• Agenda

• Minutes from the November 14, 2005, Washington, DC

Interim Actions:

Action Requested: Approval of agenda, minutes, and interim actions.

Action Taken: Minutes prepared for the scheduled ESS meeting September 26, 2005. (San Antonio, Texas) and minutes of the November 14, 2005 ESCOP Executive Committee meeting (Washington, D.C. - NASULGC Annual Meeting) were approved.

Action Requested: None

Action Requested: Information only

Item: BAA-Policy Board of Directors Update

Presenter: Nancy Cox and Eric Young

Background Information:

The BAA Policy Board of Directors has two subcommittees, Budget & Advocacy and Farm Bill, and their reports are given in agenda items 5 and 4.2, respectively. The PBD has also appointed an ad hoc committee, CREATE 21, to propose a new model for the USDA/LGU partnership. The CREATE 21 report is given in agenda item 4.1.

The next meeting of the PBD will be March 21-22 in Storrs, CT hosted by the University of Connecticut.

In meeting comments:

Action Requested: Information only.

Item: BAA-Policy Board of Directors Update - CREATE 21

Item: BAA-Policy Board of Directors Update - FARM BILL

Presenter: Daryl Lund

Background Information:

Draft Language/Ideas for 2007 Farm Bill

1. FORESTRY SUBCOMMITTEE (Steven Daley-Laursen)

1. Amend McIntire-Stennis authorization language for funding of forestry research.

The 2002 Farm Bill included the following language:
SEC. 8201. MCINTIRE-STENNIS COOPERATIVE FORESTRY RESEARCH PROGRAM.
It is the sense of Congress to reaffirm the importance of Public Law 87-788 (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.), commonly known as the `McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act'.

We would suggest an improved version something like the following (changes in italics):

SEC. 8201. MCINTIRE-STENNIS COOPERATIVE FORESTRY RESEARCH PROGRAM.

It is the sense of Congress to reaffirm the importance of Public Law 87-788 (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.), commonly known as the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act which distributes funds by formula for the purposes of assisting the various states in carrying out a program of state forestry research at state forestry schools and colleges and developing a trained pool of forest scientists capable of conducting needed forestry research. It is also the sense of Congress that this program should include research on, among other topics of importance: (1) ecological restoration, (2) catastrophe management, (3) valuing and trading of ecological services; (4) energy conservation, biomass energy and bio-based materials development; and (4) ways of fostering healthy forests and a globally competitive forest resources sector.

AND/OR

The Congress continues authorization for the Cooperative Forestry Research Program (McIntire-Stennis), at the level of one-half the research appropriation for the USDA Forest Service through funds distributed in base and competitive formats for the purpose of assisting the states in carrying out a program of State forestry research at State forestry schools and colleges, and to develop a trained pool of forest scientists capable of conducting needed forestry research in the future."

This expresses support for the program, sets an authorized level, reaffirms this is a formula and competitive program for the states, and provides for both research and graduate education purposes.

2. Possibly amend RREA (Renewable Resources Extension Act) authorization language for funding of forestry and natural resources extension.

We suggest the following additions to authorization language under the original Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1675).

…distributes funds by formula and competitive process to the various states for the purpose of assisting state forest resources schools and colleges in carrying out a program of sustainable forestry and natural resources education for private landowners. Programs address diverse audiences, support economic opportunities for individuals and communities, and foster healthy forest lands and a globally competitive forest resources sector by building our nation's capacity to successfully adapt to changing economic, social and ecological conditions.

Funding in this program under its authorized purposes will focus educational programs on a select list of program priorities identified in national, regional and state plans, including emphasis on: (1) modern tools and approaches for sustainable management of forest and rangeland ecosystems and water resources; (2) market mechanisms for restoration and trading of ecological services; (3) bio-based fuels for energy conservation and forest health; (4) new bio-based products and industries in relation to forest land conversion and forest health; (5) post-catastrophic management and restoration relating to fire, invasive species and weather-caused phenomena; and (6) collaborative habitat conservation across ownership boundaries.

