USDA: Information on Classical Plant and Animal Breeding	 
Activities (13-SEP-07, GAO-07-1171R).				 
                                                                 
This report responds to a Congressional request for information  
on activities related to classical plant and animal		 
breeding--creating an organism with desirable traits through	 
controlled mating and selection without the insertion of genes	 
from another species--that occurs at the U.S. Department of	 
Agriculture (USDA). Within USDA, the Agricultural Research	 
Service (ARS) and the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service (CSREES) are the primary scientific research	 
agencies involved in classical plant and animal breeding	 
activities. ARS has more than 100 research facilities in the	 
United States and abroad and received about $1.3 billion in	 
funding for fiscal year 2006. ARS conducts research to develop	 
and transfer solutions to agricultural problems, and its research
partners include universities; crop, horticultural, and livestock
producer and industry organizations; state, federal, and other	 
research agencies or institutions; private companies; and	 
international agricultural research centers. CSREES, which	 
received about $1.2 billion in funding for fiscal year 2006, has 
the primary responsibility for providing linkages between the	 
federal and state components of a broad-based, national 	 
agricultural research, extension, and higher education system. As
Congress has noted, classical breeding is important to		 
agricultural producers as they seek to meet changing		 
environmental conditions and shifting consumer demands. Congress 
raised concerns about the difficulty of quantifying public	 
resources being dedicated to classical plant and animal breeding 
and asked us questions about these resources. Specifically, GAO  
was asked the following: (1) What USDA resources and personnel	 
are devoted to classical plant and animal breeding activities,	 
and what is USDA's budget for research and development of	 
genetically engineered plant and animal varieties? (2) What is	 
the total level of funding dedicated to USDA-funded extramural	 
classical plant and animal breeding initiatives and research	 
projects, and what are the specific initiatives and research	 
projects? (3) What percentage of the overall USDA research budget
goes to develop and release new, publicly held plant and animal  
varieties? What is the budget trend? (4) How many USDA-funded	 
plant and animal breeders (scientist-years) using classical	 
methods are there, and how many new varieties have they released 
in the last 2 years? (5) How many different varieties of	 
nongenetically engineered or nonpatented corn, canola, soy, and  
cotton have been released and grown in the United States? (6) To 
what extent are breeding lines being imported from other	 
countries? (7) How much public access is there to plant and	 
animal germplasm? What barriers, if any, limit public access to  
germplasm?							 
-------------------------Indexing Terms------------------------- 
REPORTNUM:   GAO-07-1171R					        
    ACCNO:   A76268						        
  TITLE:     USDA: Information on Classical Plant and Animal Breeding 
Activities							 
     DATE:   09/13/2007 
  SUBJECT:   Agricultural industry				 
	     Agricultural research				 
	     Animals						 
	     Conservation					 
	     Genetics						 
	     Grain and grain products				 
	     Plants (organisms) 				 
	     Program evaluation 				 
	     Research and development				 
	     Research and development costs			 
	     Species						 
	     Statistical data					 
	     National Plant Germplasm System			 

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GAO-07-1171R

   

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September 13, 2007: 

The Honorable Tom Harkin: 

Chairman: 

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: 

United States Senate: 

The Honorable Herb Kohl: 

Chairman: 

Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies: 

Committee on Appropriations: 

United States Senate: 

Subject: USDA: Information on Classical Plant and Animal Breeding 
Activities: 

This report responds to your request for information on activities 
related to classical plant and animal breeding--creating an organism 
with desirable traits through controlled mating and selection without 
the insertion of genes from another species--that occurs at the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA). Within USDA, the Agricultural 
Research Service (ARS) and the Cooperative State Research, Education, 
and Extension Service (CSREES) are the primary scientific research 
agencies involved in classical plant and animal breeding activities. 
ARS has more than 100 research facilities in the United States and 
abroad and received about $1.3 billion in funding for fiscal year 2006. 
ARS conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural 
problems, and its research partners include universities; crop, 
horticultural, and livestock producer and industry organizations; 
state, federal, and other research agencies or institutions; private 
companies; and international agricultural research centers. CSREES, 
which received about $1.2 billion in funding for fiscal year 2006, has 
the primary responsibility for providing linkages between the federal 
and state components of a broad-based, national agricultural research, 
extension, and higher education system. CSREES provides funding for 
projects conducted in partnership with the state agricultural 
experiment stations, state cooperative extension system, land grant 
universities, colleges, and other research and education institutions. 

As you have noted, classical breeding is important to agricultural 
producers as they seek to meet changing environmental conditions and 
shifting consumer demands. 

You raised concerns about the difficulty of quantifying public 
resources being dedicated to classical plant and animal breeding and 
asked us questions about these resources. We found that generally, USDA 
data show a gradual increase in ARS classical plant breeding funding 
over the past 10 years, while funding for its classical animal breeding 
activities has remained level, with the exception of an upward trend 
from 2002 to 2004. USDA data also show that funding for CSREES 
classical plant breeding was higher in 1985 than in 1990, 1995, 2000, 
and 2005--the other 4 years for which USDA provided data. CSREES 
classical animal breeding funding data, however, show an upward trend 
since 1998. 

To answer your questions about classical breeding, we reviewed USDA 
data on funding and scientist-years[Footnote 1] devoted to classical 
breeding, genomics, and genetic engineering activities for plants and 
animals.[Footnote 2] We included genomics because some genomic 
techniques can be applied to both classical breeding and genetic 
engineering, according to USDA officials. In addition, we reviewed USDA 
extramural classical plant and animal breeding project information and 
statistics on the percentage of acres of U.S. farmland with genetically 
engineered corn, soybeans, and cotton.[Footnote 3] We also reviewed 
USDA data and spoke with USDA officials and university researchers, as 
well as with officials from agricultural nonprofit groups who also were 
farmers, on public access to germplasm and potential barriers to this 
access.[Footnote 4] We did not speak to a probability sample of these 
stakeholders; consequently, our results may not be representative of 
these groups. We conducted analyses to determine the reliability of 
USDA funding and scientist-years data and determined they were reliable 
for our purposes. For more information on our scope and methodology, 
see enclosure I. We conducted our work from April to September 2007 in 
accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. 

Question 1: What USDA resources and personnel are devoted to classical 
plant and animal breeding activities, and what is USDA's budget for 
research and development of genetically engineered plant and animal 
varieties? 

In fiscal year 2005, the most recent year for which data are available, 
ARS and CSREES spent a total of about $145 million and 557 scientist- 
years on classical plant and animal breeding activities, according to 
USDA (see table 1). 

Table 1: USDA Funding and Scientist-Years Devoted to Classical Plant 
and Animal Breeding Activities, Fiscal Year 2005: 

Dollars in thousands. 

Plant Activities: Funding; 
ARS: $71,555[A]; 
CSREES: $31,688[B]; 
Total: $103,244. 

Plant Activities: Scientist-years; 
ARS: 155[A]; 
CSREES: 292[B]; 
Total: 447. 

Animal Activities: Funding; 
ARS: 15,111[C]; 
CSREES: 26,172[C]; 
Total: $41,284. 

Animal Activities: Funding; 
ARS: 33[C]; 
CSREES: 77[C]; 
Total: 110. 

Total: Funding; 
ARS: $86,667; 
CSREES: $57,861; 
Total: $144,527. 

Total: Scientist years; 
ARS: 188; 
CSREES: 369; 
Total: 557. 

