Report of CSREES Research Activities, October 1997

by Susan Welsh and Melvin Mathias

Organizational Issues

*Dr. I. Miley Gonzalez was sworn in as Under Secretary for REE on August 5,1997. In this position, he will oversee the research, education, and economic programs of ARS, CSREES, ERS, NASS. Before his appointment, he served as Associate Dean and Director for Academic Programs in the College of Ag and Home Economics at New Mexico State University (NMSU). Prior to this, he was Assistant Dean and Deputy Director of the Cooperative Extension Service, and Professor and Head of the Department of Ag and Extension Education at NMSU. Dr. Gonzalez served as the Assistant Director of International Ag Programs in the College of Ag at Iowa State University, 1988-9; and in the early 1980's was a State 4-H Specialist at Penn State University and participated in Extension Program activities. Born in Ysleta, Tx, Gonzalez grew up on a small farm and livestock operation in San Simon, Ariz. He received a B.S. and M.S. from the University of Arizona and Ph.D. from Penn State University in Ag and Extension Education.

*Dr. Catherine Woteki was confirmed as the USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety in August, 1997. Dr. Woteki has been serving as the REE Acting Under Secretary since June, 1996 when Karl Stauber, who had been in that position, returned to St. Paul, Minnesota to serve as President of the Northwest Area Foundation. Prior to that Dr. Woteki had been the REE Deputy Under Secretary. Prior to joining REE, Cathy served as Acting Associate Director for Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. From 1980 to 1983, she worked for USDA as leader of the Food and Diet Appraisal Research Group in the Consumer Nutrition Center, and as acting associate administrator of the former Human Nutrition Information Service. Cathy earned a Ph.D. in nutrition from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. As Under Secretary, she will oversee the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the public health agency responsible for ensuring that meat and poultry products are safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled.

*Shirley Watkins was confirmed as USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services in August '97. Ms. Watkins, of Hope, AR, was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, USDA. She previously served as Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services and as Director of Nutrition for the Memphis City Schools. As Under Secretary, Ms. Watkins will oversee the Food and Consumer Service, including the Food Stamp Program, National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, and the WIC program. Ms. Watkins' work will focus specifically on the development and implementation of policies regarding welfare reform. Ms. Watkins received a B.S. degree from the University of Arkansas and a Masters of Education from the University of Memphis. Ms. Watkins replaces Ellen Haas who resigned Feb "97.

*Yvette Jackson was named the Administrator of USDA's Food and Consumer Service in Sept ee97. As such, she will oversee USDA's 15 nutrition assistance programs and manage an agency budget of $40 billion and a staff of 1,700. Ms. Jackson holds a bachelor's degree in social welfare from Temple University and a Masters of Social Work from Rutgers. Prior to this, she had been the director of the Food Stamp Program and before that, Pennsylvania's Deputy Secretary of Income Maintenance since 1991.

*Dr. Robert MacDonald was appointed the Scientific Research Grants Advisor for CSREES' Competitive Research Grants and Awards Management unit in March 1997. He was an Assistant Program Director for the NRI, Natural Resources and Environment Division. He has a Ph.D. from University of Kentucky and was a postdoc at the University of Colorado. He will assist in developing program policy, and ways to improve accountability and reporting methods.

Dr. Robert Koopman was selected as CSREES Deputy Administrator for Economic & Community Systems (formerly, Rural, Economic, and Social Development) in March 1997. He joined USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) in 1984 as a specialist on the Soviet Union and since then has served in several positions in ERS including Acting Director for Research in the Commercial Ag Division. He received his B.S. in Economics from the University of Southern Maine and his Ph.D. in Economics from Boston College.

*Patrick O'Brien was appointed CSREES Deputy Administrator for Special Programs in March 1997. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in economics from Catholic University and Johns Hopkins University, respectively. He joined USDA's Economic Research Service in 1972 serving in a number of different research, staff analysis, and outlook positions. Mr. O'Brien will concentrate initially on managing the competitive grants component of USDA's Fund for Rural America.

