The
scab epidemic of 1993 was devastating to North American barley and wheat crops
and the beginning of a long term threat to production. Limited federal and
state resources did not allow for adequately funded and coordinated efforts to
address the epidemic. Barley and wheat producers and researchers in Minnesota
were the first to organize and advocate, securing state funding of
$800,000/year in 1995 for the Minnesota Scab Initiative. Subsequently, Minnesota and North Dakota
grower, researchers, and industry stakeholders joined forces, met and
organized, leading to the first federal appropriation of $500,000 by Congress
in FY1998, which led to the founding of the US Wheat & Barley Scab
Initiative (USWBSI). The first Steering Committee meeting was subsequently held
at Michigan State University (MSU), East Lansing, to allocate funding and
continue organizing. In the years that followed, the National Barley and Wheat
Improvement Committees, which represent US barley and wheat producers, researchers,
and value added end users, secured Farm Bill authorizations and increasing
appropriations, prevented proposed cuts, and elimination of the program. These
efforts by dedicated stakeholders brought funding up to its current authorized
and appropriated funding of $15 Million/year. During its twenty four years, the
USWBSI has evolved from the first Steering Committee meeting of key
stakeholders, a dinner in the basement of the MSU Kellogg Hotel &
Conference Center, to the sophisticated and efficient organization it is
today. This is the story of the
stakeholder efforts that made it happen.