[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 231 (Friday, December 2, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72286-72287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6787]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. TM-06-02]


Notice of Program Continuation

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice Inviting Proposals for fiscal year (FY) 2006 grant funds 
under the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given for proposals for FY 2006 grant funds 
under the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP). FSMIP 
anticipates that approximately $1.3 million will be available for 
support of this program in FY 2006. States interested in obtaining 
funds under the program are invited to submit proposals. While only 
State Departments of Agriculture or other appropriate State Agencies 
are eligible to apply for funds, State Agencies are encouraged to 
involve industry groups, academia, and community-based organizations in 
the development of proposals and the conduct of projects.

DATES: Funds will be allocated on the basis of one round of 
consideration. Proposals will be accepted through February 10, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Proposals may be sent to: FSMIP, Transportation and 
Marketing Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4009 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janise Zygmont, FSMIP Staff Officer, 
(202) 720-8043.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSMIP is authorized under Section 204(b) of 
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.). FSMIP 
provides matching grants on a competitive basis to assist State 
Departments of Agriculture or other appropriate State agencies in 
conducting studies or developing innovative approaches related to the 
marketing of U.S. food and agricultural products. Other organizations 
interested in participating in this program should contact their State 
Department of Agriculture's Marketing Division to discuss their 
proposal.

[[Page 72287]]

    Proposals are submitted by the State Agency and 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 
your State Department of Agriculture, the above AMS contact, or the 
FSMIP Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm.
    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 residues.
    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, regional 
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 others. 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.
--Collect and disseminate marketing information to anticipate and meet 
consumer requirements, maintain farm income, and balance production and 
utilization.

    Applicants have the option of submitting FSMIP applications 
electronically through the central Federal grants web site, http://www.grants.gov 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/tmd/fsmip.htm.
    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: November 28, 2005.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E5-6787 Filed 12-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P