the S&T Committee will make recommendations for membership on this task force.

Tom Payne suggested the inclusion of extension directors and recommended that they form an informational document about TSEs. David Benfield and Bert Stromberg also supported the inclusion of the Veterinary Medicine faculty.

Action Requested: None; information only.

Item J2d: Partnerships

Presenter: Margaret Dentine and Susan Barefoot

Background:

The ESCOP Partnership Committee has recently been reconstituted with a full complement of Agricultural Experiment Station members. One conference call was held with the AES members to discuss the appropriateness of the committee's current membership, charge, and scope of potential activities. Several potential activities were discussed including: working with other agencies (e.g. NIH, CDC, DHS, etc), other USDA agencies (ERS, ARS, APHIS, NASS) and working with CSREES on the new POW Guidelines and processes that will be forthcoming. The latter would necessarily require a joint effort with extension. The members agreed to poll their respective regional associations at the upcoming spring meetings for possible activities of the Partnership Committee. The Committee plans to hold another conference call in early April to discuss input from the regional association meetings and possibly a face to face meeting.

Action requested: Suggested action items for the Committee.

Action Requested:

Item J2e: Planning Committee

Presenter: Virginia Clark Johnson

The Planning Committee met February 23-24, 2004 in Irving, Texas.

Actions from the meeting follow:

    1. Reviewed and discussed the membership list and terms of membership. A request will be made to ESCOP to review and update the list.
    2. Discussed potential for involvement in the Fall 2004 meeting priority setting session.
    3. Reviewed the proposed timeline for ESCOP and ESS Strategic Planning.
    4. Prepared a draft of a Plan for Operationalizing the Science Roadmap. This will be reviewed once more by the committee and them submitted to the ESCOP Executive Committee for input. The goal is to have a document for approval at the July meeting.
    5. Provided a report to ESCOP at the Washington, DC meeting on Tuesday, March 2, 2004. 

Actions Required:

    1. Review and update committee membership.
    2. Determine role of committee in priority setting session at the Fall meeting.
    3. Finalize a draft for review and suggestions.

Actions Taken:  

Item J2f: Executive Committee

Presenter: Ian Gray

Strategic Planning: I asked the EDs to formulate a process for ESCOP to reexamine its strategic plan. A process was adopted at the February CAC teleconference and is posted with the CAC Minutes on the ESCOP homepage. Basically the process consists of two activities to be carried out over the next year. The first is for the Planning Committee to develop an operational plan for the ESS to support its programmatic priorities as identified in the Science Roadmap. This operational plan will be presented to the ESS at the fall meeting. The second activity is for the Planning Committee to develop an operational plan for ESCOP that guides its activities in support of the ESS operational plan. This operational plan will be presented to ESCOP at its November meeting for final review and adoption.

Appointments: Several appointments to various committees have been made as requested. The ESCOP Nominating Committee, chaired by Scott Angle, will be nominating two people for the BAA Policy Board and one person as ESCOP Chair-Designate (this person will be from the ARD). These nominations will be presented to ESCOP at during the July All COPs meeting.

N-CFAR: Based on advice from CAC, I authorized Mort Neufville to pay our $1000 membership in NCFAR for 2004 from our residual funds at NASULGC.

Counterfactual study: The Counterfactual Study Report that ESCOP authorized was received. I authorized expending up to $5000 to generate appropriate reports from the study for use in support of our federal budget requests and priorities including base funds. Tom Fretz is working with the au