URBANA, Ill. — Between 800-1,300 farmers representing approximately 8 million acres of Illinois crop production attended a recent Corn and Soybean Classic series, hosted annually for the past 18 years by extension specialists with the University of Illinois Department of Crop Sciences.
But the popular winter educational program, originated by extension specialists Kevin Steffey, Mike Gray, Bob Hoeft and Emerson Nafziger and continued by Aaron Hager, will no longer take place because of the suspension of funding for the U of I Cooperative Extension Service by the office of Gov. Bruce Rauner.
"The news is correct that the 2015 Classic program was the last," Hager said in an Oct. 19 email. "The ranks of tenure-track faculty with extension appointments at the University of Illinois has diminished over recent years to a level at which we simply do not have enough warm bodies to populate the program."
Suzanne Bissonnette, director of the U of I Plant Clinic, who works closely with extension personnel, agreed with Hager’s assessment.
She pointed to the recent or upcoming departures of longtime extension educators Gray, Rick Weinzierl and Carl Bradley as the latest examples of the ongoing personnel purge within the ranks of extension.
"Things are quite different here at Illinois. The extension specialist positions are not being rehired and now it’s gotten to the point where there just are very few people left," she said. "It’s been depressing."
The U of I Corn and Soybean Classic consisted of a series of regional meetings across the state that brought together research specialists and farmers to discuss current and relevant information regarding crop production, pest management and farm economics. Seven to 10 extension specialists would compile information from applied and basic university crop research programs into short presentations for producers in Peoria, Effingham, Marion and other cities.
"The Classic changed and evolved over the years; several meeting venues around Illinois were tried. Twenty-nine different specialists from the University of Illinois spoke at one or more Classic meetings. Leadership of the program began with Dr. Bob Hoeft, who upon becoming department head, passed the mantle of leadership to Dr. Kevin Steffey, who upon his retirement from the University of Illinois passed it along to me," said Hager, in a self-penned news release.
"Sharon Conatser and Kris Ritter provided the behind-the-scenes support for the program during its early years, which later transitioned to Sandy Osterbur, who became coordinator of the program. Even with these and numerous other changes that occurred over the years, the individuals involved with putting together the program always remained committed to providing a research-based program that was the best possible."
The elimination of personnel and the Classic is part of an announced $24 million in cost-saving measures by the university in response to the state’s budget impasse.
The U of I will postpone upgrading the school’s information technology operating system and delay improvements to its three campuses, university leaders announced Oct. 19.
"We’re proud of being responsible and responsive to the state, but we’re not happy to have to make these decisions. This is a time to invest in public education, not disinvest," U of I President Timothy L. Killeen told news sources. "We hope this action will be seen as a responsible step by the flagship public university system to contribute to (relieving) the state’s fiscal issues."
Rauner proposed reducing the university’s overall funding by $209 million earlier this year. State lawmakers countered with a $57 million reduction proposal.
Whatever the final tally, the university is facing deep cuts to many essential programs.
The reductions are of grave concern to Killeen and other U of I leaders concerned about the university’s reputation as a beacon for higher education.
"We are concerned about recruiting and maintaining the world’s best faculty," Killeen told the Chicago Tribune last week. "We recognize that these cuts, as they go forward and continue, will damage our ability to be a world-class institution. We’re anxious that the budget stalemate gets resolved, and we will do our part to advocate for that."
Budget challenges have also led to the down-scaling of the U of I AGMasters series, Hager said.
"Recently, we partnered with the Illinois Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) program to transition AGMasters to a one-day format that will be held in Springfield on December 3, the day following the annual CCA conference. We sincerely appreciate the Illinois CCA program’s willingness to assist us with this educational program."
In addition to suspension of funding for extension, state funding has been discontinued for Illinois Department of Agriculture programs including county fairs, fairground rehabilitation projects, 4-H club and agricultural education fair premiums and Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