Source: USDA. 

Note: Dollar figures have been adjusted for inflation to 2007 dollars 
and have been rounded to the nearest thousand dollars. 

[A] ARS classical plant breeding figures include funding used for 
germplasm evaluation--evaluation of plant materials for characteristics 
that can be utilized in plant genetic improvement and breeding 
heredity--and germplasm enhancement and plant breeding. 

[B] CSREES classical plant activities figures include funding for plant 
breeding activities and molecular-assisted plant breeding. While ARS 
separated molecular-assisted plant breeding into a genomics category, 
CSREES was unable to separate out this funding because it codes 
projects by strategic goal area, knowledge area, and field of science 
rather than by specific method used. Depending on the project, CSREES 
figures include either the total amount of the grant awarded or the 
amount that the recipient reported to CSREES as expended for the fiscal 
year. 

[C] ARS and CSREES classical animal breeding figures encompass all 
research at the whole-animal level, studying variation within and 
between lines and breeds of a species in poultry, beef and dairy 
cattle, sheep, swine, and aquaculture species. Depending on the 
project, CSREES figures include either the total amount of the grant 
awarded or the amount that the recipient reported to CSREES as expended 
for the fiscal year. 

[End of table] 

Shown below is the first of eight figures with information on USDA 
resources for classical breeding, genomics, and genetic engineering, 
broken out by agency (ARS or CSREES), type of resource (funding or 
scientist-years), and subject of research (plant or animal). ARS plant 
research funding for classical breeding, genomics, and genetic 
engineering generally trended upward from fiscal year 1997 to the mid- 
2000s, when the amount of funding leveled off for all three types of 
research, as shown in figure 1. In particular, ARS funding devoted to 
classical plant breeding activities has consistently exceeded that 
devoted to genomics and genetic engineering over the past decade. 

Figure 1: ARS Plant Research Funding in 2007 Dollars, Fiscal Years 1997-
2007: 

[See PDF for image] 

Notes: Classical plant breeding figures include funding used for 
germplasm evaluation, germplasm enhancement, and plant breeding. Plant 
genomics figures include funding for research in molecular and cellular 
genetics, gene growth and development, genome mapping, and gene 
expression. Plant genetic engineering figures include funding for gene 
transformation and biotechnology risk assessment research. 

Source: USDA. 

[End of figure] 

Figure 2, in general, also shows a gradual upward trend in ARS 
scientist-years for classical breeding and genomics. The scientist- 
years for genetic engineering, however, have remained level since 2002. 

Figure 2: ARS Scientist-Years Dedicated to Plant Research, Fiscal Years 
1997-2007: 

[See PDF for image] 

Notes: Classical plant breeding figures include germplasm evaluation, 
germplasm enhancement, and plant breeding. Plant genomics figures 
include funding for research in molecular and cellular genetics, gene 
growth and development, genome mapping, and gene expression. Plant 
genetic engineering figures include gene transformation and 
biotechnology risk assessment research. 

Source: USDA. 

[End of figure] 

Figure 3 shows CSREES plant research funding at five points in time 
from fiscal years 1985 to 2005. Because collecting the data was labor 
intensive and required manual review of thousands of project titles, we 
agreed with CSREES that data for 5 fiscal years would be sufficient for 
the purposes of this report. Specifically, the figure shows that 
funding for (1) classical breeding was higher in fiscal year 1985-- 
almost $35 million--than at the other four points; (2) genomic research 
was significantly higher in fiscal years 2000 and 2005 than in fiscal 
years 1985, 1990, and 1995; and (3) genetic engineering research was 
higher in fiscal year 2005 than in the previous selected fiscal years. 
CSREES officials commented that the increase for genetic engineering 
research was, in part, caused by the doubling of biotechnology risk 
assessment research funds between fiscal years 2000 and 2005. 

Figure 3: CSREES Plant Research Funding in 2007 Dollars, Fiscal Years 
1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005: 

[See PDF for image] 
 
Notes: Data collected manually by CSREES. After sorting projects coded 
by knowledge area and field of science, CSREES staff manually reviewed 
titles of over 10,000 projects to provide 5 years of funding and 
scientist-year data. Classical plant breeding activities figures 
include funding for plant breeding activities and molecular-assisted 
plant breeding. Plant genomic figures include some of the research 
coded as plant genomic, genetics, and genetic mechanisms. Plant genetic 
engineering figures include funding for genetic transformation 
research. Depending on the project, CSREES's figures include either the 
total amount of the grant awarded or the amount that the recipient 
reported to CSREES as expended for the fiscal year. 

Source: USDA. 

[End of figure] 

Figure 4 shows CSREES plant research scientist-years at five points in 
time from fiscal years 1985 to 2005. The greatest number of scientist- 
years expended for classical plant breeding research was 411 in fiscal 
year 1985. However, the greatest number of scientist-years expended for 
both plant genomics and plant genetic engineering research was 167 and 
41, respectively, in fiscal year 2005. 


Figure 4: CSREES Scientist-Years Dedicated to Plant Research, Fiscal 
Years 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005: 

[See PDF for image] 

Source: USDA. 

Notes: Data collected manually by CSREES. After sorting projects coded 
by knowledge area and field of science, CSREES staff manually reviewed 
titles of thousands of projects to provide 5 years of funding and 
scientist-year data. Classical plant breeding activities figures 
include funding for plant breeding activities and molecular-assisted 
selection research. Plant genomic figures include some of the research 
coded as plant genomic, genetics, and genetic mechanisms. Plant genetic 
engineering figures include funding for genetic transformation 
research. 

[End of figure] 

Figure 5 shows similar funding levels for ARS classical animal breeding 
and animal genomics research from 1991 to 1998. This funding, however, 
increased more substantially for animal genomics than for classical 
animal breeding research since 1998. Figure 5 also shows that ARS 
animal genetic engineering research has remained relatively constant 
since 1998. 

Figure 5: ARS Animal Research Funding in 2007 Dollars, Fiscal Years 
1991-2007: 

[See PDF for image] 

Source: USDA. 

Notes: Classical animal breeding figures encompass all research at the 
whole-animal level, studying variations within and between lines and 
breeds of a species in poultry, beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, 
and aquaculture species. Animal genomics figures include research at 
the molecular level of the genome. Animal genetic engineering figures 
include research that involves transferring genes between animal 
species. 

[End of figure] 

Figure 6 shows an upward trend in ARS scientist-years dedicated to 
genomic animal research since 1997 and an upward trend in ARS scientist-
years dedicated to classical animal breeding research from 2002 to 
2004, when it leveled off. Figure 6 also shows that ARS scientist-years 
dedicated to animal genetic engineering research have remained 
relatively constant since 1998. 

Figure 6: ARS Scientist-Years Dedicated to Animal Research, Fiscal 
Years 1997-2007: 

[See PDF for image] 

Source: USDA. 

Notes: Classical animal breeding figures encompass all research at the 
whole-animal level, studying variations within and between lines and 
breeds of a species in poultry, beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, 
and aquaculture species. Animal genomics figures include research at 
the molecular level of the genome. Animal genetic engineering figures 
include research that involves transferring genes between animal 
species. 

