So far, there’s no white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel or Lighty Hall, allowing the predictive rumors to continue. It won’t be long now before new leadership is identified. In the meantime, campus is quiet until later this week, when thousands of FFA members arrive for their annual convention. I’ve had plans to be out of town for many months, so I will miss the hustle and bustle on Friday and Saturday.
Congratulations to each of our CAHNRS graduates! I enjoyed celebrating and recognizing the hard work of our students at last weekend’s commencement ceremony. We know their futures are bright, and we wish them the best in whatever lies ahead. A huge “thank you” to the faculty who attended receptions, brunches, and the commencement ceremony!
Last week I attended a meeting on AI in agriculture, specifically tree fruit orchards. It was nice to see a few members of CAHNRS in attendance. Earlier in the week I learned about abscission (the removal of fruit from a tree); that knowledge came in handy during the discussions about using AI in harvesting.
Given that harvest represents approximately two-thirds of labor hours in agriculture, it is no wonder that that’s where the AI emphasis remains. I was surprised to see some of the data presented by WSU Extension economist Karina Gallardo illustrating the financial hurdles of AI adoption. I was also surprised to learn about projections that breeding programs will have a greater impact on the ability to adopt machine harvesting than software and machinery advancements. I picked up a white paper that I still need to read. Homework has never been my thing.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks with ongoing interviews for faculty positions and a department chair search. Candidate pools have been strong, and I look forward to finishing these searches up soon. It’s a beautiful time of year for candidates to see Pullman and the Palouse.
I know many faculty are wrapping up the semester and heading on to other things for the summer. Please stay safe, enjoy, and re-energize for the fall!