*Dr. Elizabeth Tuckermanty was selected as Program Director for the Fund for Rural America in April 1997. Dr. Tuckermanty joined USDA's Extension Service as a National Program Leader for Nutrition in 1990. She received her B.S. from California State Polytecinic University and M.S. and Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in nutrition.

*Dr. Leslie Whitener will join CSREES' Economic & Community Systems in Oct 1997 as the National Program Leader for Rural Sociology. Previously she was Leader of the Rural Housing Team at USDA's Economic Research Service. Dr. Whitener received her B.S. degree in Sociology from James Madison University, and her MA and PhD in Sociology from The American University.

*VACANCY- Human Sciences Research The Families, 4-H, and Nutrition Unit of CSREES has posted a position for a National Program Leader in Human Sciences Research (GS 14/15) in Washington, DC. The announcement will close Nov 17th. For more information, see USDA homepage, What's new, Job Bank.

Legislative and Funding Issues

*The Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act became law in March 1996. (http://www.usda.gov/farmbill/index.htm)

The Farm bill authorized development of a REE Information System (REEIS), a state-of-the-art information technology system to monitor and evaluate research and extension activities conducted and supported by USDA. Congress appropriated $ 0.4 million for REEIS in the 1997 budget, and $1 million is requested in the FY 1998 budget. It is envisioned that REEIS will operate as a platform to link databases serving research, education, extension, and other REE agency functions. A national steering committee composed of users and producers of REE data will guide development and implementation. Contact: Dr. Coulter at 202/720-3377 or kcoulter@reeusda.gov.

B. Fund for Rural America:

Background: The Fund was announced on January 17,1997. It was authorized under the 1996 Farm Bill to address the most pressing needs in rural America and to improve the quality of life of its citizens. It provides $100 million annually for 3 years. One third of the fund is dedicated to competitively awarded research, education, and extension grants; one third to rural development administered through existing rural development programs; and one third to be used at the Secretary's discretion. Secretary Glickman designated $20.5 million of the discretionary money for rural development, $10 million for the Secretary's research initiative, which addresses livestock concentration; food safety; gleaning and food recovery; and identification and utilization of phytonutrients with cancer-prevention potential in the design of functional foods; and $2.8 million for a new competitive grant research program to examine ways to improve delivery of agricultural knowledge to rural communities. For more information, access (http://www.reeusda.gov/fra). To be included on the e-mail list which notifies subscribers of new information, send an electronic mail message to majordomo@reeusda.gov and type the following, one-line-only message in the "message" space: subscribe fund for additional information; or contact Elizabeth Tuckermanty 202/401-6251 or etuckermanty@reeusda.gov

*The Fund for Rural America Competitive Grants Program deadline for Planning Grant applications was March 24, 1997 and for Standard Project Grant applications, April 28, 1997. USDA received about 425 proposals for planning grants - at least one application from each state and over 900 participating institutions. Planning grants provide up to $25,000 for up to six months for the purpose of planning a Center. Awardees of planning grants then submit proposals for Centers in January, 1998. CSREES has received approximately 1,100 proposals for standard grants. These proposals will be under review through the summer and into the fall.

*The RFP for competitive grants under the Fund for Rural America-Rural Information Infrastructure Program was published in the July 31, '97 Federal Register with a Sept 29 deadline. Funding was for in three categories: Rural Telecommunications Technologies and Systems, Information Infrastructure, and Human Capacity Building. Contact Cathy Bridwell 202/720-6084 or cbridwell@reeusda.gov or visit the Homepage (http://www.reeusda.gov/fra).

