Cuts loom for ag and extension programs nationwide

Agriculture and extension programs at land-grant universities around the nation are feeling the impact of university budget cuts, according to an Associated Press story that was picked up by several major newspapers.

“We’re mortgaging our future with some of these cuts,” the story quoted Ian Maw, vice president for food, agriculture and natural resources at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.

The story bore a Minneapolis dateline and began with the plight of the University of Minnesota Extension program.

"People may not see the impact tomorrow but they will see long-term that not investing now means we’ll have more problems in the future,” said Beverly Durgan, dean of the University of Minnesota Extension program.

Other universities covered included:

• University of Georgia, where the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences recently decided to lay off 18 workers and sell a farm
• Iowa State University, where the extension program is planning for a 6 percent reduction in state funding
• Pennsylvania State University, where extension expects a cut between $5.5 million an $8 million.

Reporter Steve Karnowski also spoke to Dan Dooley, the vice president of agriculture and natural resources for the University of California. Dooley said he expects agriculture at the Berkeley, Davis and Riverside campuses will be cut less than most programs once California’s $9.6 billion deficit is resolved, but it will be hurt.

“Final decisions haven’t been made but the reality is with each reduction we’re going to have to decide what we’re going to do and what we’re not going to do,” Dooley was quoted.

The story was picked up by the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Deseret News and, according to Google News, 168 other media outlets.

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