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December 24, 2008
Happy Holidays from NAL
Click the image above for a larger view and a little holiday magic.
Posted by Mary Ann Leonard
Added to Libraries on December 24, 2008
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Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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<< Vilsack Tapped to Head Ag |
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December 23, 2008
Vilsack Tapped to Head Ag
 Somehow it seems appropriate that after a long blog-writing hiatus following election day I return with news -- not so fresh, admittedly -- that President-elect Obama has nominated Tom Vilsack to be the next Secretary of Agriculture.
In announcing Vilsack's selection last week, Obama praised his vision and his commitment to biotechnology. He also said of the former Iowa governor, "Tom will not only help ensure that rural America has a true partner in implementing the Farm Bill and pursuing agricultural research, but that Washington is looking out for everyone from the small family farms that are feeding our communities to the large farms that are feeding the world."
But what do folks in Iowa say about Vilsack?
I find it informative to check out the hometown paper for a different, perhaps more familiar, perspective on the nominee. In the case of Vilsack, here are a few articles from the DesMoines Register:
Be sure to check out the sidebar on the first story for a nice recap of Vilsack's personal and professional life, along with snippets from various ag groups regarding his appointment.
Finally, on the lighter side, browse the pics accompanying the Iowa Ear column on Vilsack: The secretary of hats. Looking at those, I can't help but think Vilsack might be the early favorite for next year's Halloween costume competition. At minimum, it shows he's willing to do what it takes to advance a cause, and that, to me, is a good trait to have in a Secretary of Agriculture.
Posted by Mary Ann Leonard
Added to Biography on December 23, 2008
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Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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<< Ag at the Polling Place |
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November 05, 2008
Ag at the Polling Place
 With election day barely in our rearview mirror, our focus very much remains on who won, who lost, what passed and what didn't.
While that obsession's still strong, take a look at this, a Ballot Measures Database from the National Conference of State Legislators (brought to my attention just yesterday by the Special Libraries Assocation's Government Info blog).
With quick clicks in a few fields, you can easily see a list of all initiatives in one state or several, for this year or many, right on back to 1902.
But you can also limit your search to measures pertaining to particular topics, like agriculture.
In two shakes I can see what ag-related initiatives were on ballots nationwide this year. (Only one actually, California's Proposition 2, which looks to be passing at the moment.)
I can also review environmental measures recently proposed in Florida, the last decade's worth of energy and utility issues in Kansas, or natural resources initiatives in the Pacific Northwest. (Remember: Cntrl-click to choose multiples from anywhere in a list, e.g., Oregon and Washington; or click at the top of a range and shift-click at the bottom to select everything in between, e.g., 1990 to 1999.)
The search results serve up basic details about the measures [type of election and year, type of measure (initiative, referendum, etc.)], the voting results (pass or fail with the associated percentage of votes), and, in many cases, a summary of the measure.
It's an amazingly easy way to see what issues have made the ballot and how they've fared over the years.
But our colleagues at the National Conference of State Legislators didn't stop there. They also have a handful of databases and collections addressing ag, rural, environmental and health legislation and statutes, along with a database focused strictly on environmental health legislation.
They're handy tools for researchers or interested citizens and easy supply lines for the legislative junkies among you, as are the great resources on NAL's Laws and Regulations page, of course.
Clearly, there's no reason to be an uniformed citizen in this day and age.
Posted by Mary Ann Leonard
Added to Farm Bill on November 05, 2008
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Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
Sadly us 'ags' do not amount to much in quantity; but do in quality. We can never change the world by voting but by leading the way and have others follow.
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Submitted by: Phil Booker on November 11, 2008 05:15 PM
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I have been reading here for a while now and thought it would only be fair to register and contribute instead of being a silent reader. So – I am looking forward to be a full part of the community!
Take care!
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Submitted by: ProGasCasMash on December 4, 2008 12:38 PM
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This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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<< The Crossroads of Ag and Public Health |
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November 04, 2008
The Crossroads of Ag and Public Health
 What is the connection between what you eat and how you feel?
