I've found there is a great diversity of viewpoints in most hort departments Mark. If there is a shift, it's because there was a time when the prevailing opinion was that organic was viewed with skepticism. Some faculty still hold that view, while there are others that now view the conventional side with skepticism. We need to solve problems from both viewpoints so both sides provide valuable services. I know some of the faculty at MSU and believe the great majority of them are pretty balanced in their approach. And believe me, the last folks who should be their detractors are growers. I hope you can keep them over the next few years. These will be lean times in University systems and I expect most universities will see student education as their primary mission.
William H. Shoemaker Sr. Research Specialist, Food Crops University of Illinois - Crop Sciences St Charles Horticulture Research Center 535 Randall Road, St Charles, IL, 60174 630-584-7254, FAX-584-4610 [email protected] Subject: RE: Apple-Crop: RE:..and causes you to be fat too! While Robert Kuljis worries about the influence of giant companies, others, including myself, worry about the influence of left-leaning foundations funneling money to university departments (e.g. C.S. Mott Foundation). Further, and perhaps more important, is the political/environmental viewpoint of many of the current staff at most hort departments. The fact that most growers are conservative and the universities/staff/extension personnel that provide services/information to growers tend to be much more sympathetic to "organic" or environmentalists is very curious. Mark Evans Michigan -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements <[email protected]>. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
