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____________________________________________
MONTHLY
UPDATE
News for C-FAR Members
Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural
Research
April/May 2008
Spring greetings from C-FAR! With the weather now resembling
spring, our best wishes to producers throughout the state
for a safe and successful planting season.
Highlights of the past month include…
2008-2009 COMMITTEES
ESTABLISHED
C-FAR's committees are now set for the next year and are
posted on our website at http://www.ilcfar.org/organization/index.html
(see the committee members section). The Board of Directors
approved these committee member appointments upon the recommendation
of Chairman Nels Kasey. We are grateful to each of these
members for accepting the invitation to serve. Please note:
there were no considerations necessary for the Research
Committee, as this committee's members were either elected
or appointed to two-year terms last year.
RELEASE OF FY08 APPROPRIATION
As the C-FAR Board of Directors has shared and with the
subject being throughout the media and elsewhere, the FY08
C-FAR appropriation has not yet been released. While the
ramifications of the appropriation not yet being released
have been noted by the Board and shared with numerous State
of Illinois officials, there remain high aspirations that
this matter can be resolved in the near future. The Board
will keep the C-FAR membership informed of any developments.
ARE YOUR C-FAR REPRESENTATIVES
CURRENT?
The "Contact Person" for each C-FAR Organizational
and Affiliate member recently received a report regarding
their C-FAR representatives currently on file. Note: The
"Contact Person" is the individual named by each
Organizational and Affiliate member to receive such correspondence.
This annual communication provides these members the opportunity
to consider their respective set of C-FAR representatives.
This initiative aims to confirm (1) information regarding
their representatives is accurately on file and, (2) the
representatives are interested and committed to engaging
in their respective C-FAR responsibilities and opportunities.
Our thanks in advance to these Organizational and Affiliate
member leaders for giving this matter careful consideration
in cooperation with their respective colleagues.
NEW MEMBERS
WELCOMED
We welcomed two new members during April. The Scott County
Farm Bureau (an Organizational member) and the Western Illinois
University Department of Biological Sciences (an Affiliate
member) are these newest members. Their membership, support,
and engagement are appreciated!
As we look to the month of May…
A HEADS UP: SPRING
NEWSLETTER
C-FAR members and other colleagues will receive C-FAR's
spring newsletter during mid-May. In addition to several
interesting articles, the newsletter includes summaries
of research outcomes that came to fruition this past fiscal
year.
I highlight this part of the upcoming newsletter because
this is why C-FAR was established and why you are a member
and/or are otherwise supportive. Realizing the benefits
of food and agricultural research for our state, the respective
food and agricultural sectors, and Illinois citizens in
general is why we are in business. Upon receiving the newsletter,
please take some time with it.
FY09 C-FAR APPROPRIATION
While the release of the FY08 appropriation is a very high
priority, the State of Illinois continues the process of
establishing the state's FY09 budget. Several budget hearings
have been held and budget deliberations will continue to
unfold. The FY09 C-FAR appropriation has been introduced
at $4.275 million - down just slightly from the FY08 level
of $4.5 million.
C-FAR leaders have been and will continue to be engaged
appropriately as this budget development process continues.
At this time, the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled
to adjourn May 29. Of course, their ability to do so rest
on the progress made on the budget and other matters of
importance to our state.
C-FAR 15th ANNIVERSARY
REFLECTION
Fifteen years ago, almost to the day (April 27, 1993), a
special task force organized by the UIUC College of Agriculture
Alumni Association met for their inaugural meeting. The
charge of the task force was to investigate options and
alternatives for increasing state funding for food and agricultural
research.
This task force called for the formation of a steering
committee to provide coordination and leadership in developing
an organization to foster a revitalized food and agricultural
research program in Illinois - an organization which of
course became C-FAR. The meetings and foresight of this
task force and steering committee quickly began to produce
results. The State of Illinois, many constituent groups,
and Illinois' research community were brought to the table
and in just a few months, C-FAR was born.
All our best to you and yours during this Spring season.
Kraig
Sports Notes: As we conclude the first month of major league
baseball, there has been a lot to cheer about for those
of us who root for the "Northsiders." Go
Cubs Go!
_______________________________________________________
Kraig A. Wagenecht, Executive Administrator
Illinois Council on Food & Agricultural Research (C-FAR)
1101 W. Peabody Drive
Urbana, IL 61801
217.244.4232
Fax: 217.244.8594
e-mail: wagenech@uiuc.edu
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