Report and Recommendations

 NORTHEAST MULTISTATE ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE MEETING
USDA-CSREES, Waterfront Centre, Room 3455 A/B

March 3, 2004
9:00am to 12:00nn

Chair, Bob Seem

Members: Keith Cooper (NJ), Bill Vinson (WV)

  1. Request to approve the proposal, NE_temp621, “Multi-state Evaluation of Winegrape Cultivars and Clones” 10-2004 to 2017. Submitted by J. Hunter (NYG).
    http://www.lgu.umd.edu/showInfo.cfm?trackID=4034
    Action:This was reviewed at the Sept. meeting and changes were made but not adequately reflected in the project statement. Conditional approval is recommended upon satisfactory documentation of the revisions. Chair Seem was to elaborate on these points with the Technical Committee. Chair Seem will replace James Hunter as advisor to this project.

  2. Request to approve the proposal, NE_temp841, “Alternative management systems for plant-parasitic nematodes in horticultural and field crops". 10-2004 to 2009. Submitted by L. Magnarelli (CTNH).
    http://www.lgu.umd.edu/showInfo.cfm?trackID=5474
    Action: Recommends approval, but MAC advises the technical committee to start planning a migration towards broadening the scope of the project to include not just nematodes, but microbial and physical characteristics of soil as well in their effort to define "soil health". MAC also proposes changing review criteria of multistate proposals in the future to include how a project has leveraged other funds and the projects' impacts particularly those nearing the end of their second 5-year term.

  3. Request to approve the proposal, NE_temp901, “Biological and Physical Assessment for the Optimization of Poultry Production Systems (from NE-127)". 10-2004 to 2009. Submitted by W. Vinson (WV).
    http://www.lgu.umd.edu/showInfo.cfm?trackID=5634
    Action:Defer decision to the summer meeting after the technical committee had addressed the concerns of MAC. Chair Seem will elaborate on the details. Some of these concerns relate to the design of the project and need for better organization. Interdependence should also be demonstrated among the participants.

  4. Request to approve the proposal, NE_temp921, “Improving plant food (fruit, vegetable and whole grain) availability and intake in older adults (formerly NE172)". 10-2004 to 2009. Submitted by G. Wyche-Moore (DC).
    http://www.lgu.umd.edu/showInfo.cfm?trackID=5717
    Action:Defer decision to the summer meeting after the technical committee had addressed the concerns of MAC. Important components are missing from the proposal: critical review and a dicussion of related projects (CRIS search). MAC also noted that a statistician/epidemiologist could be an important participant to the project.

  5. Request to approve the proposal, NRSP_temp181 (NRSP1), "Research Planning Using the Current Research Information System (CRIS)". 10-2004 to 2009. Submitted by R. Seem (NYG).
    http://www.lgu.umd.edu/showInfo.cfm?trackID=5054
    Action:Recommends approval of this project when to vote is called. A review form was completed and will be forwarded to the NRSP Review Committee.

  6. Request to approve the proposal, NRSP_temp261 (NRSP4), "NRSP-4: High Value Specialty Crop Pest Management". 10-2004 to 2009. Submitted by G. Lemme (MI).
    http://www.lgu.umd.edu/showInfo.cfm?trackID=5734
    Action:Recommends approval of this project when to vote is called. A review form was completed and will be forwarded to the NRSP Review Committee.

  7. Request to approve the proposal, NRSP_temp243 (NRSP7), "A National Agricultural Program for Minor Use Animal Drugs". 10-2004 to 2009. Submitted by D. Robertson (KS).
    http://www.lgu.umd.edu/showInfo.cfm?trackID=5716
    Action:Recommends approval of this project when to vote is called. A review form was completed and will be forwarded to the NRSP Review Committee.

  8. Request to approve the proposal, NRSP_temp281, "National Center for Manure and Animal Waste Management". 10-2004 to 2009. Submitted by Frank Humenik (NC).
    http://www.lgu.umd.edu/showInfo.cfm?trackID=5894
    Action:Recommends approval with these stipulations: The title should be kept as it appears in the original version; other funding sources should be explored; and provide an explanation how this work impacts manure management. A review form was completed and will be forwarded to the NRSP Review Committee.

  9. Request to write a proposal entitled "Genetic Manipulation of Sweet Corn Quality and Stress Resistance (from NE124)". 10-2004 to 2019. Submitted by E. Depew/M. Pfeffer (NYC)
    Action:Denied request. MAC recommends that the committee explores converting this into a coordinating committee instead. The committee may resubmit the request if they can demonstrate interdependency that cannot be done as a coordinating committee.

  10. Request to write a proposal entitled "Hydropedology: Genesis, properties, and distribution of hydromorphic soils (from NEC1006)". 10-2004 to 2009. Submitted by S. Goodwin (MA)
    Action: Recommends approval. MAC advises that interdependence be demonstrated clearly in the proposal and explain how this project, if approved, could be used to leverage other funds. Specify these funding opportunities.

  11. Request to write a proposal entitled "Whole Farm Dairy and Beef Systems to Protect Environmental Quality (from NE132)". 10-2004 to 2009. Submitted by R. Unger/P. Wangsness (PA)
    Note: Request was approved by e-mail by the MAC Committee on January 22, 2004.
    Action:MAC advises that interdependence be demonstrated clearly in the proposal and explain how this project, if approved, could be used to leverage other funds. Specify these funding opportunities.

  12. Request for one-year extension of NE183, "Multi-disciplinary Evaluation of New Apple Cultivars". This project expires on 9-30-2004. Submitted by R. Seem (NYG).
    Action:Recommends approval.

  13. Request to retain old number NEC29 for the project "Northeastern Corn Improvement Conference", currently NEC1008. 10-2003 to 2008. Submitted by M. Pfeffer (NYC).
    Action:Recommends approval.

  14. Request for off-the-top funding for FY2005:
    Action:Recommends approval at FY2004 level funding for all of the above.
    See attached table.

  15. New advisor assignments:

  16. Other Business: The following will be discussed in detail at the NERA business meeting.