09/14/05 Dean optimistic about ag`s future

HAMMEL "I'm excited because I think there's a bright light." An optimistic Doctor John Hammel knows that as our society becomes less agrarian it questions of the role of land grant institutions like the University of Idaho and the necessity for putting money into anything related to agriculture. As dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Hammel admits that the past several years have been difficult because of reduced funding that has made them now focus on certain program areas, at least for the next five to ten years. HAMMEL "Such as infectious diseases based on animal herd health, human health and plant health, as well as integrated livestock systems, beef and dairy are big, and also then integrated cropping systems." Hammel says the emphasis now is to get scientists and other people who can work in those core areas. The university supports traditional agriculture production while it looks at the future. HAMMEL "One faculty member from another college at the university came up and said to me he felt sorry for me being the dean of a college of a dying industry and I said 'Oh no, no, you need to understand that its ramping up. Ag is going to be more than just food.'" More about that tomorrow. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott