Michigan Governor Signs Higher Education Budget, Includes Funding for MSU Research, Extension

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the state’s budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year today, and it included funding for the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) and Michigan State University Extension (MSUE). This followed several days of concern on the part of MSU officials and Michigan farm leaders about the possibility of a line-item veto to those programs.

“We are very pleased that the budget was signed and that it reflects the governor and the Legislature’s support for our programs,” said Jeffrey Armstrong, dean of the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “We look forward to mobilizing and even more tightly focusing our already strong research and education programs to help move Michigan’s economy forward, support our communities and build on our strengths in agriculture and natural resources to support the burgeoning green industries.”

MSU released a statement on Oct. 28 announcing MSU Extension’s realignment as part of the university-wide “Shaping the Future” initiative. It highlighted the results of a strategic planning process that the organization undertook to maintain its responsiveness to meeting the state’s needs during challenging economic times.

In response, MSUE will be focusing its resources across Michigan around initiatives that will help build a “green” economy; continue to offer valuable support for the agriculture sector; develop community practices for energy efficiency and use of renewable energy; support urban centers to revitalize businesses and communities; and build urban farming and regional food systems. It will also offer expertise to restructured state and local agencies and foster interjurisdictional cooperation for regional prosperity.

“This is an exciting new chapter in our work, and I’m looking forward to the great things that will come as we engage with new and existing partners and create new initiatives with our existing network,” said Thomas Coon, MSUE director. “We have had long and successful interactions with our partners in state government, communities and agriculture and natural resources, and those relationships will only get stronger and provide more benefits to the people and communities of the state in the future.”

“The MAES has one goal – to work with all of its partners to make Michigan’s economy as viable, environmentally sound and as sustainable as possible,” said Steven Pueppke, MAES director. “We’re particularly pleased to partner with the state to help grow green industries in Michigan, especially related to the emerging bio-economy.”

While the $63 million budget for these two lines appears to represent the same .04 percent cut as all parts of the higher education budget for this year, both MAES and MSUE are actually facing 44 percent cuts that are being absorbed in the current budget by federal stimulus dollars, but will be applied in the 2010-2011 budget.

“As this process continues, we will be engaging our stakeholders and the legislative branch to assure that MAES and MSUE are treated like the rest of higher education,” Armstrong said.

In her radio address the same day, Granholm applauded the decision to restructure Extension in ways that would help it support a green economy.

”For almost a century, the services provided by MSU Extension have concentrated on assisting farmers and our state’s agricultural community,” she said. “Now MSU Extension is transforming itself into a 21st century organization, one that will broaden its scope and help grow Michigan’s green economy.

”While agriculture and its role in the green economy will continue to be important for MSU Extension, there will also be new areas of emphasis. MSU Extension will assist local communities across Michigan in working together for regional prosperity. And it will focus on specific areas such as energy efficiency and renewable energy.”