Interim Action: RRC met by conference call on February 25 to review the nomination and decided that the 2000 NE Multistate Research Award for Excellence be given to NE-183, "Multidisciplinary Evaluation of Apple Cultivars." Prog. Win Cowgill, member of the NE-183 Technical Committee will make a brief presentation about the project on Wednesday, March 7, 2000.
1.NE-138, "Epidemiology and Control of Emerging Strains of Poultry Respiratory Disease Agents," Request to write project outline. Submitted by D. MacKenzie (ED). Recommend approval to rewrite with the stipulation that the committee should seriously investigate merging with NC-228 before embarking on the rewrite.
2.NE-176, "Characterization and Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Ozone in the Northeastern U.S.," Request to write project outline. Submitted by P. Logan (RI). Recommend approval with the advise to focus their objectives to better reflect the multistate, integrated nature of the project. If the committee wishes to continue operating with many objectives proposed, then they should consider creation of a regional coordinating committee. With either alternative, involvement of extension is strongly encouraged.
3.NE-184, "Development of New Potato Clones for Environmental and Economical Sustainability in the Northeast," Request to write project outline. Submitted by D. MacKenzie (ED). Recommend approval and encourage them to consider the outcomes they want and adjust the duration of the project as they see fit. Profitability, sustainability, niche markets, and organic production should be included as key areas for research.
4.NEA-1, "Northeast Animal Science Administrators Committee" Request to apply for renewal for the period October 1, 2000 - September 30, 2005. Submitted by K. Kerr (CT). Recommend extension for one year to Sept. 2001, with the expectation that a multi-year revision, for the appropriate amount of time, will be prepared (by submitting Appendix B) as soon as the multistate guidelines are in place. RRC recommends that other disciplines should be encouraged to form committees like this. RRC will continue to deliberate on the proper format to organize such groups.
5.NEC-67, "Soil Testing," Request for extension for the period October 1, 2000 - September 30, 2005. Submitted by J. Nye (DE). Recommend extension for one year to Sept. 2001, with the expectation that a multi-year revision, for the appropriate amount of time, will be prepared (by submitting Appendix B) as soon as the multistate guidelines are in place.
6.Request for off-the-top funding for FY 2001:
NE-009, "Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Utilization." RRC recommends approval of request for off-the-top funding for 2001 in the same level as FY2000.
NE-059, "Regional Research Coordination," Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development. Recommend off-the-top funding for FY2001 in the same level as FY2000 with no increase. NERCRD is also being encouraged to look for other funding alternatives (i.e. 401 or formation of NEC). If formed as an NEC (by submitting Appendix B), participating stations will receive credit for involvement in an integrated activity.
NE-184, Development of New Potato Clones for Environmental and Economical Sustainability in the Northeast," might request to fund their project publication from off-the-top. The request will come from the sponsoring SAES (maine). The AA will follow-up and S. Reiling (ME) will also check with his PI.
RRC deferred decision on the following NRSP requests until the June
meeting:
NRSP-1, "Research Planning Using the Current Research Information System
(CRIS)."
NRSP-3,"National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP)."
NRSP-5, "Develop and Distribute Deciduous Fruit Tree Clones Free of
Viruses and Virus-like Agents."
NRSP-6, "Inter-Regional Potato Introduction Project."
NRSP-8, "National Animal Genome Program."
7.Other Business:
Recommends the following directors for the Administrative Advisor assignment:
NE-138 Epidemiology and Control of Emerging Strains of Poultry Respiratory
Disease Agents (9/01) - defer, until final decision about merging with
NC-228 is known.
NE-148 Regulation of Nutrient Use in Food Producing Animals (9/00)
- defer, until decision about revision is known.
NE-161 Association of Fertility with Temporal Changes in Ovarian Function
of Domestic Ruminants (9/01) - Director has been identified, but RRC chair
must first confirm.
Implementation of the Recommendations of the External Review of the
Northeast Regional Research portfolio:
The projects identified by the Review Panel that has potential overlaps
are:
NE-060, NE-127 and NE-138
NE-103 and NE-179
NE-162 and NE-167
NE-165 and NE-185
The RRC did not see a lot of overlap on the projects identified, however
the perception of overlap should not be unexpected due to the self-identification
of research topics by researchersand NERA's encouragement to focus projects
narrowly. To avoid future overlaps RRC recommends re-engagement of
the National Program Leaders, implementation of the multistate research
guidelines, and establishment of NE priorities.
National Guidelines for the Multistate Research Regional Supplement
to the National Guidelines for Multistate Research:
Intensive discussion on the above topic will be done on Tuesday afternnon.
RRC Chair was requested to spearhead that discussion. The Committee
felt that it is imperative that a new set of guidelines be in place as
soon as possible.