[End of figure] 

Figures 7 and 8 show an increase in funding and scientist-years in 
fiscal year 1998 for CSREES classical animal breeding. In addition, for 
animal genomics, funding and scientist-years also increased around the 
same time. However, in their explanation of this increase, agency 
officials commented that prior to 1998, under USDA's budget coding 
system, funding for classical breeding and genomics was not fully 
captured. They also stated that a change in the CSREES classification 
coding system in fiscal year 1998 resulted in more accurate figures. 
Funding and scientist-years for CSREES animal genetic engineering 
research have remained relatively flat since 1987, although CSREES did 
not have animal genetic engineering projects in fiscal years 1985, 
1986, 1998, and 1999. 

Figure 7: CSREES Animal Research Funding in 2007 Dollars, Fiscal Years 
1985-2005: 

[See PDF for image] 

Source: USDA. 

Notes: Classical animal breeding figures encompass all research at the 
whole-animal level, studying variation within and between lines and 
breeds of a species in poultry, beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, 
and aquaculture species. Animal genomics figures include research at 
the molecular level of the genome. Animal genetic engineering figures 
include research that involves transferring genes between animal 
species. Classical animal breeding and animal genomics data are from 
budget codes for fiscal years 1998-2005 and from a combination of USDA 
codes and manual reviews for fiscal years 1985-1997. All genetic 
engineering data are from a combination of USDA codes and manual 
reviews. Depending on the project, CSREES's figures include either the 
total amount of the grant awarded or the amount that the recipient 
reported to CSREES as expended for the fiscal year. 

[End of figure] 

Figure 8: CSREES Scientist-Years Dedicated to Animal Research, Fiscal 
Years 1985-2005: 

[See PDF for image] 

Source: USDA. 

Notes: Classical animal breeding figures encompass all research at the 
whole-animal level, studying variation within and between lines and 
breeds of a species in poultry, beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, 
and aquaculture species. Animal genomics figures include research at 
the molecular level of the genome. Animal genetic engineering figures 
include research that involves transferring genes between animal 
species. Classical breeding and genomics data are from budget codes for 
fiscal years 1998-2005 and from a combination of USDA codes and manual 
reviews for fiscal years 1985-1997. All genetic engineering data are 
from a combination of USDA codes and manual reviews. 

[End of figure] 

Question 2: What is the total level of funding dedicated to USDA-funded 
extramural classical plant and animal breeding initiatives and research 
projects, and what are the specific initiatives and research projects? 

According to CSREES officials, in fiscal year 2005, the most recent 
year for which data are available, CSREES provided $31.7 million to 
fund classical plant breeding research projects and $26.2 million to 
fund classical animal breeding research projects.[Footnote 5] (See 
encl. II for a list of USDA-funded extramural classical plant and 
animal breeding projects.) According to USDA officials, CSREES funds 
all USDA-funded extramural classical plant and animal breeding 
initiatives and research projects. 

Question 3: What percentage of the overall USDA research budget goes to 
develop and release new, publicly held plant and animal varieties? What 
is the budget trend? 

We were unable to determine the percentage of USDA's overall research 
budget devoted to these activities because CSREES does not track new, 
publicly held plant and animal varieties developed with its funding. 
CSREES explained that while it does track the percentage of its 
research budget devoted to projects that develop and release new plant 
varieties, it does not track whether these varieties become publicly or 
privately held. According to CSREES, one reason for this is that the 
variety development process is longer than the federal grant 
authorization cycle. Although we could not determine the percentage of 
the overall USDA research budget that goes to develop and release new, 
publicly held plant and animal varieties, according to ARS data, 10.7 
percent of ARS's fiscal year 2007 $1.2 billion budget is to be directed 
toward these activities. 

ARS officials said that in addition to its funding of classical plant 
breeding research, ARS contributes to the infrastructure for classical 
plant breeding in the United States by managing and making available to 
the public most of the seed stocks held by the U.S. government through 
the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS)--primarily a federally and 
state-supported effort aimed at maintaining supplies of plant germplasm 
with diverse genetic traits for use in breeding and scientific 
research. Funding for NPGS, shown in figure 9, increased from $24.5 
million in fiscal year 1996 to $46.1 million in fiscal year 
2003.[Footnote 6] ARS also supports crop genome databases that enable 
researchers to access and leverage emerging information for breeding 
and development of gene markers. ARS officials call these databases 
plant bioinformatics. Funding information for plant bioinformatics goes 
back only to fiscal year 2002. 

Figure 9: ARS Funding for Classical Plant Breeding, National Plant 
Germplasm System, and Plant Bioinformatics in 2007 Dollars, Fiscal 
Years 1992-2007: 

[See PDF for image] 

Source: USDA. 

[End of figure] 

ARS generally is not involved with the development of publicly held 
animal varieties. However, in recent years, it has conducted some 
classical animal breeding research to create genetically improved lines 
of fish germplasm in aquaculture, specifically for catfish. The funding 
trend for this research, which has been mostly flat since 2003, is 
shown in figure 10. 

Figure 10: ARS Funding for Fish Germplasm Research in the Aquaculture 
Area in 2007 Dollars, Fiscal Years 1999-2007: 

[See PDF for image] 

Source: USDA. 

[End of figure] 

Question 4: How many USDA-funded plant and animal breeders (scientist- 
years) using classical methods are there, and how many new varieties 
have they released in the last 2 years? 

ARS and CSREES expended a total of 557 scientist-years for classical 
plant and animal breeding research in fiscal year 2005, the last year 
for which data for both ARS and CSREES are available, as shown in table 
1. 

CSREES officials told us that CSREES does not track the number of new 
varieties its grant recipients have released. ARS does, however, track 
the number of new varieties released. As figure 11 shows, ARS released 
12 to 52 new plant varieties a year between fiscal years 1988 and 2006. 
In the last 2 years (fiscal years 2005 and 2006), ARS released a total 
of 54 new plant varieties. In addition, ARS commented that since fiscal 
year 1998, it has released 37 to 311 plant germplasm lines per year, 
which allowed other U.S. classical plant breeders to incorporate 
improved traits into their locally adapted varieties. ARS also released 
two new animal varieties, both catfish, through its aquaculture 
research in the past 2 years. Eight scientist-years were involved in 
this aquaculture research. 

Figure 11: Number of Plant Varieties ARS Has Released, Fiscal Years 
1988-2006: 

[See PDF for image] 

Source: USDA. 

[End of figure] 

Question 5: How many different varieties of nongenetically engineered 
or nonpatented corn, canola, soy, and cotton have been released and 
grown in the United States? 

We were unable to determine the number of different varieties because 
USDA does not collect this information. While the amount of 
nongenetically engineered crops grown may not reflect on the number of 
different varieties of nongenetically engineered crops grown, USDA does 
maintain information on the percentage of acres of nongenetically 
engineered corn, cotton, and soybeans grown in the United States since 
2000. USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts an 
annual national survey of 125,000 U.S. farmers on crops planted, 
including the number of acres planted with genetically engineered and 
nongenetically engineered corn, cotton, and soybeans. Figure 12 shows 
the downward trend in nongenetically engineered crops since 2000. 

Figure 12: Percentage of Acres on Which Nongenetically Engineered Corn, 
Cotton, and Soybeans Were Grown in the United States, Years 2000-2007: 

[See PDF for image] 

Source: USDA. 

Note: According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, data 
from farmers surveyed in 48 states represent 81 percent to 86 percent 
of all corn-planted acres, 89 percent to 90 percent of all soybean- 
planted acres, and 81 percent to 92 percent of all upland cotton- 
planted acres. 

[End of figure] 

Question 6: To what extent are breeding lines being imported from other 
countries? 

