In Attendance:
Michael Vayda (VT), Acting Chair
Tom Brady (NH)
Tom Burr (NYG)
Patricia Cromack (MA)
Steve Goodwin (MA)
Bradley Hillman (NJ)
Fred Hutchison (Cornerstone)
Diane Hyman (DC)
Dan Kugler (CSREES)
Brenda McComb (MA)
Bruce McPheron (PA)
Christopher Neefus (NH)
Richard Rhodes III (RI)
Daniel Rossi (NERA)
Gladys Shelton (MD-1890)
Margaret Smith (NYC)
Kirby Stafford III (CTNH)
Greg Weidemann (CTS)
Gloria Wyche-Moore (DC)
Rubie Mize (NERA), Recorder

• Approved the draft agenda for this meeting as posted in url---
  http://www.nera.umd.edu/workshop/NERAAgendaMarch2008.html
• Approved the minutes of the NERA meeting held at Baltimore, MD on March 25-26,2008, as posted in url---
  http://www.nera.umd.edu/workshop/NERAMinutesMarch2008.html
• Approved the MAC recommendations, posted in this url, and as follows:
  http://www.nera.umd.edu/workshop/MACReportJuly2008.html
  1. Approve the following proposals:
     • NE_TEMP1422: Postharvest Biology of Fruits [NE1018], 10/2008-9/2013.
     • NE_TEMP1441: Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources [NE009], 10/2008-9/2013.
     • NE_TEMP1442: Commercial Greenhouse Production: Component and System Development [NE1017], 10/2008-9/2013.
     • NE_TEMP1501: Balancing Natural Resource Recreation Management, Human Well-Being, and Community Resilience, 10-2008 to 2013. [Approved as a Coordinating Committee]
     • NE_temp1481: Northeastern Corn Improvement Conference (Renew of NEC29), 10/2008-9/2013. [Approved as a Coordinating Committee]
  2. Approved the following Requests to Write Proposals:
     • "Wood Utilization Research : Biofuels, Bioproducts, Hybrid Biomaterials Composites Production, and Traditional Forest Products" [NE506], 07/2009-9/2014.
     • "Changing the Health Trajectory for Older Adults through Effective Diet and Activity Modifications" [NE1023], 10/2009-9/2014.
     • "Northeast Coordinating Committee on Soil Testing (Renew of NEC1007)", 10/2008-9/2013.
  3. Approved Regional Off-the-top Funding for FY2009 for NE9: Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources
     • NE9 = $200,000 [with a 4% increase for each of the next four years until FY2013 subject to review each year based on annual accomplishments report and availability of federal multistate funds].

• Approved the following recommendations by the Nominations Committee:
  1. New Advisor Assignment:
     • Fred Servello (ME) for NE506: Wood Utilization Research on US Biofuels, Bioproducts, Hybrid Biomaterials Composites Production, and Traditional Forest Products, 8/2007-7/2009
  2. Multistate Activities Committee Membership:
     • Chair: Bill Vinson (WV) - second term to 2011
     • Mike Vayda (VT) - second term to 2011
     • Tom Burr (NYI) - 2009
     • Kirby Stafford (CT-NH) - first term to 2011
  3. NERA Officers for 2009:
     • Chair: Mike Vayda (VT)
     • Vice-Chair: Tom Burr (NYI)
     • Officer-At-Large: Brad Hillman (NJ)
     • Past Chair: Robin Morgan (DE)
  4. NERA Representatives to ESCOP Committees:
     • Budget and Legislative Committee: Bruce McPheron (PA) and Mike Vayda (VT)
     • Science and Technology Committee: Tom Brady (NH)
  5. Authorized the Multistate Activities Committee to conduct a competitive planning grant for $10,000 to cover travel and meetings costs.

• Inform USDA-CSREES on actions taken by the NERA Directors.

• Assist in compiling the presentations from the 2008 Northeast Summer Joint Session held at Bethesda, MD on July 13-15.

• Assist in planning for the 2009 Northeast Summer Joint Session

• Assist in organizing the Working Group for Urban Change, as a follow-up to the 2008 Joint Session

• Develop the RFP for the NERA Planning Grant and assist MAC in the selection process.

