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MONTHLY UPDATE
News for C-FAR Members

Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research
August 2009

Greetings from C-FAR.  Highlights of the past month include the following.

SPECIAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
The Board of Directors held a special meeting via conference call in late July to address (1) necessary communications regarding the FY10 C-FAR appropriation (letter to Governor, issuance of a news release, etc.) and (2) adoption of details for the Strategic Visioning Task Force (reported on in last month’s Update).

FY10 APPROPRIATION STATUS
There is nothing notable to report in terms of C-FAR’s FY10 appropriation reinstatement.  There have, however, been numerous engagements, etc. in this regard, including many communications to state leaders by C-FAR members and other colleagues.  We would anticipate seeing progress made during September and if necessary, during the General Assembly’s October veto session.  During their September meeting, the Board of Directors will of course make this topic a key priority.

REQUEST FOR FY09 EXPENDITURES
C-FAR’s university partners were requested this past month to provide the usual accounting for C-FAR appropriated expenses they incurred during the past fiscal year (for FY09 – July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009).  They will be providing this financial information during September.  We then compile this data into reports for submission to the State of Illinois.  This information will be included in C-FAR’s next annual report.

EXTERNAL PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORTS
Part of our reporting/accountability program includes the submission of progress reports on ongoing research initiatives funding through the External Competitive Grants Program.  These reports have been received and will be shared with working group chairs and vice chairs and university leaders for review.  These reports speak to the degree of progress being made and are not intended to suggest final outcomes.  This year, reports are being received on eight initiatives.  Final reports, for those initiatives which are currently maturing, will be requested this fall.

As we look ahead to September, we find...

BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO MEET
The C-FAR Board of Directors will convene during early September for a regularly scheduled meeting.  Their anticipated agenda includes:

• Review and acceptance of the Illinois Agricultural Auditing Association’s audit of the FY09 Legislative and Non-Legislative accounts.
• Hearing preliminary plans for this year’s C-FAR Day at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (to be held November 11).
• Consideration of FY09 and FY10 appropriation matters, including receipt of the final ¼ FY09 payment and FY10 reinstatement.
• Consideration of operational matters in light of the FY10 appropriation not being realized to date.

BOARD MEMBER ELECTION PROTOCOLS
The C-FAR Nominating Committee will be asked to consider protocols for the solicitation, submission, and slating of candidates for the Board of Directors.  Their considerations will pertain to seeking nominees this fall and the election of directors will be held at the February 2010 Annual Meeting.  This year, there are three seats to be elected.  Directors Chuck Cawley and Wally Furrow are eligible for re-election should they seek re-election.  Director Steve Scates will not be eligible for re-election due to reaching term limitation.

C-FAR DAY AT UIUC
Annually, and alternating among our four university partners, a unique event entitled
“C-FAR Day” is held on the respective campus to highlight a variety of C-FAR-funded research.  This year, the event will be held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on November 11.  Plans are currently being made and we look for this to be another excellent opportunity for C-FAR members and researchers to engage.  Information regarding the day will be sent to all C-FAR members during October.

SPECIAL MESSAGE: FY10 APPROPRIATION
With there currently being no C-FAR appropriation enacted for FY10, there are obviously more questions than there are answers.  We most certainly understand the duress this is causing among currently-funded research teams, the C-FAR membership, our university partners, and Illinois’ citizenry at-large.  The Board of Directors and I wish we had an informed response to the question “why did this happen?” We simply do not know, but the focus is on correcting it.

As I shared above, the Board of Directors will be entertaining a host of these issues at their September meeting and will be considering every appropriate means to ensure reinstatement of funding is a priority consideration by State of Illinois leaders.  What I can assure is that while the first priority – and continuing priority until every effort is exhausted – will be restoration of funding, we will also carefully monitor our operations.

Your patience, and likely engagement, will be critical as we work through this most difficult period.  Thank you for your understanding and of course for your dedication to Illinois having a vibrant food and agricultural research program.  Be assured, we will remain vigilant stewards of this important and critical program for Illinois’ food, agricultural, and related sectors.

All our best to you and yours.

Kraig

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Kraig A. Wagenecht, Executive Administrator
Illinois Council on Food & Agricultural Research (C-FAR)
1101 W. Peabody Drive · Urbana, IL 61801
Tel: 217.244.4232 · Fax: 217.244.8594
email: wagenech@illinois.edu