*The 1997 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from Natural Disasters reduced funding for the Fund for Rural America by $20 million in FY 97, from $100 million to $80 million. The reduction was applied equally to the research and rural development components. Therefore, the $46.1 million originally allocated to CSREES has been reduced to $36.1 million, which results in the following: Core Initiative reduced from $33.3 million to $26.1 million; Secretary's Initiative reduced from $10 million to $7.8 million; and Telecommunications Infrastructure reduced from $2.8 million to $2.2 million. Contact Patrick O'Brien 202/40-6251 or pobrien@reeusda.gov

*The research, extension and education title of the Farm Bill is being reauthorization. In the 1996 Farm Bill, Congress only authorized this title for 2 years rather than for the full life of the legislation through FY 2002. Since then, review of these activities have been a high priority for the Congress. The Senate Agriculture Committee circulated a thought provoking list of questions to land grant colleges, professional associations and agricultural organizations. They addressed the appropriateness of the budget, intramural vs extramural research, basic vs applied research, competitive vs formula funding, and the need for colleges of agriculture in all states. The NASULGC Board on Agriculture prepared a coordinated response representing the land grant system (http://www.nasulgc.nche.edu/cferr_ba.htm).

*The Administration presented its Guidance for Reauthorization of Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Authorities to the House Agriculture Committee in July, 1997. Highlights include: -Recognition of budget constraints. USDA currently spends approximately $1.8 billion in discretionary funding per year on research, education and economics (about 2.5 percent of Federal R&D expenditures). About $900 million goes to Federal research and statistics (ARS, ERS, NASS) and about $935 million goes to CSREES. Of that CSREES amount, $170 million are Hatch Act formula funds for research and education and $270 million are Smith-Lever formula funds for extension. Remaining funds to states are either targeted or distributed by competitive grants. While most Federal R&D activity is carried out by private sector contractors, R&D at USDA is done at approximately 102 departmental research facilities and 76 land grant universities and related institutions. The Administration recommended that future budgets be use to accomplish the following goals: 1) position agriculture to assure sustained economic growth; 2) strengthen problem-solving capacity; 3) maintain and enhance incentives which build partnerships; 4) expand eligibility for competitive award of funds; 5) assure program and budgetary accountability. -Recognition of public concerns about the safety and nutritional value of food, the impact of technology, and the effect of production practices on the environment, communities, consumers, and animal well-being. The Administration stated that human nutrition, food safety, and environmental stewardship are high priorities for funding. -Proposal that not less than 25 percent of Federal extension formula funds be used for multi-state, regional, or national collaborative activities. It was recognized that administrative action by the CSREES would be needed to establish a system for joint decision-making, review, and approval of such projects. -Proposal that Congress amend the Smith-Lever and Hatch formulas to permit Universities to redirect a percentage of the funds between research and extension. This flexibility would increase from 10% in FY98 to 25% in FY01. -Proposal that Congress amend Smith-Lever 3(d) to expand eligibility from only 1862 Land Grant Universities to 1890 and 1994 Universities. -Proposal that Congress require accountability for all USDA-administered extramural research, extension, and higher education funds through the GPRA process to the strategic goals of CSREES and the REE. -Proposal that Congress require recovery of indirect costs for all competitively awarded research grants and integrated (research, education, and extension) grants be capped at 25% (Currently 14%) of the total award. -Proposal that Congress establish a new authority for an integrated applied research, extension, and education competitive grants program addressing national and regional issues.

