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I am pleased to say that I have now moved into the NERA offices and seem to be getting acquainted with my new surrounding and responsibilities. As you all know, my plans were to spend some time on NERA activities this summer, however these plans were set aside as I had to deal with budget cuts to the college and our statewide extension programs. For your understanding, I want to say Thank You.
Beginning later this month, I will travel to URI, UMASS and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station - New Haven to begin to get to know each of you and your programs better. While I have not been on all of the campuses in the region, I do know broadly what many of you are facing in your day-to-day responsibilities. In addition, I would like to not only learn more about the individual research efforts of your station, but I would like to know from your perspective how NERA can be of assistance, as well as your vision for NERA as an organization.
When you offered me the position as your Executive Director, I had as a personal goal to increase the frequency of communications. I am going to try to do this by placing information on the web, but to also send you messages as I find information that I think can be of some value to you. I will try not to become overbearing with information, as I know from being on the other end what you face daily with email.
If you find this communication a little too much, please do not hesitate to let me know. Actually, I think that I know each of you well enough that this should not be a problem.
Over the past few months I have found a few items that have been useful and interesting, and I thought I would use this format to share.
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Publications and Meetings of Interest:
I do not know if all of you have seen or made access to AG Handbook No. AH 722 from the Economic Research Service, titled AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS. This handbook identifies trends in land, water and biological resources, and commercial input use, reports on the condition of our natural resources used in the agricultural sector and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture.
Available only in electronic format at:
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/arei/arei2001/
The Texas A & M University System's Integrative Center for Homeland Security is sponsoring a forum titled the 'International Aspects of Accidental Release or Deliberate Use of Biological Agents Affecting Food and Agriculture'. The forum will deal with policy and regulatory options to enhance cooperation, reduce vulnerability, and modernize post-event recovery procedures. To be held at the Houston Hyatt Regency Hotel, October 14-15 as part of the International Conference on Agricultural Science and Technology. More information can be found at the following site:
http://intlforum.tamu.edu/
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