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NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS 



be complete as you read this. Rep- 

 resentatives from the industry 

 (NHPGA, NHLAI participated in the 

 interview process. 



• About a year ago, the Thomp- 

 son School restructured its horticul- 

 ture program to offer more focused 

 specializations in Floriculture Opera- 

 tions, Landscape Operations, and 

 General Ornamental Horticulture A 

 number of courses were revised sig- 

 nificantly, some courses were added 

 to the program, and some moved to 

 Plant Biology. The resulting program 

 is stronger overall, and the three 

 specializations are more specifically 

 geared to student and industry 

 needs. In an effort to meet the 

 needs of nontraditional students, 

 scheduling has branched into eve- 

 nings and summers. The 

 curriculum's Industry Advisory Board 

 helped stimulate these improve- 

 ments. 



• The position of Extension 

 Omamentalist is being revised, pos- 

 sibly to include teaching responsi- 

 bilities and an increase in applied 

 research of value to the industry. 

 There is fear that, as budget cuts 

 continue, this position may be lost 

 entirely over the next three to five 

 years. Primary responsibility for Ex- 

 tension work with the ornamentals 

 industry is shifting to county Exten- 

 sion Educators and field staff across 

 the state. 



In that regard, considerable dis- 

 cussion has taken place over the 

 past few years in the state and the 

 New England region about the best 

 way to utilize Extension expertise in 

 an era of annually shrinking bud- 

 gets, ideas being pursued include 

 specialization by state (for example, 

 perhaps Connecticut becomes the 

 New England greenhouse specialist; 

 Rhode Island, turf; Massachusetts, 

 sustainable use, etc.); specialization 

 by county field staff (for example, 

 perhaps Strafford for fertilization 

 and irrigation, Rockingham for flori- 

 culture, Merrimack for hazardous 



TIPS FROM THE GRIFFIN GURU 



A Point of Personal Privilege 



The Plantsman editors, past and present, have been gracious enough 

 to allow me to voice opinions and spread my wisdom for over seven 

 years. It is my own opinion that, on most occasions, my wisdom has been 

 helpful and educational, but I have to admit that — at times — a very small, 

 minute portion has been spread on "pretty thick." Still, The Plantsman has 

 accommodated my views. 



There has been many a publication crossing this guru's desk, but no 

 one ever compared to The Plantsman. The Plantsman remains a leader for 

 many reasons — from their informative calendar to their intuitive new ar- 

 ticles and their astute representation of our own associations. 



We, collectively, as members, are indeed fortunate to be exposed to 

 such a creative bunch of people. I would like to personally extend my ut- 

 most praise and continued support to the editors and NHPGA Board of Di- 

 rectors. Your efforts are appreciated. 



substances, etc.); a "900-number" for 

 industry; and extensive sharing of 

 resources and information in the 

 state and region via the Internet.. 

 Some of these ideas are being 

 implemented as you read. 



• New administrative leadership 

 has moved into place recently. Plant 

 Biology has a new Department Chair 

 this year. Dr. Bob Blanchard, who 

 moved over from the Associate 

 Dean position. The College of Life 

 Sciences and Agriculture will have a 

 permanent Dean by )une I. And a 

 new UNH President, Dr. Joan 

 Leitzel, starts in midsummer. These 

 new leaders will be made aware 

 and kept aware of the importance of 

 the Green Industry in the state. 



• Plant Biology is introducing a 

 major in Environmental Horticulture, 

 which is an evolutionary outgrowth 

 of the old major in Horticulture and 

 Agronomy The new faculty 

 omamentalist will have primary re- 

 sponsibility for developing this new 

 program, in collaboration with the 

 Thompson School and with industry 



input. 



In other news, enrollments are 

 rising in Plant Biology, mostly in the 

 ornamentals area. And offices, fac- 

 ulty, extension, and staff in Nesmith 

 Hall are moving in late May to the 

 new Rudman Hall and the reno- 

 vated Spaulding Life Sciences Build- 

 ing. 



• A group is forming to see that 

 recommendations from the review 

 team report are implemented where 

 appropriate, and the results evalu- 

 ated over time. Extension, Thomp- 

 son School, and Plant Biology are 

 actively pulling together to foster 

 better sharing of faculty resources 

 and facilities, an increase in class- 

 room work by Extension, incorpora- 

 tion of students into applied re- 

 search projects, and increasing stu- 

 dent internships in the industry.. 



Closer contacts between the uni- 

 versity and the ornamental horticul- 

 ture industry were stressed through- 

 out the review team discussions and 

 throughout the report. Expect to 

 hear more from Plant Biology, Ex- 



THE PLANTSMAN 



