[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80786-80787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32263]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 246 / Thursday, December 23, 2010 /
Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-TM-10-0074; TM-10-01]
Solicitation of Applications for the Federal-State Marketing
Improvement Program (FSMIP)
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces a
solicitation of applications for competitive grant funds for fiscal
year (FY) 2011, subject to final appropriation action by Congress,
which would enable States to explore new market opportunities for U.S.
food and agricultural products and to encourage research and innovation
aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing
system. Eligible applicants include State departments of agriculture,
State agricultural experiment stations, and other appropriate State
Agencies. Applicants are encouraged to involve industry groups,
academia, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders in
developing proposals and conducting projects. In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the information collection
requirements have been previously approved by OMB under 0581-0240,
Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP).
Historically, Congress has appropriated funding for this program.
This notice is being issued prior to passage of a FY 2011
Appropriations Act, which may or may not provide an appropriation for
this program, to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage
financing, submit applications, and give AMS time to process
applications within the current fiscal year.
DATES: Proposals will be accepted through February 17, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Submit proposals and other required documents to: FSMIP
Staff Officer, Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street,
NW., Room 3002-South Tower, Washington, DC 20036; telephone (202) 694-
4002; e-mail [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janise Zygmont, FSMIP Staff Officer;
telephone (202) 694-4002; fax (202) 694-5950; e-mail
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSMIP is authorized under Section 204(b) of
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627). FSMIP
provides matching grants on a competitive basis to enable States to
explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural
products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving
the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible
applicants include State departments of agriculture, State agricultural
experiment stations, and other appropriate State Agencies. Other
organizations interested in participating in this program should
contact their State Department of Agriculture's Marketing Division.
State agencies specifically named under the authorizing legislation
should assume the lead role in FSMIP projects, and use cooperative or
contractual linkages with other agencies, universities, institutions,
and producer, industry or community-based organizations as appropriate.
Multi-State projects are encouraged. In such projects, one State
assumes the coordinating role, using appropriate cooperative
arrangements with the other State agencies and entities involved in the
project.
Proposals must be accompanied by completed Standard Forms (SF) 424
and 424A. AMS will not approve the use of FSMIP funds for advertising
or, with limited exceptions, for the purchase of equipment. Detailed
program guidelines may be obtained from the contact listed above, and
are available at the FSMIP Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/FSMIP.
Background
FSMIP funds a wide range of applied research projects that address
barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transportation,
and distribution of U.S. food and agricultural products domestically
and internationally.
Eligible agricultural categories include livestock, livestock
products, food and feed crops, fish and shellfish, horticulture,
viticulture, apiary, and forest products and processed or manufactured
products derived from such commodities. Reflecting the growing
diversity of U.S. agriculture, in recent years, FSMIP has funded
projects dealing with nutraceuticals, bioenergy, compost and products
made from agricultural residue.
Proposals may deal with barriers, challenges, or opportunities
manifesting at any stage of the marketing chain including direct,
wholesale, and retail. Proposals may involve small, medium, or large
scale agricultural entities but should potentially benefit multiple
producers or agribusinesses. Proprietary proposals that benefit one
business or individual will not be considered.
Proposals that address issues of importance at the State, Multi-
State or national level are appropriate for FSMIP. FSMIP also seeks
unique proposals on a smaller scale that may serve as pilot projects or
case studies useful as a model for other States. Of particular interest
are proposals that reflect a collaborative approach among the States,
academia, the farm sector and other appropriate entities and
stakeholders. FSMIP's enabling legislation authorizes projects to:
Determine the best methods for processing, preparing for
market, packing, handling, transporting, storing, distributing, and
marketing agricultural products.
Determine the costs of marketing agricultural products in
their various forms and through various channels.
Assist in the development of more efficient marketing
methods, practices, and facilities to bring about more efficient and
orderly marketing, and reduce the price spread between the producer and
the consumer.
Develop and improve standards of quality, condition,
quantity, grade, and packaging in order to encourage uniformity and
consistency in commercial practices.
Eliminate artificial barriers to the free movement of
agricultural products in commercial channels.
Foster new/expanded domestic/foreign markets and new/
expanded uses of agricultural products.
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Collect and disseminate marketing information to
anticipate and meet consumer requirements, maintain farm income, and
balance production and utilization.
All proposals which fall within the FSMIP guidelines will be
considered. FSMIP encourages States to submit proposals that address
the following objectives:
Creating wealth in rural communities through the
development of local and regional food systems and value-added
agriculture.
Developing direct marketing opportunities for producers,
or producer groups.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the FSMIP
information collection requirements were previously approved by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and were assigned OMB control
number 0581-0240.
AMS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork
Elimination Act (GPEA), which requires Government agencies in general
to provide the public with the option of submitted information or
transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible.
How To Submit Proposals and Applications
Applicants have the option of submitting FSMIP applications
electronically through the Federal grants Web site, instead of mailing
hard copy documents. Applicants considering the electronic application
option are strongly urged to familiarize themselves with the Federal
grants Web site well before the application deadline and to begin the
application process before the deadline. Additional details about the
FSMIP application process for all applicants are available at the FSMIP
Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/FSMIP.
FSMIP is listed in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance''
under number 10.156 and subject agencies must adhere to Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination in all federally
assisted programs.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: December 16, 2010.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-32263 Filed 12-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P