Experiment
Station Section Annual Meeting
September 25, 2006
10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Harrah's,
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ACTION ITEMS |
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Agenda Item |
Agenda Item Title |
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Approved Agenda |
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Approved 2005 ESS Teleconference Minutes |
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All NRSP Off-the-Top funding requests approved as recommended by National NRSP Review Committee |
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Approved commitment of $10,000 to ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee to begin the exploration of the development of a Strategic Communication and Marketing Plan for ESCOP. |
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Approved that Formula Funds Task Force be disengaged |
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Approved all resolutions |
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MINUTES
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Agenda # |
Agenda Item - Presenter |
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Call to order - Al Parks (Chair) |
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Welcome to Nevada |
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Approval of Agenda and 2005 ESS Teleconference Minutes - Al Parks |
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CREATE-21: Next Steps - Steve Slack |
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NIAS Report and Update - Terry Nipp |
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New Energy: New Opportunities - Thomas Dorr, USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development and Chair of the USDA Energy Council |
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CSREES Update - Colien Hefferan |
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NASULGC Update - Ian Maw |
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NRI Program Update - Anna Palmisano |
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NRSP Review Committee Report/Off the Top Funding Requests - Lee Sommers |
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Competitive Multistate Research - Where are we? - Colin Kaltenbach |
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BAA-Policy Board of Directors Update - Nancy Cox |
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National Plant Germplasm Coordinating Committee Report - Lee Sommers |
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NIMSS Oversight Committee Report - Eric Young |
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Proposed Changes to the MRF Guidelines - Daryl Lund |
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NRSP Off the Top Funding Requests Vote Results - Lee Sommers |
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Advocacy Update - Tim Sanders, Cornerstone Governmental Affairs |
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16.0 |
Standing Committee Reports |
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Budget and Legislative Committee - LeRoy
Daugherty/Daryl |
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Communication and Marketing Committee - Jerry
Arkin/Tom Fretz |
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Science and Technology Committee - Steve
Pueppke/Eric Young |
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Formula Funds Task Force Report - Tom Fretz |
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Specialty Crop Regulatory Initiative - Ann Marie Thro |
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Partnership Working Group Report- Bruce McPheron |
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Extension Liaison Report - James Wade |
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Nominations Committee Report - Lee Sommers |
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Resolutions Committee Report - Don Snyder |
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Final remarks, Announcements, Changing of the Guard - Al Parks |
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Adjourn - Ron Pardini |
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AGENDA BRIEFS
Agenda Item 1.0: Approval of Agenda and Teleconference Minutes
Presenter: Al Parks
Background Information:
Approval of Agenda and September 28, 2005 Teleconference Minutes
• Agenda
• Minutes
from September 28, 2005 teleconference
Action Requested: Approval of agenda and minutes
Action Taken: Approved Agenda and minutes
Agenda Item 2.0: CREATE-21---- Next Steps
Presenter: Steve Slack
Background Information:
CREATE-21 (Creating, Research, Extension, and Teaching Excellence
for the 21st Century) was established to develop an integrated, reponsive
organizational structure and to use this integrated structure to leverage the
funding needed for future program delivery. Conference calls were held with
ESCOP (May 5) and the all SAES Directors (June 30) with most states
participating. ESCOP unanimously endorsed a motion to support the current
CREATE-21 proposal. The system voted, August/September, to support the proposal
by an overwhelming margin (86.6%). The Farm Bill will be the vehicle for
implementation.
REE Under Secretary Gale Buchanan sent a letter to Jeff Armstrong on August 29
indicating that he has charged Deputy Under Secretary Pierson and the four REE
Administrators to review their current programs, linkages, and effectiveness to
guide their discussions of potential opportunities through the next Farm Bill
and to provide an opportunity to review external proposals to redefine and
restructure the REE Mission Area. This letter has been shared through the respective
regional associations.
Next Steps Include:
*Combining the CREATE-21 and FARM BILL committees
*Draft language for Farm Bill through Cornerstone Government Affairs
*Prepare an advocacy and communications plan for external audiences, including
Congress
*Focused message on future productivity of system
*Communicate unanimity of support for proposal to key groups
*Engage critical groups (eg, CARET and stakeholder organizations) to carry the
message
*Encourage discussions with REE on REE Mission Area
Action Requested: For Information Only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 3.0: NIAS Report and Update
Presenter: Terry Nipp
Background Information:
Reorganization of DHS Science and Technology
There has been significant turn-over in the leadership and staff of DHS S&T
in the past year. Congress has become increasingly vocal in its criticism of
the science agencies within DHS. In July, a bipartisan Senate report was
revealed to state that DHS S&T is ""a rudderless ship without any
clear way to get back on course."
In early August 2006, the Senate confirmed President Bush's nomination of Rear Admiral Jay M. Cohen to serve as the new Undersecretary for DHS S&T, who formally served as the Chief of the Office of Naval Research. Within three weeks, the Admiral dismissed existing reorganization plans and received approval for a new organizational approach for S&T from the Secretary, which was presented to the Congress on September 10th. The NIAS ED has spoken with Admiral Cohen; the new organization and its implications for food and agricultural biosecurity science and education will be presented at the ESS meeting.
"Sensitive" Science: NSABB Guidelines
NIAS developed a working group to consider and respond to draft guidelines for managing "sensitive" research that have been developed by the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity. The Board has been tasked to develop criteria for categorizing "dual use" research, that is, research that could be utilized in developing terrorist weapons even though that is not the intent of the research efforts. In addition, the Board is developing recommendations for how that research would be managed and communicated to others. These NSABB guidelines could have far reaching and lasting impacts on how research is managed. The NIAS working group examined the potential implications of the NSABB guidelines and has submitted recommendations to the Board, significant impact on the management and control of communication about research projects.
A compilation of NSABB PowerPoints on the development of these guidelines is attached.
The NSABB also has a working group on managing Select Agents. There have been discussions with the Board regarding the implications of their deliberations on handling hazardous non-select agents.
Protecting Food and Agriculture
FBI/InfraGard
The FBI is taking an increasing lead role among the agencies in planning to respond to attacks on the agricultural and food system as a part of their counter-terrorism efforts. NIAS was invited to participate and present at an FBI InfraGard conference.
DOD AI Surveillance
The NIAS ED was asked to participate and present at an invitation-only workshop on Avian Influenza surveillance system hosted by the Department of Department of Defense, with a number of collaborating military and intelligence agencies.
AAC Animal Disposal
The NIAS ED was asked to participate in an invitation only animal industry workshop on the security implications of large scale animal carcass disposal, with FDA and EPA personnel.
FASCC
NIAS is an auxiliary member of the DHS Food and Agriculture Coordinating Council (FASCC), which links DHS to the private food and agriculture sector. The NIAS ED recently participated in recent FASCC meetings and will be participating in upcoming table-top simulations.
NBAF
The current status of the competitive award process to select a new
"National Bio and Agro-Defense facility to replace and augment many of the
functions of
Action Requested: For Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 4.0: New Energy: New Opportunities
Presenter: Thomas Dorr, USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development & Chair of the USDA Energy Council
Background Information:
Dorr reported that the USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver quality programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in home ownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.
Action Requested: For Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 5.0: CSREES Update
Presenter: Colien Hefferan
Background Information:
Hefferan provide an update on CSREES activities, some of which is included in the following information from the CSREES Update of October 4, 2006:
New Director for the Office of Peer Review
Ila Blue joins CSREES as our new director for the Office of Peer Review.
Blue began her career as the supervisor of revenue for the
RFA Issued for
The Iraq Agricultural Extension Revitalization (IAER) project focuses on
strengthening Iraqi agriculture by revitalizing that country's extension and
educational training capacity. The project will foster a healthy agricultural
sector that contributes to national stability by rebuilding the skills of Iraqi
extension experts to better serve the needs of farmers, processors, and
marketers. The project will provide Iraqi nationals from universities and the
Ministry of Agriculture with extension management, production, and marketing
training. These training programs will be held in the
National Research Initiative Posts Requests for Applications
The National Research Initiative (NRI) Request for Applications is now available on the CSREES Web site. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2007, NRI is accepting applications only through electronic submission using Grants.gov. Other important changes include a strict adherence to formatting, submission dates, and budget guidelines. Applications that do not meet these guidelines will be returned without review.
