College of Ag Sciences Search for Associate Dean for Research

The current search underway for the college's Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education is in its final stages. Interviews of the top three candidates will take place in late October or early November and will include opportunities for stakeholder participation in the public forums. Stay tuned...

Penn State Tops Recruiter Rankings

An article in the Wall Street Journal on September 13, 2010, indicates Penn State is #1 pick for company recruiters due to "most prepared and well-rounded" students.

Jobs Outlook Bright for Students in Ag and Natural-Resource Sciences

A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture noted that about 54,400 annual openings will be available for individuals with bachelor's or graduate degrees in food, renewable energy and environmental specialties between 2010 and 2015. However, there will be enough agriculture and natural resources graduates to fill only 54 percent of these open positions. Click here for the full story.

Ag Career Day October 12

Ag Career Day will be held on October 12, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center on the Penn State University Park Campus.

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet and interview College of Agricultural Sciences' students. You can register to attend or get more information about participating by visiting the Ag Career Day Registration site.

New Sustainable Landscape Technology Certificate Program

The Penn State Center - Pittsburgh - is launching a Sustainable Landscape Technology Certificate program this October geared toward the landscape contracting community and individuals interested in pursuing that career. This 17 credit certificate program will consist of two courses Tuesday and Thursday evenings (with an occasional Saturday field trip) in the following sessions:

October 5-December 16, 2010 - Hort 101 Tuesdays - Hort 131 Thursdays
January 4-March 24, 2011 - Hort 120 Tuesdays - Hort 138 Thursdays
October 4-December 15, 2011 - Hort 238 Tuesdays - Hort 408 Thursdays

This schedule of classes should address seasonal schedules sensitive to landscape contractors.

Please note each course will be framed by the course syllabus from the University Park campus, but it will be altered to fit a 12 week schedule. The program incorporates topics of sustainability, including sustainable techniques and native plants.

Please help us promote this new certificate program. Individuals will be able to complete the certificate program in as little as 15 months and can apply the 17 credits towards an associate degree in the general field of horticulture.

Delegates Still Needed to Attend College Student Tailgates

Undergraduate Education is once again hosting student tailgates outside of the Ag Arena before each home football game. The Penn State Ag Council Membership Committee is looking for delegates to attend to allow students to network with leaders in agribusiness and learn more about possible careers in agriculture.

Please contact Rhonda Demchak at rrr11@psu.edu if you would like to sign up to attend one of the tailgates.

Fall Delegate Meeting to be Held October 28

The Penn State Ag Council October delegate meeting will be held Thursday, October 28, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Snider Ag Arena on campus.

The program will include a tour of The Arboretum at Penn State and the Penn State Dickinson School of Law - Louis Katz Building. The meeting will also include a presentation by the Dean detailing the restructuring process currently underway in the college.

We will also recognize the Penn State Ag Council Leadership Award recipients and hold elections for new board members.

Click here for meeting and registration information.

We hope to see you there!

Research Tour Scheduled for September 23

The Penn State Agricultural Council is pleased to host the eleventh annual Penn State College of Ag Sciences Research Tour.

The tour will take place on Thursday, September 23, at the Russell E.Larson Research & Education Center at Rock Springs (Ag Progress Days site) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will focus on a number of environmental and agricultural production challenges including organic production, nutrient management, biofuels, and more.

Click here for more information and to register.

College Scholarship Banquet September 23

Creators and supporters of scholarships in the College of Agricultural Sciences are invited to attend the annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet hosted by the College on September 23, 2010. College administration, faculty, staff, and student recipients will be in attendance to personally thank you for your generosity to the College. Contact the development office for details and to register at 814-863-1373.

Executive Board Elections

The Penn State Ag Council board of directors voted in the new executive board members at the August 18 board meeting. The new officers, effective January 1, 2011, are:

Gregory Kirkham - President (1st term) - Westfield Group
Joel Rotz - Vice President (1st term) - Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
Ferlin Patrick - Secretary/Treasurer (1st term) - Food Industry Group

Gregg Robertson will serve as Past President (1st Term)-Pa Landscape & Nursery Association

Post Your News and Events on College Facebook Site

Penn State Ag Council members are encouraged to post your news, information, and events on the College Facebook site. Check it out!