USDA does not collect information on breeding lines--genetic lines that 
provide the basis for modern varieties--imported from other countries. 

Question 7: How much public access is there to plant and animal 
germplasm? What barriers, if any, limit public access to germplasm? 

Although classical plant breeding researchers and USDA officials told 
us that the public generally has access to plant germplasm through 

ARS's NPGS, the researchers also said that most of NPGS's germplasm is 
not considered "elite" germplasm--germplasm that is ready for a farmer 
to use. The available NPGS germplasm can require years of classical 
breeding research before it is ready for farmers to use, according to 
the researchers with whom we spoke. 

One USDA official told us that ARS plant varieties and improved 
germplasm lines are publicly released and can be obtained from ARS 
researchers. According to ARS, in 2006, NPGS received 6,662 requests 
for one or more genetic material samples (accessions) and responded by 
distributing 159,266 of these samples. When the supply of a requested 
seed becomes limited, according to a USDA official, NPGS either 
provides a small amount or delays filling the request until sufficient 
seeds are regenerated. 

Regarding barriers to accessing plant germplasm, plant breeding 
researchers with whom we spoke said that intellectual property laws can 
limit access to elite germplasm. For example, the University and Small 
Business Patent Procedures Act, also known as the Bayh-Dole Act, 
allowed nonprofit organizations, such as universities, to retain title 
to and market the inventions they created using federal research 
funds.[Footnote 7] As a result, universities now restrict their sharing 
of germplasm, according to these plant breeding researchers. 

According to USDA officials, the public does not have access to animal 
germplasm because the purpose of the USDA's animal germplasm collection 
is conservation of the animal species for replacement of a breed, line, 
or strain if it is lost, or for research purposes of unique germplasm 
that would help characterize the breeds. Access to germplasm is 
determined on a case-by-case basis by species committees that consist 
of university and federal scientists and industry representatives. Some 
of the animal germplasm samples were donated by private industry under 
terms that prevent access to the samples for a limited amount of time. 

Agency Comments: 

We provided a draft of this report to USDA for review and comment, and 
USDA provided us with oral comments. USDA generally agreed with the 
contents of the draft report. The department provided us with technical 
comments, which we incorporated into the report as appropriate. 

As agreed with your offices, unless you publicly announce the contents 
of this report earlier, we plan no further distribution until 30 days 
from the date of this report. At that time, we will send copies to the 
Secretary of Agriculture, interested congressional committees, and 
other interested parties. We will also make copies available to others 
upon request. In addition, the report will be available at no charge on 
the GAO Web site at [hyperlink, http://www.gao.gov]. 

If you or your staffs have any questions about this report, please 
contact me at (202) 512-3841 or [email protected]. Contact points for our 
Offices of Congressional Relations and Public Affairs may be found on 
the last page of this report. Key contributors to this report were Josï¿½ 
Alfredo Gï¿½mez, Assistant Director; Allen Chan; Nancy Crothers; Kevin 
Bray; and Greg Wilmoth. 

Signed by: 

Lisa Shames: 

Director, Natural Resources: 

and Environment: 

Enclosures: 

Enclosure I: Scope and Methodology: 

To determine what U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) resources and 
scientist-years are devoted to classical breeding, genomics, and 
genetic engineering activities for plants and animals, we asked USDA to 
provide us with funding and scientist-years data since 1985. The 
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) gave us these data from its budget 
codes. We reported ARS animal research funding data from fiscal years 
1991 to 2007 because ARS did not have animal research funding data for 
the years before fiscal year 1991 that it felt were sufficiently 
accurate to report. We reported ARS plant research funding data from 
fiscal years 1997 to 2007 because ARS did not have a separate budget 
code for genomics before fiscal year 1997. Data for classical breeding 
and genomic research before fiscal year 1997 were combined into one 
budget code. 

The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 
(CSREES) provided plant research data from its current research 
information system. Using this database, CSREES sorted projects coded 
by knowledge area and field of science. CSREES staff then manually 
reviewed titles of over 10,000 projects to provide 5 years (fiscal 
years 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005) of funding and scientist-year 
data. CSREES animal research data for classical breeding and genomics 
for fiscal years 1985 to 1997 are from a combination of USDA codes and 
manual CSREES reviews. Similar data for fiscal years 1998 to 2005 are 
from budget codes. CSREES animal research data for genetic engineering 
are from a combination of USDA codes and manual CSREES reviews. 

To determine the total overall level of funding dedicated to USDA- 
funded extramural classical plant and animal breeding initiatives and 
research projects and the specific names of the initiatives and 
research projects, we obtained project funding information and a list 
of project names from CSREES. (See encl. II.) We did not review 
individual USDA projects to ensure the accuracy of the list. To 
determine the amount of USDA funding that goes to develop and release 
new, publicly held plant and animal varieties, we obtained funding 
figures for ARS's National Plant Germplasm System, plant bioinformatics 
program, and fish germplasm research in the aquaculture area. 

We obtained the number of scientist-years involved in developing and 
releasing new plant and animal varieties and the number of new 
varieties released from ARS. CSREES does not track this information. 

To determine the reliability of ARS and CSREES funding and scientist- 
years data and of ARS data on the number of new varieties it has 
released, we examined existing information about the data and systems 
that produced them, questioned knowledgeable agency officials about the 
data, and discussed the manual coding process with CSREES. While we 
determined that these data were reliable for our purposes, we did not 
review whether USDA had accurately categorized the funding and 
scientist-years data. 

We were unable to determine how many different varieties of 
nongenetically engineered or nonpatented corn, canola, soy, and cotton 
have been released and grown in the United States because USDA did not 
have this information. However, USDA provided us with survey statistics 
on the percentage of acres of U.S. farmland with genetically engineered 
corn, soybeans, and cotton. USDA did not have this information for 
canola or information on the percentage of nonpatented crops grown in 
the United States. The survey statistics were taken from USDA's annual 
June Agricultural Survey, which surveyed more than 125,000 farmers 
about their crops. We were unable to answer the extent to which 
breeding lines were imported into the United States because USDA did 
not have this information. 

To determine how much public access there is to germplasm and what 
barriers, if any, limit public access, we spoke with USDA officials, 
university breeding researchers, and officials from agricultural 
nonprofit groups who were also farmers. We did not speak to a 
probability sample of these stakeholders; consequently, our results may 
not be representative of these groups. 

We conducted our work from April to September 2007 in accordance with 
generally accepted government auditing standards. 

[End of section] 

Enclosure II: CSREES Classical Plant and Animal Breeding Projects: 

CSREES provided the following list of extramural classical plant 
breeding projects for fiscal year 2005. Projects with funding to 
multiple states may be repeated on this list. 
 

1. Development and Management of Canola in the Great Plains Region. 

2. Evaluation of Native and Exotic Herbs and Vegetables for Their 
Production Potentials, Stress Physiology, and Nutritional Qualities. 

3. Development of Winter Type Canola Lines for the Mid-South United 
States. 

4. Development of New Commercial Fruit Crops for Kentucky and the 
Southeastern United States. 

5. Improving Sweet Potato Production in Alabama through Breeding, 
Selection, and Biotechnology Techniques. 

6. Characterizing Soybean and Corn Genotypes for Phosphorus 
Hyperaccumulation. 

7. Development of White Lupin as an Alternative Crop in Virginia. 

8. Improving Sicklepod for Industrial and Medicinal Uses by Means of 
Conventional and Molecular Breeding Approaches. 

9. Improving Sweet Potato Production in Limited Resource Farming 
Systems through Cultivar Development and Integrated Pest Management. 

