LETTERS: SEMO HAS STRONG AG PROGRAMS

To the editor:

You know it's going to be an interesting day when the morning newspaper announces your nonexistence. In a recent story by Peggy Scott and Joni Adams, Southern Illinois University's Carbondale chancellor, Dr. Don Beggs, is reported to have said that Southeast Missouri State University does not have an undergraduate program in agriculture. This was rather surprising, since I am the chairperson of the Department of Agriculture at Southeast. And I bet our nearly 1,000 alumni, 200 undergraduate students, 10 faculty and staff members and hundreds of friends and supporters were equally surprised.

But I am not angry. Every situation offers an opportunity. And this one offers a wonderful opportunity not only to remind Chancellor Beggs, the Southeast Missourian and the public that Southeast does indeed offer undergraduate programs in agriculture, but also to report how good our programs are.

Southeast has been offering undergraduate education in agriculture since at least the 1920s. Currently, we offer two degrees: the bachelor of science in agribusiness and the bachelor of science in agriculture with options in agronomy, animal science, general agriculture and horticulture. We also offer pre-professional programs in pre-veterinary medicine and pre-vocational agriculture education. These programs are supported by recently and beautifully renovated classrooms and laboratories, by an outstanding internship program, by our university demonstration farm (410 acres, 200 beef cattle) and by our horticulture greenhouse and all-American display garden.

In addition to offering undergraduate education, Southeast's Department of Agriculture works hard to serve this region's agricultural and horticultural communities. Here are some examples of how we do this:

This past year we formed an innovative partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the University of Missouri Extension Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service that is rapidly transforming our university's demonstration farm. Once in place, this project will put on display the very best intensive grazing beef production technology currently available. We have ongoing research projects designed to help local potato, rice and other farmers manage their soils and fertilizers. Some of our senior faculty members serve as directors, officers or advisers on numerous agricultural and horticultural boards around the area. One had dedicated much of his career to supporting and improving vocational agriculture education in Southeast Missouri. Last year, the department sought nearly $650,000 worth of grants to support various projects of value to the region. Funding was sought from two different sources for minority scholarships. One proposal was funded. The other, though deemed fundable, was turned down because the funding agency lacked sufficient funds. We are working with Missouri rice producers on a marketing project and have a proposal pending to support that effort. Another pending proposal (written in collaboration with our agriculture colleagues at SIU, by the way) would support an outreach program dedicated to helping rural communities in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. And there are not all the examples I could mention.

Southeast Missouri State University does indeed offer undergraduate programs in agriculture. Our Department of Agriculture serves its students and the local agricultural community. It has partnerships, alumni and friends throughout Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. I invite Chancellor Beggs, the reporters and anyone else to come visit us in Magill Hall. The rumors of our nonexistence are greatly exaggerated.

DUANE MERLIN FORD, Chairperson

Department of Agriculture

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau