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The
three-year project, "Public Goods and University-Industry Relationships
in Agricultural Biotechnology," will assess university-industry
research, licensing and other partnerships, with special emphasis on the mix
of public and private goods provided through agricultural biotechnology.
While the project will be headquartered at Portland State University and
headed by Project Director Dave Ervin, a professor in Portland State
University’s Environmental Sciences and Resources Program, Farm Foundation
will have a major role in disseminating project findings to policymakers and
private sector decision-makers.
"With
agricultural biotechnology research being carried out increasingly in the
private sector, often in collaboration with university researchers,
questions about the relationships between universities and companies to
develop agricultural biotechnology products are the subject of much
speculation and little scientific information. Farm Foundation is pleased to
be involved with one of the first studies to improve our understanding of
the relationships, their effects on products and appropriate policies to
address any potential issues," according to Walter J. Armbruster,
president of Farm Foundation.
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Farm
Foundation’s mission is to improve the economic and social
well-being of U.S. agriculture and rural people by helping public
and private sector decision-makers identify and understand forces
that will shape the future.
Agricultural
biotechnology has the potential to improve production and human
health and reduce pollution. The project investigators will
interview university and industry personnel; conduct a survey of
university scientists, technology officers and administrators; and
undertake socioeconomic analysis to identify problems and potential
policies to foster the development of products with traits that
promote widespread public benefits. Project findings will inform key
stakeholders about the manner in which agricultural biotechnology
research is planned, coordinated and rewarded; and stimulate
constructive dialogue among academics, commercial firms and
policymakers.
[Farm
Foundation news release]
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The
course offerings will be the week of March 11-15 on the ISU campus. All of
the classes are offered as half-day sessions, between 9 a.m. and noon and
from 1 to 4 p.m., with the option attending the entire day.
Preregistration
is required, and at least five participants are needed to have each class.
The cost of each session is $15. Registration is being handled through the
McLean County Extension Office, (309) 663-8306.
Instructors
include University of Illinois Extension educators and the McLean County
Farm Bureau director of programs.
The
class schedule is as follows:
Monday,
March 11, morning session — Ag Computers 101 — Designed for those
thinking of buying or having recently purchased a computer. Introductions to
word processing, spreadsheets, and what it takes to get Internet and e-mail.
Monday,
March 11 afternoon session — Farm Spreadsheets (using Microsoft Excel) —
A how-to session with examples of spreadsheets on the farm.
Tuesday,
March 12, morning — Take a virtual tour of agronomic websites.
Tuesday,
March 12, afternoon — A virtual tour of agricultural information beyond
the university, and hints and helps to search for that information you’ve
been looking to find.
Wednesday,
March 13, morning — Quicken 101.
Wednesday,
March 13, afternoon — Best Kept Secrets of the FarmDoc.com (ag economics)
website.
Thursday,
March 14, morning — Quicken 102.
Thursday,
March 14, afternoon — FAST Tools — Financial analysis software from the
University of Illinois.
Friday,
March 15, morning — PC Mars Farm Accounting Software (FBFM-provided
instructor).
For
further information, please contact the McLean County Extension Office,
(309) 663-8306.
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Soybean
cyst nematode clinic
Logan
County will host a soil analysis clinic for soybean cyst nematodes
on Monday, March 11, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Extension office.
Nematode counts will be done for two soil samples at no charge.
Additional samples will be done at $5 each.
Soil
samples should be taken the same as for soil fertility analysis. For
predictive analysis, take soil samples from fields that will be
planted to soybeans this year. For determining if you have the pest,
take samples that were planted to soybeans last year.
For
more information, please call the Extension office, 732-8289, or
e-mail John Fulton at fultonj@mail.aces.uiuc.edu.
College
of ACES open house
Check
out the University of Illinois College of ACES open house
information on the web at http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/openhouse/.
The open house runs this Friday and Saturday at various locations on
campus.
[John
Fulton]
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Ag
scholarship announced
[FEB.
18, 2002] The
Midwest Equipment Dealers Association, through its educational
foundation, Midwest Equipment Foundation, will provide two $1,000
scholarships and four $750 scholarships for the 2002-03 school year
to students enrolled in association-approved community college
training programs.
A
copy of the scholarship announcement brochure with scholarship
rules, application form and listing of approved training programs
has been provided to all high school vo-ag instructors and community
colleges that provide MEDA-approved training programs.
The deadline for scholarship applications is April 1.
Scholarship
information can also be picked up at Central Illinois Ag’s Atlanta
store, 200 Sharon St., 1 (800) 762-2325, or from MEDA directly at 1
(800) 236-6332.
[News
release]
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