A Pillar Supporting Ag
by Frank Giles
frgiles@meistermedia.com
Soon after I came on as editor
of Florida Grower, I quickly
realized how important a role
the University of Florida’s Institute
of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) plays in the state’s agricultural
industry. Countless times
I have tapped into their expertise to help bring you stories that will inform and hopefully help you build successful operations. I am not alone in relying on the important work of IFAS, and I have heard
many stories from growers who
have specific examples of how they
have benefited from the school’s
research and advice. In many ways,
IFAS is like a pillar that helps build
up and support Florida agriculture.
Reaction Loud And Clear
Like many, I was dismayed when
I heard that UF’s President Bernie
Machen was quoted saying that ag
was dying in Florida and that IFAS
might be up for large cuts in its budget.
The galvanized reaction by the
state’s ag community to Machen’s
comments is unlike anything I’ve
seen in my years editing for magazines.
President Machen’s office was
flooded with letters from growers,
associations, and big boosters of the
university. We feel very strongly that
we help out and speak on behalf of
IFAS as well, so much of this issue
is dedicated to the matter. Look for
the IFAS pillar logo throughout the
magazine for stories on the issue.
One of the challenges of monthly
publications is timing as news
breaks and unfolds. As we wrote
this issue, the amount of budget cuts
that will be targeted at IFAS was
unknown. By the time you have the
magazine in hand, that decision may
have already been made for better
or worse. So rather than focusing so
much on the budget itself, we share
how important IFAS is to Florida
agriculture and the good things
many growers and associations have
to say about the organization.
Get Updates Online
For news as it breaks, check out
our Web site at www.floridagrower.net/ifas. Online, we will report how
big the IFAS budget cuts will be and
how growers and ag leaders react.
Also, I’d encourage you to sign up
for our weekly e-newsletter, Florida
Grower To Go where we’ve been
covering the IFAS story closely. You
can sign up for the newsletter at
www.floridagrower.net/togo/index.html.
The response to the suggestion
that IFAS carry a disproportionate
share of the necessary budget
cuts at UF has been huge. If in fact
those cuts are unfair, I suspect the
chorus from the state’s ag industry
will grow even louder in support of
IFAS. We will keep you informed
in the pages of Florida Grower and
our Web site and e-news.
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