February 2005 • Volume 39 • Number 2

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Message from the APS President

James D. MacDonald, University of California, Davis

This letter is the annual means by which APS presidents update members on recent activities and events of interest. As I reflect on the events of 2004 and look ahead to 2005, it strikes me that this may be among the more unusual periods in our history. As I write this, it has been a mere six weeks since soybean rust was first detected in the United States—a report that was quickly followed by others confirming the presence of Phakopsora pachyrhizi in a broad sweep of southeastern states (16 confirmed locations in 8 states as of this writing). Of course, the coming year will see further expansion of the pathogen’s range, mobilization of scouting and fungicide control programs, and dramatic changes in U.S. soybean culture and economics. Less easy to predict for 2005, but of equal concern, is the spread of Phytophthora ramorum. In 2004, detection of P. ramorum in California and Oregon nurseries led to extensive trace-forward searches to locate and test plants shipped across the country from the affected nurseries. These efforts led to the detection and destruction of many plants in many locations and to the realization that some infected plants probably slipped through the net. This has prompted APHIS to launch, through an order that took effect January 10, 2005, one of the largest and most logistically complex regulatory actions ever attempted to contain a plant disease. Large because it involves the regular inspection of hundreds of nurseries in California, Oregon, and Washington that engage in interstate commerce, and complex because so many plant species have been identified as hosts (31 species) or “associated plants” (an additional 37 species). The concerns about soybean rust and P. ramorum come on the heels of budget reductions that have downsized the agricultural research and extension programs in many states. The confluence of these events has strained the response capacity of plant pathologists who work in diagnostic labs, federal and state regulatory agencies, cooperative extension, industry, and private practice. I am struck by the fact that plant pathology was born out of a Phytophthora disaster more than 150 years ago, and in spite of countless volumes of published research, we continue to be vexed by this genus of pathogen. Although the science of plant pathology has advanced in remarkable ways, particularly during the past decade, the general practitioners of plant pathology remain vital players at the front lines of plant health and public education.

Public education about soybean rust is a challenge being taken up by the Office of Public Affairs and Education (OPAE), under the leadership of Doug Jardine. OPAE is working with Miles Wimer at APS headquarters to place information on soybean rust on PLANT MANAGEMENT NETWORK (PMN) to reach the broadest possible audience of scientific disciplines, agricultural practitioners, media, and other stakeholders. It is planned that the information on soybean rust will inaugurate a new site on PMN called (tentatively) “The Agricultural Information Center.” And, if you haven’t noticed, PMN continues to grow in partnering organizations and content. Among the newest features are the Applied Turfgrass Science journal, sponsored by the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Education and Training Center, produced in conjunction with the Crop Adviser Institute at Iowa State University. This feature was established so Certified Crop Advisers can earn continuing education units online. For training materials, the pest management modules in the Center use articles published in Plant Health Progress and The Plant Health Instructor, the two fully electronic journals of APS. The Plant Health Instructor is located in the APSnet Education Center. I recently heard a report from headquarters indicating that, apart from the journals, the Education Center is one of the most heavily visited sites on APSnet. This success is the result of the dedication and efforts of Gail Schumann
 
The Public Policy Board, led by John Sherwood, also has been very active. On November 15, the APS proposal for a National Center for Plant Biosecurity was completed, posted on the PPB webpage on APSnet, and e-mailed to numerous heads of federal agencies, scientific societies, and industry groups. The writing effort was led by former APS President Jacque Fletcher, with assistance from Kellye Eversole, the APS legislative liaison in Washington, DC. The Entomological Society of America added their support as coauthors of the proposal, and efforts are now underway to obtain other key endorsements. Related to this, Gary Bergstrom, Beth Carroll, Jacque Fletcher, Kellye Eversole, and I recently were invited to meet with Al Jennings and Kent Smith at the USDA Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP). Jennings and the OPMP have been charged with implementing the National Plant Disease Recovery System mandated in Homeland Security Presidential Directive #9. Director Jennings was seeking to open a dialogue with APS as OPMP moves forward with its planning. This meeting also provided an opportunity for us to brief OPMP leaders about the proposed national center and to raise the concerns of APS members with regard to the recently tightened permitting process that has complicated work even with endemic plant pathogens. The PPB effort to bring change and rationality to the permitting issue is being led by Jim Steadman, who is working with Jan Leach to develop a survey that will be sent to APS members to better document the problems that have been created by the regulatory changes. The PPB also is studying the bill (S.3009) recently introduced by Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) to “establish a Division of Food and Agricultural Science within the National Science Foundation and to authorize funding for the support of fundamental agricultural research of the highest quality.” If passed, this bill would authorize substantial increases in U.S. funding for agricultural research and would dramatically alter the administration of agricultural research funds.