The 2002 Farm Bill included the following language. We suggest that this language be included in the next Farm Bill, including the edits (underlined italics) as indicated in Section 5B b1 under AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

SEC. 8101. SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY OUTREACH INITIATIVE; RENEWABLE RESOURCES EXTENSION ACTIVITIES.
(a) SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY OUTREACH INITIATIVE- The Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 is amended by inserting after section 5a (16 U.S.C. 1674a) the following:
`SEC. 5B. SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY OUTREACH INITIATIVE.
`The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the `Sustainable Forestry Outreach Initiative', to educate landowners concerning the following:
(1) The value and benefits of practicing sustainable forestry. (2) The importance of professional forestry advice in achieving sustainable forestry objectives. (3) The variety of public and private sector resources available to assist the landowners in planning for and practicing sustainable forestry.'.
(b) RENEWABLE RESOURCES EXTENSION ACTIVITIES-
(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- Section 6 of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1675) is amended by striking the first sentence and inserting the following: `There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2007.'. (2) TERMINATION DATE- Section 8 of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1671 note; Public Law 95-306) is amended by striking `2000' and inserting `2007'.
(b) RENEWABLE RESOURCES EXTENSION ACTIVITIES-
(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- Section 6 of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1675) is amended by striking the first sentence and inserting the following: `There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2017.' (2) TERMINATION DATE- Section 8 of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1671 note; Public Law 95-306) is amended by striking `2007' and inserting `2017'.

2. Research and Education Subcommittee (Fred Cholick, Phil Schwab, David Hansen)

Remove cap on IDC to negotiated rate

SEC. 714. INDIRECT COSTS.

Section 1462 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310) is amended--

`(b) EXCEPTION- Subsection (a) shall not apply to a grant awarded competitively under section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).'.

SEC. 753. COMPLIANCE WITH MULTISTATE AND INTEGRATION REQUIREMENTS.

Funds Expended on Extension Multistate Activities
(a) MULTISTATE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ACTIVITIES- Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) is amended by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:

`(h) MULTISTATE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ACTIVITIES-

`(1) DEFINITION OF MULTISTATE ACTIVITY- In this subsection, the term `multistate activity' means a cooperative extension activity in which 2 or more States cooperate to resolve problems that concern more than 1 State.

`(3) REDUCTION OF PERCENTAGE- The Secretary may reduce the minimum percentage required to be expended for multistate activities under paragraph (2) by a State in a case of hardship, unfeasibility, or other similar circumstances beyond the control of the State, as determined by the Secretary.

`(4) PLAN OF WORK- The State shall include in the plan of work of the State required under section 4 a description of the manner in which the State will meet the requirements of this subsection.

`(5) APPLICABILITY- This subsection does not apply to funds provided--

Funds Expended on Integrated Activities

(b) INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES- Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c) is amended by striking subsection (i) and inserting the following:

`(i) INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES-

Authorization Language for the Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program

Agricultural fellowship program for agricultural scientists from low- and middle-income nations

(a) Establishment
The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a fellowship program to be known as the "Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program," to provide fellowships for scientific training to individuals from eligible countries (as determined under subsection (b) of this section) who specialize in agricultural education, research and extension for study in the United States.

(b) Eligible countries
Countries described in any of the following paragraphs shall be eligible to participate in the program established under this section:

(1) Low-income country
A country with low per capita income and with foreign aid assistance from the United States to promote employment opportunities, increase income levels and levels of living particularly in the rural areas, and to increase agricultural productivity to reduce rural poverty.

(2) Middle-income country
A country that has developed economically to the point where it no longer qualifies for bilateral foreign aid assistance from the United States because its per capita income level exceeds the eligibility requirements of such assistance programs (hereafter referred to in this section as a "middle-income" country).

(3) Ongoing relationship
A middle-income country that has never qualified for bilateral foreign aid assistance from the United States, but with respect to which an ongoing relationship with the United States, including technical assistance and training, would provide mutual benefits to such country and the United States.

(4) Type of government
A country that has recently begun the transformation of its system of government from a non-representative type of government to a representative democracy and that is encouraging democratic institution building, and the cultural values, institutions, and organizations of democratic pluralism.

(5) Independent states of the former Soviet Union
A country that is an independent state of the former Soviet Union (as defined in section 5602 (8) of this title), to the extent that the Secretary of Agriculture determines that such country should be eligible to participate in the program established under this section.

(c) Purpose of fellowships - Fellowships under this section shall promote food security and economic growth in developing countries by educating a new generation of agricultural scientists, increasing scientific knowledge and collaborative research to improve agricultural productivity, and extending this knowledge to users and their intermediaries in the market place. Fellowships shall support:

(1) training and collaborative research opportunities through exchanges for entry-level international agricultural research scientists, faculty and policymakers from developing and middle income countries.

