CSS News 2003-04 pdf - Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences ...

Chair’s Message
The sound of the future is ringing in my ears! Outside of
my second floor office are the beginnings of a new face
on venerable Johnson Hall on the Pullman campus.
Groundbreaking began in Summer 2003 to build a new
wing along Stadium Way—Plant Biosciences I. The research
and teaching labs in this new wing will support many of our
state and federal research and teaching programs. Check
out the live web cam linked to our http://css.wsu.edu/
web page to view the building progress! The USDA also
approved funding for the design of another addition on
the east side of Johnson Hall, which will provide future
facilities for remaining ARS and state programs. Plans for
additional new buildings at Prosser and Mt. Vernon promise
to provide modernized facilities for our programs at those
locations as well.
We have a new boss with a familiar face! Dr. R. James Cook,
endowed Chair of Wheat Research and CSS instructor of
Crops 403/503, Cropping Systems, has taken on the position
of interim Dean of the College after Dr. James J. Zuiches
stepped down this past summer. Dr. Zuiches was instrumental
in guiding the building projects described above, and he
also successfully lobbied for a change in the name of our
college to the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural
Resource Sciences. Dr. Zuiches was a staunch supporter of
CSS programs and we thank him for his years of dedicated
administrative service to CSS, the College, and WSU.
Dr. Cook is rolling up his sleeves to be an active leader.
In his own words, “The last thing I want to be is a lame
duck Dean.” Dr. Cook is challenging us to redesign our
undergraduate programs under larger cross-unit and
potentially cross-college degree programs such as Plant
Sciences and Agricultural Systems. Dr. Cook provides us
with a strong voice of advocacy for mission-directed,
science-based research, teaching, and outreach.
A continuing decline in state support for higher education
took its toll again this year, as our state funding for CSS
programs was cut by $250,000. Ongoing budget pressures
are forcing us to shift the funding base of our research
technological staff from state to grant support. Fortunately,
our outstanding faculty and staff brought in over $6 million
in new grants and contracts to support our programs this
past year. Unfortunately, the newly created program in
weed science/weed ecology at Prosser was eliminated when
Dr. Marty Williams accepted an ARS position in Illinois.
Additional technologist support at Prosser was also lost with
the budget cut. On the brighter side, we are pleased to
welcome Dr. Richard Koenig and spouse, Dr. Theresa Cerny.
Dr. Koenig is filling the soil fertility research/extension
position vacated by Dr. Greg Schwab, who accepted a
position at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Koenig earned
his Ph.D. in our program (1993) and spent time at Colorado
State and Utah State Universities before coming back home.
Dr. Cerny, an ornamental horticulturist by training, will be
contributing to CSS and Horticulture teaching programs.
We also welcomed geostatistician Dr. Rick Rossi, another
WSU grad, back to Johnson Hall as a member of the Center
for Precision Agriculture team directed by Dr. Fran Pierce.
Dr. Shiou Kuo returned home from his professional leave in
Taiwan where he studied environmental soils issues.
Kudos to Dr. Tim Miller, who was promoted to E-3, associate
extension specialist in 2003; Tim is initiating a weed science
graduate training program at the Mt. Vernon R&E Center.
Thanks to Dr. Bill Johnston for his collaboration with Walla
Walla Community College to institutionalize an articulation
agreement for transferring turf students.
Provost Robert Bates paid a visit to our department and we
gave him an overview of our diverse programs. Dr. Bates
is challenging us to raise our game to the next level. Last
spring we held a statewide faculty and staff retreat at the
Lazy F ranch near Ellensburg. It was a great opportunity
for us to get reacquainted with our statewide colleagues.
We tackled some tough issues of accountability, respect,
team building, and communication; all essential foundations
for moving us to that next level. The retreat provided
an excellent starting point from which our department will
improve our focus and direction.
Operations in the CSS main office are settling down as
new staffers John Brabb, Dori Emerson, and Nancy Bean
are adding new energy and expertise while Mary Kate
Alexander, Deb Marsh, Judi Wutzke, and Paul Gylling
realign their roles and responsibilities to best coordinate
team efforts and to best utilize talents of the new staff.
Improved efficiencies in financial management and
reporting, improved faculty, and student services are being
realized with these changes . . . as the jack hammers and
construction trucks continue to rumble just a few feet away.
• Bill Pan, Chair
On the front cover:
Plant Biosciences Building Groundbreaking, L to R: State Sen. Larry Sheahan;
WSU Regent Peter Goldmark; State Rep. Mark Schoesler; WSU President V. Lane
Rawlins; Joseph Jen, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Undersecretary for Research,
Education, and Economics; R. James Cook, interim dean of the College of
Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences; Antoinette Betschart,
area director of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service’s
Pacific West area.