*The Senate version of the bill (S.1150) is posted on the Web (http://thomas.loc.gov/. Highlights of bill include: - Requires agricultural research, extension or education activities conducted by ARS or on a competitive basis by CSREES to address concerns that are high priority and have national or multi state significance. -Requires that priorities be established that address stakeholder and Advisory Board recommendations; universities must also address stakeholder input -Requires procedures that ensure merit review. -Requires that a certain percentage of all Smith-Lever as well as Hatch funds go to multi state projects. -Requires that priority in grants be given to teaching enhancement projects that demonstrate enhanced cooperation among all types of institutions and to innovative, multi disciplinary material and curricula. -Allows grants to Policy Research Centers for studies on farm/ag sector; environment; rural families, households, and economies; and consumers, food, and nutrition. -Encourages international agricultural research. -Establishes an indirect cost cap of 25% on Federal funds provided under competitive grants. -Makes 1890 and 1994 Institutions eligible for non-competitive extension funding. -Requires that a percentage of Smith-Lever and Hatch funds going to a State be used for integrated extension and research activities. The percentage (up to 25%) will be based on State expenditures for integrated activities in FY97. -Requires updating nutrient composition data and reporting to Congress. -Requires a contract with an expert to assess performance of federally funded research, extension, and education programs in resulting in public goods that have national or multi state significance. -Requests the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of the role and mission of federally funded research, extension, and education; including an evaluation of the strength of science conducted by the ARS and the relevance of that science to national priorities; and examination of the formulas for agricultural research and extension funding and examination of the competitive grant system. -Creates a new Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems, providing $780 million over 5 years for research on critical emerging Ag issues such as food genome; food safety, food technology and human nutrition; new and alternative uses and production of ag commodities and products; agricultural biotechnology; and natural resource management. The cost of this initiative is offset by setting a limit on funds provided to each State for administering the Food Stamp Program. (Other groups also have identified these funds for other uses.)

*The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) strongly supported the Senate bill in a press release 9/24 noting in particular the $780 million in new mandatory funding for the agricultural research Initiative to improve competitiveness, the focus multi-state, multi-disciplinary research, and increased stakeholder input.

*The House Subcommittee on Forestry, Resource Conservation, and Research released its draft bill for reauthorization (H.R. 2534) on Sept 17th. NASULGC's Board on Agriculture endorsed the bill as a package. Mark-up took place Sept. 25th. Noteworthy changes were the striking of the section (204) requiring 25% of Extension funds to be used for multi-state and multi-institutional activities; and the striking of the section (202) expanding the eligibility of institutions for Extension funding. The bill is scheduled for mark-up by the House Agriculture Committee October 29.

*The 1996 Farm Bill authorized a new National Agricultural REE Advisory Board to provide advice on policies and priorities. The Board replaces three USDA panels: Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences, Users Advisory Board, and Agricultural Science and Technology Review Board. The names of Board members are listed on USDA's homepage, specifically <http://www.reeusda.gov/ree/advisory/advise.htm>

The first REE Advisory Board meeting was held September 1996 in Wash, DC. Agenda items included review of the REE Draft Strategic Plan; nominations for the 15-member Strategic Planning Task Force, created under the Farm Bill to review all federally-funded agricultural research facilities and develop a 10-year strategic plan.; and election of the executive committee. The second Board meeting was held March 1997 in Wash, DC. The Board hosted a Stakeholder Symposium to collect input from agricultural producers and commodity organizations, consumer interests, environmental and community leadership groups, and others on strategic plans being developed by REE agencies. Other issues discussed included the Fund for Rural America; agency budget outlook; status of Congressional reauthorization of USDA's Research Title; development of USDA s annual performance plans; and upcoming activities for Strategic Planning Task Force. The third meeting is scheduled for Nov 5-6, 1997 in Wash DC. Included on the agenda are a review of the findings of the stakeholder sessions; a report on the Strategic Planning Task Force for agricultural facilities; a review of the award recommendations for the FY 97 Fund for Rural America standard grants; and development of recommendations to improve USDA public communication and education programs.

*GPRA requires that federally funded agencies develop and implement an accountability system based on performance measurement, including setting goals and objectives and measuring progress toward achieving them. See the GPRA homepage: (http://www.reeusda. gov/part/gpra/gprahome.htm).

*The draft Strategic Plan (July, 1996), which becomes final in 1999, sets 5 Goals: 1. An agricultural system that is highly competitive in the global economy 2. A safe and secure food and fiber system 3. Healthy, well-nourished population 4. Greater harmony between agriculture and the environment 5. Enhanced economic opportunity and quality of life for Americans Functions are divided into: basic research, applied research, development, outreach and higher education.