Does the way an animal or crop is raised impact its nutritional value?
How are farming methods contributing to environmental problems and human health issues?
These questions and others like them represent the crossroads of agriculture and public health, that complex interdependency between what we eat and how it is raised with our individual and collective well-being.
They are the kinds of questions that seem to be popping up more and more, from the mainstream press to scientific journals and trade publications.
But clearly the frequency of the questions does not mean we have answers. In fact, as any researcher knows, most so-called answers just lead to more questions, more debate and more avenues for research.
To help bring some order to all that research and to the multiplicity of answers derived from it, the Center for a Livable Future, a research institute partnering Johns Hopkins University with its School of Public Health, recently launched a new Web site, the Agriculture and Public Health Gateway.
The gateway provides a central starting point for anyone interested in exploring the ag-public health connection. It lets you simultaneously search four key databases dealing with agriculture (NAL's AGRICOLA), ag safety (the National Agricultural Safety Database), medicine (PubMed) and the environment (Earthtrends). Or you can browse a range of Web-based goodies -- articles, reports, databases, programs, videos and more -- organized by topics such as crop production, community and occupational health, or food safety and labeling.
You'll find more details about the site on the Center's blog, or just jump in and start exploring. And when you find answers to the questions above, let us know.
Posted by Mary Ann Leonard
Added to Animals and Farm Safety and Food and Nutrition and Libraries and Natural Resources & Environment and Organic Production and Plants and Crops and Rural Life and Water Quality on November 04, 2008
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Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
Hey! What a rich and inviting pool you left for exploration here. Thanks!!
I also noted related ideas from an NPR broadcast today. This was on gut (human) microflora, and their contributions (or detraction) from our physical well-being. See:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95900616
These connections are not new. JI Rodale started "Prevention" magazine - then soon added "Organic Gardening." This witnesses his belief in food production and health outcome relationships.
Thanks for these neat notes!
- Karl |
Submitted by: Karl Schneider on November 4, 2008 09:55 PM
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I take your point, Karl, that the ag-health connection isn't new, but I do see these recurring ideas as falling along a spiral. That is, we've not come back to the same point so much as we've spiraled upward. The view from here is similar, but we are further along -- at least I trust that we are. |
Submitted by: Mary Ann on November 5, 2008 11:23 AM
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Great point, MA! Good idea the spiral! Not in the same place, but with progress we cycle. Thanks for that positive note, :).
- K
[Note: Karl's response was originally posted as a comment to the following post on "Ag at the Polling Place." I've moved it here to continue the thread to which he is responding. -- Mary Ann] |
Submitted by: Karl on November 6, 2008 10:00 AM
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The gateway provides a central starting point for anyone interested in exploring the ag-public health connection. Keep up the awesome work, dude. |
Submitted by: Water Damage on November 21, 2008 08:12 AM
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I would like to encourage young farmers to consider diversifying their operations by adding a hydroponic green house. Growing food locally is a massive trend in the food production industry and it is being supported by corporate power houses like Walmart and many other grocery chains. Hydroponic growing uses 1/10 the amount of water and 1/10 the amount of land required to produce traditional field row crops. You can produce a crop all year long and smooth out some of the volatility that you are exposed to in other markets. I am not suggesting you change your whole operation, just trim off an acre.
Alex Tiller
http://blog.alextiller.com
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Submitted by: Alex Tiller on November 26, 2008 01:42 PM
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This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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<< NAL Director Moves On |
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October 31, 2008
NAL Director Moves On
 As Director of the National Agricultural Library for the last six years, Peter Young has rubbed shoulders with a lot of big wigs.
He has shown off NAL to three different Secretaries of Agriculture (Veneman, Johanns and Schafer), repeatedly argued NAL's case to a host of Ag Department officials, and shaken more library directors' hands than kernals in a corn field.
He has pushed for digital collections, spoken on the role of libraries in cutting-edge research, and held fast to the idea that libraries have a bright future.