10. Breeding Aroids for Quality, Productivity, and Disease/Pest 
Resistance with Emphasis on Anthurium. 

11. Conservation, Management, Enhancement, and Utilization of Plant 
Genetic Resources. 

12. Breeding, Evaluation, and Selection of Hardy Landscape Plants. 

13. Wheat and Oat Genetics and Breeding. 

14. Oat Breeding and Genetics. 

15. Barley Breeding and Genetics. 

16. Plant Genetic Resource Conservation and Utilization. 

17. Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources. 

18. Improvement of Winter Wheat through Breeding. 

19. Genetics, Breeding, and Physiology of Yield in Cucurbits. 

20. Breeding and Testing Improved Varieties of Spring Barley, Wheat, 
and Oats. 

21. Plant Genetic Resource Conservation and Utilization--Colorado State 
University. 

22. Genetics, Breeding, and Evaluation of Winter Small Grains Crops for 
Nebraska. 

23. Breeding and Testing Oats, Barley, and Canola for Michigan. 

24. Plant Genetic Resource Conservation and Utilization--Texas A&M 
University. 

25. Plant Genetic Resource Conservation and Utilization--Oregon State 
University. 

26. Genetics and Breeding of Alfalfa for New Uses and Forage Quality. 

27. Genetic Manipulation of Sweet Corn Quality and Stress Resistance. 

28. Tree Fruit and Grape Investigations. 

29. Breeding and Genetics of Hazelnut. 

30. Development of Germplasm and Breeding Methods for the Improvement 
of Tomato. 

31. Breeding and Genetics of Floricultural Crops: Germplasm 
Enhancement, Risk Assessment of Invasiveness Potential. 

32. Conservation, Management, Enhancement, and Utilization of Plant 
Genetic Resources. 

33. Development of New Potato Cultivars for Colorado via Germplasm 
Enhancement and Evaluation. 

34. Wild Perennial Glycine Information Management and Untilization. 

35. Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources. 

36. Development of Cotton Germplasm/Cultivars with Resistance to Biotic 
and Abiotic Stresses. 

37. Evaluation and Genetic Improvement of Forage Legumes. 

38. Genetic Improvement of Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) for Yield, 
Pest Resistance, and Food Value. 

39. Genetic Manipulation of Sweet Corn Quality and Stress Resistance. 

40. Rootstock and Interstem Effects of Pome and Stone Fruit Trees. 

41. Genetic Improvement of Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) for Yield, 
Pest Resistance, and Food Value--Oregon State University. 

42. Genetic Improvement of Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) for Yield, 
Pest Resistance, and Food Value--Cornell University. 

43. Genetic Improvement of Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) for Yield, 
Pest Resistance, and Food Value--Colorado State University. 

44. Genetic Improvement of Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) for Yield, 
Pest Resistance, and Food Value--University of California. 

45. Improvement of Forage Quality in Alfalfa by Breeding. 

46. Genetic and Breeding of Cool Season Vegetable Crops. 

47. Improvement of Cotton Cultivars Adapted to Stripper Harvesting and 
Short Growing Season. 

48. Vaccinium Breeding and Genetics. 

49. Development of Improved Vegetable Legume Varieties for the 
Southwest. 

50. Quantitative Genetics and Cultivar Development. 

51. The Impact of Hybridization on Plant Population Genetics and 
Ecology. 

52. Alfalfa Breeding. 

53. Genetic Conversion of Exotic Sorghums for Temperate Zone Use. 

54. Development of Improved Potato Varieties for Texas and the 
Southwest. 

55. Development of Disease-Resistant Wheat Germplasm and Studies of 
Selected Wheat Diseases. 

56. Breeding Superior Raspberry Cultivars for the Pacific Northwest. 

57. Prunus Genetics, Germplasm, and Cultivar Development for Mild 
Winter Zones. 

58. Fresh-Market Tomato Breeding and Genetics. 

59. Use of Genetic Resistance to Control Leaf Blight and Ear Rot 
Diseases of Corn. 

60. Barley Breeding and Genetics. 

61. Utilization of Species of Arachis to Improve Cultivated Peanuts. 

62. Breeding and Genetics of Barley. 

63. Breeding Superior Strawberry Cultivars for the Pacific Northwest. 

64. Genetic Improvement of Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) for Yield, 
Disease Resistance, and Food Value. 

65. Sorghum Breeding and Genetics. 

66. Insect Resistance and Stress Adaptation through Genetic 
Manipulation of Sorghum. 

67. Cucumber, Luffa, and Watermelon Breeding and Genetics. 

68. Enhancement of Arachis Germplasm to Improve Peanut (A. Hypogaea L.) 
Cultivars. 

69. Stone Fruit Breeding for New York Tree Fruit Industry 
Diversification. 

70. Genetics and Varietal Improvement of Strawberries. 

71. Genetics, Breeding, and Evaluation of Citrus Fruits. 

72. Disease Resistance in Peanut to Sclerotinia Blight. 

73. Rootstock and Interstem Effects on Pome and Stone Fruit Trees. 

74. Spring Wheat Breeding and Genetics. 

75. Improvement and Testing of Winter Small Grains. 

76. Breeding and Genetics of Peach. 

77. Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants. 

78. Small Grains Breeding Investigations. 

79. Rootstock and Interstem Effects on Pome and Stone Fruit Trees. 

80. Develop Management Practices for Recently Introduced Rice Diseases 
in California. 

81. Improvement of Quality and Performance of Colorado Wheat. 

82. Novel Methods for Soybean Genetic Improvement and Genomic Analysis. 

83. Vegetable Breeding Material Evaluation and Alternative Crop 
Development. 

84. Molecular Population Genetics of Natural Populations. 

85. Genetic Improvement of Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) for Yield, Pest 
Resistance, and Food Value. 

86. Peanut Breeding and Genetics. 

87. Development of Multiple-Use Barley Varieties. 

88. Winter Wheat Breeding Program. 

89. Breeding Annual Ryegrass for Forage and for Turf. 

90. Identification, Propagation, and Development of Ornamentals and 
Floriculture Plants for Texas. 

91. Utilization of Forest Genetic Resources to Enhance Productivity of 
Forested Lands. 

92. Forage and Turf Grass Breeding and Genetics. 

93. How Populations Cope with Heterogeneous Environments: Plasticity, 
Adaptation, and Population Coexistence. 

94. Winter Wheat Breeding and Genetics. 

95. Genetic Improvement of Apple. 

96. Breeding Cotton Varieties for North Carolina. 

97. Vegetable Improvement for Appearance, Flavor, Texture, Nutrition, 
and Health Benefits. 

98. Improvement of Plant Defenses Against Botrytis Cinerea. 

99. Vegetable Breeding and Genetics. 

100. Genetic Improvement of Peach and Almond. 

101. Genetic Manipulation of Sweet Corn and Quality and Stress 
Resistance. 

102. Genetic Diversity and the Propagation of Native Hawaiian Plants 
for the Ornamentals Industry. 

103. Testing and Evaluation of Berry Crops for Commercial Production in 
the Pacific Northwest. 

104. Genetic Improvement of Walnut. 

105. Multidisciplinary Evaluation of New Apple Cultivars. 

106. Evaluation of Soybean Cultivars and Advanced New Strains and Corn 
and Grain Sorghum Hybrids in Arkansas. 

107. Nursery and Greenhouse Production of Ornamentals with Emphasis on 
Roses and Bedding Plants. 

108. Ecology And Management of European Corn Borer and Other Stalk- 
Boring Lepidoptera. 

109. Use of Wild Lycopersicon Species in Breeding for Improvement of 
Cultivated Tomato. 

110. Soybean Breeding and Genetic Studies. 

111. Breeding and Genetics of the Small Grains Cereals. 

112. Breeding, Genetic, and Agronomic Studies of Barley in California. 

113. Breeding and Genetics for the Improvement of Potato (Solanum 
Tuberosum L.) for Yield, Quality, and Pest Resistance. 

