NORTHEAST MULTISTATE ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE MEETING

The Admiral Fell Inn - Board Room [5th Floor]
Historic Fell’s Point, 888 South Broadway, Baltimore MD 21231

March 26, 2007
1:00pm to 4:00pm

Chair, Bill Vinson (WV)

Members: Michael Vayda (VT), Tom Burr (NYG)

1. Request to approve the proposal, NE_temp1221: "Rural Change: Markets, Governance and Quality of Life [NE1011]" 10-2007 to 2012. Submitted by Daniel Rossi (NERA).

   Action: Recommends approval.

2. Request to approve the proposal, NE_temp1241: "Ovarian Influences on Embryonic Survival in Ruminants [NE1007]" 10-2007 to 2012. Submitted by William Vinson (WV).

   Action: Recommends approval.

3. Request to approve the proposal, NE_temp1261: "Characterization and Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Ozone in the U.S. [NE1013]" 10-2007 to 2012. Submitted by Michael Hoffmann (NYC).

   Action: Recommends approval.

4. Request to approve the proposal, NE_temp1281: "Mastitis Resistance to Enhance Dairy Food Safety [NE1009]" 10-2007 to 2012. Submitted by Kirklyn Kerr (CTS).

   Action: Recommends approval.

5. Request to approve a one-year extension of NE1012: "Sustaining Local Food Systems in a Globalizing Environment: Forces, Responses, Impacts" 10-2002 to 2008. Submitted by Margaret Brennan (NJ)

   Action: Recommends approval.

6. Request to approve a Request to Write a Proposal entitled, "Assuring Fruit and Vegetable Product Quality and Safety Through the Handling and Marketing Chain", to replace NE1008, 10-2007 to 2012. Submitted by Steve Goodwin (MA).

   Action: MAC recommends approval of the request to write a proposal, but the proposal should clearly demonstrate a significant degree of interdependency. The justification did not specify how the institutions will work together and why it is necessary that the project should remain a multistate research activity. If the objective is just to bring together experts from the country and share approaches, then MAC recommends submitting a proposal for a Coordinating Committee instead.

7. Request to approve a Request to Write a Proposal entitled, "Development of New Potato Clones for Improved Pest Resistance, Marketability, and Sustainability in the East", to replace NE1014, 10-2007 to 2022. Submitted by Kirby Stafford III (CTNH).

   Action: MAC recommends approval of the request to write a proposal, but the proposal should clearly demonstrate a significant degree of interdependency. Otherwise, if research will be done independently of each other and the objective is just to share results, a Coordinating Committee will be the appropriate format for the new proposal.
   Note that station directors were given authority to use Hatch Multistate Funds for Coordinating Committees provided they satisfy the criteria enumerated in Dr. Cunningham's memo dated September 26, 2005. Dr. Rossi will forward a copy of the memo by e-mail to all the NERA directors.

8. Review of Mid-Term Reports and Recommendations:
   • NE1015, "Biological Improvement, Habitat Restoration, and Horticultural Development of Chestnut by Management of Populations, Pathogens, and Pests". 10/2003 to 9/2008. Submitted by Michel Vayda (VT)
   • NE1019, "Alternative management systems for plant-parasitic nematodes in horticultural and field crops". 10/2004 to 9/2009. Submitted by Louis Magnarelli (CTNH)

   Action: MAC noted and approved the reports submitted.

9. Request for off-the-top funding for FY2007
   NRSP requests are posted at --- http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/March2007Meeting/OfftheTopFundingRequestsFY08.pdf
   • NE-9 [Increase in funding requested, please see justification.]
     http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/March2007Meeting/NE9RequestFY08.pdf
     
   • NE-59
     
   • NRSP-1
     
   • NRSP-3
     
   • NRSP-4
     
   • NRSP-5
     
   • NRSP-6
     
   • NRSP-7 [Special case: NRSP7 will lose funding from special grants. Off-the-top funding is being proposed.]
     http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/March2007Meeting/NRSP7FundingRequest.pdf
     
   • NRSP-8

   Action: For the MAC recommendations, please see attached table.
   http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/NERA/March2007Meeting/FinalFY2008NERARecommendations.doc

10. Advisor Assignments:
    • Dr. Edward Ashworth (ME) for NE1017: Developing and Integrating Components for Commercial Greenhouse Production System (10/2003-2008)
    • Dr. Bradley Hillman (NJ) for NE1018: Postharvest Biology of Fruit (10/2003-2008)

    Action: Prospective advisors will be notified of their assignments to confirm their willingness and availability to serve. The Nominations Committee will then submit a motion at the NERA meeting to finalize the appointments.

11. Impact Reports for Multistate Projects - Dan Rossi
    Memo dated February 14, 2007, from Ronald Pardini, ESCOP Chairman

    Action: The issue will be discussed at the NERA meeting. There is a need to determine the proper format and to address who is the audience and how the impacts are being used.

12. Northeastern Regional Research Award for Excellence - Dan Rossi

    Action: To be discussed at the NERA meeting.

13. NIMSS Update - Dan Rossi and Rubie Mize
    NIMMS Report - March 2007

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