*The National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), Board on Agriculture, Experiment Station Section has released on Oct. 1 its penultimate draft "Medium Term Strategic Plan, 1998-2002" for the State Agricultural Experiment Station System. See < http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/escop/strgpln.html>

*GPRA mandates that progress in meeting the Goals be measured and reported to Congress. To facilitate this, a Performance Framework for the Five Goals has been developed which includes Objectives, Performance Goals, and Indicators for each of the Goals. The most recent revision (5/15/97) is available on the homepage.

*To help implement a Planning and Reporting System, four regional training sessions were held for university representatives and in August, a GPRA Planning and Reporting Template was sent to universities to solicit the first Annual Plans which were due in Nov 1997. However, concerns were raised by universities, USDA's Office of Management and Budget, and OMB. On Oct 17,1997, the Administrator of CSREES, Dr. Bob Robinson, announced that the agency will no longer require use of a template for planning and reporting ( although many programs may choose to use a revised template); the agency will not require a single, consolidated State plan or reporting of equal opportunity and civil rights plans this year; and that the system will immediately begin work to develop alternatives to the template for describing plans to achieve the objectives of the strategic plan. Two potential changes of particular interest to researchers are: First, the desire to demonstrate progress in multidisciplinary research, extension and education activities; multi-State research, education and extension activities; linkages between research and extension program activities; and the input of stakeholder groups into the research and extension planning; and Second, that a complete count of publications is no longer required, however, significant publications can be reported as accomplishments in the narratives. Dr. Colien Hefferan, CSREES Associate Administrator, will chair a committee to develop by Dec. 1, alternatives to the current template for performance planning and reporting during this transitional period, and to create strategies for linking the GPRA and budget development processes. The deadline for receipt of State plans has been extended to February 1, 1998.Questions may be directed to CSREES at: gpra@reeusda.gov or Bart Hewitt or Paul Bonell on 202-720-5285. Members of the GPRA committees can be found on the GPRA Home Page (http://www.reeusda. gov/part/gpra/gprahome.htm).

* The President's FY98 Budget Request included $840,153,000 for CSREES. This is a decrease of $69,215,000, or almost 8% below the FY 1997 appropriation. The CSREES request included new funding for a Pesticide Applicator Training program and a Food Safety Special Research Grant and increased the established programs of Integrated Pest Management/Pest Control, the National Research Initiative ($130,000,000 was requested for the National Research Initiative - an increase of $35,797,000 over the FY97 appropriation), the Children, Youth, and Families at Risk program, and the Extension Food Safety program. Level funding was proposed for the base research, education, and extension programs. Reductions were indicated for the Buildings and Facilities, Farm Safety, Renewable Resources Extension Act programs, Agricultural Telecommunications, Rural Health and Safety, Critical Agricultural Materials, and Rangeland Research, Special Research Grants and other earmarked projects. In relation to specific programs: A $12 million increase was requested for ARS for research on diet and cognitive development in children, the nutritional needs of at-risk Americans, and the role of beneficial food compounds in preventing human disease. Additional funds were also requested for a survey of dietary intakes of infants and children to determine the risk of exposure to pesticides in the diet. Funds ($1.1 million) was requested for a review and assessment of the 1996 Farm Bill and the future of production agriculture and the federal government's role. In May, the Administration announced "Food Safety From Farm to Table," requiring $43.2 million in new funds in the FY98 budget. This plan, developed by USDA, HHS and EPA, calls for improved inspections, public education and greater use of the latest science to reduce foodborne illness.

