Universities Balk at Proposed Bush Cuts

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- Bush budget cuts would hit important research programs that examine everything from soybeans and dairy production to cattle viruses, agriculture school officials complained to Congress on Tuesday.

Fred Cholick, dean of the agriculture college at Kansas State University, said the cuts threaten the original mission of the 75 land-grant schools, which were created by Congress in the 1800s to use public money on shared agricultural research.

Under the Bush plan, funding for three programs on farming, forestry and animal health, mainstays at land-grant institutions for decades, would be slashed from $200 million this year to $100 million next year and nothing in 2007.

Some money -- about $70 million -- would be available to schools through competitive grants, but school officials say the change would be so sudden that about 2,000 jobs nationwide would be lost immediately. The cuts also would destroy a network of research collaboration that allows states to work together to thwart agriculture diseases and develop better practices.

"If everything goes competitive, then it's everybody for themselves," said Bobby Moser, dean and vice president of the agriculture college at Ohio State University. "We lose the network."

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-farm-research-funding,0,2385082.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[YDogg]

1. Science ...

... is sooooooooooo last century, y'all.

</sarcasm>

[biftonnorton]

2. Thread Title Led Me Down Different Path

I mean, it's still interesting, but I was expecting something else :evilgrin:

But now that I'm here, let me say, "Fooooorwaaaard into the Dark Ages!" Argh!

[not fooled]

3. But the bible has all knowledge already...

...so there's no need to do "research". Plus, the world is going to end soon so whatever state ag is in now is just fine for the short time left.