CSREES News
USDA Announces Four Grants for Youth Farm Safety Education
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner announced four grants totaling more than $400,000 to train young people who work on farms about safety rules. "More than a third of all agricultural-related injuries that occur to kids under the age of 20 are classified as work-related," Conner said. "These grants will help teach our young people to safely work in the agriculture industry."
These grants focus on reaching underserved and/or minority youth. The grants will also promote use of the North American Guidelines for Children's Agricultural Tasks, a resource to assist parents in assigning farm jobs to their children. Recently developed curriculum from previous years' grants is available at http://www.agsafety4youth.info. The grants are administered through CSREES. Visit the CSREES Newsroom to read the full release and to view the 2006 awardees' list.
USDA Awards $4.6 Million in Grants for Community Food Projects
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner announced the award of 32 grants totaling $4.6 million to community organizations to help low-income Americans eat healthfully.
Community Food Projects awards will aid nonprofit organizations in 19 states and 1 territory to carry out projects to help low-income communities. This year, for the first time, small grants of up to $25,000 were awarded for planning projects to help communities assess local needs and build collaborations that will lead to community food security projects. The grants are administered through CSREES. Visit the CSREES Newsroom to read the full release and to view awardees' list.
Johanns Announces $7.8 Million in Extension Funds to Revitalize
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced that USDA is requesting
proposals from
The Iraq Agricultural Extension Revitalization Project (IAER) will provide
extension training programs for Iraqi nationals. The training will enhance
agricultural management, production, and marketing related to small- and
medium-sized production enterprises. The effort was launched on August 1, when
Johanns and
CSREES advertises all of its funding opportunities through
"Find Grant Opportunities" on the Grants.gov Web site. This site is
searchable and contains summary information on all Federal funding
opportunities with links to the full announcements. Users can search
announcements by topic, funding agency, and date, as well as subscribe to an
e-mail notification service based on these parameters.
USDA
Avian Influenza Update
* Joint USDA and DOI News Release: Avian Influenza Tests Complete On Wild
Mallard Ducks In
USDA Expands the National Poultry Improvement Program
USDA announced an interim rule that expands the National
Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), a voluntary cooperative Federal, State, and
industry program designed to prevent the spread of poultry diseases in
commercial poultry operations. This expansion is in harmony with international
animal health guidelines. Visit the USDA Newsroom Web site to read the full
release.
USDA-DOE Announce More Speakers for National Renewable Energy Conference
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and USDA announced an updated list of
distinguished speakers, including President George W. Bush (invited guest), for
their jointly hosted conference Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural
Renaissance. The conference aims to get the best minds together - key
stakeholders in biofuels, wind, and solar energy - to discuss and ultimately
help accelerate the research, development, and deployment of alternative energy
sources, the crux of President Bush's Advanced Energy Initiative. The
conference is October 10-12 at
Partners
NACDEP Becomes a Member Organization of JCEP
In August 2006, the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) joined the Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP). NACDEP is dedicated to improving the visibility, coordination, professional status, and resource base of community and economic development extension programs and professionals. JCEP is a partnership of extension professional organizations focused on strengthening the efforts of the member organizations and doing what each cannot do effectively alone. Together, JCEP and NACDEP will strengthen communication and collaboration among community and economic development extension professionals and across the Cooperative Extension System. For more information, visit the NACDEP Web site, or contact Sally Maggard, CSREES national program leader, Economic and Community Systems.
NCRCRD Sponsors Developing Successful Community Initiatives Workshop
The
Southern Growth Policies Board Releases 2006 Report
Innovations with a Southern Accent Report was released at the Southern Innovation Summit in June 2006. The report focuses on creating a southern culture of knowledge, where learning and innovation are primary social values, essential to the region's global competitiveness. The report's recommendations include strategies for building the innovation capacity in the South through the creation, accumulation, and application of knowledge. The report also includes regional and state-level data on educational attainment and venture capital as well as an overview of state policies on research and development and profiles of innovative programs. To view the report visit the Southern Growth Policies Board Web site . Contact Sally Maggard, CSREES national program leader, Economic and Community Systems.
Opportunities
The Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Conference 2007
The CSREES Children, Youth and Families at Risk Conference, CYFAR 2007, will be May 2-4 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Chicago, IL. The pre-conference begins May 1. The CYFAR 2007 conference committee announced a Call for Proposals for workshops, computer labs, poster sessions, and Program Showcase exhibits. Read the Call for Proposals announcement for more information. Proposals must be submitted online by November 1, 2006.
Community Capitals Framework Institute Call for Papers
The
Third Annual Tri-State Diversity Conference 2007
The Third Annual Tri-State Diversity Conference, hosted by
Third International IFAS Conference on Nanotechnology
The Third International IFAS Conference on Nanotechnology, hosted by
Awards and Recognition
Secretary Johanns Praises
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in recent speeches praised the efforts of
the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN). The following is an excerpt
from remarks by Johanns to the International Symposium on Agro-terrorism, in
"Now ladies and gentlemen, equally as important as preparing for a possible threat to the food supply is ensuring that we have the ability to quickly provide accurate information to the public in the event of an incident. And this brings us to the fifth part of the strategy which I believe is enormously important, and that's outreach communications.
"The Extension Disaster Education Network, or EDEN as we commonly refer to it, links our land grant universities all across this country and enables them to better communicate potential risks and mitigation strategies to the public.
"Through this network specialists share education and research programs that are designed to reduce the impact of natural and man-made disasters. It creates a national database of relevant information. "
Congratulations on this national recognition. Visit the USDA Newsroom Web site to read the full transcript.
Action Requested: For Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 6.0: NASULGC Update
Presenter: Ian Maw
Background Information:
Maw provided the following update on NASULGC activities and indicated that it is a time of change at NASULGC:
1. Changes
Dr. David Shulenberg - Vice President of Academic Affairs
Howard Gobstein - Vice President of Science and Policy
Jennifer Poulakidas - Vice President of Congressional Affairs
Kerry Bolognese - Vice President of International Programs
Mortimer H. Neufville - Executive Vice President
Rebecca Sullivan - Director of Public Affairs
Joyce Payne - Director of Student Affairs and OAPBC
Ian Maw - Vice President of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources
2. Specific Agenda
• Competitiveness/Accountability
• International Programs
• Engagement
• Reauthorization of the Farm Bill
3. Academic
4. BAC - Advocacy Agent - October 2, 2006 interviews by BAA PBD
5. GCHERA Conference - Marcy 5-8, 2007 in Costa Rico - 5th Global Conference
6. Expanding relationships with the Department of Energy - EERE - small grants with three year agreements.
Action Requested: For Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 7.0: NRI Program Update
Presenter: Anna Palmisano
Background Information:
Click here for the NRI Program PowerPoint
Action Requested: For Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 8.0: NRSP Review Committee Report/Off the Top Funding Requests
Presenter: Lee Sommers and Mike Harrington
Background Information:
The NRSP Review Committee met via conference call on May 26, 2006
Attendance: Lee Sommers, Marshall Martin, Larry Miller, Don Latham, Keith
Cooper, Craig Nessler, Mike Harrington, Tom Fretz, Eric Young, James Wade.
Budget Requests:
A. NRSP1; Fretz commented that $32,500 of the cost of managing NIMSS is now included in the NRSP1 budget. However, the actual cost of NIMSS is $50,000 and the difference is absorbed by NERA. However, the NERA directors suggested that the NRSP1 budget be held at the FY06 level ($306,916). There will likely be a request next year for the NRSP1 budget to absorb the total cost of NIMSS. Martin moved and Latham seconded a motion to accept the budget request for NRSP1 at $315,524. The motion passed unanimously.
B. NRSP3; Cooper moved and Miller seconded a motion to accept the budget request for NRSP3 at $72,000. The motion passed unanimously.
