Annual Report American Society of Agronomy Crop Science Society of America Soil Science Society of America

Transcription

1 Annual Report 2006 American Society of Agronomy Crop Science Society of America Soil Science Society of America

2 A Truly Dynamic Year for ASA The American Society of Agronomy marks 2006 as a truly dynamic year. Through active involvement of staff and the newly restructured board before, during, and after our May retreat, we were able to develop and present to the membership our Strategic Plan. The ASA Board has identified four main goals: 1. ASA will be members indispensable resource for leading-edge education, knowledge, and networking. 2. ASA will be recognized as the powerful advocate and voice for advancing the science of agronomy to proactively address emerging global issues. 3. The integrated science of agronomy will be recognized as the source of science-based knowledge that improves the management of soils, crops, and the environment. 4. ASA will be known for its innovative infrastructure that advances and sustains its success. At present, several task forces are hard at work developing plans and making recommendations to assist ASA with these four main goals. The strategic plan is a roadmap for the future and will need to be revisited on an annual basis to ensure that we are meeting the changing needs of our members. View the ASA Strategic Plan at: David A. Sleper 2006 ASA President sleperd@missouri.edu Moving Forward, Raising the Bar For the Crop Science Society of America, 2006 was characterized by analysis and planning for the future. At our June retreat, the Board began a process of thinking strategically by identifying our core purpose, to pursue and promote plant science for a better world. We agreed on a set of key strategic goals to fulfill that purpose, focusing on publications, annual meeting, policy, and public relations. We assigned member-led task forces to these goals and plan to have action items identified and prioritized in early View the CSSA Strategic Plan at: The Crop Science supplement The Plant Genome, launched in November 2006, has been favorably received by members and nonmembers alike and provides a valuable outlet for genomic research that has potential for agronomic advancement. A comprehensive review of Crop Science was initiated in 2006 with the final report due in mid We also inaugurated the Golden Opportunity Scholars Institute at the Annual Meetings with 15 outstanding students, and we expect this program to grow. Finally, total CSSA membership increased in 2006 to 4,658, up from 4,407 in Steven L. Fales 2006 CSSA President slf@iastate.edu Progress Continues in SSSA Activities Several milestones for the Soil Science Society of America were accomplished in For several years, SSSA had been assisting the organizers of the World Congress of Soil Science. The efforts paid off with a highly successful 18th World Congress held in Philadelphia in July 2006 that drew attendees from more than 100 countries. Another milestone was the increase in funds for the Smithsonian Soils Exhibit. Thanks to a very generous donation made by The Fertilizer Institute, we raised $1.1 million in 2006, bringing total funding to $2.1 million. Another milestone was the formation of the House Soils Caucus. This 27-member team from the U.S. House of Representatives continues to grow and advance its mission to heighten the importance and role of soils and soil science among policymakers. The reorganized SSSA Board held its retreat last August. The retreat had two objectives: first, to introduce the Board to headquarters staff; second, to discuss and plan a whole society vision strategy. One result of the retreat was the formation of task forces to accomplish the high-priority goals which were set, including certification, advocacy/education, and a task force with ASA and CSSA on the Annual Meetings. View the SSSA Strategic Plan at: Lastly, SSSA ended the year with 6,175 members! This is an increase of 160 members from Mary E. Collins 2006 SSSA President mec@ifas.ufl.edu

