Harvester story on the Fed

From time to time I'm hoping to write about our WLI experiences. I was surprised to learn about the connection between Florida agriculture and the Federal Reserve, and I figured that a lot of others might not be aware of it, either. So this month's issue of Harvester, FFVA's online magazine, features an article about it, which you can read here.

Everglades restoration

Check out this Palm Beach Post story about projects that are part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. So many issues have taken on a new meaning now that we've seen them "up close and personal."

Can't say it any better

I just wanted everyone to experience the wonderful interview skills of our fearless leader. Hannah was interviewed by Southeast AgNet last week and, as always, delivers a fine performance.

Check it out HERE.

I'm not trying to suck up or anything (unless that helps...) but I hope that we can get some future instruction on how to handle interviews as well as our beloved (and thoroughly delightful) Dr. Carter.

Many of us have found or will find ourselves on the business end of a microphone representing our organizations or our industry. Interview skills are important, and I for one would gain a lot from some specialized training on how to remain calm, focused and on message with Gary Cooper (or an even more ominous creature) weilding a microphone in my direction.

Maybe Gary could give us some insight...just a thought.

What do you all think? And what experiences have some of you had with dealing with the media?

100 Ways Your IPod Can Up Your IQ

I came across the following article and thought I would pass it along...http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/raskin/18019. We'll be posting more podcasts next week. I hope you all are utilizing your technology!

Cockroaches Are Our Friends Now.

Mar 3, 8:06 AM EST

Farmer's Helper: the Flying Cockroach

By BETSY BLANEY Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Barry Fitzgerald

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Loathed by homeowner and restaurateur, the lowly cockroach is gaining some respect in the agricultural community.Researchers in South Texas are beginning to sing the praises of a flying cockroach from Asia that has shown a voracious appetite for pests that plague farmers. They concede, however, that most people would still be revolted at the sight of the helpful predator."It just brings out this visceral reaction in people," said Bob Pfannenstiel, an entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "There's too much cultural antipathy just because of the other cockroaches."The other cockroaches include the German variety, a common breed that doesn't fly and is often seen scattering from countertops when kitchen lights are flicked on.The Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai, is almost identical in appearance to the German variety and is also active at night. But instead of leftover pizza, it feasts on insects harmful to crops.They first appeared in Florida in 1986, and the species has expanded its range ever since. They've migrated to southern Georgia, Alabama and up the East Coast.They ventured west into Texas in 2006, and became the most common predator of bollworm eggs in the state's Rio Grande Valley region. The bollworm threatens cotton, soybean, corn and tomato crops.Pfannenstiel has counted as many as 100 roaches per square meter in soybean fields. In one instance, he found 14 cockroaches on a single leaf. None damaged the plants.About 86 percent of the pests' eggs - which Pfannenstiel and colleagues placed out in fields to conduct research - were gone within 24 hours."I saw them feeding more than any other predator," Pfannenstiel said. "It was truly a spectacle. It was unbelievable, and I'm sure they were feeding on more than eggs."The cockroach also eats the eggs of the beet armyworm - a pest to cotton, cabbage and a variety of other crops.South Texas cotton producer Jimmy Dodson said he's thankful the Asian cockroach is helping reduce pests in the region's cotton fields."The enemy of my enemy is a friend," said Dodson, whose family farms 9,000 acres of cotton. "When you have an ally in (reducing pests) you're not going to run them off. We need all the help we can get."Scientists have studied predator insects in agriculture for years but not much research has been done at night. Pfannenstiel, who researches beneficial insects, plans a long-term study to determine whether the cockroach remains a predator all its life."Without studying what goes on at night, we would never have observed some of our most important predators in cotton and soybeans," he said. "It's interesting that the cockroach could be a benefit to farmers."---On the Net:South Texas Cotton and Grain Association, http://www.stcga.org/Agricultural Research Service, http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/main.htm

The UnHoly Obsession?

After all the recent talk about IFAS cuts and today's Gainesville Sun article about reducing undergrad admissions by 3,000 over the next four years (LINK), I have really started pondering the direction of the University of Florida. While I think most of us are agreed on the IFAS situation, I wanted to take a slightly different angle and hopefully gain some insight from some of you.

Clearly, the goal of the Trustees and President Machen is to catipult our beloved institution into the US News and World Report's top ten public universities. And, sure, I'll be the first to say that ambition is one of the most important ingredients for success. (Plus, you can't blame folks that are used to being at the top of every other poll for wanting to be at the top of this one.)

However, my question is this: By striving to be at the absolute pinnicle of the academic world, is the University of Florida lessening its overall positive impact?

If, to receive the acclaim of a somewhat arbitrary ranking service, you must drastically reduce the amount of students you educate and the services you provide, are you really improving?

Now, earlier today my colleague and I bantered about the relative costs and benefits of low student to teacher ratio, ever increasing admission standards and the supposed increasing value of my orange and blue framed diploma. Personally, I am happy to call myself a Gator, one of the proud lot who met the high (yet, still attainable) standards and benefitted from the quality of the programs and instruction (not to mention 4-H and other extension services).