C. NRSP4; Fretz and Cooper reported that the NERA suggestion of funding at $431,182 was to encourage funding from other sources than off-the-top.
Sommers commented that the NRSP Review Committee had agreed to keep NRSP4 and NRSP8 funds constant for the duration of their current projects. Nessler moved and Cooper seconded a motion to accept the budget request for NRSP4 at $481,182. The motion passed unanimously.
D. NRSP5; Cooper moved and Martin seconded a motion to accept the budget request for NRSP5 at $96,000. The motion passed unanimously.
E. NRSP6; There was discussion on the logic of funding an NRSP on potato germplasm when each of the regions has a regional trust to support plant genetic conservation. Miller moved and Cooper seconded a motion to accept the budget request for NRSP at $110,000. The motion passed unanimously.
F. NRSP7; No off-the-top funding is requested for NRSP7, thus no action was necessary.
G. NRSP8; Nessler moved and Cooper seconded a motion to accept the budget request for NRSP at $400,000. The motion passed unanimously.
Sommers reported that, with the reductions in off-the-top funding for the established NRSPs over the past three years, there has been a release of off-the- top funding of approximately $200,000 that could be used to start new NRSPs. This review process was established as a means to sunset off-the-top funding for some of the NRSPs and create a pool of funds that could be used to initiate one or more new NRSPs to address emerging issues.
Possible NRSP projects suggested included an NRSP4-like project on transgenic crops, a crop genome project similar to NRSP8, and a project related to ESCOP communication/marketing activities. Latham asked whether there is a program similar to NRSP8 for plants.
It was suggested that the possible NRSP project topics be a discussion item at the regional association summer meetings and also at the ESCOP annual fall meeting.
Click here for the NRSP Review Committee Recommendations for FY07
Action Requested: Final Association recommendations on NRSP budgets
Action Taken: See Agenda Item 14.0
Agenda Item 9.0: Competitive Multistate Research
Presenter: Colin Kaltenbach
Background Information:
ESCOP appointed a special task force AES Directors and EDs to work with representatives from CSREES to develop a draft plan which could be used to implement the President's budget proposal for a competitive multistate program. In addition there was a larger group of AES Directors (2 from each region, and the regional EDs that were used as a "sounding board". The executive group (Hatch Working Group) met twice in person and numerous times by teleconference and also communicated via email. Communications to the larger ESCOP group were provided via email updates and two conference calls were held to seek input.
Throughout the process it was stressed that ESCOP did not support the President's Budget nor did it support the distribution of Hatch any funds in a competitive manner.
Multistate Task Force Members
Co-Chairs Larry Miller, Associate Administrator, Colin
Kaltenbach (AZ)
CSREES:
Mark Bailey, NPL, Thomas Bewick, NPL, Franklin
E. Boteler, Deputy Administrator, Dennis Kopp,
Assistant Administrator, Liaison (from/to the Mc-Stennis Working Group), Winston
Sherman, Office of Extramural Programs, Susan Welsh,
NPL
ESCOP:
ARD: Carolyn Brooks (UMES-MD), Alton Thompson (NCA&T-NC) Sam Donald (ED)
NE: Bruce McPheron (PA), Richard Rhodes (RI), Tom Fretz (ED)
NC: Steve Slack (OH), Tom Payne (MO), Marshall Martin-alternate
(IN) Daryl Lund (ED)
SAAESD: Greg Weideman (AR), Nancy Cox (KY), Eric Young(ED)
WAAESD: Colin Kaltenbach (AZ), Ron Pardini (NV), Mike
Harrington (ED)
Bold denotes Hatch Implementation Team members
Background:
Discussions began with a review of all pertinent documents relating to the
current multistate program, the Science Roadmap, and CSREES Strategic Plan as
well as the current review practices in the multistate program. There was also
agreement with a set of principles:
• The program would include many features and
definitions of the current multistate program including the use of the regional
associations and the NIMSS.
• Projects must go through a credible nationally competitive process
focusing on peer review to determine scientific merit and project management
quality;
• The program's focus and direction must be on issues of national
importance which, in many cases, can be addressed through locally relevant
concerns (e.g., water quality/ availability, rural development and resilience,
etc.); and,
• Funds allocated to the SAES would be under the same conditions as Hatch
over the full life (5 years) of effort.
The working group developed two documents-a "Program Framework" that described and outlined the basics of the proposed program and a draft of a formal RFA that can be forwarded through the necessary legal steps within USDA for any competitive grants program. These documents were combined and are currently residing on the CSREES web site where they will remain for comment until such time as Congress determines that there will be a competitive Multi-State program.
Even though it is very doubtful that the FY 07 budget will have a competitive grants aspect for current Hatch funding there are current recommendations by the CREATE 21 Committee that includes a competitive program for "new" Hatch dollars. The program developed by the working group and adopted by the 15 member committee could form the basis of a competitive program for the "new" dollars.
General Features
Complete details of the program and a draft RFA can be obtain from CSREES.
Types of Hatch MRF Projects
• Multi-State Research Projects: Research activity which involves cooperative, jointly planned research employing multidisciplinary approaches in which a SAES, cooperates with other SAESs, the ARS, a college or university, the Cooperative Extension System or the private sector to solve problems that concern more than one state and usually more than one region. These projects have a time limit of not to exceed 5 years.
• Rapid Response Projects: This type of research activity provides a mechanism to assure responsiveness to acute crises, emergencies, and opportunities using the multi-state research approach. Activities may range from formally organized research on targeted objectives to very informal research coordination or information exchange activity, depending on the circumstances. The projects are not to exceed two years. Rapid Response Project proposals will be reviewed through an expedited process enabling their submission at any time and requiring approval by the SAES directors and CSREES leadership.
• Research Support Projects: This type of research support activity focuses on the development of enabling technologies , support activities (such as collecting, assembling, storing and distributing materials, resources and information) or the sharing of facilities needed to accomplish high priority research, but which is not of itself, primarily research. As the need may arise, other types of projects may be funded based upon the recommendations of the Review Board.
Pre-submission Proposal Development and Coordination:
• Emphasis is placed upon the multistate proposal announcement and development and formatting of the proposal.
• Request for Applications (RFA) will be developed (incorporating stakeholder input) and released by CSREES on an annual basis.
• Project proposals will be developed using the current SAES system and the National Information Management and Support System (NIMSS).
• The system will be used to ensure that quality control standards are met in the proposal development.
• The pre-submission proposal development process will not be used to pre-select or pre-deny submission to CSREES based on scientific merit.
• A lead institution will be designated and an administrative advisor and a CSREES representative will be appointed to provide coordination during proposal development process, to ensure the proposed work is relevant to the priorities specified in the RFA (Science Roadmap/USDA-CSREES Strategic Goals) and to facilitate submission of the draft proposal to CSREES.
• The nationwide solicitation of eligible participants (SAESs) will encourage them to partner with other organizations and entities that are not eligible to receive Hatch MRF such as the Association of Research Directors, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the Cooperative Extension System (CES), and private industry.
Post-submission Peer Review Process:
• CSREES will administer scientific peer panels which
function to evaluate and rank proposals for relevance within subject matter
categories and for scientific merit.
• Peer panels will be identified within each major topic area contained
in the RFA
• Criteria for evaluating the proposals will be posted in the RFA.
• Once all fundable proposals are ranked, they are then forwarded by topic area to a CSREES/SAES MRF Administrative Review Board.
Allocating Hatch Multi-State Research Funds:
Final allocation of the Hatch MRF to the various SAESs will be recommended by
the CSREES/SAES MRF Administrative Review Board (ARB). The ARB will be composed
of eight (8) members.
• AES Directors: The Regional Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors shall appoint two members to the ARB. Initial appointments shall be staggered for two and three year terms to provide for continuity. These appointments shall alternate among the regional associations and with the Executive Director appointments below such that all regions are represented.
• AES Regional Associations Executive Directors: Two
Executive Directors of the regional associations shall be members of the ARB.
These appointments shall alternate with the Director representation above such
that all regions are represented.
