Oklahoma wheat producers donate $300,000 to strengthen OSU wheat genetics research chair
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Oklahoma Wheat Commission and Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation unite to improve,
release competitive new wheat varieties in state
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The gift will be used to improve and release competitive new wheat varieties in Oklahoma.
Organization officials commented that since the world has yet to embrace the use of
biotech for wheat production as they have for corn, soybeans and cotton, very few
private dollars are being invested in improved wheat genetics. Therefore, the groups
felt it was important for land-grant institutions to have the necessary tools to improve
wheat varieties. This gift will allow OSU to significantly enhance their wheat genetics
program.
“The response from our alumni and friends has exceeded our wildest expectations,”
said OSU President Burns Hargis. “Inspired by Boone Pickens’ astounding generosity,
donors answered the call to make a lasting difference and open a new and exciting
chapter at OSU. We sincerely appreciate what the Wheat Commission and Wheat Research
Foundation are doing for OSU academics and research.”
In order to take full advantage of the state’s dollar-for-dollar match, and make the
most significant impact on OSU academics, OWRF and OWC made the gift prior to the
July 1 change in the state’s endowed chair matching program. This gift is part of
the $66.8 million in endowed faculty gifts OSU announced recently.
Originally established within OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
in 1989 by Owen Wimberley, Union Equity Cooperative Exchange, and the Oklahoma Wheat
Research Foundation, the chair will provide an additional source of dependable funding
which is insulated from the appropriations process.
The OWRF and the OWC believe Oklahoma wheat producers will not be able to compete
globally nor produce for a growing world population without a continuum of varieties
that address an ever changing production environment. With an ever moving target,
it is important that wheat producers always have access to the latest genetic material
available adapted to their environment.
“The Oklahoma Wheat Commission and Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation are always looking
for ways to maximize the return on wheat producer dollars invested in our industry
through their check-off program,” said Mark Hodges, OWC, and Joe Neal Hampton, OWRF,
in a joint statement. “This was a unique situation that provided a very narrow window
of opportunity to not just match dollar for dollar producer dollars, but to double
that investment again. Based on the current rates of return this investment ($50,000
- $60,000 annually) will pay for itself in just over five years with the remainder
of the annually generated interest available for wheat research in perpetuity.”
Jean Van Delinder, chair of the OSU Faculty Council, said, “OSU is poised for growth
and further prominence but to realize its full potential we must continue to attract
and retain top scholars and researchers. These chairs highlight the important role
that scholarship and teaching play at Oklahoma State University, and they are made
possible through the generous support of donors who value excellence in scholarship
and want to help OSU continue to nurture a strong faculty.”
Endowed professorships and chairs are academic designations which provide support
for faculty salary, graduate assistantships, equipment and research needs, as well
as other support. These endowed faculty positions allow a university to attract and
retain the best and the brightest academic minds in the world.