NERA

Northeastern Regional Association
of
State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors Meeting

Holiday Inn by the Bay

88 Spring Street, Portland, Maine 04101

July 13-14, 2009

Minutes

Mike Vayda, Chair

In Attendance:
Michael Vayda (VT), Chair
Ed Ashworth (ME)
Tom Brady (NH)
Tom Burr (NYG)
Nancy Fey-Yensan (RI)
Steve Goodwin (MA)
Cameron Hackney (WV)
Ian Hart (CTS)
Stephen Herbert (MA)
Charlene Herrick (ME)
Bradley Hillman (NJ)
Diane Hyman (DC)
Dan Kugler (CSREES)
Bruce McPheron (PA)
Richard Rhodes III (RI)
Daniel Rossi (NERA)
Fred Servello (ME)
Kirby Stafford III (CTNH)
Cheng-i Wei (MD)
Gregory Weidemann (CTS)
Jon Wraith (NH)
Gloria Wyche-Moore (DC)
Northeast CARET Delegates
Northeast Regional Center Directors
Rubie Mize (NERA), Recorder

MAJOR DECISIONS

THE JOB JAR
(Work Assignments for the Executive Director)

Monday, July 13, 2009

  1. Call to Order - Chair Mike Vayda
    The meeting was called to order at 8:00 am. The first day of the meeting was chaired by Chair Mike Vayda.

  2. Agenda Modification (Additions/Deletions) and Approval - Chair Mike Vayda

    The motion made to approve the draft agenda as posted, was seconded and approved.
    http://www.nera.umd.edu/workshop/NERAAgendaJuly2009.html

  3. Approval of the March 24-25, 2009 Meeting Minutes - Chair Mike Vayda

    The motion made to accept the minutes posted was seconded and approved.
    http://www.nera.umd.edu/workshop/NERAMinutesMarch2009.html

  4. Multistate Activities Committee Report distributed for consideration on July 14, 2009 - Tom Burr
    http://www.nera.umd.edu/workshop/MACReportJuly2009.html
    The MAC report and recommendations were distributed so the directors can review them before the discussion tomorrow.

    There was a brief discussion on how NRSPs are formed and their purpose. The peer review process is being revised. Dr. Hackney inquired if it is possible to organize a global soil mapping project involving the NRCS, US, Europe and others as a NRSP. The intention is to have a higher 'national' profile than a regional multistate. Dr. Hackney will discuss thsi further with Dr. Rossi

    A comment was made regarding NRSP1. Can we, with NIFA, no longer be charged for reporting to USDA, like other federal funding agencies such as NIH and NSF?

  5. FY-09 Animal Health SF-424M Package - Chair Mike Vayda and Dan Kugler
    Dr. Kugler noted that the animal health fund was reduced by half and continue to decrease, while funding for animal disease is going up. It's a zero sum game.

    A motion was made to approve the suggestion to move the animal health funds to AFRI and use it to support animal health related programs. The motion was seconded and approved.

  6. CSREES Report – Dan Kugler
    1. 1890s are now eligible for McIntyre Stennis funds.
    2. AFRI encourages the use for Research and Extension for family sciences and youth development within the existing RFAs.
    3. On RFA planning - 6-7 committees on major issues were formed across the agency and major stakeholders to ensure good representation in RFAs.

  7. Review of Joint Session Discussion -  Chair Mike Vayda
    The following are actions suggested as a follow-up to this year's session:
    1. Summarize reports/presentations and assign 1-2 people who will draft paper/summary to highlight talks. Prepare white paper on how to collaborate better.
    2. Get PIs to work together but first determine stakeholder needs. Submit proposal for planning grants.
    3. Talk to state agencies and work with them. Get Ag. Commissioners together for next year's summer meeting. Work with Ag. Commissioners on setting priorities. Are there examples of successful collaborations with these partners, and best practices in region that we can learn from?
    4. Include the Academic programs in the joint session. Their teaching workshop is winding down.
    5. USAID has an $18B food security program in Africa and Southeast Asia. We should take this as an opportunity to reinvigorate our breeding programs.
    6. Suggestions for 2010 topics are---
      • Working with State Partners - NEASDA
      • Water Quality and Quantity
      • International Programs - USAID

    The 2010 Planning Committee will meet to work on the theme. Dr. Burr will represent NERA and Dr. Hackney will represent AHS.

  8. Comments from Chair (before closing the day's meeting) - Chair Mike Vayda
    Chair Mike Vayda thanked everyone for the short, but fruitful discussion and reminded the members to think about the discussions tomorrow with the regional center directors and CARET delegates. He adjourned the meeting for the day at 4:35 pm.

    Tuesday, July 14, 2009

  9. Collaboration with Regional Centers
    The regional centers already have the structure to support regional collaborations and have mechanisms to collect stakeholder inputs.
    Prospective collaborations discussed were:

  10. Joint Meeting with CARET
    Ken Nicewicz gave a brief summary of the CARET delegates' meeting with the Deans. Both groups are evaluating their expectations, and how to improve CARET's impact and effectiveness at the Hill.