• CSREES: The Administrator of CSREES shall appoint two
members.
• Stakeholders Representation:The Committee on Agriculture Research Extension and Teaching (CARET) shall appoint two representatives.
The ARB will respect the rank ordering of proposals by the peer panels in fulfilling the responsibilities below:
• To determine the "Cutoff line" in each topic area such that those proposals above the line will be recommended to the CSREES Administrator for funding and those below the line will not be recommended for funding, subject to the final selection procedures as provided below
• To ensure funding reflects the scope of priorities identified in the Science Road Map and the USDA-CSREES strategic goals and objectives.
• To assure research capacity at a diversity of
institutions especially at small and/or developing eligible institutions.
• To minimize disruption of on-going research program areas in the
initial stages of the program to allow an orderly transition to the new
allocation process.
Project Management:
Once a project is approved for funding by the CSREES Administrator, an
administrative advisor (AA) and a CSREES National Program Leader (NPL) will be
formally assigned to the project. Annual progress reports will be submitted to
the Current Research Information System (CRIS) or other reporting system as may
be specified in accordance with appropriate schedules and reporting
specifications as published in the relevant RFA and/or the Hatch MRF Allocation
Terms and Conditions. In addition, reports of annual meetings shall also be
reported using the format included in the relevant RFA and/or the appropriate
Allocation Terms and Conditions.
Post Award Project Management:
Experiment Station Directors will be allowed flexibility to expend funds within
an approved project for different purposes (e.g., salaries, infrastructure,
graduate assistants, etc.) and to adjust funds between competitively approved
projects primarily due to changes in participation (e.g., a change in
scientists at a station, additions to a project, etc.) and to accommodate
unique matching requirements.
Adjustments to participants to existing projects will require review by the existing multi-state committee and the approval of the Director of that SAES in which the new (or departing) participant resides. If Hatch MRF allocations need to be adjusted for the affected SAES, CSREES concurrence will be required. If such adjustments are required, those adjustments will be made in the following fiscal year allocation as recommended by the Review Board.
Other Program Criteria:
Criteria for identifying and handling conflicts of interests, and
confidentiality issues will be published in the relevant RFA.
Action Requested: Information Only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 10.0: BAA Policy Board Of Directors Update
Presenter: Nancy Cox
Background Information:
The Board On Agriculture Assembly's Policy Board Of Directors met in Portland, OR on July 24 in conjunction with the Joint COPs meeting. The following Board members and support staff attended:
Kirklyn M. Kerr, Chair (AHS, CT)
Fred A. Cholick, Chair Elect (AHS, KS)
Mary L. Albrecht (ACOP, TN)
Nancy M. Cox (ESCOP, KY)
John R. Vreyens (ICOP, MN)
Alton Thompson (1890s, NC)
Ian L. Maw (ACOP, NASULGC)
Jon F. Ort (ECOP, NC)
James C. Wade (ECOP, NASULGC)
Kerry Bolognese (ICOP, NASULGC)
Eddie G. Gouge (NASULGC)
Colien Hefferan (CSREES)
Eric Young (ESCOP, SAAESD)
John Phillips (1994s, AIHEC)
Gary L. Minish (Non-LGU)
Meg Goetz (1994s, AIHEC)
Robert Steele (BAC Chair, PA)
Key discussion items included:
1. CSREES Report - Colien Hefferan
• Summary description of CSREES FY 2008 Federal budget requests was sent to system in mid July. This described in general terms what agency is asking for, but USDA may not send all of it to OMB.
2. Farm Bill - Nancy Cox
• The Farm Bill Committee plans to send draft language for proposed changes in the Farm Bill to the system for comments by December.
3. CARET Report - Kirklyn Kerr
• The CARET Executive Committee passed a resolution at
their last meeting supporting CREATE-21.
• 25th anniversary of CARET is next year and recognition of this is being
planned.
4. Food System Leadership Institute - Alton Thompson
• The first class has 25 participants and the second class has been selected.
• Current participants think it has been an excellent program during the first year.
• Capstone forum by 1st class will be spring '06 with
a tentative title of "Future Needs in Food Systems and Health".
• The Director and program now is at NC State University and reports to
Jim Zuiches, Vice Chancellor for Extension, Engagement, and Economic
Development at NCSU.
5. Academic Leadership Summit - Mary Albrecht and Ian Maw
• The National Academy of Sciences is organizing this summit, entitled A Leadership Summit to Effect Change in Teaching and Learning, which will be held October 3-5 in Washington, D.C.
• Applications from institutional teams of 3-4 have been reviewed and the teams chosen for on site attendance, which is limited to 300, have been notified.
• The summit will also be web cast to teams on campus
who can participate via electronic link.
• Summit is intended to be initiation of dialogue on how to effect
changes in undergraduate education and the National Academy will publish
proceedings and recommendations for change within a year after the summit.
6. CREATE-21 - Fred Cholick
• Fred Cholick gave a summary of current proposal, including a recently released legislative outline and rationale for the proposal.
• Policy Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse the current CREATE-21 proposal, recommend a positive vote to move forward on the BAA ballot, and to send out ballot in mid-August along with Legislative Outline and rationale white paper.
• Policy Board of Directors will have a conference
call after vote is complete to determine how to move forward.
• System will have a chance to review and approve language that
Cornerstone intends to send to Congress before it is actually submitted and the
PBD will determine how to do this.
7. Budget and Advocacy Committee - Robert Steele
• Cornerstone is sole source lobbyist until end of December and currently doing a very good job for the system.
• RFP for new a contract is out and applications are
coming in, interviews will be scheduled soon.
• FY'08 budget would not be impacted by CREATE-21.
8. Assessments - Kirklyn Kerr
• There will not be another assessment for CREATE-21, it will be part of the new contractor's work plan
9. Dean and Directors Orientation - James Wade
• The Dean and Directors Orientation workshop will be
held December 12-14 at Grand Hyatt, D.C.
• There will be time for separate section sessions, if desired, during
the half day before or after, but there won't be any breakouts for specific
groups during the workshop.
10. Agricultural Research and Education Exhibition on Capitol Hill - Eddie Gouge
• The annual exhibit on the Hill will be Wednesday
evening, February 28.
• Chair-elect of each section will be planning committee with John Kelly
(Clemson) as chair.
11. NASULGC/DOE Partnership - Ian Maw
• This is the second year of 3-year agreement, but the
important question is what happens at end of this agreement. Will EERE be able
to institutionalize this collaboration?
• There is a House bill that would fund extension activities in DOE thru
a competitive program with 11 year grants that likely would be administered in
Office of Science, but no similar bill is in Senate
12. Policy Board of Directors Election Process - Eddie Gouge
• Sections that need elections for new representative
and alternate are AHS, ESS, IHS, and 1994.
• Nominees will be sent to NAULGC by August 1 and ballots will go out
mid-September.
Action Requested: Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 11.0: National Plant Germplasm Coordinating Committee Report
Presenter: Lee Sommers
Background Information:
The NPGCC was organized following the completion of the ESCOP Plant Germplasm Task Force and in response to one of the task force's recommendations - To provide a mechanism for enhancing SAES/ESCOP, USDA/ARS, and USDA/CSRES cooperation and communication in supporting the National Plant Germplasm System's efforts to conserve and provide plant genetic resources and associated information needed for current and future crop research and development that underpins the U.S. agricultural system. The NPGCC has defined the goals and objectives as the following: 1) To facilitate better coordination between ARS, CSREES and SAES on planning and assessment mechanisms for policy, organization, operations and support of the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), 2) To promote awareness and understanding of the NPGS across ARS, CSREES, and SAES and more broadly to the scientific community, and 3) To serve as a vehicle for improving communications and discussions about issues impacting the NPGS with ARS, SAES, and CSREES.
Following a series of conference calls, the NPGCC met face-to-face on June 2 in Ames, Iowa in conjunction with the Plant Genetic Resources Conference. The NPGCC chose to focus the June 2 meeting on the following tasks, 1) the development of the agenda for the upcoming Experiment Station Section (ESS) meetings, September 24-27 in Lake Tahoe, NV, 2) recommendations for the enhancement and improvement, and in particular, the development of new funding models for the 4 regional trust accounts and NRSP 6, and 3) how to broaden participation in the NPGCC with industry.
