Giving Our Future Agriculture Some Thought
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Sometimes having what you have is the biggest thing to get over in building what you need. It normally isn’t good times which make innovation – it’s about figuring out how to do what needs doing when you don’t have everything you need. That’s where we are right now with the University of Nevada, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR). The $4 Million extraction of resource allocations…the significant reorganization in the form of ending a couple of very important departments…the loss of very critical people and their talents – now have things in a pretty dismal state of affairs.
Putting things back together will require innovation and also a vision that’s not based on what once was, but instead is focused on what needs to be. The temptation of living in the present is to only evaluate current circumstances or attempt to recapture the memories of what once was – in the case of putting CABNR back together, we need to also figure out how to add necessary elements to take Nevada agriculture where it needs to go.
Based on recent meetings with stakeholders and University officials, we expect to be given the opportunity in the near future (likely beginning this fall) for a process to be started which offers participants the ability to be included in figuring out what the future should be. Starting from the basis of needs (research and education) – (present and future), the anticipated planning system will consider where the pathway to the future should be aimed and evaluate what components are available or are needed to advance in that direction.
While we’re waiting for the opportunity to take part in this process, now would be a great time to spend some time thinking (and yes, even dreaming) about what we would like the future to become. Without constraints, where would we like to go and how would that future state of Nevada agriculture be? Imagine the details of the make-up of a profitable and productive production agriculture sector. It will be these considerations which need to be included in the discussions for the future, along with the aspects of how to make a new program of agricultural education and research happen.
When thinking about the future and discussing the possibilities with others, be certain to think big enough and far enough into that future to make the journey worth the effort. Right now, unhook the constraints of present limitations and see what would be ideal. To the extent possible, put your visioning into the mindset of the needs/wants of customers and markets Nevada agriculture could serve. Developing the infrastructure to profitably and effectively deliver those products and services includes the potentials which our Land Grant University should be all about – not only for Nevada agriculture, but for the state as a whole.
Hope you’re looking forward to getting started this fall as much as I am…
Sometimes having what you have is the biggest thing to get over in building what you need. It normally isn’t good times which make innovation – it’s about figuring out how to do what needs doing when you don’t have everything you need. That’s where we are right now with the University of Nevada, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR). The $4 Million extraction of resource allocations…the significant reorganization in the form of ending a couple of very important departments…the loss of very critical people and their talents – now have things in a pretty dismal state of affairs.
Putting things back together will require innovation and also a vision that’s not based on what once was, but instead is focused on what needs to be. The temptation of living in the present is to only evaluate current circumstances or attempt to recapture the memories of what once was – in the case of putting CABNR back together, we need to also figure out how to add necessary elements to take Nevada agriculture where it needs to go.
Based on recent meetings with stakeholders and University officials, we expect to be given the opportunity in the near future (likely beginning this fall) for a process to be started which offers participants the ability to be included in figuring out what the future should be. Starting from the basis of needs (research and education) – (present and future), the anticipated planning system will consider where the pathway to the future should be aimed and evaluate what components are available or are needed to advance in that direction.
While we’re waiting for the opportunity to take part in this process, now would be a great time to spend some time thinking (and yes, even dreaming) about what we would like the future to become. Without constraints, where would we like to go and how would that future state of Nevada agriculture be? Imagine the details of the make-up of a profitable and productive production agriculture sector. It will be these considerations which need to be included in the discussions for the future, along with the aspects of how to make a new program of agricultural education and research happen.
When thinking about the future and discussing the possibilities with others, be certain to think big enough and far enough into that future to make the journey worth the effort. Right now, unhook the constraints of present limitations and see what would be ideal. To the extent possible, put your visioning into the mindset of the needs/wants of customers and markets Nevada agriculture could serve. Developing the infrastructure to profitably and effectively deliver those products and services includes the potentials which our Land Grant University should be all about – not only for Nevada agriculture, but for the state as a whole.
Hope you’re looking forward to getting started this fall as much as I am…
Posted by Doug Busselman at 7/9/2010 8:50 AM 
Categories: Agriculture
Tags: University of Nevada Nevada College of Agriculture Agriculture
Categories: Agriculture
Tags: University of Nevada Nevada College of Agriculture Agriculture
Finally, Doug, you're actually offering an opinion on something that actually has to do with agriculture.
You're right we need to start planning now to make certain the College of Agriculture survives and flourishes. One opportunity comes from the current collapse of housing, and will help change Nevada's urban dwellers current attitude toward agriculture from apathy to advocacy. With many housing developments cleared, and graded, but now bankrupt and abandoned, open land within the city limits of Reno and Las Vegas, (maybe Elko, too)is now available for urban farming. UN's agriculture students could help establish urban farms through agricultural programs established in our schools.
Corporate sponsors to pay for water for drip irrigation could be found. If the abandoned development is large enough, raising small livestock like chickens, goats, or sheep could be pursued. The crops, eggs and/or meat could be then donated to the food pantries as a terrific demonstration of how agriculture allows people to live.
The Kiley Ranch development in Sparks was foreclosed on. It's a huge abandoned development. It would be a perfect place for agriculture in Nevada to begin the change from being on a constant defensive to counter-attacking and gaining urban supporters.
Reply to this