The US News and World Report currently ranks UF at 49 and I didn't see but three of four land grant institutions ahead of it. Maybe I'm way off base, but the potential prestige and honor of being a top 10 doesn't make up for the loss in accessability and programs that it would take to get there.

I'm interested to see what you think...

Interesting figures and Promising Figures

This is from the esteemed President back in Oct,
"Message from President J. Bernard Machen:
October, 2007
Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year!
Many of you have probably heard that we face some unique financial challenges this year due to state budget cuts. While that's certainly true, I want to stress that I think we remain in a good position to move forward academically - and to continue to provide a rich and rewarding college experience.
Unfortunately, budget cuts affecting every state institution have forced us to seek reductions to UF's budget. We have already implemented a university-wide hiring freeze. A task force I appointed earlier this year is looking at many other options, including streamlining current processes, cutting UF functions and increasing revenue streams.
With that in mind, I think we have many reasons for optimism. These include:
Our faculty research awards for the most recent fiscal year are up to $583 million, an impressive 12.5 percent more than last year.
UF this past year was Florida's only university to receive two statewide Center of Excellence grants -- as well as $20 million for an ethanol pilot plant.
Last year, we received the first ever Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professorship award to UF, along with several other prestigious awards.
In fundraising, our 3-year-old Faculty Challenge Initiative has netted $207 million, far eclipsing the original goal of $150 million. Overall our endowment now stands at about $1.2 billion.
UF has over $750 million in facilities construction planned and funded.
Let me add that last year's twin national championships meant a banner year for the University Athletic Association, and the UAA has donated $6 million to the university to help cover our budget shortfall. We will use the money in part to continue Florida Opportunity Scholars, an important scholarship that targets students who are the first in their families to attend college. We anticipate 400 new Opportunity Scholars this year.
Also, Florida lawmakers approved the state's first-ever tuition differential bill last spring. Starting in 2008-09, UF can raise its tuition as much as 40 percent, at a maximum rate of 15 percent per year above whatever the statewide increase is. That will guarantee we can continue to hire new faculty and student advisers, which in turn will give students the top-tier educational experience they truly deserve.
There's no question we would prefer a sunnier budget situation, but I have full faith we will continue to improve and grow despite the challenges. Let's make the coming academic year a productive and memorable one.
Sincerely,J. Bernard MachenPresident"

Now I am just a dumb ole country boy, but the shortfall doesn't seem to add up to me. Jorge sent this today and it is worth good hard look...

February 21, 2008
MEMORANDUM:
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Bernie Machen, President
Colleagues:
I am writing to provide you with an update regarding our current budget situation as we move through the spring semester and prepare for the upcoming Legislative Session.
As I am sure you are well aware, the news across the state is not good and could potentially become worse over the next several months.
Last fall our appropriations were reduced by the state by more than $22 million. In response to this reduction, each unit's budget was reduced and we implemented other initiatives such as a hiring freeze and the creation of a campus Task Force on Cost Reduction and Efficiency. Our hiring has continued for positions supported by clinical, research, or auxiliary funding and for mission critical positions funded from state sources.
The Task Force has explored dozens of potential opportunities and has recommended several initiatives that are moving forward, including the new transcript charge, consolidation of print vendors, transitioning print publications to electronic publications, a comprehensive motor vehicle management plan, and the recently announced direct deposit/ debit card plan. We believe real revenue and cost savings initiatives were identified and their implementation will continue to be part of our overall strategy. As each new initiative moves toward implementation, we will communicate in advance to the campus.
In addition to the more than $22 million appropriation reduction last fall, we expect the legislature to reduce our appropriations by another $16 million this fiscal year. The governor has actually withheld this amount from the semi- monthly payment of appropriations to the university. The additional new reduction is expected to continue into the next fiscal year, which would mean a new recurring reduction of more than $25 million. Taken together this represents more than a $47 million dollar reduction from fiscal year 2007.
We have chosen to utilize several one-time funds to address the $16 million reduction for the remainder of this fiscal year to mitigate the impact on departments. As a consequence, we will not ask colleges and other units to return additional money this fiscal year.
As we prepare for the new fiscal year the budgetary outlook is not very optimistic. Even after we have reduced our budget significantly, we expect another round of appropriation reductions beginning in July, in addition to the reductions previously described.
At this point, I am requesting that each Vice President and Dean prepare a plan to reduce their FY09 state-funded budget by at least 6% by July 1, 2008. I do not anticipate that the reductions will be applied in an across-the-board format and each unit needs to develop a reduction plan that could support both programmatic and general reductions.
As we move through the legislative session we will gain a better understanding of the full impact to the campus, but we must prepare now for the anticipated reductions.
This continues to be a very difficult time for our entire community and I appreciate your ongoing team work and collaboration.
For more information, please see <http://www.president.ufl.edu/budget-reduction> http://www.president.ufl.edu/budget-reduction.

Anyone know what "WTF" means??
Not to slam the guy, but he went to school to be a dentist, then never pulled a tooth. My opinion is getting out of hand here. Someone please comment so I can feel in touch with my inner self.
Sean