Key Elements Need To Be Addressed In Plans For Nevada’s College of Agriculture
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By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Since learning of the plans for the University of Nevada in Reno to do away with the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) there has been a lot of attention given to ideas on where to go from here. From the perspective of dealing with priority areas which address Nevada agriculture’s needs, it still seems that these concepts warrant attention. With the exception of a couple of adjustments in order, there has been nothing in response which would indicate that the fundamental principles are out of line. (For the record, the most often repeated suggestion has moved the attention on range science higher than fifth place on the list with greater emphasis.)
In response to the reactions that have been directed at those involved with the decision process, especially those directly responsible for making the recommendations, there has been attention placed on what is going to stay and how the reorganization of these retained components will serve as a basis for meeting the requirements of a Land Grant University. Although taking this approach might be sufficient to allow for continued funding, it would be ill-advised to believe that the actual needs of Nevada farmers and ranchers will be addressed without long-term assurance for continued opportunities for direct involvement in shaping the research and educational program going forward and organizational integrity to keep people who care about Nevada agriculture in place.
Instead of being concerned with the ability of University officials to cash federal checks which are intended for Land Grant Universities, our point of view is focused on obtaining what a Land Grant University is supposed to provide – in terms of agricultural education and research. In addition to the priority areas that were presented earlier, the basic foundational elements for meeting these needs include: Identity, Organizational Unity and Relevancy For Nevada Agriculture.
Identity – Being able to point at a specific entity and consider it to be your go-to place for agriculture education/research is a critical aspect – not just a name, but an actual something that can be counted on for providing agricultural research support as well as educational opportunity. Students seeking to obtain an agricultural degree should have that opportunity in Nevada. As detailed in the founding legislation for the Land Grant University System, providing that ability was intended through the formation and the financial support available for Land Grant Universities.
As we know from the name change which brought us the CABNR label, having something called the College of Agriculture, doesn’t automatically get you what you need by way of education and research, but it still provides a necessary identity which must be included for any meaningful reform/reorganization approach that might come from the unfolding process at UNR.
Organizational Unity – Along the same lines as identity, the concept of organizational structure is important in holding together a theme and mission which reflects Nevada agriculture. Simply keeping some things and putting them into other organizational areas doesn’t accomplish “keeping them”. It is a significant concern that vital rangeland and other agricultural orientations will be put into anti-agricultural areas of the University. Although we’re supposed to believe that science and those who teach within our University are untainted by agendas, we have first-hand experience that such pureness of purpose isn’t always so noble.
Establishing an organizational structure to provide complimentary support between an agricultural group as well as offering institutional management that is guided by a pro-agricultural philosophy would provide a comfort level that the present approach doesn’t meet.
Relevancy For Nevada Agriculture – At no time in offering comments on the proposed changes has there been a line-in-the-sand approach taken to preserve the status quo. That has been partly from there being an understanding that budget reductions are necessary – and partly because the way things have been regarding CABNR hasn’t matched up with providing relevant agricultural research and educational requirements. Change that gets Nevada farmers and ranchers engaged in an on-going connection, which is currently a limited prospect, could be a positive outcome – even in a reduced budget situation. Having contacts who are paying attention to what’s going on and care about production agriculture’s needs, working to provide their expertise in meeting those needs is what we’re asking for.
There are individuals of this caliber who will likely be lost because of the changes proposed. Whether new opportunities will be available depend greatly on how the restructuring takes place, providing adequately for Identity, Organizational Unity and Relevancy For Nevada Agriculture.
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Since learning of the plans for the University of Nevada in Reno to do away with the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) there has been a lot of attention given to ideas on where to go from here. From the perspective of dealing with priority areas which address Nevada agriculture’s needs, it still seems that these concepts warrant attention. With the exception of a couple of adjustments in order, there has been nothing in response which would indicate that the fundamental principles are out of line. (For the record, the most often repeated suggestion has moved the attention on range science higher than fifth place on the list with greater emphasis.)
In response to the reactions that have been directed at those involved with the decision process, especially those directly responsible for making the recommendations, there has been attention placed on what is going to stay and how the reorganization of these retained components will serve as a basis for meeting the requirements of a Land Grant University. Although taking this approach might be sufficient to allow for continued funding, it would be ill-advised to believe that the actual needs of Nevada farmers and ranchers will be addressed without long-term assurance for continued opportunities for direct involvement in shaping the research and educational program going forward and organizational integrity to keep people who care about Nevada agriculture in place.
Instead of being concerned with the ability of University officials to cash federal checks which are intended for Land Grant Universities, our point of view is focused on obtaining what a Land Grant University is supposed to provide – in terms of agricultural education and research. In addition to the priority areas that were presented earlier, the basic foundational elements for meeting these needs include: Identity, Organizational Unity and Relevancy For Nevada Agriculture.
