07/04/06 WSU`s organic major gets media attention

Washington Ag July 4, 2006 The recent approval for Washington State University to offer the nation's first major in organic agriculture systems has been getting plenty of media attention. CAHNRS Dean Dan Bernardo for example, fielded an interview by cell phone from CBS Radio news on the degree while attending a field day. Bill Pan, who chairs the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences related a story at the Palouse Conservation Field Day about a live interview he did on a Seattle area classic rock station. Pan: " I think at some point in the interview they characterized me as the professor of poop, the expert on excrement, the magistrate of manure. (whistle)." But seriously, Pan says there is good news in all this. Pan: "Whether you are a believer in organics or not, I think it gives us some great PR and people on the Westside are talking about agriculture whether it is related to local food supplies and quality of food or whether you are talking about biofuels and all the discussion you heard about today. So I think that is all good for eastern Washington." I'm Bob Hoff.