EPA Announces Public Meetings to Discuss Bay TMDLs

EPA has announced a schedule of 18 public meetings throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed this fall to discuss the draft Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). The meetings will be held from late September to early November. One meeting in each state will be accessible online via webinar.

Complete information on the meetings, including dates, times, venues, directions and webinar registration links can be found on the Bay TMDL web site. The Bay TMDL will set binding limits on nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution to meet clean water standards for the Bay and its tidal tributaries and help restore local rivers and streams.

Upcoming Events

September 23 - PSAC College Research Tour
September 23 - College Scholarship Banquet
October 12 - College Career Day
October 27 - PSAC Board Meeting
October 28 - PSAC Delegate Meeting

College Responds to Budget Concerns

The state is relying on federal stimulus funds (ARRA) for 2010/2011 to keep Penn State at flat funding from 2008/2009 levels. However, stimulus funding ends June, 2011, reducing Penn State/College base funding by 6%.

If these funds are not restored by the state, this, combined with increased operating costs including costs due to significant statewide funding shortfalls in state employee retirement system (SERS), will create a college programmatic budget shortfall of almost $11 million. This shortfall requires college agricultural research and extension program budgets to be reduced by an estimated 20% by July 1, 2011. This equates to approximately 163 positions in the college.

As a result, effectively July 1, 2010, college budget administrators have been charged to reduce impacted lines by 5%. This initial cut will impact all units. An additional 10% reduction will follow; metrics and processes are being developed to strategically identify areas for these additional budget reductions. The college strategic plan will serve as a guiding document to attempt to protect priority program areas.

A “soft” freeze on hiring is currently in effect in the college, and hiring is limited to essential positions and strategic opportunities with leverage from institutes, other colleges, and/or stakeholders. The college will also be evaluating college-wide restructuring options.

The Penn State Ag Council board and delegates were briefed on the situation at the April meeting, and the college will continue to keep them informed. College stakeholders are being encouraged to provide input into the process as it develops.

For more information view the college budget update piece on the college website.

Leadership Award Nominations Due by August 1

The Penn State Ag Council Membership committee is seeking nominations for the 2010 leadership awards.

The Penn State Ag Council leadership awards honor outstanding leaders in the agricultural community in Pennsylvania. Excellence in three categories is recognized: Leadership Award, Youth Leadership Award, and the Leadership in Action Award.

All Nominations must be submitted by August 1, 2010. You can view the list of past award recipients and fill out the online nomination form on the Penn State Ag Council website.

Upcoming Deans Tour in the Northwest

The Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group will be hosting the next Dean's Tour on June 29-30, 2010.

A reception with the Dean will be held at the Bayfront Convention Center from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the North Point Lobby. Member organizations are encouraged to share the invitation with their membership. An invitation with directions was recently sent to all delegates.

If you need more information or would like to register, please contact the College Relations Office at 814-863-2822 or email Rhonda Demchak at rrr11@psu.edu.

Eleventh Annual Research Tour Planned for September 23

This year's Penn State Ag Council's College Research Tour Will be held on September 23, 2010. Delegates will receive an electronic invitation shortly. Please remember to invite your legislator to attend.

For the first time, this tour coincides with the Annual College Scholarship Dinner to make it more convenient for delegates who attend both events.

2010 Ag Progress Days

Ag Progress Days will be held August 17-19. The Ag Council will once again be hanging member banners in the special events building for Tuesday's Alumni Luncheon and Wednesday's Government and Industry Day Luncheon.

The banner forms were distributed at the Spring Delegate Meeting and are due by July 15. Please fill out the form and either fax it to 814-863-6152 or click on the link above and email the form to Rhonda Demchak at rrr11@psu.edu.

These two luncheons attract more than 1,000 people. Delegates will receive a post card and an electronic invitation to attend the luncheons in late June or early July. Please respond quickly if you plan to attend, as space is limited.

Nominating Committee is Seeking Nominations for the Board of Directors

The Penn State Ag Council Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for consideration for one seat on the Board of Directors. All nominations will be reviewed by the committee. The nominating committee will submit a slate of selected candidates to the ag council delegates at the fall delegate meeting.

