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Florida Focus Jan. 22, 2009
In This Edition:
IFAS names interim senior vice president for agriculture
University of Florida President Bernie Machen announced that Larry Arrington, dean and director of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, has been named interim senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources.
Arrington succeeds Jimmy Cheek, who in October was named chancellor of the University of Tennessee.
"Larry's long and solid track record with UF over the years makes him a perfect choice, especially as we prepare to face more budgetary challenges with the state," Machen said in a news release from UF.
Arrington, 55, has been at the university for 28 years. As the dean and director for the Florida Extension Service, Arrington manages the outreach arm of IFAS. The Florida Extension Service is supported by both IFAS and Florida A&M University.
Arrington works closely with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the Agricultural Experiment Station to manage the partnership of federal, state, and county governments that forms the extension system in Florida.
"I look forward to working with IFAS faculty and staff to continue strong teaching, research and extension programs for our students and clientele throughout Florida," Arrington said in the release.
Arrington grew up in Plant City, Fla., where he was active in 4-H and FFA. He received his bachelor's degree in agricultural education from UF; a master's degree in education from the University of Georgia; and a doctorate in agricultural education from Ohio State University.
He came to UF in 1981 as a faculty member in agricultural education and communication. He served as the district extension director from 1991 to 1997. Arrington was appointed associate dean for extension in 1997 and has served as dean since 2003.
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Florida plans agriculture inspection lab
Discovering plant pests and diseases when they enter the United States will be the goal of a new agriculture inspection laboratory scheduled to open later this year in Miami.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced Jan. 14 that it plans to open a new Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection and Port Technology Methods Development Laboratory in South Miami, according to a news release from U.S. Representative Adam Putnam’s office. The new facility will use state-of-the-art technology to develop commodity treatments and port inspection technologies that will safeguard American crops.
“One of the biggest threats to American Agriculture—especially Florida’s agriculture—comes in the form of disease and invasive plant species from overseas,” Putnam said. “This new laboratory will help us to find solutions to protect our domestic food supply and better ways to stop problems at the border instead of depending on expensive eradication efforts after it is too late.”
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