The activities of the Public Policy Board and other groups within APS are enabled by our continued strong financial position. However, the financial security of APS is not taken for granted. Last year, APS Council adopted a Financial Strategic Plan for the society, and important elements of this plan will be reviewed in detail at the upcoming mid-year meeting. A key component of our financial planning involves our journals and maintenance of our subscription base in the face of increasing pressures for open access. Two committees were appointed over the past 18 months to address different aspects of our journals. The ad hoc Committee on Journal Issues, chaired by Greg Shaner, has been examining the subject matter content of our journals and possible means of increasing their scientific value and impact. The APS Journals Operations Working Group, chaired by John Andrews, has been examining questions surrounding library subscriptions for electronic access and increasing pressure for “open access” to research publications. The working group has completed its report and developed a number of options to be considered. These will be discussed at length during the mid-year council meeting. I hope to have the report of the journal issues committee later this winter, so Council can be prepared to make needed, well-informed decisions about the journals by the annual meeting in Austin, TX. To assure the best possible thinking and discussion on this subject during the annual meeting, I am planning to feature it as a focus topic during the Leadership Forum. The Leadership Forum (consisting of council, all board and office chairs, all editors-in-chief, all section heads of the Scientific Programs Board [SPB], and other invited participants depending on agenda topics) has proved to be an excellent, representative body for working through strategic issues of the society.

Speaking of Austin, in this issue you’ll find an article on the meeting format changes that will be implemented this year (see page 20). These changes have been advanced by John Andrews (who heads the program planning this year) and the SPB, chaired by Erin Rosskopf. Look for major changes in the timing and format of the Welcome Reception, Business Meeting, and Awards Ceremony. And, look for the new celebratory Closing Party. We anticipate some difficulties in this experiment and that some members will not welcome format changes, but the changes are being done with the laudable goal of attempting to improve the meeting experience for as many people as possible. As I have scanned the website where special sessions are being fleshed out by proposing groups, it is clear that there will be ample attractions in the scientific content of the meeting. Our annual meetings have benefited greatly from the planning and continuity provided by the SPB.

Other meetings also deserve mention. This is our first year of working with an altered approach to officer attendance at division meetings. Last year, the Councilor’s Forum proposed that any member of the presidential sequence would be welcome at division meetings—it did not always have to be the president. This change was made to better coordinate officer travel and, so far seems, to be working well. In October, Executive Vice President Steve Nelson and I represented APS at the Northeastern Division meeting. I will also be attending the Southern and Caribbean division meetings in January and June, respectively. President-Elect John Andrews will attend the Potomac Division meeting, Vice President Jan Leach will attend the North Central meeting, and Past President Gary Bergstrom will attend the Pacific Division meeting. Being able to spread the travel workload like this is a real benefit, particularly this year when three division meetings are planned for the same week in June.

In addition to APS meetings, John Andrews represented APS at the fall meeting of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents, Jacque Fletcher represented APS at the annual meeting of the Tri-Societies, Gary Bergstrom represented APS at the Entomological Society of America (ESA) meeting, and I represented APS at a meeting of the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA). Our involvement with other scientific societies stems from shared interests in the Nonprofit Journals Alliance (a consortium of 16 nonprofit publishers who produce 34 journals and work collaboratively to market them to libraries), PMN (ESA, WSSA, CSSA, American Society of Agronomy, Canadian Society of Agronomy, and American Society for Horticultural Science are all partners with APS in PMN), and the proposed Center for Plant Biosecurity. This proposal now enjoys support from APS, the Entomological Society of America, the Crop Science Society of America, the American Society of Agronomy, and the Soil Science Society of America. Efforts are currently underway to gain other key endorsements. Our involvement is in keeping with the principles articulated by former APS President Carol Windels in her 2002 report to council on “Strategic Alliances.” The connections have reached such a level of importance for everyone, that there is growing interest in a “summit meeting” among some of these societies to fully discuss issues of common concern and develop coordinated strategies for action. I believe such engagements are very important for the future of APS.

Finally, let me close with a pitch encouraging you to attend the upcoming annual meeting in Austin, TX, July 30–August 3, 2005. John Andrews and the SPB are developing an excellent program that will include another historical session (“The History of Virology”) as a continuing run-up to our centennial meeting, and a special “hot topic” session focused on soybean rust. Austin promises to be an excellent meeting venue, and I hope to see your there. Watch for the call for abstracts and keep up with the meeting agenda at http://meeting.apsnet.org/.

Best wishes.

 

New Meeting Website Simplifies Call for Papers

http://meeting.apsnet.org/

Present your latest research to your peers and colleagues at the 2005 APS Annual Meeting, July 30 - August 3, 2005, in Austin, Texas. APS is now accepting abstract submissions via the new APS meeting website.

Submission Deadline: April 1, 2005

Prepare for abstract submission by becoming familiar with the instructions and guidelines listed on the website under the Call for Papers tab at the top of the webpage. Each submitter is allowed one oral submission. Oral submissions are limited to 200, so you are encouraged to submit early. There is no limit on the number of poster presentation submissions.

Log In or Sign Up Required
This year’s call for papers will require the submitter to log in with their APS ID and password.

APS encourages your participation and looks forward to receiving your contributions.
 

 
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