NORTHEAST MULTISTATE ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE
TELECONFERENCE

September 7, 2004
10:00 to 10:35am

Chair, Bob Seem

In attendance: Bob Seem- NYG (Chair), Bill Vinson (WV), Keith Cooper (NJ), Tom Fretz (NERA), Rubie Mize (Recorder)

The Multistate Activities Committee decided to meet via teleconference in lieu of a face-to-face meeting in Oklahoma due to its short agenda. There were no proposals submitted for consideration for the Sept. 27 meeting of the association. However, MAC recommends action on the following:

1. Mid-Term Evaluation of NE Project and Committee Activities
   http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/workshop/MidTermReviewMemo.pdf
   

   There was consensus among the members that a mid-term review of multistate projects is important. The guidelines currently indicate that this activity is "optional". The mid-term review will help the advisor, technical committee and MAC to decide whether the project is on track and if a continuation or revision is feasible. The NERA-OED will be responsible for notifying the advisors if their project is coming up for mid-term review. It will also ensure that reviews are submitted timely using the appropriate forms. A memo has been drafted and will be shared and discussed with the NERA directors at the Sept. 27 meeting.

   Action: MAC recommends that the mid-term review be implemented as a standard practice for all multistate projects.

2. Compliance with Nomenclature changes
   http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nera/workshop/NomenclatureMemo.pdf
   

   The new nomenclature will be implemented by October 1, 2004. MAC felt that it should not arbitrarily assign the new nomenclature. The technical committees should decide which of the new nomenclature will be appropriate based on their membership and activities.

   Action: MAC recommends that the technical committees, at their next annual meeting, should decide what nomenclature to use. The advisors will then return to MAC with their recommendations.

3. Request for extension (1 year) to September 30, 2005, for NE-132, “Environmental and Economic Impacts of Nutrient Management on Dairy Forage Systems”. Submitted by Paul Wangsness (PA)

   Action: Recommends approval of request to extend for one year to 2005 to complete its objectives. Voting will be conducted by e-mail because the current project will expire Sept. 30, 2004. Deadline for soliciting electronic vote from the NERA directors will be c.o.b. Sept. 10, 2004.

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