• Topic for best practices suggested for next meeting:
  • How do we use our CARET delegates?
  • Presentation by successful awardee of the NERA Planning Grant, and hopefully one of the AFRI grants.
  • Charge for use of agricultural facilities, infrastructures, etc.

1. Call to Order - Acting Chair Mike Vayda
   The meeting was called to order at 3:30pm.

2. Agenda Modification (Additions/Deletions) and Approval - Acting Chair Mike Vayda
   http://www.nera.umd.edu/workshop/NERAAgendaJuly2008.html

   The Joint Session will reconvene from 8-9am to discuss next steps as a follow-up to this year's joint session and possible topics for 2009. Drs. Bruce McPheron and Ian Maw will also give a brief report on the meeting they attended to discuss Farm Bill implementation strategies. This topic will therefore be removed from the NERA agenda.

   The first order of business for Tuesday will be to discuss the White Paper for the NERA Planning Grant. CARET delegates will then join the NERA Meeting at 9:30am.

   A motion was made to approve the draft agenda with the modifications described above. The motion was seconded and approved.

3. Approval of the March 25-26, 2008, Meeting Minutes - Acting Chair Mike Vayda
   The motion made to accept the minutes as posted was seconded and approved.
   http://www.nera.umd.edu/workshop/NERAMinutesMarch2008.html

4. CSREES Update - Dan Kugler, CSREES
   http://www.nera.umd.edu/workshop/July2008Meeting/CSREESJuly2008.pdf
   Dr. Dan Kugler delivered the above report. There were questions and clarifications on the matching required in the RFA for specialty crops. The match is required for the entire project, and not necessarily by institutions. Endowments and foundation grants may be used for matching. Unrecovered indirect costs are not allowed. This limits participation only to those projects that are already well funded. CSREES was requested to take this into consideration.

5. Multistate Activities Committee Report distributed
   http://www.nera.umd.edu/workshop/MACReportJuly2008.html
   The MAC report and recommendations were distributed so the directors can review them before the discussion tomorrow.

   The meeting adjourned for the day at 4:35pm.

   Tuesday, July 15, 2008

6. NERA Planning Grant
   NERA Planning Grants Program, Rev. 1 [PDF]
   The purpose of the NERA Planning Grant is to better position our region to compete for grants under the new Farm Bill. The proposal should focus on the four initiatives:
   • Organic Agriculture Research & Extension
   • Specialty Crops Research Initiative
   • New Farmer and Rancher Development
   • Biomass Research and Development
   
   A recommendation was made to raise the funding to $10,000 per proposal. This will be used for travel and meeting arrangements. Any additional expenses will be covered by the participating stations. The Multistate Activities Committee will review and select the winning proposal. NEED will be requested to join MAC in the selection process.

   A motion was made authorizing the Multistate Activities Committee to conduct a competitive planning grant for $10,000 to cover travel and meetings costs. The RFP to be finalized by August 1.
   The motion was seconded and approved.

7. OED Report - Dan Rossi
   ED Dan Rossi gave the following report:
   OED Report [PDF]

8. ESCOP Report - Bruce McPheron
   ESCOP Report [PDF]
   The System Communication and Marketing Plan - One-Pager Update, June 2008 [PDF]
   System Communication and Marketing Plan: Proposed Metrics [PDF]

9. Meeting with CARET Delegates - Acting Chair Mike Vayda
   Before the CARET delegates arrived, the NERA directors discussed possible topics and timing of the joint sessions. Maine is next in line to host. It may be good to tie up the theme with the venue. Suggestions will be discussed with the CARET delegates.
   It would be ideal if proposals for the NERA Planning Grant will integrate the Urban agenda with the above four initiatives, as a follow-up action to this year's joint session. For instance, specialty crops addressing under-served population in terms of labor issues, marketing/transportation system and niche markets.
   As a side note, NEED discussed and agreed to form a committee composed of NEED, NERA and CARET (a name suggested was Working Group on Urban Change), similar to the 2008 Renewable Energy Working Group. NEED had identified members for this committee: Bill Hare (DC), Nick Place (MD), Mary Jane Willis (NJ), Bob Schrader (MA) and the director from West Virginia.

