For National Agriculture Week, March 16-22, 1997

TEAMWORK WILL HELP AGRICULTURE GROW BETTER -- TOGETHER

by David Topel
Dean, College of Agriculture at Iowa State University

Teamwork has been described this way: Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is a success.

Teamwork underlies this year's theme for National Agriculture Week, March 16-22 -- "Growing Better Every Day -- Together."

Agriculture in Iowa is fortunate to have people who understand the importance of teamwork to success. We must "grow better every day" to meet the future needs of Iowa and the world. To do so, people in agriculture must work together with many other people and groups.

That's especially true with environmental issues. Agriculturists work every day to be stewards of our natural resources. They are addressing concerns about agriculture's impact on the environment. These are sensitive issues that can be resolved when people work together.

America has the safest food in the world, but many Americans aren't satisfied to rest on past accomplishments. Improved food safety continues to be the goal of people in the public and private sectors. Reaching this goal certainly requires teamwork. Everyone must play a role, from the farm to the dinner table, to make our food supply as safe as possible.

Teamwork can transcend borders. Many of our state's international programs center around agriculture and food systems. In my opinion, Iowans lead the nation in their enthusiasm for cultivating new relationships with people in other countries. These international teams are working together and learning from each other. It has paid off. We've seen a great expansion in opportunities for agricultural trade and cultural and educational exchanges.

At Iowa State University, we recently established broad-based teams to address critical issues facing Iowa agriculture. With support from many groups, these issue teams are exploring precision-agriculture technology and addressing livestock odor and manure management questions.

The College of Agriculture also is teaming up with Iowa's community colleges to strengthen programs that prepare students for careers in agriculture. And with new agreements in countries like China and Morocco, we're forming more international teams of faculty and students.

Cooperation on agricultural goals has made significant impacts across society. Together we make a great team.

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