by Linda McCandless
Geneva, NY - Deputy Agriculture Secretary Richard Rominger came to the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) in Geneva, NY, for a three-hour tour last week, and left with 50 years of research in his pockets&#nbsp;- an Empire and a Jonagold apple.
"The Geneva Station is an outstanding example of what our land grant university system produces for America's taxpayers," said the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Deputy Secretary. "Agricultural research and extension are what have made possible the bounty of 
agricultural production we have in this country and allow the U.S. consumer to pay a lower percentage of income for food than in any other country in the world. The work that I saw at NYSAES demonstrated beyond any doubt the value of this investment in agricultural research."
At the Station, Rominger participated in a roundtable discussion with three local Station stakeholders - Joe Nicholson, owner of Red Jacket Orchard in Geneva, David Peterson of Swedish Hill Vineyard in Romulus, and Laura Pedersen of Pedersen Farms. They explained how a working relationship with Geneva was important to their operations.
"The partnership that exists between the federal, state and local government, and with the farmers, processors and private industry is evident at the Experiment Station and certainly proves the wisdom and benefits of this collaboration," said Rominger. "Support by private industry is what leverages the public dollars to achieve maximum results."
Geneva Director Jim Hunter stressed the importance of federal and state support, and said, "Long-term agricultural research can only flourish in an environment of sustained staffing and continued funding."
Scientists at Geneva demonstrated how the Station develops basic agricultural knowledge through research, and applies it in partnership with growers and processors in fruit and vegetable industries across the state. Examples demonstrated included IPM-labeled vegetables in Wegman's, fireblight resistant apple trees in Station orchards, management of pesky corn borers, DNA fingerprinting of grapes at the USDA-ARS Plant Genetic Resources Unit, use of genetic engineering technology to produce virus-resistant squash and tomatoes, and the fostering of new food products with entrepreneurs through the Food Venture Center.
"Partnerships between research and industry are what will help the U.S. stay competitive in national and international markets," said Rominger. "Congress wants to know that the growers are financially supportive of what the researchers are doing."
Rominger, who grew up on a family farm in California and graduated with a degree in plant science from UC-Davis, was appointed to the USDA's number two slot by President Clinton in 1993. He came to Geneva after delivering a keynote address to an agricultural fraternity conference and touring Cornell University's Ithaca campus on Friday.
"Richard Rominger's visit presented us with a unique opportunity to inform him how one land-grant college operates within the U.S.D.A./ land-grant college partnership," said Daryl Lund, Dean of Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. "If agriculture is to remain economically viable in New York, it is going to take collaborative efforts between federal, state and local agencies and resources. This was our opportunity to let him know our plans for supporting agriculture and related sciences."
Click on photograph to view 322 dpi version.
Photo caption: Phil Forsline explains to USDA Deputy Secretary Richard Rominger (right) how apple buds can be preserved in tanks of liquid nitrogen instead of rooted as trees during Rominger's tour of the Station on Saturday, April 19.
Return to News Page