3 2006 Highlights: Think Big! As outlined in the 2006 Presidents' messages, each board met in planning sessions to analyze trends, discuss the future of the professions, and create visions for the future. The result? Big Audacious Goals (B.A.G.s). These B.A.G.s are clear, compelling, and provide a future direction for each Society. They also provide a clear direction for staff in improving and developing member programs. For headquarters, in 2006 our dedicated staff was very busy upgrading our technologies; improving our publications, certifications, meetings, and member programs; increasing outreach and advocacy; and managing our resources. Ellen Bergfeld Executive Vice President ebergfeld@agronomy.org, ebergfeld@crops.org, ebergfeld@soils.org Financial Services Our accounting software upgrade of 2005 yielded the advent of regular financial reporting to management and to the Boards of Directors in The consolidated 2005 audit report was issued in April 2006 with the Societies and the Agronomic Science Foundation given an unqualified opinion. The financial results reported were strong: combined net income from all sources was $1,516,476 in 2005 and combined net assets as of December 31, 2005 were $13,606,938. A breakdown of 2005 combined revenue sources and dollar totals is shown in the chart below Combined Sources of Revenue (ASA, CSSA, SSSA) Publications Bigger was the key word for 2006 journal publishing efforts. We accepted more manuscripts, published more pages per volume in most cases, and included more figures, charts, and graphs than last year. Both the Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education and Soil Survey Horizons were redesigned for easier readability and information retention. The Plant Genome debuted in 2006, providing readers with specialized information in the rapidly expanding area of plant genomics. In addition, the Societies premiered a new Custom Content service to allow members to select from thousands of journal articles to create course packs, symposia materials, collections, and author compilations. Finally, three new publications were introduced in 2006: Dryland Agriculture, 2nd Edition; Roadside Turf Management CD; and Genetics: A Laboratory Manual. ASA CSSA SSSA Journals Pages Manuscripts Manuscripts Published Published Submitted ,722 1,404 1,933 Meetings and Conventions This was a fast-paced and exciting year for Society meetings. The 18th World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) convened in Philadelphia in July with more than 2,000 attendees from 103 countries. Keynote speaker Jeffrey Sachs noted, Soil science is at the center of so many challenges that the world faces, longtime ASA SSSA member A. Colin McClung was recognized as a recipient of the 2006 World Food Prize, and attendees heard about the soil probe on the Mars mission all contributing to wonderful memories. The 2006 ASA CSSA SSSA Annual Meetings in Indianapolis were equally successful with more than 3,600 in attendance. Attendees could choose from seven ASF Lectureships, 73 symposia, and more than 2,400 papers and posters. Many of the sessions were recorded and are available online at the 2006 meeting site. "Clearly your activities in DC are hugely important in shaping legislation and affecting funding and are a motivation to me to maintain my participation in the Societies. It was truly enlightening to see how the process worked." Shawn M. Kaeppler, University of Wisconsin 3

4 Information Technology Members continue to benefit from the investment in our information technology infrastructure. Some of this is behind the scenes, such as servers, and some is visible to members and users, such as the new database. In 2006, the Societies' 25-year-old data was converted to a new system that is built on the latest Microsoft CRM platform. This migration has not been without its issues, but we continue our work to resolve these. Internally, the system allows for robust queries and externally, members can view and update their profile (including committee work, divisions of interest, etc.), and search the Member Directory. Website visitors can now search our sites with the latest in Google technology. In addition, a more robust search functionality was launched for the popular Glossary of Crop Science Terms and Glossary of Soil Science Terms. The CSSA web pages were redesigned in 2006 for readability and design Total Website Hits ASA 382,749 CSSA 137,681 SSSA 246,854 ASA CSSA SSSA 59,641 Total: 826,925 Certification Certification launched an effort in 2006 to help USDA-NRCS streamline its Technical Service Provider (TSP) Program. These TSPs are individuals, businesses, nonprofits, or agencies outside of USDA who help agricultural producers apply conservation practices. NRCS developed Proficiency Areas for three categories similar to our certification performance objectives in nutrient management, pest management, and irrigation management. NRCS will certify a Certified Crop Adviser, Certified Professional Agronomist, or Certified Professional Soil Scientist as a TSP if they meet these NRCS Proficiency Areas. The process will be pilot tested in 2007 in California, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Colorado, Montana, and Kansas Certified Individuals CCA Agronomy Soils Total Certified 13, ,266 Agronomic Science Foundation At year s end, a confirmed opening date of July 2008 was announced for Worlds Underfoot, the 5,000-square-foot joint exhibition project between SSSA and the Smithsonian. With more than SOILS 250 gifts in 2006 totaling more than $200,000 (plus a $1 million sponsorship pledge directly to Smithsonian), we currently have WORLDS UNDERFOOT $2.1 million towards the $2.5 million goal for the DC exhibit. In 2006, The National Academies also endorsed the exhibit, Now s the Time!... To Tell the Story of Soil saying, "Unquestionably, this is the most important opportunity that the field of soil science has ever had to educate the general public about soils." A new CSSA program supported by an endowment from Wyman Nyquist and more than $100,000 in other donations debuted at the Annual Meetings with the inaugural class of Golden Opportunity Scholars and mentors. This professional development initiative connected 15 undergraduates with member-mentors. Mentors assisted scholars in navigating the meetings and are currently continuing the mentoring process with the overall goal of igniting enthusiasm for a crop science career. Two new lectureships received additional donor support this year and were held for the first time at our Annual Meetings: The Nyle C. Brady Frontiers of Soil Science Distinguished Golden Opportunity Scholars and Mentors Lectureship, endowed by Ray Weil and Nyle Brady The William H. Patrick, Jr. Memorial Lectureship, endowed by Ruth Patrick and family In addition, a fund was established in 2006 for the ASA Chinese Agricultural Science Award to recognize members who have made significant contributions to Chinese agriculture. To make a gift to any of the Agronomic Science Foundation funds, please use the enclosed envelope. 4