He is definitely a glass-half-full kind of guy, and it shows in his demeanor.
His faith and confidence are infectious. Warm and jovial, he can talk the stripes off a bee. He's approachable, sincere and supportive, encouraging innovation and cheering on risk-takers. He doesn't stand still, and neither does the staff he leads.
But from this day forward, the staff will be moving on without him.
Peter has wrapped up his time as NAL's Director to become Chief of the Asian Division at the Library of Congress.
It's his third stint at LC, and, he says, it's a bit like coming home, both because of his previous work there and because his father once walked the same halls.
So we bid him a fond farewell, with heartfelt gratitude for his leadership and a deep appreciation for his efforts on behalf of the Library and its staff. And we send him off with a chat and a laugh and a hug, as best befits his time here, for though he has rubbed shoulders with big wigs, it's his time with his staff that he says he most treasures.
We feel the same. Good luck, Peter.
Posted by Mary Ann Leonard
Added to Biography and Libraries on October 31, 2008
EST | Permalink
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
Peter has been a supporter and champion of collaborations between the NAL and the land-grant and agricultural library community. Projects such as AgNIC benefited greatly from Peter's encouragement and vision. His leadership will be greatly missed by his state-based partners. |
Submitted by: Connie Britton on November 3, 2008 11:24 AM
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Yes, good luck! Keep sharing it all along the way...
Thanks, Peter!
I really also liked Katie Newman's thank you note to Peter from USAIN, describing also his efforts for everyone while at NAL.
Maybe she would agree for it to be made "public" somehow??
Thank you, again, MA!
- Karl |
Submitted by: Karl Schneider on November 4, 2008 10:18 PM
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The USAIN Executive Council sent this letter to Peter, expressing its gratitude to him for his efforts on behalf of the Ag Information community.
USAIN (United States Agricultural Information Network) is an organization for information professionals that provides a forum for discussion of agricultural issues, takes a leadership role in the formation of a national information policy as related to agriculture, makes recommendations to the National Agricultural Library on agricultural information matters, and promotes cooperation and communication among its members.
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November 4, 2008
Peter Young Chief, Asian Division 101 Independence Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20540-4810
Dear Peter –
USAIN acknowledges with abiding gratitude the service that you performed while Director of the National Agricultural Library.
You always made sure that you were in frequent communication with USAIN and were open and willing to share information with us regarding current and future projects and efforts ongoing at NAL. Through your engaging Ag Updates at USAIN conferences, as well as at the SLA and ALA conferences, you kept the organization's membership well informed on critical agricultural information issues and on the challenges that the NAL was facing.
Peter, we appreciate that you valued USAIN input on a variety of NAL strategic planning initiatives such as the National Digital Library Repository, the Planning Group for the Leadership Council for Agricultural Information and Outreach, and related projects.
Under your leadership the NAL supported and worked with USAIN members on numerous agricultural preservation projects. You vigorously defended the need for continued support of the collections at NAL, especially the print materials and special collections, recognizing NAL’s role in preserving our agricultural heritage. Additionally your efforts to advance our access to digital collections are greatly appreciated. Peter, we are grateful that you recognized that the NAL collections serve not only the USDA, but also a broad spectrum of agricultural information professions such as USAIN members, as well as researchers worldwide and the citizenry at large.
Recognizing the funding challenges that the NAL has faced for decades, you were a leader in raising the visibility of NAL within the government as well as within the agricultural information community. In this vein, we welcomed your efforts to enhance the relationship between the NAL and the land grant institutions, most of whom have representatives in the membership of USAIN.
We wish you all the best of luck in your new position at the Library of Congress and hope that you will have only fond memories of your USAIN colleagues and the work that we accomplished together.
Most Sincerely,
Katie Newman, USAIN President
On behalf of the USAIN Executive Council and all USAIN Members
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Submitted by: Katie Newman, USAIN President on November 6, 2008 01:08 PM
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This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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