Interviews wrapping up in WSU search for wheat breeders

Washington Ag Today May 26, 2009 The interviews will conclude this week of the five finalist candidates that have applied for wheat breeding positions at Washington State University. The university is filling the vacant positions of winter wheat breeder and spring wheat breeder.

 Department of Crop and Soil Sciences chair Rich Koenig explains what the next step is after the interviews are wrapped up.

Koenig: “Right after that the faculty and the department are meeting June 1st. We hope to have a final recommendation made to the dean by June 3rd of next week.”

Then the negotiations start and Koenig says that will take some time.

Koenig: “Well, we are hoping to have the people identified by the time of the Spillman Field Day. That would be July 9th. And if we can get them back here in person we would have them available here at the Spillman Field Day to make the introduction.”

One of the candidates has a spouse that would want employment at WSU. The Washington Wheat Commission was told at a meeting last week that if that candidate was selected, accommodations for the spouse can be made.

University of Idaho wheat breeder Bob Zemetra is one of the finalists for a position at WSU. He applied for winter wheat breeder. In a communication with the Washington Wheat Commission, the Idaho Wheat Commission says if Zemetra were to receive an offer from WSU, it would be interested in discussing various types of cooperative arrangements, as Idaho may decide not to replace Zemetra’s position, or fill it with a much junior person.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.