5 Member Services In 2006, the Societies awarded $250,000 in scholarships, fellowships, and award honorariums to nearly 100 individuals. A highlight of the Awards Program was the programming of a one-of-a-kind system to collect nominations, reference letters, and electronic votes. An ASA CSSA SSSA award was launched to recognize an exceptional Early Career member. The Students of Agronomy, Soils, and Environmental Sciences (SASES) brought together 251 students from 31 affiliated chapters during the Annual Meetings. A featured event was the President s Trophy Award for best SASES chapter presented to the Texas A&M Agronomy Club. Membership by Multiple Society CS/49 C/792 S/2,139 ACS/1,645 A/2,319 A/2,319 AC/2,272 Membership ASA CSSA SSSA 2006 Members 8,378 4,658 6, Members 8,440 4,407 6,015 The Career Placement Center was also a popular draw during the Annual Meetings, with 128 job seekers; 41 employers; 200+ position announcements; and 190 interviews scheduled. Our public relations activities to inform a wider audience about our sciences is reaping rewards; 21 media representatives registered for the World Congress of Soil Science in July. Members also benefit from regular homepage headline updates using RSS feed technology. The S591 K 12 committee was formed in 2006 to develop and implement a soil science literacy program. An initial website is up at based on the soil science bookmark placed in 16,000 American Geological Institute Earth Science Week Kits distributed to educators. Thank you to our 1,800+ volunteer members for serving the Societies in 2006! Science Policy We marked a stellar year for our science policy efforts in Working with Congress and many of you, our citizen scientists, we successfully launched the House Soils Caucus (with 27 U.S. House of Representative members) that included a kick-off educational briefing on bioenergy. We also conducted a dozen Congressional visits with ASA CSSA SSSA members and leadership to seek greater federal funding for the agencies such as the National Science Foundation, USDA, Department of Energy Office of Science that support our research. We continued building our grassroots advocacy efforts, sending six electronic action alerts and organized and lead two district level meetings/briefings in two districts in Missouri. On our own and through coalition efforts, we were instrumental in obtaining increases for research programs funded through NSF, DOE, USDA, and the U.S. Geological Survey. ASA CSSA member Henry Nguyen, second from left, presented his National Science Foundation-funded research at an annual event in Washington DC. Also in attendance, from left, Tom Hogan (staffer with Sen. Kit Bond), Karla Klingner (Bond staffer), Machi Dilworth (NSF), and Karl Glasener. "I was honored to be selected as a 2006 Golden Opportunity scholar. This was an inspirational experience for me and I thank CSSA for using this gift to encourage students in crop science to develop their potential." Christopher Schaefer, South Dakota State University 5