Drs. Peter Bretting (ARS) and Ann Marie Thro (CSREES) presented overviews of their respective agency commitments and programs in Pant Genetic Resources. Dr. Randy Woodson, chair of the Peer Assessment of 5-Year Performance of ARS National Program 301: Plant, Microbial and Insect Genetic Resources, Genomics and Genetic Improvement presented an overview and findings from the review. (For those with interest, PowerPoint presentations of each of the above presentations can be found on the NERA website @ http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/ ).
Recommendations and Actions Requested:
1. The NPGCC recommends that ESCOP support the recommendations in the Retrospective Review of ARS National Program 301 and send a letter of endorsement to the Administrator of ARS. Issues that we would encourage specific endorsement of and that impact the Experiment Station system and our faculty, include the following:
a. The NPGCC supports the recommendation that ARS develop a strategic plan for the Nation's germplasm collections that address customer needs. The NPGCC recommends that the development of any strategic plan for the Nation's plant germplasm collections be done in collaboration with the SAES's. Improved communication between ARS, CSREES and the SAES's is critical to the development of any strategic plan that will address these collections, their development, utilization and conservation in the future.
b. The NPGCC supports the recommendation that came forth in the Retrospective Review of ARS Program Area 301 that ARS assume a greater leadership strategy to safeguard the plant, microbe and insect collections.
c. The NPGCC endorses the recommendation from the retrospective report that ARS with its partners, CSREES and the SAES's develop and implement a strategy for conserving critical germplasm and genomic collections. Decisions made regarding specific germplasm and genomic collections should be made in collaboration with the SAES's. This may require the establishment of a new joint committee or task force that focuses its full effort on this matter.
d. The NPGCC supports the recommendation that ARS with its partners works toward a replacement for the GRIN system to ensure compatibility with other emerging genetic databases, and takes into account the needs for the users of the Plant Germplasm system. We recommend that ARS establish a timetable and a task force to begin to evaluate the process of replacing the GRIN system with a more contemporary model.
2. The NPGCC recommends that a joint effort with CSREES and the SAES's be engaged to develop a public communications and marketing strategy to better address and publicize the inherent value to the nation and to the public the value of these collections to our national security.
3. The NPGS is critically important to both the US and World Agriculture. The SAES contribution to the system is critical, but minimal in the overall scheme, yet public sector scientists, primarily within the Land Grant University's, are the largest single user of the materials in the collections (28% of the annual requests for germplasm come from the public sector). While we find that the present system of funding for the 4 regional Germplasm centers via the regional trust accounts, and the use of NRSP off-the-top funding for NRSP-6 unusual, we believe that it is appropriate. In fact we suggest that the directors reconsider their present stance on reducing the funding for NRSP-6. After searching for an alternative to the present funding mechanism, the NPGCC would suggest that we retain the present system that recognizes the commitment of each region to one of the national plant germplasm centers, and the system as a whole to the NRSP-6. If an alternative is to be considered, the NPGCC would offer the following:
a. Development of a formulaic mechanism for funding the 4 regional centers and NRSP with a single annual off-the-top commitment. We would propose a system, yet to be determined, that would have two components, similar in fashion to the assessment that is used to support the Executive Directors offices in each of the regional research associations. That is, an equal dollar commitment from each station coupled with a percentage commitment based on the Hatch distribution. Details will need to be determined and a plan full developed. If the directors wish to consider such a proposal they should make their wishes known. This would also require that the 4 regional Germplasm centers plus NRSP-6 develop a unified 5-year budget for submission and consideration.
4. The NPGCC recommends that the NRI enhance and/or increase opportunities to accelerate research on the utilization of materials in the NPGS collections. This should translate to increased funding for genetic characterization and applied genomics for crop improvement.
Action Requested: Information only
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 12.0: NIMSS Oversight Committee Report
Presenter: Eric Young
Background Information:
All references to the RPA (Research Problem Area) in NIMSS have been changed to KA (Knowledge Area). There are five new KA categories that were not included in the old RPAs.
The following new KA codes have been added into the NIMSS database:
o 136 Conservation of Biological Diversity;
o 141 Air Resource Protection and Management;
o 704 Nutrition and Hunger in the Population;
o 724 Healthy Lifestyle; and
o 806 Youth Development
• The character limit for the Outreach Plan in the project outline forms, Appendices A and B was increased from 2,000 to 20,000 characters.
• Added a mandatory box in the meeting authorization form for the start and end time of the meeting.
• Change "Linkages" to "Participating States/Institutions", and categorize between "Land Grant" and "Non Land Grant".
• Nikki Nelson developed a CD training video. CDs were distributed at the CSREES Business Officers Meeting in South Dakota in early May and have been widely distributed to all NIMSS users in experiment station offices all over the country. It is also linked in NIMSS so it is always available online.
• Duplicate E-mails have been minimized as we are now using only the USDA list serves.
• Project and annual report status on the main page were added so the users can see right away what is pending.
• The regional associations approved the proposed modifications to the Linkages and the Accomplishments and Impacts sections in the SAES-422. Updating of the MRF Guidelines and the NIMSS manual is in progress. Likewise, the corresponding screens in NIMSS will reflect these updates.
• The menu has undergoing major revision to improve navigation. Sub-menus now appear vertically instead of the current horizontal format. Prompt boxes giving brief explanations or tips on how to use the page have been added.
• Completed the addition of a Site Map, that would facilitate searching functions and finding the right forms to use in NIMSS
• Changed some of the colors to help with navigation
• The last NIMSS Oversight Committee teleconference
was on August 22, 2006. Since then the regional system administrators have met
five times, in February, April, May, June and August.
• Bart Hewitt of CSREES would prefer the annual reports to cover the
Federal fiscal year. Starting October 1, 2006 the annual reports will be Oct. 1
to September 30.
The NRSP-1 technical committee met on June 2 in Washington, DC. The four regional Administrative Advisors, Dennis Unglesbee and Michel Desbois from CSREES, Dr. Tom Fretz and Rubie Mize, attended. The minutes are posted in NIMSS as part of the NRSP-1 annual report. The highlights are---
• CSREES will develop materials for the partners on the value of the CRIS system as a resource for preparing and writing impact statements.
• CSREES will conduct in-house training for their staff to increase their understanding and optimize use of CRIS.
• CRIS' workload is expected to increase as they incorporate Extension into the CRIS system. The committee expressed that added expense in developing and maintaining the system should be covered by Extension.
• There is no LGU representation in the One Solution
Executive Committee or Coordinating Committee. The lead advisor of NRSP-1, Mike
Vayda, was recommended to represent the system. To date, we have not heard from
One Solution if they will increase their membership to add representatives from
the system.
• There is on-going discussion about the possible integration of the CRIS
AD 416/417 and NIMSS. Discussions have stalled over the summer but we expect
testing to happen soon.
• The committee supported the request for an increase of NIMSS funding
under NRSP-1 for FY07-08
The NIMSS Oversight Committee met by teleconference on August 22. The Committee discussed the proposal to increase the annual support to NIMSS through NRSP-1, from $32,500 to $50,000. This increase will allow the budget to cover the full cost of maintaining and improving the NIMSS system, including a dedicated part-time programmer. The committee unanimously approved the proposal, which will be submitted with next year's NRSP-1 off-the-top budget request for FY2007 -2008. See attached proposal.
Action Requested: Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 13.0: Proposed Changes to the MRF Guidelines
Presenter: Daryl Lund
Background Information:
Click here for the revised wording the regional associations have agreed to for the following items:
• SAES-422 Annual Reports
• "Preparing an Effective SAES-422 Report" document
• Appendix I (Midterm review of MRF projects)
• Appendix K (Midterm review of CC/ERA projects)
• Outreach/Education Plan MRF and CC/ERA Proposals
• NIMSS User Manual
The revised wording creates uniform wording across all of the above documents
regarding accomplishments and impacts and creates more specific linkages
requirements.
