Jane Huh
Daily Egyptian
The budget cuts have become a dead issue for the College of Agricultural Sciences and its various research projects. The state axed about 54 percent from the Council for Food and Agricultural Research budget, the projects' main funding source.
This translates to a loss of nearly $2 million for research conducted under the College of Agricultural Sciences. Now, faculty members are scrambling for research funding and graduate assistantships from private and governmental organizations.
In fiscal year 2002, the council received $15 million, about $8 million more than this year's budget year that began earlier this month.
The council funds its 64 member organizations to study the state's food and agricultural products and services and research innovative methods for the environment and the consumers.
With the reduced funding, new research projects for 2003 will not be feasible. But multiple-year projects that began before the budget adjustments will receive continued support from the council's $6.9 million appropriation.
"We're continuing in our funding for old projects at a reduced level in order to keep them going," said Anthony Young, SIUC researcher at the College of Agricultural Sciences.
Funding cuts for new and ongoing research projects will limit the number of graduate assistantships, because most graduate students are supported by the council's grants.
About $200,000 in continued funding support will go to the 14 projects that have been ongoing for the past one to two years.
Projects such as the Impact of Spy Components on Quality of Life and Medicinal Genes and Healthful Dietary Choices, are entering their second and final year in continued support funding.
The projects have all been negatively affected, varying from a third to two-thirds or more in funding cuts, said John Russin, department chair for plant, soil and general agriculture.
Khalid Meksam, assistant professor in plant, soil and general agriculture, said the project he is working on - Medicinal Genes and Healthful Dietary Choices - was cut by 60 percent, from $34,000 last year to $14,000 this year.
New projects that were planned to begin in the fall have been postponed, including one that would have focused on vegetable production in the Southern Illinois region.
"Two large projects - mainly horticulture research - were selected to be funded, but the budget cuts eliminated the funding," Russin said.
Research may continue for projects that will be phased out and completed by the end of next year. After analyzing the results of the project, researchers may submit proposals to different agencies to receive future funding and prolong the study.
Trish Welch, professor in animal science and food nutrition, said the faculty is seeking other avenues for funding by appealing to various organizations.
"You can never count on anything until you've received the check," she said.
Reporter Jane Huh can be reached at jhuh@dailyegyptian.com
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
