FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 8, 2006
Contact: Linda McCandless, llm3@cornell.edu, 607-254-5137

State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors Convene in Geneva, NY

By Joe Ogrodnick

GENEVA, NY: The 2006 Northeast Summer Joint Session of the Northeast Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (NERA) will be held July 9 -11 at The Ramada Inn in Geneva, N.Y., hosted by Cornell's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station.

"NERA is a formal coalition of directors of state agricultural experiment stations for the Northeastern Region of the United States," said Thomas J. Burr, Experiment Station director, who is hosting the meeting. "Because we all participate in the Federal-state partnership in agricultural science, and receive funding to support research under that mandate, this is an excellent opportunity for us to discuss mutual concerns and shared issues."

Three other associations serve the needs of the Southern, Western, and North Central regions. NERA's member institutions are mostly, but not exclusively, associated with colleges of agriculture at land-grant universities. Federal and state dollars are matched to carry out the research at the member institutions in broad areas. NERA primarily supports multistate collaborations.

Thirty-three directors from the association's 15-member stations participate in the association's activities, and the three annual meetings of the association. The three-day meeting will feature a number of presentations and association section meetings. One important topic is "Marketing the Land Grant Mission."

A visit to the Cornell's Agriculture and Food Technology Park followed by a wine-tasting and dinner at Anthony Road Winery are also planned. Speakers for the dinner program are Alexa Gifford, executive director of the New York Wine and Culinary Center, and John Martini, owner of Anthony Road Winery.

Gifford will discuss how the newly opened Center will promote New York products through various educational programs. Martini will speak briefly on the growth of the New York wine industry and how research and extension have contributed to its success.

In addition to Burr, a number of Cornell faculty and staff are participating in the program.
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