Action Requested: Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 14.0: NRSP Off-the-Top Funding Requests Vote Results
Presenter: Lee Sommers
Background Information:
Funding amounts approved - ballot results in parenthesis
NRSP1, $315,524 (47 for, 1 against)
NRSP3, $72,000 (45 for, 3 against)
NRSP4, $481,182 (47 for, 1 against)
NRSP5, $96,000 (22 for, 26 against)
NRSP6, $110,000 (38 for, 10 against)
NRSP8, $400,000 (46 for, 2 against)
Action Requested: Information only.
Action Taken: All NRSP Off-the-Top funding requests approved as recommended by National NRSP Review Committee
Agenda Item 15.0 Advocacy Update
Presenter: Tim Sanders
Background:
Sanders made a presentation on the activities of Cornerstone Governmental Affairs on behalf of the system. Click here for PowerPoint file.
Action Requested: Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 16.1 Budget and Legislative Committee
Presenter: LeRoy Daugherty and Daryl Lund
Background Information:
FY 07 Budget
The House has completed action on the Ag Appropriations Bill. Of the 20 lines in the BAC priorities list that fund our programs of interest in CSREES, 18 saw increases. Significant dollar increases occurred for Hatch $6.3M; Smith-Lever $8.4M; and NRI $8M. Total increases in CSREES for the BAC priorities are about $28.4M. Insular Affairs and Hispanic serving institutions saw some much needed increases.
The Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for FY 2007 was reported out of full committee on June 22, 2006. The bill will be heard on the Senate floor at the end of June. The subcommittee allocation is approximately $388 million above House allocation. The budget action is posted on the following website: http://www.nasulgc-bac.com/
FY2007 will more than likely not be finalized until post election. With the Senate adding $4 billion for Ag related disaster funding last week it complicates things greatly and increases the chance that Agricultural Appropriations will be enacted post election, both for budgetary as well as political concerns.
***This is a follow up to information provided below on Senate Committee
action on the FY 2007 appropriation for CSREES.
Included on pages 18 and 19 of Senate Report 109-266, in the section for the
Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, is the
following language:
"Special Research, Education, and Extension Activities. --The Committee is
aware of the need for special research, education, and extension activities
which are made available on a discretionary basis under 7 U.S.C 450i(c) and
similar authorities. These grants are necessary in order to conduct research to
facilitate or expand promising breakthroughs in areas of food and agricultural
sciences and to ensure that these activities are further assimilated into the
food, agriculture, and rural sectors through higher education and extension
programs. The Committee also believes that research, education, and extension
activity funds made available on a discretionary basis should be sustained by
additional funding from competitively-based or private ongoing sources.
The Committee expects that specially awarded grants should be used to meet
specific research, education, and extension objectives rather that primarily to
supplement other funding sources on an indefinite basis, The Committee expects
that prior to the receipt of an award under 7 U.S.C. 450i(c), or grants made
under the Research and Education or Extension Service Federal Administration
headings of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,
the grantee must provide a report to the Committee that describes the specific
objectives for which these funds will be used, methodologies to measure
performance and determine when the objectives will be met, and the expected
date of completion for the stated objective. If the report fails to identify a
specific date for project completion, the Committee shall assume the objectives
will be complete by the end of fiscal year 2007.
The Committee has, in the past, continued funding special research grants
[SRGs], in excess of the 3-year time period contemplated in the authorizing
statute (7 U.S.C 450i(c)). The Committee is concerned that this has lead to
stagnation in research. Additionally, the Committee believes that without
regular turnover of discretionary research, the ability to facilitate or expand
promising breakthroughs in areas of the food and agricultural sciences of
importance to the United States is compromised. Therefore, the Committee
beginning in fiscal year 2008, will no longer fund SRGs for more than 3 years."
FY 08 Budget
The ESS priorities for FY 08 budget has been forwarded to the BAC and are posted on the ESCOP web site. The BAC has asked each section to submit its top priority for FY08. Based on discussions within the Bud/Leg Committee and in response to the budget priorities survey to SAES directors last Decembers, the top priority for ESS is formula-distributed research funding. The top two priorities programmatically would be environment and food and health.
FY 09 Budget
ESS will have a breakout session at the SAES/ARD workshop to review, modify and establish FY 09 budget priorities.
Action Requested: For information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 16.2 Communication and Marketing Committee
Presenter: Jerry Arkin
Background Information:
The ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee has continued to meet throughout the year, most recently in a face-to-face meeting May 23, in Washington DC. The committee is buoyed by its successes, e.g., the Formula for Success bulletin that has been used so successfully by CARET and was highlighted at the Ag Science on the Hill Exhibit in 2005 and 2006, by continued efforts to focus attention on the improvement and efficient use of the impact statements as marketing tools, and in its efforts to assist with the identification of hot topics for development into impact statements. The ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee has also sought to convey its thoughts and recommendations both to the AHS and to NASULGC regarding the Ag. Science on the Hill Exhibit in an effort to see the event have a greater impact.
Several suggestions regarding the Ag. Science on the Hill Exhibit were conveyed by memo from Dr. Arkin to ESCOP Chairman Parks, June 13, 2006. In addition, two white papers have been developed and are attached to the recommendations below.
Actions Taken:
1. The ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee has communicated it concerns regarding the Ag. Science on the Hill Exhibitto BAA Chair Kirklyn Kerr in a letter from ESCOP Chair Alfred Parks dated August 15, 2006. Subsequently, Nancy Cox, Eric Young and T. Fretz have visited with 2007 chair of the Ag. Science on the Hill Exhibits, Dr. John Kelly (Clemson) to reiterate our concerns.
2. The ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee has recommended the development of a Strategic Communication and Marketing Plan. We solicit an endorsement from ESCOP along with a request for $10K to assist with the initial planning activities and the development of a full proposal. The ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee believes that this is an activity that will require professional assistance and has developed the concept and justification in the attached proposal. (See below the attached proposal for the Development of a Strategic Communication and Marketing Plan for ESCOP). We also refer ESCOP to the paper by the late David R. McKenzie 'Marketing the SAES: A Background Paper on Marketing Strategies for the State Agricultural Experiment Stations'.
(See http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/escop/committee/SAESMarketing.pdf)
3. The ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee recommends that ESCOP endorse and support the concept of a Marketing Advisory Board to be established in the CSREES Communications unit, and that it be composed of members from within CSREES, the LGU community and the private sector.
4. The ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee endorses the concept of holding a Second Partnership Workshop (Baltimore II) within the next 12-15 months and on behalf of Dr. Parks has conveyed this recommendation to the co-chairs of the Partnership Working Group on August 15, 2006. The ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee has agreed to work with the Partnership Working Group on both the concept and agenda for any future Partnership meeting
5. The ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee suggests that efforts be made to restructure the way impact statements are collected and distributed. It is time to look seriously at pod-casting, web-streaming and a virtual magazine (Web-zine) for conveying system-wide impacts to reach larger audiences and audiences outside the norm.
6. The ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee also recommends that ESCOP endorse the concept for the Development of an Experts Lists or an Experts Compendium (see attached White Paper below) and encourage several states to prototype this idea, before expanding this into a national effort.
Proposal
for the Development of a Strategic Communication and Marketing Plan for ESCOP
Experts
Lists or an Experts Compendium White Paper
Action Requested: The ESCOP Communication and Marketing Committee requests a commitment of $10,000 to begin the exploration of the development of a Strategic Communication and Marketing plan for ESCOP. We propose to enlist the help of private sector communication and marketing professionals to assist in the development of a full plan for your consideration. The requested resources will be used to facilitate travel, meetings, and other costs associated with engaging a marketing firm or professional to develop an outline for a Strategic Communication and Marketing plan along with a full cost estimate.
