Clemson president speaks to South Carolina Farm Bureau
December 5, 2011
MYRTLEBEACH, SC – December 2, 2011 – Clemson University has reorganized and is investing in itscontinuing commitment to South Carolina agriculture and agribusiness,President James F. Barker told the members of the South Carolina Farm Bureau at their annual meeting on Friday.
“Without agriculture, there would be no Clemson University,” Barkersaid. “It is part of our history, it is part of our future. That willnever change.”
What has changed, Barker said, is how Clemson is organized to servestudents and agribusiness in response to state funding cuts andsignificant changes in the industry itself.
Since 2008, Clemson has lost almost half of its state funding for Public Service Activities (PSA), a separate agency that provides research, Extension and regulatory programs that serve agriculture and agribusiness.
Still, Barker said, Clemson continues to invest more annually inagribusiness than in any other industry sector. Despite the cuts, campusfarms, county Extension offices and statewide Research and EducationCenters (RECs) remain open.
PSA has focused its programs on core agriculture and natural resourcepriorities, Barker said, and university educational and general fundinghas been maintained for the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences.
He cited three examples of the millions in economic impact fromprograms to help soybean growers, peanut growers and beef producers.
Agriculture and forestry, he said, are “key drivers of economic development for our state.”
PSA priorities for the future include advanced plant technology,watershed management, precision agriculture, pasture-based livestockproduction and energy crop production.
Clemson plans to invest in these priority areas and to rebuildExtension county agent staffing as funds become available. The collegealso is adding faculty, and a new $50 million life sciences building isunder construction on campus.
Barker asked the S.C. Farm Bureau to continue to help Clemson shape its programs.
“With recovery in sight, we will continue to rely on your advice andcounsel to make sure that our agenda is the right one for agribusinesstoday and tomorrow,” he said.
Related Links
• Clemson Public Service Activities
• College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences
• South Carolina Farm Bureau