*The House and Senate Conference Committee met on September 17th on the FY98 Appropriations Bill for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (H.R.2160 and H.Rpt.105-252). The result was higher funding than either the House or the Senate originally allocated due largely to increases special grants and federal administration. Recommendations include $859,386,000 for CSREES, of which $436,010,000 supports Research and Education Activities and $423,376,000 supports Extension Activities. Included within the total is $4.6 million for the Native American Endowment Fund. This is a net decrease of $54.6 million from the FY97 appropriation of $913,939,000. This decrease can be attributed primarily to the elimination of the earmarked Buildings and Facilities program. The Hatch Act, McIntire-Stennis, Evans-Allen, Animal Health and Disease-Section 1433, Smith-Lever 3 (b&c), and 1890 Institutions formula programs are maintained at their FY97 funding levels. The National Research Initiative is funded at $97.2 million, and the funding for other grant programs increased from $75.2 million to $79.7 million. The Institution Challenge Grants program is funded at $4.4 million and the Hispanic Serving Institutions program is funded at $2.5 million while funding for other Higher Education programs is maintained at the FY97 level. No funding is provided for Rangeland Research. The Smith-Lever 3(d) line items are maintained at the FY97 levels, with the exception of Water Quality which is funded at $9.06 million, a decrease from the FY97 level of $10.7 million. Funding for the Renewable Resource Extension Act ( RREA) and Rural Health and Safety Education is provided at the FY97 level. Also under Extension Activities, the Agricultural Telecommunications program is decreased to $0.9 million. The FY98 Appropriations Bill did not pass by the beginning of the fiscal year as originally thought and a Continuing Resolution was signed by the President providing interim funding. On Oct 6, the House agreed to the Conference Report, Senate action is pending. Disputes over legislation to reform the Food and Drug Administration are delaying passage of this appropriations bill, which also contains funding for FDA. For more information, see the CSREES Homepage (http://www.reeusda.gov/budget/webfund.htm).

National Research Initiative (NRI) Competitive Grants Program

*The NRI supports fundamental and mission-oriented research--on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis--on key problems relevant to a broad spectrum of agricultural issues. The Program Description and Application Kit with downloadable forms may be accessed via the NRI homepage (www.reeusda.gov/nri). The 1998 Description was made available in August, 1997. Paper copies can be requested from (psb@reeusda.gov.). Contact: 202/401-5022 or nricgp@reeusda.gov. A list serv will notify subscribers of important releases. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to: (majordomo@reeusda.gov). In the body of the message, include only the words: subscribe nri-epubs

*Fixed deadlines have been established for proposals. Those of interest follow:

November 15: Improving Human Nutrition for Optimal Health

December 15: Markets and Trade; Rural Development; Food Characterization/Process/Product Research; Non-Food Characterization/Process/Product Research

January 15: Ensuring Food Safety; Improved Utilization of Wood and Wood Fiber

February 15: Research Career Enhancement; Equipment Grants; Seed Grants; Ag Systems

*Anticipated funding by category for FY 1997 (below) is the same as for FY 1996.

Natural Resources and the Environment (FY97: $16.1M)
Nutrition, Food Quality, and Health (FY97: $6.8M)
Plant Systems (FY97: $33.8M)
Animal Systems (FY97: $21.7M)
Markets, Trade, and Policy (FY97: $3.7M)
New Products and Processes (FY97: $6.4M)

*NRI funding for FY98:

FY 1997 Appropriations Act - $ 94,203
FY 1998 Budget Estimate - 130,000
FY 1998 House Action - 106,744
FY 1998 Senate Action - 100,000
FY 1998 Conf. Com. - 97,200

*The annual one-day NRI Grants Workshop will be hosted by the College of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Delaware, Oct 10, 1997 at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott Hotel. Contact:(bluehen.ags.udel.edu/nri.htm) or Dr. William Saylor (302-831-2502); FAX:(302-831-6758); (bsaylor@udel.edu ).

*CSREES along with several other federal agencies participates in the Presidential Early Career Awards administered by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). This annual award conferred at the White House recognizes outstanding scientists and engineers at the outset of their independent research careers. CSREES nominates up to three individuals from among those funded through the NRI New Investigator Award Program. If selected, the NRI provides five years of funding for the recipient. Contact: Sally Rockey srockey@reeusda.gov or 202-401-1761.