114. Genetic Improvement of Strawberries and Blueberries. 

115. Genetic Improvement of Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) for Yield, 
Disease Resistance, and Food Value. 

116. Genetic Manipulation of Sweet Corn Quality and Stress Resistance. 

117. Breeding and Genetics of Winter Wheat. 

118. Wheat Breeding and Genetics. 

119. Genetic Improvement of Sorghum Bicolor (L) Moench for Improved 
Productivity, Adaptability, and Quality. 

120. Development of New Potato Clones for Environmental and Economical 
Sustainability. 

121. Introduction and Evaluation of Ornamental Plants. 

122. Wheat Breeding and Molecular Genetics. 

123. Conservation and Utilization of Germplasm at the C.M. Rick Tomato 
Genetics Resource Center. 

124. Mitigation of Diseases of Dry Edible Bean and Stem Rot of Soybean 
by Managed Plant Resistance. 

125. Developing New Apple Cultivars for Washington State. 

126. Turfgrass Breeding, Genetics, and Cultivar Development. 

127. Breeding and Development of Buffalograss for the Central Great 
Plains. 

128. Breeding and Genetics of Corn. 

129. Breeding Tree Fruits Adapted to the Soils and Climate of Arkansas. 

130. Breeding and Genetics of Small Fruits and Grapes in Arkansas. 

131. Evaluation, Development, and Management of Native and Adapted 
Grass Species for Turfgrass Applications in the Intermountain West. 

132. Breeding Multiple Stress Tolerant Corn for Texas Conditions. 

133. Potato Breeding and Genetics. 

134. Evaluation and Identification of Potential Turfgrass Species for 
Lower Latitude Turf. 

135. Feed Barley for Rangeland Cattle. 

136. Hawaii Floriculture Research Grant--2005. 

137. Grass Seed Cropping Systems for a Sustainable Agriculture: ID, OR, 
and WA. 

138. Development of Phytophthora Root Rot-Resistant Avocado Rootstocks 
for the Caribbean. 

139. Russian Wheat Aphid Resistance, Stress Tolerance, and Quality 
Enhancement of Wheat. 

140. Life and Death in Plants: Studies on Perennial Wheat as a 
Sustainable Alternative Cropping System. 

141. Selecting and Breeding Sweet Potato Genotypes Under Minimum 
Cultural Conditions. 

142. Developing Alternative Vegetable Soybean Crops to Farmers. 

143. Breeding Vegetables for Pest and Stress Tolerance. 

144. Breeding and Genetics of Herbaceous and Woody Landscape Plants. 

145. Enhancing Impatiens Resistance to Feeding by Western Flower 
Thrips. 

146. Intermediate Stage Evaluation of Apple Rootstocks for the Eastern 
U.S. 

147. Forage Germplasm Evaluation in Louisiana. 

148. Selection, Development, and Propagation of Native Herbaceous 
Landscape Plants. 

149. Breeding, Genetics, and Productivity of Small Grains. 

150. Small Grain Genetic Improvement, Variety Testing, and Cultural 
Practices. 

151. Turfgrass Breeding and Evaluation. 

152. Strawberry Cultivar Development. 

153. Genetic Improvement of Wheat. 

154. Improvement of Hard Winter Wheats and Other Small Cereal Grains 
for Kansas. 

155. Increased Genetic Diversity for the Winter Wheat Breeding Program 
in Oklahoma. 

156. Selection and Evaluation of Superior Woody Ornamental Plants 
Suitable for Arkansas Landscapes. 

157. Soybean Breeding and Genetics. 

158. Breeding and Evaluation of Improved Soybean Cultivars and 
Germplasm. 

159. Breeding and Genetics of Temperate Forage Grasses and Legumes. 

160. Genetic Diversity in Cotton through Germplasm Enhancement and 
Molecular Genetics. 

161. Breeding Tropical Vegetable Crops. 

162. Analysis of Disease Resistance in Rice. 

163. Improving Spring Wheat Varieties for the Pacific Northwest. 

164. Breeding and Genetics of Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflowers, and 
Common Beans. 

165. Development of Adapted Potato Varieties for the Mid-Atlantic and 
Southeastern United States. 

166. Sweet Potato Breeding and Genetic Enhancement. 

167. Screening Genotypes for Traits Associated with Tolerance to 
Abiotic Stress for Crops Grown in the Southern Plains. 

168. Genetic Variability, Selection, and Inbreeding in Flower Crops. 

169. Improvement of Fruit Size and Yield of Mandarins in California and 
Genetic Analyses of Date Palms and Ornamental Foliage Plants. 

170. Variety Evaluation of Corn, Corn Silage, Cotton, Small Grain, and 
Soybean. 

171. Multidisciplinary Evaluation of New Apple Cultivars. 

172. Soybean Genetic Improvement and Cultivar Evaluation in Louisiana. 

173. Vegetable Crop Studies. 

174. Multidisciplinary Evaluation of New Apple Cultivars. 

175. Improving Landscape and Horticultural Production Systems. 

176. Quantitative Genetics with Focus on Corn Breeding and Corn 
Germplasm Improvement. 

177. Improvement of Strawberry and Raspberry Cultivars. 

178. Development of Disease Management Strategies for Soybean Pathogens 
in Ohio. 

179. Genetic Improvement of Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) for Yield, 
Disease Resistance, and Food Value. 

180. Development of Snap Bean Varieties and Genetic Investigations in 
Common Bean. 

181. Breeding Sorghum for Improved Yield Potential and Stress 
Tolerance. 

182. Genetic Manipulation of Sweet Corn Quality and Stress Resistance. 

183. Sugercane Improvement for Arid, Alkaline Environments. 

184. Molecular Mapping and Marker-Assisted Selection and Breeding for 
Disease Resistance and Improved Fruit Quality in Tomato. 

185. Development of High-yielding, Multiple Pest-Resistant Soybean 
Breeding Cultivars with Improved Nutritional Value for Missouri. 

186. Breeding and Evaluation for Improved Rice Varieties. 

187. Breeding and Testing of Winter Grain Crops. 

188. Genetic Improvement of Floricultural Crops. 

189. Enhancing Soybean Production-Efficiency and Stability through 
Breeding and Genetics. 

190. Genetic Improvement of Melons, Peppers, and Tomatoes to Enhance 
Production and Quality in Texas. 

191. Production Strategies for Improved Vegetable Production and 
Alternative Crops for Diversification. 

192. Evaluation of Hard Red Spring and Hard White Spring Wheat Quality 
in Relation to End-Use Functionality. 

193. Genetic Improvement of Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) for Yield, 
Pest Resistance, and Food Value. 

194. Genetic Improvement of Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) for Yield, 
Pest Resistance, and Food Value. 

