NCCC_OLD170: Research Advances in Agricultural Statistics
Statement of Issues and Justification
Statisticians who consult and do research in an Agricultural Experiment Station environment have a unique relationship with the University. Their multi-disciplinary, collaborative role is generally more extensive than that of other faculty within the University and often cuts across several departments or units. Collaboration of statisticians and scientists allow land grant institutions to perform their agricultural research missions more effectively and efficiently than would otherwise be possible. Statisticians at each station tend to specialize in specific areas. This multi-state committee provides a mechanism that brings together statisticians from many stations working in related areas. The resulting exchange of ideas and the sharing of knowledge is of benefit to all committee members and to the institutions they represent.As State and federal appropriations continue to fall short of levels needed for research, and grants become more competitive, it becomes even more imperative that research dollars go as far as possible. This requires Experiment Station statisticians to keep abreast of the latest statistical research as well as work to develop methodology appropriate to their consulting roles. With the increased availability of high speed computers, many new computationally intensive statistical methods and relevant software have become available.
Never has the charge to remain current in the statistical profession been more challenging. Assessing the utility of the new statistical methods and software is increasingly important. Further, dissemination of the information to agricultural researchers must be made in a timely manner. Thus, it is critical that Station statisticians work cooperatively to determine the best current approaches to common statistical problems and to help guide future directions of statistical research and software development.
In this respect, Experiment Station statisticians can work together to provide more effective assistance to the agricultural researchers of their respective states. This NCR committee can play an extremely important role by serving as a focal point for the development and implementation of sound statistical practice. Thus the NCR-170 committee is a support project, that assists agricultural researchers in other disciplines in their efforts to accomplish the national research priorities. The members of NCR-170 are committed to this goal.
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