Science and Education Resources Development (SERD)

*An inventory of USDA educational programs and activities has been compiled by SERD and the USDA Education Coordinating Council. It is accessible via http://www.reeusda.gov/serd/hep/invent/ or via the CSREES home page under Higher Education Programs. Contact Lois Davis 202/720-8282 or ladavis@reeusda.gov.

*CSREES' Higher Education Programs (HEP) office awarded in FY 97 $50,000 under the Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grants Program to each of the 29 colleges designated as 1994 Land-Grant Institutions. The purpose is to strengthen instructional programs in food and agricultural sciences. Funds are awarded equally to each college upon approval of a grant application that includes a Plan of Work. This is the second year of the program. Contact Alvin Young (202/720-7356) or (ayoung@reeusda.gov)

*Under CSREES Tribal Colleges Extension Program, $1,920,000 were available in FY97 for cooperative agreements between the 1994 and the 1862 institutions. Announcements were mailed in March to 1994 and geographically related 1862 institutions and are accessible on the CSREES Home Page. Proposals were due June 30, 1997. Contact Joan Gill (202/720-6487), (jgill@reeusda.gov).

*CSREES announced March 10, 1997 the National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants Program Solicitation for FY 1997 and 1998 (deadline May 15) and 1997 Supplemental Grants for Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (deadline October 15). Beginning in FY 97, CSREES will support 6 national needs areas on a biennial basis and combine appropriations for two years into one competition to be held during odd-numbered years. It is anticipated that approximately $5.8M will be available to support about 108 fellowships. The targeted national needs areas to be supported for FY 1997/98 competition are: Biotechnology--Animal; Biotechnology--Plant; Engineering--Food, Forest Product, or Agricultural; Human Nutrition and/or Food Science; Marketing or Management--Food, Forest Products, or Agribusiness; and Water Science. It is anticipated that approximately $60,000 will be available to support supplementary grants for special international study or thesis/dissertation research travel. Grants of up to $3,000 are made to current Fellows. Contact: Jeffrey Gilmore 202-720-1973 or jgilmore@reeusda.gov or access http://www.reeusda.gov/new/funding/prog.htm

*CSREES awards Challenge Grants to stimulate quality educational programs. In FY96, $4.045 million was awarded to 38 institutions in 29 States. In FY 97, curricula design, faculty preparation, instructional delivery systems, and student experiential learning were targeted. A total of 59 institutions from 45 States submitted 125 proposals for consideration. See the CSREES Home Page for a list of recipients and institutions as well as descriptions of funded projects.

*Twenty-four Multicultural Scholars grants in support of 104 scholars were awarded in May 1997. This program provides undergraduate scholarships for under represented groups. The recipient institution provides support equal to 25 percent of the grant. Contact: Jeffrey Gilmore 202/720-1973 or jgilmore@reeusda.gov

*Food and Agricultural Education Information System (FAEIS) is an on-line national database on higher education in food and agricultural sciences (http://faeis.tamu.edu). It is funded by CSREES Higher Education Programs and is maintained at Texas A&M University. It will be used as the basis for a new Research, Education, and Economics Information System. Contact: FAEIS 409/845-5068 or ssw@tamu.edu

Other CSREES-Related Information

*A call for nominations for the 1998 Secretary's Honors Awards was issued in August, 1997. These are USDA's most prestigious awards. They are given the following categories: Emergency Response, Environmental Protection, Equal Opportunity, Heroism, Personal and Professional Excellence, Public Service, Reinventing Government, and Support Services. Nominations are usually made through Experiment Station directors or Deans to the CSREES Administrator who formally nominates candidates. The deadline is November 5. Contact Joan Gill 202/720-6487 or jgill@reeusda.gov

*The NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research (OBSSR) is planning to announce a special Request for Applications (RFA) on "Innovative Approaches to Disease Prevention through Behavior Change." The RFA will invite applications for a four year research grant program beginning in FY99 to test interventions designed to achieve long-term health behavior change. The behaviors of interest are tobacco use, exercise, diet, and alcohol abuse. Thus far $3,670,000 has been pledged by the cosponsors for 5-7 grants, not exceeding $700,000 each. The RFA is expected to be announced in November 1997 with a deadline of May 1998. See the NIH Home Page (http://www.NIH.gov) or the weekly NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts.