6 2007: Exciting Changes Looking forward, task force members appointed for the top priorities in each Society's Strategic Plan are working on project business plans, budgets, and recommendations for activities and services that the Societies may develop. Meanwhile, our headquarters and DC staff are developing and improving programs for our members. The Boards will also continue with their long-range planning and select the next round of priorities and subsequent task forces. The Societies' management support organization will become a reality in 2007, as will an ASA-affiliated 501(c)6 organization to house certification activities. Our commitment to making ASA, CSSA, and SSSA the leading organizations for scientists and professionals in agronomy, crops, soils, and related disciplines is unwavering. There are many more exciting changes in store for We look forward to exploring them with you. Ellen Bergfeld Executive Vice President ebergfeld@agronomy.org, ebergfeld@crops.org, ebergfeld@soils.org Meetings and Conventions Mark Nov. 4 8, 2007 on your calendar and join us for special activities and events to celebrate ASA's Centennial Anniversary at the Annual Meetings in New Orleans, LA. The festivities start on Sunday evening, Nov. 4 with a Mardi-Gras-style street parade that ends at the Mississippi River. Ticketed guests then board two paddle wheelers for a Centennial Riverboat Dessert Cruise. The celebratory spirit continues throughout Annual Meeting week with reflections on the history of ASA with special events, featured speakers, and historical displays. Member Services For 2007, we are looking at a variety of ways to enhance our programs and services to members. Our Career Services program will undergo a redesign to create a more robust system for both employers and job-seekers. We are also exploring new technologies, such as webinars, webcasts, or podcasting as avenues to bring educational/professional development programs to the desks of our members. In addition, our bi-annual Salary Survey is being conducted, and additional programs for our graduate students are being explored, all with a goal of continually increasing member value. Publications Looking ahead, increased publication charges for some publications may reduce the number and/or length of manuscripts. At the same time, pressure is building for reduction in publication charges in the general environment, and this is a trend we will watch closely. Pressure for improved impact factors and other metrics is high, and the editors and Boards are focused on opportunities to increase these factors. Also in 2007, members will see an initiative bringing back a renovated form of Crops and Soils, to replace an outside magazine designed for the professional practitioner, and a journal to spotlight crop registrations. Science Policy This year promises to be a great one for our science policy programs. We will work to build House Soils Caucus (HSC) membership and hold two HSC educational briefings. Through our members and by collaborating with like-minded organizations, we will play an active role in the development of the research, conservation, and energy titles of the 2007 Farm Bill. We will re-double our grassroots advocacy efforts in 2007 as we strive to build a core group of citizen scientists in key districts and states who will speak up for our sciences to their Congressional delegations. Smithsonian Soils Exhibit The working committees of the Smithsonian Soils Exhibit will be developing the final plans for the exhibit opening in July Additional sponsorships are available for the main Washington DC exhibit, the traveling exhibit, and special K 12 educational programming. For more information, visit or contact Development Officer Paul Kamps, pkamps@soils.org or To make a gift, please use the enclosed envelope. Information Technology Technology enhancements in 2007 include implementing new budgeting software in tandem with on-going training and process development of the membership database upgrade from In the future, look for new features on our websites, including improved committee searches and more membership data accessible for viewing and updating online. Certification SSSA and the Certified Professional Soil Scientist/Classifier Certifying Board agreed to pilot test a state-based certification process in Florida and Ohio over the next two years. This concept takes national certifying standards and places them at the state level with a state certifying board. The goal is to strengthen the certification process, build relationships with regional regulators and government officials, and ultimately grow the certification program and the profession. "The support of the Societies to encourage scientists from developing countries to participate by offering special memberships enables me to access information, publish in the journals, and make a contribution. Jagadish Rane, Directorate of Wheat Research, India 6