(2) collaborative research to improve agricultural productivity;

(3) transfer of new science and agricultural technologies to strengthen agricultural practice; and

(4) reduction of barriers to technology adoption, such as ineffectual policies and regulations.

(d) Individuals who may receive fellowships - The Secretary shall utilize the expertise of U.S. land grant universities, international organizations working in agricultural research and outreach, and national agricultural research organizations to help identify program candidates for fellowships under this section from both the public and private sectors of those countries. The Secretary may provide fellowships under the program authorized by this section to private agricultural producers from eligible countries.

(e) Use of Fellowships - Fellowships shall be used to promote linkages between agricultural professionals of other nations with those of the U.S. and the international Agricultural research system and, as appropriate, with U.S. entities conducting research. They will be used to support three groups of candidates

(1) Individuals who participate in graduate agricultural degree training at a U.S. institution.

(2) Individuals who participate in the Individual Career Improvement Program which is for agricultural scientists from developing countries to upgrade skills and understanding in agricultural science and technology.

(3) Individuals who participate in the Borlaug Leadership Course aimed at senior agricultural policy makers from developing countries, in particular from sub-Saharan Africa and from the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union.

(f) Program implementation - USDA shall provide the coordination, evaluation and monitoring of the overall Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program as well as direct management of the Individual Borlaug Fellows component. Management of the program for students undertaking graduate training in the U.S. may be sub-contracted to collaborating partners.

(g) Fund authorization levels - There are authorized to be appropriated without fiscal year limitation such sums as may be necessary to carry out the program established under this section, except that the amount of such funds in any fiscal year shall not exceed

(1) for the Graduate Studies Program in Agriculture, $1,250,000;

(2) for the Individual Career Improvement Program, $2,500,000; and

(3) for the Borlaug Agricultural Policy Executive Leadership Course, $1,250,000.

(h) Complementary funds - If the Secretary of Agriculture determines that it is advisable in furtherance of the purposes of the program established under this section, the Secretary may accept money, funds, property, and services of every kind by gift, devise, bequest, grant, or otherwise, and may, in any manner, dispose of all such holdings and use the receipts generated from such disposition as general program funds under this section. All funds so designated for the program established under this section shall remain available until expended.

(i) U.S. Board - A Board shall be created to oversee activities of the Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program. It shall consist of two representatives from each of the Latin American, African, South Asian, and East Asian regions; two representatives from U.S. land-grant universities; two representatives from development or donor organizations; and two representatives from agricultural industries.

3. Rural Development Subcommittee (from Marc Johnson and Cornelia Flora)

We will focus our efforts in the farm bill in three areas and work with farm and commodity group constituents to become more aware and supportive of general rural development to replace some of the commodity programs which likely will be reduced due to the WTO:

Language changes will be offered to emphasize access by land grant universities to provide these research and educational services. We also will offer language for addition of a rural entrepreneurship initiative.

It is important to note that Subtitle A - Extension, Section 7102 of the National Agricultural Research and Extension and Extension Policy Act was amended to insert "rural economic community and business development" throughout that area, making clear that rural economic community and business development were an integral part of REE's work.

Section 7121 Agricultural Telecommunications Program

This should be amended to include agriculture and rural development telecommunications program.

Section 7105 Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems

It is important to note that the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems in part D does include rural economic and business and community development policy. This might be expanded to look not only at policy but at rural economic community development as well.

In general, this section does not link well to the work going on in rural development. There is a need in the Farm Bill to somehow link investments that are made through the rural development section of the Bill to the outputs and outcomes that can be measured through the REE section of the Bill.

Section 7208 Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990

This could be expanded under B: High Priority Research and Extension Initiatives. Under Land Use Management, Research and Extension there should be language that includes the community aspects of land use management, not just application of tools.

Section 7208 (b)
Water and Air Quality Research and Extension

This should be modified to include the community mechanisms that can help litigate the impacts of agriculture on air and water quality and collaboration between communities and land managers in reducing those.

Agrotourism Research and Extension

This should be modified to understand not only the impacts of agrotourism but the circumstances under which agrotourism can thrive and have positive community impacts.

Section 7118 Organic Agriculture and Research and Extension Initiative

We might want to add a section, perhaps under D-7, that would look at the community commissions and structures that support alternative organic agriculture enterprises.

Subtitle N Biosecurity

Under B, a Section 5 might be added that would say, "Build community capacity to respond to vital security hazards in a coordinated and effective way."

Section 7405 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program

It would be very useful under the list of general pieces of education to add something around integration of beginning farmers and ranchers into supportive community networks.