Action Taken: Approved commitment of $10,000 to begin the exploration of the development of a Strategic Communication and Marketing plan for ESCOP
Agenda Item 16.3 Science and Technology Committee
Presenter: Steve Puppeke
Background Information:
Science Roadmap for Agriculture Update
The Science & Technology Committee has developed a brochure that updates the Science Roadmap for Agriculture based on the survey of priorities that was completed in early 2005. The detailed survey report can be seen at http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/escop/Roadmap%20Survey%20Report.pdf.
The URL for the Science Roadmap for Agriculture Update brochure has been distributed to Administrative Heads and directors of research, extension, academic programs, and international programs so that it can be printed on site to meet future needs. It is also available through a link on the ESCOP Infobook ( http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/escop/infobook.htm ). A limited number of hardcopies have been given to each research Executive Director for distribution to their region's directors.
Process for Determining ESS Priorities for the NRI
In response to ESCOP's charge, the Science & Technology Committee has developed a process to provide annual (or biannual) input on NRI priorities from the experiment station directors. The process involves two steps, an initial on-line survey available to experiment station, extension, and academic program directors, followed by a session at the fall SAES/ARD Workshop. Also, the S&T committee decided that the updated challenges and objectives of the Science Roadmap for Agriculture should serve as the framework for our recommendations.
Initial input was gained from the on-line survey by asking the following three questions relative to each Roadmap objective.
1. Should this objective be a high priority for NRI support in 2008 funding
awards?
2. If NRI supports this objective in 2008, is it very important that proposals
to address this objective be integrated as opposed to primarily research?
3. If NRI supports this objective in 2008, what are the most critical
knowledge/technology gaps related to addressing this objective?
The breakout groups at the SAES/ARD Workshop will use this input to further refine ESCOP's recommendation to CSREES relative to these three questions. In addition, the breakout groups will be asked to express an opinion on two general questions related to NRI programs.
1. Assuming no additional funding, should the number of NRI programs be
decreased, increased, or remain the same?
2. Assuming no additional funding, should the scope of each NRI program be
broadened, narrowed, or remain the same?
The S&T committee will compile and summarize the output generated by the Workshop breakout groups and present the draft recommendations to the ESCOP Executive Committee at its meeting during the NASULGC conference in November. After revisions and approval, the final ESCOP recommendations on NRI priorities will be transmitted to CSREES in early January to feed into the NRI's RFA development, which begins in February.
S&T Subcommittees' Reports
The Science & Technology Committee has two long-standing, very active subcommittees, Social Sciences and Pest Management Strategies. In order to increase awareness of the very important activities and functions of these subcommittees, the chairs, Cornelia Flora (SS) and Frank Zolam (PMS), have each provided written reports (see Social Sciences and Pest Management Strategies).
Action Requested: Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 17.0 Formula Funds Task Force Report
Presenter: Tom Fretz
Background Information:
The ECOP/ESCOP Ad Hoc Task Force was created by joint actions of ECOP and ESCOP in the fall of 2004 to address the need for and the relevance of federal formula funds (to include: Hatch, Smith-Lever, Evans-Allen and McIntire-Stennis) as a component piece of the LGU portfolio. The charge to the task force included the following:
• Formulate potential strategies for supporting the case for maintenance and/or increases to the Federal Formula Fund portfolio and development of white papers, etc, for possible use by the system to support continuation of Federal Formula funds. In addition, the task force sought to evaluate the information gained by a recent ECOP survey and the ESCOP the Counterfactual Studies and to incorporate these findings into white papers that would be of value to the system as we make our case to policy and decision-makers on the relative impacts of Federal Formula Funds in meeting the nations needs to support a healthy and viable food and agricultural system, and to
• Advise ECOP and ESCOP on matters/issues related to Federal Formula Funds, including the development of white papers in support of continuation of Federal Formula or base funds to support LGU programs.
The ECOP/ESCOP Formula Funds Task Force has met monthly since late 1994 through
a series of regularly scheduled conference calls and face-to-face meetings in
Washington DC.
The outcomes of the task force can be found on at the following urls:
Over the course of the past two years, 5 white papers have been prepared and are posted at the url below: http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/FormulaFundsTaskForce/
• Overview: the USDA and Land -Grant University System Partnership to Support Cooperative Extension and Life-long Learning
• Estimated Leverage of Federal Formula Funds
• Talking Points in Support of Formula Funds
• The Case for Formula Funds in the USDA and the Land
Grant University Partnership
• Overview: The USDA and Land-Grant University System Partnership to
Support Agricultural Research
In addition, a series of studies were commissioned by ESCOP
- The Counterfactual Studies - that relate to the impacts of formula or base
funds on the state agricultural experiment station system. Papers completed
from the Counterfactual Studies can be found in pdf format at the url below:
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/counterfactual/
• Determinants of the Demand for State Agricultural Experiment Station Resources: A Demand System Approach
• New Econometrics Evidence on Agricultural Total Factor Productivity Determinants: Impact of Funding Composition
• Agricultural Productivity, Demand for Experiment Station Resources and Impacts of Research on Productivity
• The Impact of U.S. Formula Funding on Agricultural Productivity: A Counterfactual Study
• Implications and Use of the Counterfactual Study: Result and Conclusions
• Views on Federal Formula Funds Smith-Lever 3(b)&(c) and 3(d) lines
• Economic Impacts of Agricultural Research and Extension
A number of other papers that provide further support for the concept of the
Federal Formula funds and/or the Land Grant Experience can be found at the urls
below:
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/FormulaFunds/
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/LandGrant/LandGrantExperience.html
• A Nation at Risk!
• The Hatch Act
• A Drift Toward Elitism by the 'Peoples' Universities
• The Land Grant Tradition
• Honoring the Land Grant Covenant
• The Land Mission: Is it Obsolete?
• State Funding Issues: An Overview
• Adapting Justin Morrill's Vision to a New Century: The Imperative of Change for Land Grant Universities
• The Public University, Intellectual Property and Agricultural Research and Development
• Where are Land Grant Universities Headed?
Additionally, these papers can be found through a link on the ESCOP website
at:
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/escop/committee/subcom00.htm#taskforce
In addition, the ECOP/ESCOP Ad Hoc Task Force with the assistance of the department of Agricultural Communications at Iowa State University prepared an exhibit for the 2006 Agricultural Science on the Hill Exhibit "Funding the Partnership - Fueling our Success"which examined the leverage and value-adding aspects of research and extension activities funded with Federal Formula funds
Actions Requested: The Task Force has completed the work that it was commissioned to do, and we respectively recommend that the Ad Hoc Task Force be disengaged. The Task Force encourages ECOP and ESCOP to submit the Task Force findings to the BAC with a strong statement of support for formula funding. If there are new or continuing needs for discussion regarding the future of formula or base funds as the system looks to CREATE 21 or other models for reorganization, a new ad hoc task force should be established with clear goals, anticipated outcomes and a timeline for completing its work.
Action Taken: Formula Funds Task Force disengaged
Agenda Item 18.0 Specialty Crop Regulatory Initiative
Presenter: Ann Marie Thro
Background Information:
Click here for the Specialty Crop Regulatory Initiative PowerPoint Presentation
Action Requested: Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 19.0 Partnership Working Group Report
Presenter: Bruce McPheron
Background Information:
The following is a summary of recommendations and action items from the July 24 Partnership Working Group meeting.
PWG will discuss facilitating an effort to integrate the following national long-range programmatic plans: updated Science Roadmap for Agriculture prepared by ESCOP; an Extension document similar to the Science Roadmap that ECOP is currently planning to initiate; recommendations from the NAS Leadership Summit to Effect Change in Teaching and Learning; and the USDA/CSREES Strategic Plan.
CSREES and university partners continue discussions relative to federal budget priorities, strategies, and other issues important to the system.
Relate state priorities (an extensive and diverse set of activities) to national goals/priorities and communicate the aggregated issues within the system.
CSREES will help assure that NPL State Liaisons are able to articulate the expected long-term outcomes of the State Liaisons Program and will periodically assess Program progress toward these goals.
CSREES will provide feedback on how information (e.g., accomplishments/outcomes) reported to CSREES is effectively used to inform stakeholders.
CSREES will increase awareness of the results of the Customer Service Satisfaction Survey throughout the LGU system.
