UI, WSU leaders say deep cuts could close research and extension centers

By MATTHEW WEAVER

Capital Press

Before he began his presentation, Washington State University agriculture dean Dan Bernardo joked wryly that he and University of Idaho ag dean John Hammel wanted to find out which ag college faces the most dismal budget scenario.

Bernardo won.

Bernardo, dean of WSU's College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, told the audience of a potential threat to $26 million in state funding for research -- $23 million of which goes to agriculture.

While no individual legislator supports deleting the money from the budget, discussion among state staff seems to indicate a willingness to entertain the cut, Bernardo said.

If the cut happens, it could result in the closure of WSU's four agricultural research and extension centers around the state and most facilities based in Pullman, and cut research, teaching and extension personnel, he said. The majority of the money would be technician and faculty salaries and benefits.

"It would eliminate us basically from the ag business," Bernardo said. "I know it sounds crazy, but as I've talked to several people working the Legislature, they said, 'Crazy ideas are getting a lot of legs around here because it's a crazy time.'"

Loss of state funding would also impact federal funding and grants that require matching state dollars, Bernardo said.

"When you've got a $2.8 billion (state) shortfall, big hunks of money are hard to come by and we have, at least by the interpretation of those staffers, an unprotected set of funds among a huge set of protected funds," he said.

"Obviously it involves dealing with fiscal realities, making tough choices, identifying priorities and advancing what we're doing by being competitive for other sources of funds," he said. "I know with the help of everybody in the industry, we can fend off the lunacy."

Hammel, dean of UI's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, conceded that Bernardo won the dismal budget competition, but noted his college has also already made cuts.

Now, with an additional $3 million to $3.5 million budget cut expected, the university is further examining restructuring its research and extension centers, eliminating programs and dropping at least 35 faculty or staff members, he said.

The colleges are already combining efforts, such as unifying their schools of food science, and Hammel said more similar efforts will be explored and include Oregon State University as well.

In the face of more cuts, Hammel said agriculture must continue to educate the American public beyond the value of production.

"The big problem we're having is there's just not an understanding of the importance of ag to the state," he said. "We've lost the war because we've not educated."

UI faces a similar financial crunch. Nearly 17 percent, or $4.7 million, has been cut from the Agricultural and Research Extension Service appropriation, Hammel said in a presentation to University of Idaho Board of Regents in October.

Private companies and industry groups have chipped in to keep the UI's Parma research center open.

They spoke about the state of agricultural research during the Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum Feb. 3.