This time of year brings about the USDA Prospective Plantings report. This report describes how many acres of each crop will be planted and, pending no major weather events, harvested. This report is among the likes of our organization as members work together not only to develop ways to support existing members but to strategically devise plans to plant seeds of organizational growth of ARPAS. We are all set to gather at our ARPAS annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, at the ASAS–CSAS annual meeting, where we will review activities of the past year and discuss avenues of change that will allow us to further enhance our professions through ARPAS membership.

We are one-third of the way into 2017, and dues for this year have not been received from approximately 200 members. If you are actively working as an animal scientist, we encourage you to continue your membership. If you have an issue with meeting your CEU requirement, give ARPAS a call (217-356-5390, or email arpas@assochq.org), and we will develop a plan to help you meet that need. For those who have let their membership lapse, reinstatement is possible without retaking the ARPAS exam. The form for reinstatement can be found on the website (www.arpas.org). You will need to pay a $25 reinstatement fee and the current year's dues and acquire your 16 CEU for the year.

I am happy to say that over the past few months we have had a number of individuals successfully apply for ACAS membership through the Highly Qualified Individual designation. As I prepare this newsletter we have five new ACAS members: Stacey Gunter, research leader and research animal scientist with the USDA-ARS at Woodward, Oklahoma; Mike Looper, department head and professor of physiology with the University of Arkansas; Luis Tedeschi, professor of beef cattle nutrition with Texas A&M University; Art Goetsch, animal nutritionist at the US Goat Research Center, Langston, Oklahoma; and Terry Engle, animal nutritionist at Colorado State University. I have known each of these gentlemen for many years and am honored to welcome them to ACAS. We have several additional applicants who are currently in the review process. 

The winter leadership council meeting covered a wide range of topics related to chapter business and events. In attendance were John Martin (chapter president), Marit Arana, Andy Riordan, Stacy Tsang, Gabriella Acetoze, Jim Oltjen, Dave Ellis, Matt Kelly, Kevin Leahy, Peter Williams, and Renee Smith.

Our chapter is sponsoring our Mini-Symposium on “Environmental Sustainability and Animal Production” on April 26 at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (Conference Room 020, Building 005, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD). Attendees can register at the door at a cost of $40.00 and can claim 5 CEU for attendance. Richard Reynnells, our president elect, has put together a very impressive array of speakers. Allison Thornson, Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, Washington, DC, will speak on a “Multi-Stakeholder Approach for Sustainable Production of Commodity Crops.” Rick Kohn, University of Maryland professor of animal nutrition management, will address “Greenhouse Gas Mitigation.” The presentation of Katie Dotterer-Pyle, Cow Comfort Inn Dairy, Union Bridge, Maryland, is “Ask Farmers, Not Google.” Chris Voell, US EPA, international lead—Ag. AgStar and Global Methane Initiative Climate Change Division, will address “How EPA’s AgStar Program Promotes Environmental Sustainability and Animal Production.” Walter Mlubry, microbiologist, Sustainable Agricultural Systems Lab, ARS, USDA, will speak on “Biological Treatment of Dairy Manure: Research Toward more Sustainable Practices in Nutrient Recovery and Reuse.” Last, Joel Newman, president and CEO of AFIA, will speak on “Global Feed LCA Institute and the Feed Industry.” A reception will follow the mini-symposium featuring the honoring of our chapter’s Dr. Vernon G. Pursel Memorial Distinguished Service Award winner for 2017, Richard D. Reynnells, PhD. Reynnells’s award states “for distinguished service to the animal sciences and in recognition of professional character and career accomplishments that serve as a model for professional animal scientists.”