195. Genetic and Turfgrass Breeding. 

196. Wheat Breeding and Small Grain Management for the High Rainfall 
Area of East Texas. 

197. Evaluation of Selected Fruit Species for Adaptation to Southern 
Louisiana. 

198. Breeding for Disease Resistance and Processing Qualities of 
Potato: Determination of Genetic Variability of Pathogens and Disease 
Management. 

199. Genetic Improvement of Underutilized Perennial Crop Plants. 

200. Cereal Breeding. 

201. Developing Land Races Adapted to Ohio Landscapes. 

202. Regional Moderate-Chilling Peach and Nectarine Breeding and 
Evaluation Project. 

203. Winter Wheat Breeding and Genetics. 

204. Selection and Adaptation of Grass and Legume Species for Forage 
Production in the Southern Coastal Plain and Penisular Florida. 

205. Selection and Adaptation of Grass and Legume Species for Forage 
Production in the Southern Coastal Plain and Penisular Florida. 

206. Development of Genetic Resources for Cotton. 

207. Genetic Manipulation of Sweet Corn Quality and Stress Resistance. 

208. Improving Wheat Quality in the State of Washington. 

209. Development of Genetic Resources for Cotton. 

210. Strawberry Breeding and Genetics. 

211. Development of Genetic Resources for Cotton. 

212. Development of Blueberry Cultivars Adapted to the Deep South. 

213. Development of Genetic Resources for Cotton. 

214. Potato Variety Improvement, Evaluation, Management, and Seed 
Increases in Idaho. 

215. Genetic Studies and Germplasm Enhancement in Cool-Season Legumes. 

216. Maize Breeding and Germplasm Base-Broadening. 

217. Development of Improved Wheat Cultivars for Idaho. 

218. Molecular Genetic Accelerated Development of Red-Skinned, Golden 
Nematode-Resistant Potato Varieties. 

219. Studies of Host-Parasite Interactions between Small Grains and 
Their Fungal Pathogens. 

220. Development of Cornus Florida Cultivars Resistant to Dogwood 
Anthracnose and Powdery Mildew. 

221. Integrated Tree Fruit Physiology, Genetics, and Management. 

222. Breeding Cotton Germplasm with Higher Lint Yield, Improved Fiber 
Quality, and Resistance to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses. 

223. Breeding Southern Peas. 

224. Breeding, Disease Epidemiology, Pathogen Characterization, and 
Genetic and Molecular Determination of Disease; Resistance in Spinach. 

225. Breeding Improved Wheat Cultivars and Germplasm for Ohio. 

226. Exotic Germplasm Conversion and Breeding Common Bean (Paswoulus 
Vulgaris L.) for Resistance to Abiotic and; Biotic Stresses. 

227. Rice Breeding and Cultivar Development in Mississippi. 

228. Development of Genetic Resources for Cotton. 

229. Cultivar Testing, Breeding, and Culture of Vegetables. 

230. Breeding and Genetics of Barley and Wheat for Increased 
Productivity, Value, and Durability. 

231. Variety and Quality Evaluation of Virginia-Type Peanuts. 

232. Preservation, Characterization, and Genetic Improvement of 
Hawaiian Taro. 

233. Variety and Quality Evaluation of Virginia-Type Peanuts. 

234. Developing Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Corn. 

235. Maize Genetics and Improvement. 

236. Breeding High-yielding, High-value Soybean for South Carolina. 

237. Genetic Improvement of Soybean for Food Value, Yield, and Pest 
Resistance. 

238. Integrated Disease Management of Dry Edible Beans in North Dakota. 

239. Disease Resistance in Small Grain Cereal Crops and Their Wild 
Relatives. 

240. Salinity and Environmental Stress Resistance in Turfgrass and 
Landscape Plants for Recycled Water Irrigation; and Phytoremediation. 

241. Peanut Breeding and Genetics. 

242. Development of Superior All-Male Asparagus Hybrids for All Major 
Cultivation Regions. 

243. Development of Cotton Cultivars and Breeding Lines Adapted in 
Mississippi. 

244. Utilization of Monoploid Derivatives of Potato in Genetic Studies. 

245. Specialty Crop Evaluation and Product Development. 

246. Biology and Control of Leaf Rust and Spring Dead Spot in Wheat and 
Bermudagrass Respectively Intergrated Activity. 

247. Cotton Germplasm Breeding for Improved Lint Yield, Fiber Quality, 
and Resistance to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses. 

248. Peanut Breeding and Management. 

249. Breeding and Germplasm Enhancement for New Jersey Cranberry and 
Blueberry Industries. 

250. Evaluating Salt Tolerance and Seed Germination in New Guayule 
Breeding Lines. 

251. Development of Multiple Disease-Resistant Commercial Tomatoes. 

252. Development of Wheat Varieties Adapted to Oregon with Improved 
Disease Resistance, Stress Tolerance, and; Superior End-Use Properties. 

253. Improved Sugarcane Cultivars for Louisiana through the 
Identification of Superior Parents, Crosses, and Seedlings. 

254. New Crop Development for Oregon Agriculture, with Current Emphasis 
on Meadowfoam (Limnanthes). 

255. Breeding and Genetics of Forage Crops to Improve Productivity, 
Quality, and Industrial Uses. 

256. Development and Utilization of DNA Markers for Soybean Breeding 
and Cultivar Development for North Carolina Environments. 

257. Market-Targeted Breeding with Molecular Wheat Protein Quality 
Assessment. 

258. Developing and Managing New Potato Varieties. 

259. Onion Breeding: Research and Development for Onion Improvement. 

260. Characterizing Genetic and Biochemical Differences among American 
Ginseng Populations. 

261. Woody Landscape Plant Breeding, Evaluation, and Introduction 
Program. 

262. Oat (Avena Sativa) Cultivar Improvement. 

263. Development of New Gene Combinations for Cotton Improvement. 

264. Development of New Potato Clones for Improved Pest Resistance, 
Marketability, and Sustainability in the East. 

265. Developing a New Hybrid Breeding System for Alfalfa. 

266. Development of New Potato Clones for Improved Pest Resistance, 
Marketability, and Sustainability in the East. 

267. Breeding and Genetics of Forage Crops to Improve Productivity, 
Quality, and Industrial Uses. 

268. Potato Breeding and Cultivar Development. 

269. Development of New Potato Clones for Improved Pest Resistance, 
Marketability, and Sustainability in the East. 

270. Breeding Pierce's Disease-Resistant Table and Raisin Grapes. 

271. Development of New Potato Clones for Improved Pest Resistance, 
Marketability, and Sustainability in the East. 

272. Breeding and Genetics of Forage Crops to Improve Productivity, 
Quality, and Industrial Uses. 

273. Cotton Germplasm Improvement and Genetics Research. 

274. Development of New Potato Clones for Improved Pest Resistance, 
Marketability, and Sustainability in the East. 

275. Corn (Zea Mays L.) Breeding in the Northern Corn Belt. 

276. Applied Sweet Potato Genomics. 

277. Genetic Improvement of Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) Germplasm for 
New Mexico. 

278. Genetic Improvement of Forage Grass and Legume Species. 

279. Cultivar Development and Genetic Improvement of Oilseed Rape. 

280. Improvement of Proso Millet and Other Crops for Adaptation to 
Western Nebraska. 

281. Breeding and Genetics of Forage Crops to Improve Productivity, 
Quality, and Industrial Uses. 

282. Genomic Tools for Peach and the Rosaceae. 

283. Breeding and Genetics of Forage Crops to Improve Productivity, 
Quality, and Industrial Uses. 

284. Breeding and Testing Vegetable Crops for Processing, Fresh Market, 
and Home Garden. 

285. Development of Rice Germplasm Using Molecular and Conventional 
Genetic Approaches. 

286. Developing Hard White Spring Wheat, Specialty Wheat, and Sawfly 
Resistant Wheat. 

287. Biological Improvement, Habitat Restoration, and Horticultural 
Development of Chestnut by Management of Populations,; Pathogens, and 
Pests. 

