[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 161 (Monday, August 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43758-43760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20905]



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Part VI





Department of Agriculture





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Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



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Notice of Listening Sessions; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 161 / Monday, August 20, 2001 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders on Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Grant Programs Administered by the Cooperative 
State Research, Education, and Extension Service

AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
USDA.

ACTION: Notice of listening sessions.

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SUMMARY: Section 102(b) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) (7 U.S.C. 7612) requires the 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) 
in establishing priorities for agricultural research, extension, and 
education activities conducted or funded by CSREES to solicit and 
consider input and recommendations from persons who conduct or use 
agricultural research, extension, or education. CSREES is in the 
process of conducting listening sessions in four different geographic 
locations in the United States to solicit stakeholder input. The notice 
for the first two listening sessions was published in the Federal 
Register on June 25, 2001 [66 FR 33826-33828]. They were held in 
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on July 12, 2001, and in Minneapolis, 
Minnesota, on July 25, 2001. The third and fourth listening session 
will be held in Fresno, California, on October 3, 2001, and in New 
Orleans, Louisiana, on October 25, 2001. As part of this stakeholder 
input process, CSREES also will be soliciting input and comments on the 
effectiveness of existing agricultural research, education, and 
extension programs administered by CSREES in meeting current and future 
challenges to the United States' food and agriculture system.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: The third listening session will be held on 
Wednesday, October 3, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Picadilly 
Inn University; 4961 N. Cedar Avenue; Fresno, CA 93726. Attendees must 
make their own hotel arrangements. A block of sleeping rooms at a 
conference rate is being held until September 10, 2001, listed under 
the name of USDA. Rooms can be reserved by calling the hotel directly 
at 559-224-4200.
    The fourth listening session will be held on Thursday, October 25, 
2001, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Agricultural Research Service, USDA; 
Southern Regional Research Center; 1100 Robert E. Lee Boulevard; New 
Orleans, LA 70124. A block of sleeping rooms at a conference rate is 
being held at The Iberville Suites; 910 Iberville Street; New Orleans, 
LA 70112; until October 5, 2001, listed under the name of USDA. 
Attendees must make their own hotel arrangements. Rooms can be reserved 
by calling the hotel directly at 504-523-2400.
    To aid participants in scheduling their attendance, the following 
schedule is anticipated for each listening session.
     8:30 a.m.-9 a.m.--Introductory Remarks and Background
     9 a.m.-2 p.m.--Scheduled 5-Minute Comment Periods
     2 p.m.-3 p.m.--Roundtable Discussion Group Meetings
     3 p.m.--Reports from Roundtable Discussion Group Meetings

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons wishing to present oral 
comments at these meetings are requested to pre-register by contacting 
Ms. Mary H. Humphreys at (202) 720-2667, by fax at (202) 720-2750 or by 
e-mail to [email protected]. CSREES is particularly interested in 
receiving comments during the 5-minute comment periods that address one 
or more of the topics listed in the ``Topics to Address'' section 
below. When making a reservation for a 5-minute comment period, 
participants should provide a title for their presentation. More time 
may be available in the comment session, depending on the number of 
people wishing to make a presentation. Reservations will be confirmed 
on a first-come, first-served basis. Although pre-registration is not 
required to attend the listening sessions, it is strongly recommended 
to ensure that adequate accommodations are available. Written comments 
also may be submitted for the record by mailing to: Ms. Mary Humphreys; 
Office of the Administrator; Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2201; 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250-2201. Please provide 
three copies of the comments. Comments also may be faxed or sent via e-
mail to Ms. Humphreys.
    The sessions will follow the same general format as the first two 
listening sessions and comments will be compiled and considered. All 
written comments from the October 3 and October 25 sessions must be 
received by December 1, 2001, to be considered. Information gathered 
from the Listening Sessions will be available for review on the CSREES 
web page (http://www.reeusda.gov). Participants who require a sign 
language interpreter or other special accommodations should contact Ms. 
Humphreys as directed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    Section 102(b) of AREERA requires that CSREES, in establishing 
priorities for agricultural research, extension, and education 
activities conducted or funded by CSREES, solicit and consider input 
and recommendations from persons who conduct or use agricultural 
research, extension, or education. As part of these listening sessions, 
CSREES simultaneously will be soliciting input and comments on the 
effectiveness of the existing agricultural research, education and 
extension programs administered by CSREES in meeting current and future 
challenges in the food and agricultural sciences.
    Section 1402 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA), 7 U.S.C. 3101, specifies that 
the purposes of agricultural research, extension, and education are to 
(1) enhance competitiveness of the United States agriculture and food 
industry in an increasingly competitive world environment; (2) increase 
the long-term productivity of the United States agriculture and food 
industry while maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base on 
which rural America and the United States agricultural economy depend; 
(3) develop new uses and new products for agricultural commodities, 
such as alternative fuels, and develop new crops; (4) support 
agricultural research and extension to promote economic opportunity in 
rural communities and to meet the increasing demand for information and 
technology transfer throughout the United States agriculture industry; 
(5) improve risk management in the United States agriculture industry; 
(6) improve the safe production and processing of, and adding value to, 
United States food and fiber resources using methods that maintain the 
balance between yield and environmental soundness; (7) support higher 
education in agriculture to give the next generation of Americans the 
knowledge, technology, and applications necessary to enhance the 
competitiveness of United States agriculture; and (8) maintain an 
adequate, nutritious, and safe supply of food to meet human nutritional 
needs and requirements.
    Section 1404 of NARETPA, 7 U.S.C. 3103, defines ``Food and 
Agricultural

