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Sweet Talk by Nancy Sanchez | EDITOR Education A Must…! Needless to say it is true; with all things considered that college education is es- sential. Secondary education in the specialized field of agriculture with emphasis on business management is necessary for farming today. Not only does a farm manager/owner need to understand how to grow a crop with the complicated rules and regulations, learn to operate highly technical equipment, know and understand markets at home and on the world platform, but also be armed with business savvy. Savvy. It means well informed and perceptive. Shrewd and having practical under- standing. In a lengthy report just published by the National Research Council titled, “Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century,” it reveals that there will be a “… large number of U.S. farmers who will likely retire in the next decade…, raising concern about who will be the next generation of farmers.” Rest assured, the upcoming generation will have a strong education. Their prede- cessors are wise and perceptive to the fact that if they want their agricultural heritage to continue it will take much more than outdoor sweat for the next generation. That generation is being sent to college for a comprehensive dose of savvy. As I contemplate the above notions I am also considering the fact that along with college education is the need for genuine gratitude. Are we initiating an understanding within the hearts of our children that they are blessed? Each year we celebrate our country’s Declaration of Independence. Are we savvy with our own knowledge of that most eventful day? Do we know the words in the first sentence of this important document? When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. In a news item from the WSSA, or Weed Science Society of America where the head- line reads, “University enrollment in crop sciences declines despite a growing demand for talent,” the opportunity for a career in crop sciences has increased. “While the U.S. job market remains in the doldrums in the wake of one of the deepest recessions in history, there is at least one profession bucking the trend. Job opportunities in the crop sciences are booming.” Now lets get busy and savvy. PUBLISHER Jason Harris EDITOR Nancy Sanchez nancy@sugarproducer.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Tyler Baum tbaum@sugarproducer.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Dave Alexander dave@sugarproducer.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Rob Erickson rob.erickson@sugarproducer.com GROUP SECRETARY Magdalene Mercado CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Yvonne Young CIRCULATION ASSISTANT Eula Endecott MARKETING DIRECTOR Robin Black PRODUCTION MANAGER Janet Chase GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dayne Dingman PRODUCTION STAFF Jim Donovan R.D. Dye April Frederick Angela Hardy Lavon Horne Chris Searle IT DIRECTOR Chuck Harris SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR Darrin Steffler CONTROLLER Clayton Ward ACCOUNTING Laura Rafferty PRESIDENT Jason Harris VICE PRESIDENT Chuck Harris VICE PRESIDENT Ryan Harris VICE PRESIDENT Steve Janes TREASURER Clayton Ward SECRETARY Janet Chase The Sugar Producer magazine is published nine times yearly. ©2010, Harris Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Publisher not responsible for content of submitted materials. Back copies or subscriptions: 800-210-1360. Basic subscription rates are: U.S.,1 year-$15.95, nine issues; Canada, 1 year, $35.95 U.S., nine issues; International, 1 year, $45.95 U.S., nine issues. All subscriptions are U.S. funds only. Limited back issues available for $5 U.S. each. ORGANIZATIONS ASGA 202-833-2398 e-mail: ASGA@aol.com U.S. BEET SUGAR ASSOCIATION 202-296-4820 AMERICAN SUGAR ALLIANCE 703-351-5055 | www.sugaralliance.org BEET SUGAR DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION 303-832-4460 SUGAR ASSOCIATION, INC. 202-785-1122 | www.sugar.org HARRIS PUBLISHING, INC. 360 B Street Idaho Falls, ID 83402 208-524-7000 | Fax: 208-522-5241 Printed in Idaho Falls, ID by FALLS PRINTING dave@fallsprinting.com 4 Sugar Producer AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010