   Acting Chair Vayda welcomed the twelve CARET delegates and shared with them feedback from the directors. The directors and CARET are pleased with this year's theme and would like action items laid out as a follow-up like the Renewable Energy from 2008. They would like to continue discussing at future joint sessions the ramifications of the new Farm Bill. The topics suggested if the venue is in Maine, are:

   • Water quality and quantity
   • Farm Viability
   • Renewable Forestry Resources and Aquaculture
   • Impact of new mandatory funds to the Northeast
   • Continue presentation by Cornerstone
   • Follow-up on the 2008 Urban theme

   Jim Vincent, CARET delegate from New York, gave a brief report about the CARET National Strategic Plan [click here to view Plan]. He requested the directors to assist them in implementing the plan, as they operate under the auspices of the Deans or Administrative Heads. CARET delegates should be involved in discussions with the deans and should be kept appraised of multi-institutional efforts. As a best practices topic, it may be useful to address, "How do we use our CARET delegates?" The delegates clarified that they can be used for state-level advocacy. It all depends on the dean. However, they need to be cautious in delivering their state stories and make sure that they also carry the national message.

   On the timing, a suggestion was made to hold the plenary session on Sunday night from 5-8PM and then have dinner at 8-10PM, giving the attendees time to discuss the sessions informally. The joint session will be continued up to the Monday break, and the rest of the day and Tuesday will be for the section meetings. A tour could be organized on Monday afternoon for the CARET delegates to visit research/extension project sites. The suggestions will be shared with the 2009 planning committee. Hank Clark and Abbott Lee are the CARET members for the 2009 Joint Session Planning Committee.

10. Multistate Activities Committee Report - Acting Chair Mike Vayda
    MAC met by teleconference on July 9. Their recommendations are posted at http://www.nera.umd.edu/workshop/macreportjuly2008.html

    The motion made to approve MAC's recommendation for items 4 and 5, NE_TEMP1501 and NE_temp1481 respectively, was seconded and passed.

    The motion made to approve MAC's recommendation for items 6, 7 and 8, requests to write proposals, was seconded and passed.

    A motion was made to approve MAC's recommendation for item 2 for proposal NE_TEMP1441: Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources, and hence, the $200K off-the-top funding for FY09 with a 4% increase yearly in the next 4 years, subject to review by MAC each year and depending on the availability of multistate funds. The motion was seconded and approved.

    The motion made to approve MAC's recommendation for item 1, NE_TEMP1422: Postharvest Biology of Fruits, was seconded and passed.

    A motion was made after noting MAC's comments, to approve MAC's recommendation for item 3, NE_TEMP1442: Commercial Greenhouse Production: Component and System Development. The motion was seconded and approved.

    On the NRSPs, the NRSPRC report, comparison to NERA recommendations and germplasm reports are posted at the following:

    • NRSP Review Committee Recommendations [PDF]
    • Comparison of NERA and NRSP-RC Recommendations [PDF]
    • Brief History of NPGS Plant Introduction Stations - NRSP6 [PDF]
    • Regional Support for Germplasm Collections [PDF]
    • National Plant Germplasm Coordinating Committee Meeting Notes, Ft. Collins, CO, June 5, 2008 [MSWord]
    
    The directors will vote on the NRSPRC recommendations at the ESS Meeting in Traverse City, Michigan on Sept. 22.