7 ASA's Strategic Goals for 2007 Strategic planning within the American Society of Agronomy has identified communication, education, and outreach as high-priority goals for the continued success of our Society. Task forces were appointed to evaluate how we can improve communications to both members and nonmembers and how we can be more effective in our communications; on Annual Meetings to determine what changes we need to make in order to increase the impact and attractiveness of our meeting; on education to determine how we continue to strengthen our educational programs for undergraduates, graduates, and professionals; and finally, to review the effectiveness of Agronomy Journal. There is a great deal of effort being placed into the evaluation of what we can do to implement our Strategic Plan. The overall goal of this effort is to enhance ASA as a scientific, education, and professional organization. There are many challenges we face over the next year to define what changes need to occur in ASA and to develop a plan for the implementation of those changes. These efforts will increase our effectiveness as a Society and increase the value to members and our contribution to our members. We will celebrate our Centennial as a Society this year and these efforts will ensure that we continue to be successful in our endeavors. I invite your comments and feedback on what we can do to enhance ASA. Jerry L. Hatfield 2007 ASA President jhatfield@agronomy.org Plotting the Course for CSSA During the calendar year 2007, the four task forces assembled to deal with elements of our Strategic Plan will provide us critical guidance for CSSA s future. We thank the chairs Jeff Volenec (Publications), Mike Strauss (Annual Meeting), Henry Nguyen (Advocacy and Public Policy), and Ann Marie Thro (Public Relations and Communications) for their leadership and the members joining them. Members are encouraged to visit with the task force members and express their opinions on the direction of the Society. CSSA members have a large stake in promoting our Society and its disciplines to students, no matter whether high school, college, or post-graduate. The Golden Opportunity Scholars Program got off to an exciting start, as Past President Steve Fales noted. The students need you as volunteer mentors and the Fund, within the Agronomic Science Foundation, needs your financial support to accomplish all that was envisioned for the program. Our new journals, Plant Genome and the newly named Journal of Plant Registrations will provide a home for articles to serve your needs. By encouraging your colleagues to submit their manuscripts, you can help ensure they are getting information out to others in a timely manner. Lastly, thanks to the volunteers who have taken on additional tasks to strengthen and advance our profession. Henry L. Shands 2007 CSSA President hshands@crops.org SSSA: Envision the Future SSSA envisions maintaining the momentum from 2006 and as outlined in the Strategic Plan. During 2007, SSSA will actively develop linkages with other societies (e.g., American Geophysical Union, Ecological Society of America, Soil and Water Conservation Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science). Because a large proportion of SSSA members reside outside of the U.S. (19%), SSSA would favorably consider collaboration with international or regional societies based outside of the U.S. Joint symposia and long-term programs on topics of mutual interest are being pursued and are especially important to building bridges across nations. While the Advocacy/Education Task Force will enhance the need for strengthening the soil science program in the Land Grant University system, it is important that the role of soil science in addressing global issues (e.g., food security, climate change, water quality, and waste disposal) is recognized by other disciplines. In connection with ASA's Centennial celebration at the 2007 Annual Meetings, SSSA will invite high-profile speakers to address emerging international issues of relevance to our goals and mission. Rattan Lal 2007 SSSA President lal.1@osu.edu

8 2006 ASA CSSA SSSA Boards of Directors ASA David A. Sleper, Jerry L. Hatfield, Lee E. Sommers, Kenneth A. Barbarick, Ellen G.M. Bergfeld, Roland J. Buresh, E. James Dunphy, William F. Heer, Bryan G. Hopkins, Newell R. Kitchen, Robert N. Klein, Robert M. Lacey, Martin A. Massengale, Mark L. McFarland, Jean L. Steiner, Mary H. Wiedenhoeft CSSA Steven L. Fales, Henry L. Shands, James G. Coors, Ellen G.M. Bergfeld, Thomas J. Gerik, Shawn M. Kaeppler, Allen D. Knapp, Anthony J. Koski, Martin A. Massengale, J. Paul Murphy, Craig A. Roberts, Matt A. Sanderson, Kenneth H. Quesenberry, William J. Wiebold SSSA Mary E. Collins, Rattan Lal, John L. Havlin, Marcus M. Alley, Douglas B. Beegle, Ellen G.M. Bergfeld, Craig G. Cogger, Nicholas B. Comerford, Richard P. Dick, Michael E. Essington, David L. Lindbo, Sally D. Logsdon, Martin A. Massengale, Daniel G. Neary, Michel D. Ransom, Randal J. Southard, Diane E. Stott, Glenn V. Wilson To view the 2007 Boards of Directors, log in to the ASA CSSA SSSA websites to access the Leadership Directory "Networking is the most important tangible benefit of certification and membership. I can ask someone about corn futures or find a soils lab, for example. I can also give back by explaining how to investigate soils at a 1950s gas station, the risk of buying a ranch with an oil well on it, or the hazard of driving on the wrong side at a coal mine." Myra L. Peak, Certified Professional Soil Scientist, Peak Environmental Management Inc. American Society of Agronomy Crop Science Society of America Soil Science Society of America 677 South Segoe Rd. Madison, WI ASA CSSA SSSA