Agriculture at the Crossroads

What a pleasure it is to have this opportunity to welcome you all to this thirteenth annual Agriculture at the Crossroads Conference sponsored by the Nebraska AgRelations Council and the Department of Agricultural Economics here in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln.

Opening Remarks for Master Conservationist Presentations

It is a distinct honor for me to help recognize the 2003 Master Conservationists tonight. Tonight's event marks the 20th anniversary of the program sponsored by the Omaha World-Herald and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

APC Hearing

Fellow members of the Academic Planning Committee and others here today, I am appearing before you to speak about three proposed cuts to the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources budget. These cuts are: $213,959 in state funding for the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum; $837,333 in state funding for the Nebraska Forest Service; and $1,799,915 in state funding for the Veterinary Student Contract program.

Opening Comments Before Master Conservationist Presentations

It is a real pleasure to participate in this recognition program honoring the 2004 Master-Conservationists. We are grateful for the partnership with the Omaha World Herald in this unique program. In an effort to keep the program in tune with current developments in soil and waster conservation, a special committee is considering the idea of including conservation easements in the 2005 program. Some members of the committee are in the audience tonight. We appreciate the efforts of members of the Omaha World Herald, Natural Resources Districts, the USDA Natural-Resources Conservation Service and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources in carrying out this program.

Fleming Fields Recreational Sports Park Dedication

It is a real treat for me to be here today on behalf of the university as we dedicate Fleming Fields Recreational Sports Park. As Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I am especially pleased to be able to take part in honoring the memory of Jim, Bob, and Dave Fleming, three outstanding-University of - Nebraska graduates.

Distinguished Fellowship Awards Luncheon

What a treat it is to be here today at this distinguished fellowship awards luncheon to recognize and celebrate our 18 graduate students who are recipients of this year's awards. For each of you, I see your award as a wonderful recognition of your talent and promise. We are so pleased to have you learning and working with us in your chosen departments in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and on behalf of all of us in the Institute, I extend the heartiest of congratulations to each of you.

Ag at the Crossroads

Thank you for inviting me to be here with you today. It is always such a pleasure to be asked to talk about the ways the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources benefits Nebraskans, Nebraska, and our state's economy. I am proud of the real difference our work makes in Nebraska's future and in Nebraskans' lives.

Fourth Annual Symposium in Virology

What a pleasure it is to take part in welcoming you to this Fourth Annual Symposium in Virology. Such a tremendous program lies ahead! And how pleased and proud we are that this year's symposium is a special tribute to our colleague Dr. James Van Etten, Professor of Plant Pathology in our Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources here at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who last-year was elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences.

Nebraska Builder Award Presented to Dr. Mark Gustafson

Few Nebraskans are as devoted to the University of Nebraska as Mark Gustafson. Driven by his belief that a strong university is key to a strong Nebraska economy, Mark is an advocate for the university in the local, state, and national arenas. He is a Nebraska delegate to the Council for Agricultural, Research, Extension, and Teaching, a national advocacy organization for higher education. Since 1991, he's been a member of Agriculture Builders of Nebraska, Inc., which supports UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, as well as the entire University, and has served three terms as president. He has served on the advisory councils for the UNL chancellor and the NU president and served on UNL's Future Nebraska Taskforce. He holds baccalaureate and master's degrees from UNL and a Ph.D. from the University of California-Berkeley. When he's not volunteering his time, Mark operates the family farm near Mead. He and his wife, Dianne, are the parents of two children - Christopher, a UNL alumnus, and Anneke, a UNL junior.

May Commencement

Few Nebraskans are as devoted to the University of Nebraska as Mark Gustafson. Driven by his belief that a strong university is key to a strong Nebraska economy, Mark is an advocate for the university in the local, state, and national arenas. He is a Nebraska delegate to the Council for Agricultural, Research, Extension, and Teaching, a national advocacy organization for higher education. Since 1991, he's been a member of Agriculture Builders of Nebraska, Inc., which supports UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, as well as the entire University, and has served three terms as president. He has served on the advisory councils for the UNL chancellor and the NU president and served on UNL's Future Nebraska Taskforce. He holds baccalaureate and master's degrees from UNL and a Ph.D. from the University of California-Berkeley.

48th Annual Nebraska Agri-Business Association Meeting

Thank you so very much for this opportunity to speak today at this 48th Annual Nebraska Agri-Business Association meeting. Dr. Kyle Hoagland, Water Center Director in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and I are particularly pleased to be asked to talk with you today about water, a key concern in our state and in our world. New water regulations affecting Nebraska's agricultural producers, numerous legislative discussions, and stories of neighbors contesting water use by neighbors have been in the news and on our minds. We all know that will continue.

Wagonhammer Dedication

What a tremendous pleasure it is to be here today to dedicate our new Wagonhammer Education Center and the Ray (Boo-ee) Bohy Conference. Room it contains. I look at this building and I think of all the ways it can and will enhance education, learning, and research conducted here at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory. That thought delights me, both on behalf of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the work we do here, and on behalf of the Nebraskans and others who come here to learn, and to grow their knowledge and skills for the future.

LEAD Presentation

Thank you for inviting us to share with you some information about the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and what we are doing for Nebraska. As a stakeholder in Nebraska's land-grant university, you and every other Nebraskan have every right at any time to ask us what we've done for you and your neighbors lately. We welcome the question. There is so much excellent work being accomplished on this campus and throughout Nebraska that I am delighted each time I have the opportunity to talk about it. The biggest problem I find is stopping - there's always so much more to say - than there is time to say it in!

Ag at the Crossroads

Good afternoon. It is always a pleasure to take part in Ag at the Crossroads. I am particularly pleased today to be asked to talk about one of our Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources' strategic plan priorities and that is water. One of our four strategic plan priority goals is to, "Develop an integrated, multi-disciplinary, multi-functional water resources program addressing Nebraska's needs that provides statewide, national, and international leadership in water quality and quantity management in the next decade."

SCREC District VIP Event

Folks, it's a great treat to have this opportunity to share with you how we in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources are at work for Nebraska. I want to talk with you a little bit today about that work, our land-grant university history, and where our vision for Nebraska's future is taking us.