Identity – Being able to point at a specific entity and consider it to be your go-to place for agriculture education/research is a critical aspect – not just a name, but an actual something that can be counted on for providing agricultural research support as well as educational opportunity. Students seeking to obtain an agricultural degree should have that opportunity in Nevada. As detailed in the founding legislation for the Land Grant University System, providing that ability was intended through the formation and the financial support available for Land Grant Universities.
As we know from the name change which brought us the CABNR label, having something called the College of Agriculture, doesn’t automatically get you what you need by way of education and research, but it still provides a necessary identity which must be included for any meaningful reform/reorganization approach that might come from the unfolding process at UNR.
Organizational Unity – Along the same lines as identity, the concept of organizational structure is important in holding together a theme and mission which reflects Nevada agriculture. Simply keeping some things and putting them into other organizational areas doesn’t accomplish “keeping them”. It is a significant concern that vital rangeland and other agricultural orientations will be put into anti-agricultural areas of the University. Although we’re supposed to believe that science and those who teach within our University are untainted by agendas, we have first-hand experience that such pureness of purpose isn’t always so noble.
Establishing an organizational structure to provide complimentary support between an agricultural group as well as offering institutional management that is guided by a pro-agricultural philosophy would provide a comfort level that the present approach doesn’t meet.
Relevancy For Nevada Agriculture – At no time in offering comments on the proposed changes has there been a line-in-the-sand approach taken to preserve the status quo. That has been partly from there being an understanding that budget reductions are necessary – and partly because the way things have been regarding CABNR hasn’t matched up with providing relevant agricultural research and educational requirements. Change that gets Nevada farmers and ranchers engaged in an on-going connection, which is currently a limited prospect, could be a positive outcome – even in a reduced budget situation. Having contacts who are paying attention to what’s going on and care about production agriculture’s needs, working to provide their expertise in meeting those needs is what we’re asking for.
There are individuals of this caliber who will likely be lost because of the changes proposed. Whether new opportunities will be available depend greatly on how the restructuring takes place, providing adequately for Identity, Organizational Unity and Relevancy For Nevada Agriculture.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 3/25/2010 3:14 AM 
Categories: Agriculture
Tags: University of Nevada Nevada College of Agriculture closing Agriculture
Categories: Agriculture
Tags: University of Nevada Nevada College of Agriculture closing Agriculture
I think you're on the right track. We need and deserve a Agricultural College but we certainly need to focus on the needs of Nevada Agriculture. Livestock, Alfalfa and other Nevada Crops and irrigation systems, range and land resources. I am a UNR graduate and actually felt that I would have liked to have been able to get more hands on education in new inovative techniques. Actually I was lucky to be able to end up in Student work programs such as the Dairy and the Reproduction department where I was able to do hands on and learned more working with the scientists as a student helper than I did in some class room situations. I had come to college from a ranch background and 4 years of High School Agriculture and luckly had a good basic understanding. I graduated in Ag Education and taught two years before leaving teaching. My first year of teaching was in Montana and I think they had a lot more support material for their ag teachers than Nevada had. I think what has been lacking is what is now happening. More Nevada Agriculturists getting input into what is being taught and produced from our Ag College. We need to keep it and give it more direction. Keep up the good work.
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when push comes to shove, throw in the discrimination issue. Ranchers and farmers are being 'picked on' because they don't bring funds directly to the University like the sports program does, but what about all the taxes the landowner pays into the state's coffers. I would demand that all the colleges take the same degree of "HIT" that the powers to be wants to put on the College of Agriculture. And I'm not a UNR grad but a BYU/USU ag grad working in agriculture in ID, so I have a vested interest in my fellow ranchers and farmers in Nevada.
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Both Les' and Paul's comments are excellent! I've recently completed a 3,000+ page article on the proposed closure and have been, of late, contemplative about other land grant universities and their agriculture colleges, wondering what's coming down the pike for them. How many of them are even aware of what CABNR is currently facing?
I sincerely hope that many Facebookers and Twitterers (Tweeters?!?) and other social networking site posters, will keep this in mind and not be shy about telling the world about this.
Posting this blog http://nvfbblog.org would be a great help, too.
Most of all, we must have the courage of our convictions -- whether we ever attended UNR / CABNR or not. We all eat food and most of us have either livestock or pets, or both. That means we are all dependent upon the expertise and training these students receive, the caliber of their teachers, and the future of their agriculture colleges.
Let's ALL stand up for CABNR and all other land grant university agriculture colleges! God bless each of you who's trying to keep CABNR open and viable!
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The Fight to Save Nevada's Ag Future and CABNR http://propertyrightsresearch.blogspot.com/2010/03/fight-to-save-nevadas-ag-future-and.html Article in the April/May issue of Progressive Rancher magazine. Please share widely; I sincerely hope this will help CABNR stay open!
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