Nominations can be sent to Rhonda Demchak in the College Relations Office at rrr11@psu.edu or sent directly to John Rodgers at the following address:

PA Forage & Grassland Council

95 Plum Lane
Bellville, PA 17004-8549

Delegates Needed to Attend Undergraduate Ed Tailgates

Undergraduate Education is once again hosting student tailgates outside of the Ag Arena before each home football game . The Penn State Ag Council Membership Committee is looking for delegates to attend to allow students to network with leaders in agribusiness and learn more about possible careers in agriculture.

Please contact Rhoda Demchak at rrr11@psu.edu if you would like to sign up and attend one of the tailgates.

Ag Career Day to be Held on October 12

Ag Career Day will be held on October 12, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center on the Penn State University Park Campus.

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet and interview College of Agricultural Sciences' Students. Please register to attend or get more information about participating by visiting the Ag Career Day Registration site.

Food Inc. Viewing at Delegate Meeting

A record crowd attended the April Delegate meeting where the program revolved around the topic of Public Perceptions of Modern Agriculture and included a viewing of Food, Inc. After viewing the movie, the audience was surveyed - using PowerPoint and clicker technology providing immediate data on audience responses - answering three questions on multiple issues raised in the movie (example: food safety, animal welfare, environmental performance, etc.)

The questions asked audience members to give their perception of: 1. Public perception of industry performance around each area. 2. Industry's actual performance in that area. 3. If there is a perceived gap between public perception and industry performance how could it best be addressed - with the choices being: communications, improved practices, research/technology, or policy. This data was then used by break-out groups over lunch that reported out on suggestions to address each issue. The program included a panel of experts for an afternoon discussion and Q & A session.

The program received outstanding reviews, and the survey results and the break-out reports from the meeting can be found on the Penn State Ag Council Website.

Ag Action Network Legislative Training Event held on April 24

The Penn State Ag Council hosted the Ag Action Network legislative training and skybox event on April 24. The group enjoyed a morning training program with speakers discussing strategies for making and building relationships with local legislators. The afternoon was spent enjoying lunch and the Blue & White game in the Beaver Stadium skybox.

College Capitol Day Event Held March 9

The Penn State Ag Council (PSAC) and the Pennsylvania Council of Cooperative Extension Associations (PCCEA) co-sponsored this year's College Capitol Day on March 9 in Harrisburg. Approximately 150 college stakeholders - consisting of Ag Action Network, College of Ag Sciences Alumni Society, PSAC, and PCCEA members - attended. Advocates delivered information packets to all 253 legislative offices and personally communicated the importance of college research and extension programs in their communities, businesses, and lives.

If you attended capitol day, please be sure to send a thank you note to the offices you visited. If you could not attend, it is not too late to carry the message to your legislator!

Dean's Tour Visits Central Region

Penn State Ag Council members - PennAg Industries and Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association - co-sponsored the April Dean's tour into the central region of the state. Pictures are available on the Penn State Ag Council Website.

Harrisburg Patriot Publishes Op-Ed by Dean McPheron

Visit our college website to view an op-ed piece written by Dean Bruce McPheron on the future of agriculture that was recently featured in the Harrisburg Patriot.

Jayarao to Provide Leadership for the Animal Diagnostic Lab

Professor Bhushan Jayarao has accepted a position to help lead the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (ADL) through its next phase of growth and expanding horizons. Starting May 5, 2010, Bhushan will start as the incumbent resident director of the ADL, and work together with Drs. John Enck and Huaguang Lu to help the ADL meet and exceed the needs of internal and external stakeholders by leveraging faculty led programs and strengthening the ties between the academic, research and service components of the laboratory, the Department, the College, and the University.

Search Begins for Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education

The College is conducting a search for the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station position. The position announcement can be found on the Human Resources job listing - http://bit.ly/ResearchDean.

Redesign of College Magazine

After 25 years, the college's magazine has undergone a redesign. The spring issue recently appeared in mailboxes as the new Penn State Ag Science Magazine.

The redesign has taken place during the past year with attention to input from readers and others interested in the magazine.

A new magazine Web site has been rolled out as well, where you will be able to find additional pictures and stories that didn't make it into the print version.

Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar

June 29 - Dean's Tour Reception, Erie, Pa
August 17 - 19 - Ag Progress Days
August 18 - PSAC Board Meeting
September 23 - PSAC College Research Tour
September 23 - College Scholarship Banquet
October 12 - College Career Day
October 27 - PSAC Board Meeting
October 28 - PSAC Delegate Meeting