    Issues discussed were--

    The NERA office will assist in organizing the follow-up meetings for CARET and AHS.

  11. Multistate Activities Committee Recommendations and NRSP Report - Chair Mike Vayda

  12. OED Report - Dan Rossi
    OED Report [PDF]
    Local and Regional Foods Conference Summary [PDF]
    Northeast Association of State Departments of Agriculture Annual Meeting Summary [PDF]
    Two-fold NERA Brochure [PDF]
    Northeast Functional Foods Initiative Conference [PDF]

  13. Best Practices Session - Tom Burr
    The directors discussed relationships that they build with their state departments. At Cornell, the Office of Land-grant Affairs was cut but the responsibility is now under the AES Director. "How do we professionally interact with agencies and represent our universities?" In New York, the State Commissioner is a member of the university's advisory board. Participation in councils and assoictaions are very important. However, our partners do not necessarily understand what collaborations are happening cross-institutional, within the region and outside.

  14. ESCOP Reports

  15. Nominations Committee Report and Elections - Chair Mike Vayda

    2010 NERA Officers:

    ESCOP Committees:

    Multistate Advisor Assignments:

    The motion made to accept the above nominations was seconded and approved.

  16. Resolutions Committee Report – Tom Burr

    Resolution of Appreciation to the Host Institution - Maine Forestry and Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

    WHEREAS, the Northeastern Regional Association of State Agriculture Experiment Station Directors participated in an engaging and productive meeting at the Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland, Maine, and

    WHEREAS, the Directors also were involved in a dynamic and well-organized joint meeting with the Northeast Extension Directors, Deans, Regional Center Directors and members of the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching on July 13-14, and

    WHEREAS, the Directors enjoyed the scenic cruise on Casco Bay, and a taste of the delightful and luscious Maine cuisine at the Lobster Bake on Peaks Island,

    NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Directors acknowledge their appreciation to Dean and Director Edward Ashworth, Associate Director Fred Servello, Executive Director John Rebar, Associate Director Doug Babkirk, Charlene Herrick, Shannon Johnson and their staff for making the meeting a great success and a very enjoyable experience.

    Signed July 14, 2009
    Michael Vayda, Chair
    Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors

    Resolution of Appreciation to Dr. Jeff Seemann (RI)

    WHEREAS, Dr. Jeff Seemann has distinguished himself as Dean of the College of the Environment and Life Sciences at the University of Rhode Island, as well as Director of the Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension since 2001, and

    WHEREAS, Dr. Seemann served as Chair of the Northeast Administrative Heads, and

    WHEREAS, Dr. Seemann served as NERA Chair in 2005, was active in several state, regional and national advisory boards and committees, and

    NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Northeastern Regional Association of State Agriculture Experiment Station Directors at their meeting in Portland, Maine, on July 13-14, express sincere appreciation to Dr. Seemann for his dedicated service and many valuable contributions to the Association, and wish him success in his new role as Vice President of Research at Texas A & M University.

    Signed July 14, 2009
    Michael Vayda, Chair
    Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors

    Resolution of Appreciation to Dr. William E. Vinson (WV)

    WHEREAS, Dr. William Vinson has distinguished himself as the Associate Director of the West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station since 2003, and

    WHEREAS, Dr. Vinson served with distinction and utmost commitment as a Member from 2003 to 2005, and then Chair of the NERA Multistate Activities Committee from 2005 to 2009, and;

    WHEREAS, Dr. Vinson very effectively represented the Northeast Region at the national level on the National Research Support Projects Review Committee, and

    WHEREAS, Dr. Vinson generously served as the administrative advisor on several multistate projects, and more recently on the following:
    NE1022- Poultry Production Systems: Optimization of Production and Welfare Using Physiological, Behavioral and Physical Assessments,
    NE1026- Weed Management Strategies for Sustainable Cropping Systems, and
    NE1027- Ovarian Influences on Embryonic Survival in Ruminants;

    NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Northeastern Regional Association of State Agriculture Experiment Station Directors at their meeting in Portland, Maine, on July 13-14, express sincere appreciation to Dr. Vinson for his dedicated service and many valuable contributions to the Association, and wish him happiness and success in his future personal endeavors.

    Signed July 14, 2009
    Michael Vayda, Chair
    Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors

    The motion made to accept the above resolutions was seconded and approved. The resolution for Dr. Bill Vinson will be modified to mention his achievements and contributions in animal science, particularly dairy.

  17. Future Meetings:

  18. Summary Comments and Closing - Chair Mike Vayda
    Chair Mike Vayda thanked everyone for the interesting and engaging discussions, and wished everyone safe return.

    The meeting was adjourned at 2:50 pm.


Back to Workroom