*The Balanced Budget Act provides for a total of $3 billion for "Welfare to Work" grantsfor FY98 and FY99. Approximately 75% of the funds will be in formula grants administered primarily by state Private Industry Councils; 25% will be in competitive grants awarded by the Department of Labor. Allowable activities are defined as community service or work experience programs; job creation through public or private sector employment wage subsidies; on-the-job training; contracts with public or private providers of readiness, placement, and post-employment services; job vouchers for placement, readiness, and post employment services; and job retention or support services if such services are not otherwise available. Regulations for the competitive portion will be available shortly after October 1st. State plans for the formula portion will probably be due in December 1997. Contact: info@clasp.org or http://www.clasp.org

*Under the Agricultural Telecommunications Program, $1.1 million has been awarded in grants for 12 projects to help universities develop telecommunications capacity. USDA received 55 proposals from universities. The grants are competitive matching grants for projects including formal and nonformal courses, faculty and staff education, program delivery, and community-based access to education. For more information: http://www.reeusda.gov/agtel/agtel3.htm

* A conference, "Meeting the Challenges of Welfare Reform: Research, Education and Extension," was sponsored by CSREES, the Board on Human Sciences of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and the Agricultural Research Service in April 1997 in Chevy Chase, MD. For more information, access the Welfare Reform Research and Education Network Home Page (http://www.reeusda.gov/whatnew/welfare.htm)

*The Association of Departments and Programs of Nutrition established a new homepage which will include their annual meeting notes and descriptions of programs in each state (http://www.sph.unc.edu/adpn/adpn.html). The Association membership currently includes more than 50 institutions, approximately two-thirds of which are land-grant universities. This year, they will meet jointly with the Food Science Administrators in Wash DC, Dec 12-13.

*Updates about the National Nutrition Monitoring System including availability of data tapes are accessed via: (http://sun.ars-grin.gov/ars/Beltsville/barc/bhnrc/foodsurvey/fsrg.htm and discussion group. To subscribe, send message To: majordomo@nal.usda.gov and in message, type: subscribe survey <email address> Contact: Kay Tippett 301/734-8457.

* For brief, non-technical summaries of food and nutrition research conducted by the USDA Agriculture Research Service, see (http://www.nalusda.gov/fnic/usda/fnrb).

*The CSREES Home Page (http://www.reeusda.gov) provides names, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses of CSREES staff. Also featured are an organization chart, and information on human resources, budget and current funding, authorizations, legislation, and activities related to the Government Performance and Results Act. A biweekly Update Report is available on the Home Page under "What's New." To subscribe to this publication, send an e-mail message to: majordomo@reeusda.gov. In the body of the message, type: subscribe OR unsubscribe csrees-update. Open positions with the Federal office and across the land-grant system are routinely posted on the Internet. Submissions may be sent to jhorigan@reeusda.gov for consideration. To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to: majordomo@reeusda.gov. In body of the message, type: subscribe (or unsubscribe) jobs-mg. This information is also available on the Home Page, under "What's New". The CSREES Directory of Professional Workers in State Agricultural Experiment Stations and Other Cooperating State Institutions (Agricultural Handbook No. 305) will be converted into a Web-based resource in 1997. Contact: Jerry McNamara 202/401-0951 or (jmcnamara@reeusda.gov). The USDA telephone book is on the Web http://www.usda.gov/phonebook/

Return to NE-165 homepage