CSREES will provide a list of National Program Leaders (NPLs) and major roles and responsibilities for use by the LGU system.
A brief update on contributions to the partnership will be given by each sector represented on the PWG (i.e., COPs, AHS and CSREES) during each meeting to increase awareness of national-level activities.
In addition, the PWG discussed the agenda for the December, 2006, New Deans and Directors Orientation.
The next Partnership Working Group meeting will be on November 14 in Houston following the NASULGC Annual Conference.
Action Requested: Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 20.0 Extension Liaison Report
Presenter: James Wade
Background Information:
Report to the Experiment
Station Section
from the
Cooperative Extension Section
September 2006
The Cooperative Extension family was greatly saddened with the loss of Dr. Larry Turner, Director of Extension at the University of Kentucky in the airplane crash on August 27, 2006. Larry was an active member of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and was designated as its chair beginning in the fall of 2007. Larry's commitment and personal style will be greatly missed by all of his friends in Cooperative Extension.
NASULGC Focus Areas
M. Peter McPherson, President, has identified four focus areas for NASULGC. They are accountability, internationalization, competitiveness and the Farm Bill (CREATE-21) reauthorization. Additional areas include engagement and P-20 (preschool through graduate education). At the June NASULGC Board of Directors meeting, response was positive to this aggressive agenda and for the staff providing support to it.
The following report is organized around the 2006 ECOP Goals.
Goal One: Improved, increased, more effective communications and marketing about CES capacity and impact inclusive of the capabilities of entire national System-1862, 1890, 1994 institutions and the territories.
• ECOP Chair Larry Cote, West Virginia University has appointed a Marketing and Communications Task Force. Co-chairs are Doug Steele, Montana State University, and Ann Berry, West Virginia University. Individuals from inside and outside the Cooperative Extension System have been asked to assist in this important initiative
• The Joint Impact Writing Group met in March and has
posted their activities on this web site: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/impacts/impacts.html
• ECOP Chair elect, Glen Whipple, University of Wyoming, chaired the ECOP
Leadership Advisory Council (LAC) meeting in May. The report was presented to
ECOP at their July meeting. The five top areas LAC recommended are as follows:
ECOP will initiate a discussion to identify our core business.
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New Communities of Practice |
Pioneering Communities of Practice |
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Beef Cattle Clearing House |
Building Local Economies of the Future |
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Family Caregiving; Caring for the Aged and/or Disabled Adults |
Consumer Horticulture |
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Youth Literacy in Science, Engineering and Technology |
Extension Disaster Education Network |
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Pork Information Group |
HorseQuest |
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eOrganic |
Financial Security for All |
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US DAIReXNET |
Imported Fire Ant Management |
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Corn and Soybean Production |
Just In Time Parenting |
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Urban IPM |
Wildlife Damage Management |
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Map@Syst: Geospatial Solutions for Rural and Community Sustainability |
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Diversity Across Higher Education |
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Goal Two: Improved funding, enabling legislation and effective advocacy to support the CES program portfolio.
Goal Three: Strive to ensure effective program, staff, and faculty development; short and long term performance goal setting; evaluation/feedback systems; and rewards and sanctions are in place to enable continuous improvement, innovation, and demonstrated program impact.
Goal Four: Strengthen, increase, and explore novel new partnerships that further the impact, quality, and resource base for CES and related outreach programs.
Elbert Dickey, James Wade, Linda Kay Benning and Sandra Garner
Cooperative Extension Section
2006 Dates
October 3-5 National Academy of Sciences/NASULGC - Academic Summit, Washington,
DC
October 17-18 ECOP, Morgantown, WV
November 12-14 NASULGC Annual Meeting, Houston, TX
December 12-14 New Dean/Director/Administrator/NPL Orientation, Washington, DC
2007 Dates
January 30-February 2 Southern Regional Leadership Workshop (JCEP), Nashville,
TN
February 6-8 Western Regional Leadership Workshop (JCEP), Phoenix, AZ
February 6-8 National Extension Directors/Administrators Meeting, College Park,
MD
February 8-9 ECOP Meeting, College Park, MD
February 21-23 Northeast Regional Leadership Workshop (JCEP), Valley Forge, PA
February 26-28 CARET, Washington, DC
February 28 Science and Education Exhibit on the Hill, Washington, DC
February 27-March 1 North Central Leadership Workshop (JCEP), St. Louis, MO
April 23-25 PILD, Crystal City Marriott, Arlington, VA
May 6-10 North Central Urban Conference, Kansas City, KC
May 21-23 ECOP Leadership Advisory Council, TBD
July 23-25 Joint COPs, Philadelphia, PA
October 15-17 ECOP Meeting, Jackson Hole, WY
November 11-13 NASULGC Annual Meeting, Hilton of New York, New York, NY
Action Requested: Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 21.0 Nominations Committee Report
Presenter: Lee Sommers
Background Information:
Sommers reported that the Nominations Committee had not met, but had recommended Pardini as incoming ESCOP Chair and Bruce McPheron as ESCOP Chair-Elect.
Action Requested: Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken
Agenda Item 22.0 Resolutions Committee Report
Presenter: Don Snyder
Background Information:
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Resolution of Appreciation to Agricultural Experiment Station Administrators who left their positions and responsibilities in the 2005-2006 year. WHEREAS, the following have served as Administrators of their respective State Agricultural Experiment Station, and WHEREAS, they have actively participated and served in various capacities at the state, regional and national level on behalf of the Agricultural Experiment Station System, Now, therefore be it RESOLVED that the State Experiment Station Directors at their annual meeting on September 25, 2006 recognize the contributions and service toward strengthening the State Agricultural Experiment Station System, and with them success and happiness in all their future endeavors. |
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ARD: NCRA: |
NERA: SAAESD: WAAESD: |
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RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION WHEREAS, Dr. Al Parks, Chairman of the Experiment Station Section [ESS] of the Board of Agricultural Assembly has provided selfless and committed leadership and keen oversight to enhance the system, and WHEREAS, under Dr. Parks' leadership and support, the activities of the Experiment Station Section of the Board of Agricultural Assembly have been greatly enhanced and achieved significant accomplishments, and WHEREAS, Dr. Parks has provided outstanding leadership in the area of planning and building relationships with other research, extension and academic units, and WHEREAS, Dr. Parks has been efficient and timely in the conduct of ESS business, LET IT BE KNOWN, that the Experiment Station Section of the Board on Agricultural Assembly recognizes Dr. Parks' invaluable contribution and service to the national agricultural research system, and THEREFORE, on this day of September 25, 2006, the Experiment Station Section resolve to extend their sincere gratitude for his commitment, service, and leadership for help in making the system more effective in addressing current and future needs, challenges and opportunities in agricultural research, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that an original of this resolution be provided to Dr. Al Parks and that a copy be filed as part of the official minutes of this meeting. RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION WHEREAS, the Experiment Station Section of the Board on Agriculture Assembly met at Harrahs, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, September 24-27, 2006, and WHEREAS, those attending were educated and stimulated by the meetings and dinner cruise, and WHEREAS the location for the meeting was outstanding and the accommodations were both compatible and conducive to effective interaction resulting in a successful meeting; THEREFORE be it resolved that the Experiment Station Section of the Board on Agricultural Assembly expresses its appreciation to Dr. David Thawley, Dr. Ron Pardini, and Ms. Shannon Clopton for arranging the facilities and coordinating the meetings and dinner cruise, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that an original of this resolution be provided to Dr. David Thawley, Dr. Ron Pardini and Ms. Shannon Clopton, and that a copy be filed as part of the official minutes of this meeting. |
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Action Requested: Approval of Resolutions
Action Taken: Approved three resolutions
Agenda Item 23.0 Final Remarks, Announcements, Changing of the Guard
Presenter: Al Parks
Background Information:
Parks commented on how much he had enjoyed and learned during his tenure as ESCOP Chair. He turned the responsibility of ESCOP Chair over to Ron Pardini.
Pardini adjourned the meeting.
Action Requested: Information only.
Action Taken: No action taken