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Sciences'' as meaning basic, applied, and developmental research, 
extension, and teaching activities in food and fiber, agricultural, 
renewable natural resources, forestry, and physical and social 
sciences, including activities relating to the following: (1) Animal 
Health, production, and well-being; (2) Plant health and production; 
(3) Animal and plant germ plasm collection and preservation; (4) 
Aquaculture; (5) Food safety; (6) Soil and water conservation and 
improvement; (7) Forestry, horticulture, and range management; (8) 
Nutritional sciences and promotion; (9) Farm enhancement, including 
financial management, input efficiency, and profitability; (10) Home 
economics; (11) Rural human ecology; (12) Youth development and 
agricultural education, including 4-H clubs; (13) Expansion of domestic 
and international markets for agricultural commodities and products, 
including agricultural trade barrier identification and analysis; (14) 
Information management and technology transfer related to agriculture; 
(15) Biotechnology related to agriculture; and (16) The processing, 
distributing, marketing, and utilization of food and agricultural 
products.
    CSREES currently supports agricultural research, extension, and 
education activities through a broad array of programs which includes 
both formula funded and competitively awarded grant programs. The 
formula funded programs include the agricultural research programs 
authorized under the Hatch Act (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.) for the State 
Agricultural Experiment Stations; section 1445 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 
3222) for the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions including Tuskegee 
University; McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act (16 U.S.C. 582a 
et seq.); and section 1433 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3195) for the Animal 
Health and Disease Research program. The agricultural extension 
programs are funded under section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 
343) for the cooperative extension services at the 1862 Land-Grant 
Institutions; section 3(d) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(d)) for 
targeted, national programs; and section 1444 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 
3221) for the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions including Tuskegee 
University. West Virginia State College also receives funding for 
agricultural research and extension programs. Section 534(a) of the 
Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note) 
authorizes funding for the 1994 Institutions to strengthen their 
teaching programs in food and agricultural sciences.
    The CSREES competitive grant programs include the National Research 
Initiative authorized under section 2(b) of the Competitive, Special, 
and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i); Initiative for 
Future Agriculture and Food Systems authorized under section 401 of 
AREERA (7 U.S.C. 7621); Integrated Research, Education, and Extension 
Competitive Grants Program authorized under section 406 of AREERA (7 
U.S.C. 7626); Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate 
Fellowship Grants Program authorized under section 1417(b)(6) of 
NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(6)); Higher Education Challenge Grants 
Program authorized under section 1417(b)(1) of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 
3152(b)(1)); Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants Program 
authorized under section 1417(j) of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3152(j)); and 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program authorized under 
section 1455 of NAREPTA (7 U.S.C. 3241). In addition, sections 535 and 
536 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 301 note) authorize competitive capacity building and research 
grant programs for the 1994 Institutions. Further information about 
CSREES grant programs is available through the CSREES web page at 
http://www.reeusda.gov as the above list of CSREES grant programs is 
not exhaustive.
    A majority of the agricultural research, extension, and education 
activities funded by CSREES are conducted through the 1862 Land-Grant 
Institutions which were established under the First Morrill Act (7 
U.S.C. 301 et seq.); the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions under the Second 
Morrill Act (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.); and the 1994 Institutions under the 
Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 
note).

Topics To Address

    To ensure that Federally-supported agricultural research, 
extension, and education activities remain effective in addressing 
priorities in United States food and agriculture, CSREES specifically 
is requesting input and recommendations on the following topic areas 
from persons who conduct or use agricultural research, extension, and 
education. However, comments are not limited to these topics.
    (1) The use of agricultural research, extension, and education 
programs to generate the science and educational programs necessary to 
address challenges facing United States food and fiber production.
    (2) The development of human capacity (e.g., scientists, educators, 
and extension agents and specialists) in the food and agricultural 
sciences.
    (3) The changes which should and could be made, if any, in the 
current funding mechanisms (i.e., formula funded and competitive 
grants) to more efficiently and effectively engage the agricultural 
research, extension, and education system in meeting the modern 
challenges to United States food and fiber production.
    (4) The most effective methods for ensuring that agricultural 
research, education, and extension programs address the highest 
priority needs of the United States food and fiber system.
    (5) The best means by which agricultural research, education, and 
extension programs can quickly respond to rapidly emerging challenges 
to the United States food and fiber system.
    (6) The coordination of agricultural research, education, and 
extension activities with the activities of other Federal agencies to 
use scientific advances in other fields (e.g., health, information 
technology, geospatial, and sociological research) as well as 
disseminate information through educational and outreach programs.
    (7) The application of agricultural research, education, and 
extension programs to economic development and revitalization needs of 
rural America.
    Written comments should be submitted as directed in the For Further 
Information Contact section of this notice.

Roundtable Discussion Group Meetings

    CSREES will conduct a Roundtable Discussion Group Meeting at the 
remaining two sessions in the afternoon in the following specific 
subject areas: (1) Developing 21st Century Plant, Animal, and Forest 
Production System; (2) Revitalizing Rural America; (3) Managing and 
Conserving Natural Resources; (4) Linking Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Health; (5) Improving Opportunities for Family and Youth Development; 
and (6) Developing Human Capacity in Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education for the 21st Century. The Roundtable Discussion Group 
Meetings will provide an opportunity for participants to address the 
above topics in relation to specific issues related to the food and 
agricultural sciences. A summary will be developed for the official 
record.


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    Done at Washington, DC, this 15th day of August 2001.
Ralph A. Otto,
Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 01-20905 Filed 8-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P