OSU ag programs worth billions to state

Oklahoma

The annual impact of Oklahoma State University's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources to the Oklahoma economy can be measured in the billions of dollars; its ability to improve the quality of life for state residents may well be priceless.

That is the inference of the Technology Partnership Practice, Battelle Memorial Institute, a private not-for-profit applied science and technology development firm that is one of the world's largest independent consulting, research and development organizations.

Battelle recently completed an impact assessment of DASNR and discovered the Division is generating dividends in wheat, livestock and turfgrass--economic impacts alone that total more than $750 million annually.

And the Division's numerous rural- and urban-based teaching, research and Extension programs encompass far more than just those three areas.

"We're mandated by state and federal law to target concerns and issues of importance to Oklahoma: We do, and so quite naturally affect Oklahoma residents in positive ways at the local, county and state levels," said Robert E. Whitson, DASNR dean and director and vice president of agricultural programs at OSU.

DASNR is comprised of the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and two statewide agencies: the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station system and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

The Division's educational thrust, combined with its ability to conduct basic and applied research, develop new technologies and scientific practices and then proactively assuring that the innovations are provided to the public through Extension programs makes DASNR "a major economic engine for the state," according to the Battelle report.

Battelle gave the Division top marks for its ability to positively affect "the profitability and sustainability of Oklahoma's staple crops, vertically integrated livestock industry and agribusiness sectors while working proactively to develop new products and opportunities that diversify and strengthen Oklahoma's economic base."

DASNR was also hailed as being a strong contributor to social development in the state, with Battelle praising the Division's commitment and ability to "help Oklahoma's human capital reach its full potential."

"Oklahoma must have a well-educated and trained workforce that is able to use the latest technologies and techniques that enhance productivity; entrepreneurs must be able to take advantage of new markets and government officials must be knowledgeable about laws, natural resource and public lands management and many other areas," Whitson said. "We provide this education through our college or Cooperative Extension programs."

The Battelle report underscored the importance of education in terms of dollars and cents, citing that, on average, the earnings of an individual with a bachelor's degree will be 1.73 times those of a high school graduate, while the earnings of individuals with graduate and professional degrees will be between 2.0 times and 3.4 times those who end their formal education with a high school diploma.

"OSU agriculture students have accounted for between 35 percent and 40 percent of the university's top seniors and freshman each year for the past 5 years," Whitson said. "We emphasize student advisement and work hard to ensure the relevance of curriculums in all our majors."

Whitson said DASNR supporters throughout the state and region know this; it is a major reason why donors made it possible for the college and its academic departments to provide more than $900,000 in scholarships and awards to deserving OSU agriculture students for the 2007-2008 school year.

Other key DASNR "human capital" successes cited by Battelle were 90 percent of Oklahoma's 470 agricultural teachers being OSU alumni and Cooperative Extension 4-H efforts involving 134,141 youth throughout the state in 2006.

The Battelle report also lauded Division programs that helped communities sustain and improve their natural resources, maintain access to health care and strengthen Oklahoma families.

Take DASNR's Community Nutrition Education Programs, for example. Cooperative Extension leveraged state monies to bring $3.5 million in federal nutrition education program funds to the state. During 2006, CNEP staff worked with 5,318 low-income Oklahoma families.

If Oklahoma is assumed to be representative of the national average in terms of cost-benefits effects of this program, then the effect of the CNEP funding resulted in health care savings of more than $26 million from the prevention of nutrition-related chronic diseases and conditions among Oklahoma citizens, according to the Battelle study.

"For many years our faculty and staff have been accomplishing great things on behalf of the Division's client groups, which includes just about everybody," Whitson said. "Most are humble about all they do and a bit hesitant to blow their own horns. That is one reason why the Battelle report is so satisfying: It's an independent, highly respected and knowledgeable, science-based organization recognizing the importance and widespread significance of our efforts."

As an operating entity, the Battelle study indicates the Division generates a significant economic impact for the state through its annual expenditures alone: $191 million in total Oklahoma economic output, approximately $73 million in personal income for Oklahoma residents, $9.9 million in annual tax revenues and directly or indirectly accounting for 2,228 jobs.

But it is in developing, diversifying and strengthening varying aspects of Oklahoma's overall economy and quality of life where the Division shines most brightly, according to the Battelle study, especially in its ability to promote and provide advances in the "agbioscience sector."

"Agbioscience" is a term that refers to an overall trend in the U.S. economy wherein agricultural entities act not only as producers of food and related goods but also as leaders in a broad array of applied practices and technology development related to the life sciences.

"Biofuels is a good example of this: Crops traditionally used for food or fiber production are now being developed as energy sources," said Bob Westerman, DASNR assistant vice president for program support. "We've been a leader in biofuels development since the early 1990s, but most of America only took notice of this field after President Bush mentioned it in his 2006 State of the Union address."

The Battelle report states that DASNR provides "exactly the competitive factors" Oklahoma needs, if state residents are to profit from 21st century economic opportunities: constant innovation, improvement in production and processing practices, professional development and enhancement of worker skills and knowledge, introduction of new technology and awareness of global market forces.

Oklahoma has more than 84,000 farm proprietors in 2005, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. However, more than 343,000 persons--17.1 percent of state employment--are involved in Oklahoma's overall agribusiness sector. The overall share of overall agribusiness employment has remained relatively stable since the 1981 figure of 17.9 percent.

"Sustaining and enhancing the state, regional, national and international competitiveness of such a large segment of Oklahoma's employment and production base is obviously important to the state's economic well-being," Whitson said.

The total value of Oklahoma's agricultural commodity production reached $4.7 billion in 2005, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

The executive summary of the Battelle report on DASNR is available for viewing at www2.dasnr.okstate.edu on the Internet.

10/8/07
5 Star OK\10-B

Date: 10/4/07

	Web hpj.com

Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011.  High Plains Publishers, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com