NVFBBLOG.ORG: Recent Comments

Comment on The Progressives’ War Against Business

2010-03-10T08:00:00Z

nice post. Agree with you 100%

Comment on For What It Is Worth – Priorities For University of Nevada’s College of Agriculture

2010-03-08T14:25:18Z

I would ask to see what other departments are taking a 'hit' to make up the money shortage. How about cutting some of the sport activites which provide benefits to a very select few individuals. I have nothing to do with UNR except watching their teams compete against other western universities, but I yet I feel a need to support the efforts to keep the college of agriculture alive and well. Where else are the rual farm and ranch kids of Nevada going to go to get their agriculture education? Nevada agriculture is unique to the state - so going to another out of state ag college is not the same as going to one that knows and teaches Nevada Agriculture. I have two ag degrees for Utah universities and yet when I came to Idaho to work in agriculture, I had to learn new concepts and new ways of producing crops and livestock from the land.

Comment on A “Let’s Pretend” Land Grant University Not Acceptable

2010-03-05T01:06:54Z

There are other alternatives. you can combine the college of biology with the college of agriculture and extension. You will save money by not having to pay high dollar wages to a dean of a college. The thing we need to remember is that the 0.02 percent of Nevada's population helps feed the other 99.98 percent. We should also remember that mining and agriculture are two things that create new wealth in Nevada's economy.

Comment on A “Let’s Pretend” Land Grant University Not Acceptable

2010-03-04T23:45:46Z

My gosh, Doug ... don't you sound like a hypocrite.

At this same blog site, just Saturday of this past week, you write an entry titled "The Unwillingness of Our Elected Leaders to be Fiscally Responsible," and for the last three days you've been whining -- and that's definitely the operative word for it -- about a University President making a fiscally Draconian step.

It may not be likable -- but you and the Farm Bureau had better take that blue reality pill, because that's the ONLY way that the UNR budget is going to get the sort of support that it needs to uphold the CABNR budget. You can't have it both ways -- federal and state largess for an industry that includes 0.2% of the Nevada population.

I've been involved in ranching for 35 years. I know the realities. You'd better learn them, too.

Comment on Proposed Closing Of Nevada College Of Agriculture – A Time For Assessment

2010-03-04T20:57:12Z

I have little specific knowledge of our agricultural curriculum at UNR. However, I know many people that I rely on for our community-based ecosystem conservation advise that come from the departments and schools mentioned at risk. I know the value of timely reevaluations, and would encourage thoughtful coordinated work in that area. My practical experience in resource work tells me we can always do better, but I dislike the idea of doing without our professional agricultural advisers, who have already undergone reduction in numbers. The topics related to sustaining livestock production, open space, wildlife and sensitive species needs, along with expanding human populations, has become a complex challenge requiring more professional partners, not less. Agriculture and farm production is vastly different from the days when the Land Grant College system was envisioned; take a coordinated voice to the reorganization meetings and improve and update agriculture's needs, and the needs of the public, as well.

Comment on Proposed Closing Of Nevada College Of Agriculture – A Time For Assessment

2010-03-04T20:21:38Z

I do believe this is the time for Nevada agriculture to decide what their needs are from UNR and from the Nevada Agriculture Experiment Station. I would encourage the agriculture community to develop a working paper on what their vision of a functional, effective College of Agriculture would look like. I share a few thoughts. I have worked at two land grand universities and have been involved in rangeland research for over 17 years. I believe the Agricultural Experiment Stations associated with any land grant university should have a primary mission of research and education NOT production agriculture. I personally believe the focus of the NV Ag. Experiment Station has primarily been production in order to try and cover the cost of running the vaious facilities. This unfortunately may be necessary (due to budgets) however this does not facilitate research or education. It currently is easier and thus less expensive for me to conduct research on private ranches and therefore that is what I do. I would suggest the faculty (including myself) in the Dept. of Animal Biotechnology and the agricultural community consider a plan to allow the sale of a portion of main station farm while maintaining the livestock handling facilities, the meat lab, dairy hill etc. I would suggest stipulations be attached to the sale such as a percentage of the sale revenues be endowed to CABNR for the purpose of enhancing the research and education component of the NV Ag Experiment Station and for improving the capabilities of the Dept. of Animal Biotechnology. Just some ideas to think about.

Comment on A “Let’s Pretend” Land Grant University Not Acceptable

2010-03-04T17:10:22Z

I am very sympathetic to the need of rural Nevada for the services provided by UNR's College of Agriculture, and I know the college is full of good, productive faculty. But I think I remember at least one column on this website in the last year which opposed raising any taxes to replace the ones tourists are no longer paying. You can't have it both ways, to not be willing to fund the university but demand that it keep providing services. Certainly, if Nevada's farm community were willing to support the College of Agriculture, UNR would be willing to listen to their proposals.

Comment on Proposed Closing Of Nevada College Of Agriculture – A Time For Assessment

2010-03-02T23:24:47Z

When we were told that our college of agriculture is to be disbanded and that our whole department's faculty of Resource Economics (as well as the faculty of the Animal BioTechnology department) are to be laid off, it was a real shock. Even by the administration's own accounts, our department's faculty brings in more external funding $$ than we expend, so how could firing us SAVE money? When asked what they expect us to do with the federal research funds we are performing on, we were told 'send it back.' (Not to mention stop doing research on Nevada's issues.) They claim that Nevada's agriculture sector is too small and our undergraduate program is too small; despite the fact that we have about twice as many majors per teaching FTE than comparable programs. We are also award-winning teachers, and despite our small size are ranked in the top 20% WORLDWIDE for research. In sum, the "criteria" listed above appear to mean that UNR will fire their most productive faculty first. What sense does that make for Nevada? But it is not a 'done deal.' You can help: write the Regents and UNR President Glick.

Comment on Proposed Closing Of Nevada College Of Agriculture – A Time For Assessment

2010-03-02T21:44:18Z

I think Farm Bureau needs to network with other organizations that have an interest in programs normally offered by a "College of Agriculture" such as the Nevada Landscape Association. Also are there any gardening and urban farmers' market organizations who help us. Urban dwellers have started questioning why they can't get any help from their Extension offices. It's no wonder they can't get any help when the horticultural people are the first to go. If you haven't notice these people have either been terminated or have decided to leave before they are terminated. You might be surprised to find that even environmental groups have an interest in their state having a viable, vibrant "College of Agriculture". You really need to soften; the "conservative front" you show to the public and try to win some supporters.

Comment on Proposed Closing Of Nevada College Of Agriculture – A Time For Assessment

2010-03-02T19:21:33Z

Agriculture is an essential component of our rural lifestyle. People who farm and ranch are our friends and neighbors. Intelligent, thoughtful livestock management and farming practices are essential for a healthy environment including clean water and abundant wildlife habitat. The College of Agriculture, including our Cooperative Extension Agents, is our primary source for sound, science based agriculture. Closing the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources would constitute a severe threat to our rural way of life.