[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74685-74687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29044]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-08-0092; TM-08-15]


Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting 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 the

[[Page 74686]]

availability of approximately $1.3 million in competitive grant funds 
for fiscal year 2009, 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).

DATES: Proposals will be accepted through February 11, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit proposals and other required documents to: FSMIP 
Staff Officer, Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2646 South Building, Washington, DC 
20250; telephone (202) 720-8043; e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janise Zygmont, FSMIP Staff Officer; 
telephone (202) 720-8043; fax (202) 690-4948; or 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 et seq.). 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 as long as one State assumes the 
coordinating role, using appropriate cooperative arrangements with the 
other States involved. Applicants other than State Departments of 
Agriculture and State agricultural experiment stations may wish to 
include with their applications an explanation of how they meet the 
definition of ``other appropriate State agency.''
    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 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 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.
     Collect and disseminate marketing information to 
anticipate and meet consumer requirements, maintain farm income, and 
balance production and utilization.

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, 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/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.


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    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: December 3, 2008.
James E. Link,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E8-29044 Filed 12-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P