07/17/07 WSU president emphasizes importance of agriculture

Washington Ag July 17, 2007 Washington State University's new President Elson Floyd reestablished the institutions commitment to agriculture during a luncheon address at the Spillman Field Day last week. Floyd: "We are making some very hard decisions about a whole host of things. But at the top of the list we will reestablish the priority associated with agriculture. That is what we do. That is what we do exceedingly well and in fact we have sort of allowed that to slip over time." Floyd also said Extension has been buried too deep within WSU's organizational structure. Elson: "We have not given it the priority that it must and should have in the future. And I am going to make sure that our Extension opportunities within Washington State University are making a real difference." But Floyd also acknowledged that WSU cannot be all things to all people. Elson: "And many of you heard me say this before and I am going to say it repeatedly we are going to have to do what I refer to as "pruning." There are some programs that we have in place that may not exist in the future. And you may say, well Elson what are those programs? I can't do that. I will have to do that in conjunction with our faculty." President Floyd did say the land-grant university has a responsibility to do everything possible to improve the quality of life for Washingtonians. I'm Bob Hoff.