11. Nominations Committee Report and Elections - Past Chair Steve Goodwin
    The following recommendations made by the Nomination Committee were seconded and approved:
    1. New Advisor Assignment:
       • Fred Servello (ME) for NE506: Wood Utilization Research on US Biofuels, Bioproducts, Hybrid Biomaterials Composites Production, and Traditional Forest Products, 8/2007-7/2009
    2. Multistate Activities Committee Membership:
       • Chair: Bill Vinson (WV) - second term to 2011
       • Mike Vayda (VT) - second term to 2011
       • Tom Burr (NYI) - 2009
       • Kirby Stafford (CT-NH) - first term to 2011
    3. NERA Officers for 2009:
       • Chair: Mike Vayda (VT)
       • Vice-Chair: Tom Burr (NYI)
       • Officer-At-Large: Brad Hillman (NJ)
       • Past Chair: Robin Morgan (DE)
    4. NERA Representatives to ESCOP Committees:
       • Budget and Legislative Committee: Bruce McPheron (PA) and Mike Vayda (VT)
       • Science and Technology Committee: Tom Brady (NH)

12. Resolutions Committee Report - Tom Burr

    • Resolution of Appreciation to Host Institution - District of Columbia Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
      WHEREAS, the Northeastern Regional Association of State Agriculture Experiment Station Directors participated in an important and productive meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda, Maryland, and

      WHEREAS, the Directors also were involved in an engaging and well-organized joint meeting with the Northeast Extension Directors, and members of the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching on July 14-15, and

      WHEREAS, the Directors enjoyed the Dandy Dinner Cruise along the Potomac River, pleased by the delicious food on the riverboat and the wonderful nighttime views of the nation’s capital,

      NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Directors acknowledge their appreciation to Acting Dean and Director Gloria Wyche-Moore, CES Associate Director William Hare, Acting Associate Dean/Director Diane Hyman, and their staff for making the meeting a great success and a very enjoyable experience.

      signed July 15, 2008
      by Michael Vayda, Acting Chair
      Northeastern Regional Association of State
      Agricultural Experiment Station Directors

    • Resolution of Appreciation to Dr. Kirklyn Kerr (CTS)
      WHEREAS, Dr. Kirklyn M. Kerr has distinguished himself as Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut, as well as Director of the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station and as Director of the Connecticut Cooperative Extension System since June 1993, and

      WHEREAS, Dr. Kerr served as Chair of the Board on Agriculture Assembly Policy Board of Directors of the National Association of State Universities of Land Grant Colleges, and

      WHEREAS, Dr. Kerr served as NERA Chair in 1996, was active in several regional and national committees, and served as advisor to numerous multistate projects, more recently, NE1009, NE1016, and NRSP7,

      NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Northeastern Regional Association of State Agriculture Experiment Station Directors at their meeting in Bethesda, Maryland, on July 14-15, express sincere appreciation to Dr. Kerr for his dedicated service and many valuable contributions to the Association, and wish him success in his future professional activities and personal endeavors.

      signed July 15, 2008
      by Michael Vayda, Acting Chair
      Northeastern Regional Association of State
      Agricultural Experiment Station Directors

    • Resolution of Appreciation to Dr. Rachel Johnson (VT)
      WHEREAS, Dr. Rachel K. Johnson has distinguished herself as the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at The University of Vermont, as well as Director of the Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station since 2003, and

      WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson served as the Associate Dean for Research of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Vermont, and as the Associate Director of the Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station in 2000, and Acting Dean from 2001-2003, and

      WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson held several federal appointments with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Academy of Sciences, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and

      WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson was involved in numerous national activities, serving in various committees,

      NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Northeastern Regional Association of State Agriculture Experiment Station Directors at their meeting in Bethesda, Maryland, on July 14-15, express sincere appreciation to Dr. Johnson for her dedicated service and many valuable contributions to the Association, and wish her much success in her future professional activities and personal endeavors.

      signed July 15, 2008
      by Michael Vayda, Acting Chair
      Northeastern Regional Association of State
      Agricultural Experiment Station Directors

13. Best Practices:
    Dr. Bruce McPheron and Dr. Mike Vayda led the discussion on "Budgeting for new faculty hires - unique start-up packages; inter-college spousal hiring; funding start-ups; etc."

14. Future Meetings:
    • ESS/SAES/ARD Workshop and NERA Fall Meeting: September 22-24, 2008 in Traverse City, Michigan

    Acting Chair Mike Vayda thanked everyone for coming to the meeting and the Joint Session, and for their insights and inputs that led to very fruitful discussions.

    The meeting was adjourned at 1:35 pm.

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