Subtitle E Miscellaneous 7501 Resident Instruction and Distant Education at
Institutions of Higher Education in the United States

We should say "in the food, agricultural and rural social sciences" or "sciences of rural development," which are absolutely vital for rural community success.

4. Energy Subcommittee (Stan Johnson)

The Sub Committee for the Energy Title for the Farm Bill met and has agreed on the following recommendations for change. We commend the Legislators for recognizing the importance of energy to agriculture and the nation by introduction of the new Title. We feel, however, that the changes that we have recommended will make the Title more effective in stimulating greater participation of agriculture in the bioeconomy, and in the expansion of production of new renewable sources of energy. Our recommendations are first for the overall Title and then by section of the existing Title.

Specific Recommendations

5. Nutrition Subcommittee (Rachel Johnson)

The National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act (NNMRRA) expired in 2003. Nutrition monitoring has an impact on billions of dollars in federal expenditures on food assistance, nutrition education, health programs, and food additive and pesticide approvals. The information from national surveys leverages billions of private sector dollars allocated to nutrition labeling, food product development and production. It is time to legislate new nutrition research and monitoring goals and to address unmet needs.

Our national nutrition monitoring system is essential for tracking the health and well being of the American population and is especially important for observing health trends in our nation's children. This nutrition monitoring system tracks the obesity rates in American children and adults. As obesity rates have continued to increase to 31% of American adults, so too have rates of heart disease, certain cancers, stroke, and diabetes. The rise in these diseases is very costly not only in terms of human pain and suffering but also in terms of billions of dollars worth of medical expenses and lost days from work. According to the 2001 Surgeon General's Report, obesity costs the U.S over $117 billion a year in medical expenses and claims as many lives as poverty, cigarette smoking, or problem drinking. The public health community will only be able to stem the rising tide of obesity if we have information on patterns of food consumption and factors contributing to food purchasing and intake.

Knowing both what Americans eat and how their diets directly affect their health provides valuable information to guide policies on food safety, food labeling, food assistance, military rations, and dietary guidance. The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the DHHS National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) jointly conduct national nutrition monitoring activities under the integrated NHANES/CSFII survey. Collected data are essential for informing policymakers and researchers as well as the public on the health and nutrition status of American children and adults. The national nutrition monitoring system is this nation's best and most comprehensive method of assessing nutritional health because the survey continuously collects usual dietary and supplement intake and laboratory indicators of nutrition status from a nationally representative US sample.

Request to Congress

To reauthorize the Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act. The provisions included in the reauthorization of the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act (PL 101-445) would:

Ensure that policymakers have access to full and complete information on the nutritional status and fitness levels of children, youth, and other Americans.
Allow data from integrated NHANES/CSFII to be combined with information from other nutrition and health surveys to determine impact of Federal nutrition and food safety programs and to guide other policy recommendations
Require USDA and DHHS to consult with Federal agencies, as well as state and local governments, the private sector, scientific communities, health professionals, and the public regarding monitoring and research needs to determine the nutritional status, fitness levels, diet and health knowledge of Americans.
Update the food composition tables used to assess diets regularly in order to keep pace with changes in the food supply.
Make grants available to states, public, and nonprofit entities to assist with the collection and analysis of nutritional and fitness data, based on methodology developed for the integrated NHANES/CSFII survey.
Provide competitive grants for development of uniform, cost-effective standards to assess nutritional status and for relating food consumption patterns to nutritional and health status.

Alliance Members

American Dietetic Association, American Farm Bureau, American Heart Association, American Institute of Cancer Research, American Public Health Association, American Society for Clinical Nutrition, American Society for Nutrition Sciences, Consumer Federation of America, Grocery Manufacturers of America, Institute of Food Technologists, National Pork Producers Association, National Potato Council, National WIC Association, The Pork Board, Produce for Better Health Foundation, Produce Marketing Association, and The Sugar Association

Action Requested: Information only

Action Requested: Charge the B/L Committee (with expanded membership of all the EDs and 2 additional representatives from each of the 4 geographical regions) to interact with the CSREES in considering the President's proposal for a multistate, competitively-awarded proposal program for a portion of Hatch funds

Action Taken: EDs will facilitate the effort, not for the purpose of negotiating the President's budget but to develop some method to implement parts thereof; appointments (two directors and the ED from each region- 15 folks) to be made next week or soon thereafter, with appropriate action taking place ASAP.

Action Requested: None

Action Requested: Information only.