288. Breeding and Genetics of Flax. 

289. Breeding and Genetics of Forage Crops to Improve Productivity, 
Quality, and Industrial Uses. 

290. Genetic Manipulation of Sweet Corn Quality and Stress Resistance. 

291. Improving Corn Silage Wheat and Barley Production in Pennsylvania. 

292. Use of Genetic Resistance to Control Aflatoxin and Fumonisin in 
Corn Grain. 

293. Soybean Breeding and Production. 

294. Domestication of Western Vaccinium Species (Bilberries, 
Blueberries, Cranberries, Huckleberries, and Whortleberries). 

295. Development of Stress-Resistant/High-yield Sorghum Germplasm for 
Release and Use in Investigation of Contributing; Physiological 
Mechanisms. 

296. Breeding Cotton for Adaptation to Arkansas Conditions. 

297. Quantitative Genetics and Crop Breeding Investigations. 

298. Onion Genetic Improvement. 

299. Breeding and Genetics of Legumes for Use as Forage and in 
Sustainable Agriculture. 

300. Genetic Improvement of Forage and Cover Crop Species. 

301. Genetic Improvement of Chile (Capsicum) Germplasm for New Mexico. 

302. Spring Wheat Breeding and Genetics. 

303. Evaluation of Native and Naturalized Germplasm for Reduced-Input 
Turfgrass in the Northern Plains. 

304. Breeding Perennial Grasses and Legumes for Forage, Biomass, 
Wildlife Habitat, Conservation, and Tolerance to Stresses. 

305. Development of Oat Varieties for South Dakota. 

306. Wheat Germplasm Enhancement. 

307. Golden Nematode Resistant Chipping and Tablestock Varieties to 
Meet the Evolving Needs of the NYS Potato Industry. 

308. Faster Breeding of Vegetable Crops through Doubled-Haploid 
Techniques. 

309. Corn Breeding and Sustainability. 

310. Development of a Breeding Program to Improve the Non-Transgenic 
Resistance of Maize Against the Western Corn Rootworm. 

311. Pigeonpea Breeding, Improvement, and Production. 

312. Plant Genetic Resource Cultivation and Utilization. 

313. Host Resistance as the Cornerstone for Managing Plant-Parasitic 
Nematodes in Sustainable Agroecosystems. 

314. Evaluation and Improvement of Rice Germplasm for Texas. 

315. Development of Epichloe Festucae as a Model System for Analysis of 
Fitness Enhancing Components of; Grass-Endophyte Mutualisms. 

316. Breeding and Plant Development of Unique Geophytes. 

317. Hard Red Spring Wheat Improvement. 

318. Soybean Improvement via Classical and Molecular Breeding. 

319. Breeding and Genetic Studies of Sweet Potato. 

320. Development of Potato Cultivars for North Dakota Utilizing 
Germplasm Enhancement and Selection. 

321. Development of New Potato Clones for Improved Pest Resistance, 
Marketability, and Sustainability in the East. 

322. Environmental and Genetic Determinants of Seed Quality and 
Performance. 

323. Potato Variety Selection, Evaluation, and Development. 

324. Evaluation of Maize Germplasm, Hybrids, and Inbreds for Resistance 
to Gray Leaf Spot Disease under No-Tillage Production. 

325. Pecan Breeding and Cultivar Evaluation. 

326. Soybean Crop Improvement: Enhancing Nutrient Utilization. 

327. Breeding Landscape Plants for Adaptation to Urban Environments. 

328. Georgia Peanut Breeding and Genetics. 

329. Genetic Improvement of Sour Cherry and Sweet Cherry Rootstocks. 

330. Developing New Crops, Nutraceuticals, and other Value-Added 
Products. 

331. Novel Breeding Methods, Genetic Enhancement, and Evaluation of 
Agronomic Crop Plants Focusing on Alfalfa (Medicago sp). 

332. Floricultural Crop Breeding and Genetics for Plant Performance, 
Disease and Pest Resistance, and Stress Tolerance. 

333. Wheat Genetic Improvement. 

334. Breeding and Genetics of Spring Six-Rowed Barley for North Dakota. 

335. Characterization and Commercialization of Wyoming-Bred Brown- Root-
Rot-Resistant Alfalfa. 

336. Breeding and Genetics of Hop. 

337. Managing Karnal Bunt of Wheat. 

338. Rice Breeding and Genetics. 

339. Integration of Molecular and Classical Breeding for Turfgrass 
Improvement. 

340. Sunflower Breeding and Testing Alternative Oilseed Crops for South 
Dakota. 

341. Soybean Breeding, Genetics, and Production. 

342. Developing Taro as an Alternative Food and Ornamental Crop. 

343. Improvement of Edible Dry Bean. 

344. Introduction and Evaluation of Ornamental Plants. 

345. Introduction and Evaluation of Ornamental Plants. 

346. Genetic Improvement of Native Plant Species for Coastal 
Restoration in Lousiana. 

347. Developing Corn Silage Varieties with Improved Starch Utilization. 

348. Development of Large-Fruited Early-Bearing Papaya in the Virgin 
Islands. 

349. Identification of the Colonial Bentgrass Contribution to Dollar 
Spot Resistance in Colonial X Creeping Interspecific Hybrids. 

350. Broadening the Genetic Base and Introgression of Resistance to 
Multiple Diseases in Pinto Bean. 

351. Multistate Evaluation of Winegrape Cultivars and Clones. 

352. Genetic Improvement of Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.) Germplasm 
for New Mexico. 

353. Genetic and Molecular Marker Strategies to Enhance Breeding for 
Multiple Disease Resistance in Maize. 

354. Durum Wheat Improvement. 

355. Development of Genetic Resources for Cotton. 

356. Cotton Management Practices, Variety Choices for Quality, and 
Production Efficiency Improvements. 

357. Genetic Improvement of Woody Plants (Trees and Shrubs) for 
Ornamental Uses. 

358. Developing Black Raspberry for Diversified and Sustainable 
Agriculture Systems in the Northeast. 

359. Small Grains Breeding and Genetics. 

360. Breeding and Genetics of Spring Barley. 

361. Developing Superior Oilseed and Mustard Cultivars for 
Brassicaceae. 

362. Multistate Evaluation of Winegrape Cultivars and Clones. 

363. Breeding Sorghum for Improved Yield Potential and Stress 
Tolerance. 


364. Soybean Breeding. 

365. Enhancement of Small Grains Productivity and Value by Breeding and 
Genetics. 

366. Hard Winter Wheat Improvement. 

367. Germplasm Enhancement, Breeding, and Genetics of Turf and Native 
Grasses. 

368. Molecular Mapping and Marker-Assisted Selection and Breeding for 
Disease Resistance and Improved Fruit Quality in Tomato. 

369. Improving Efficiency of Corn Breeding and Developing Alternative 
Breeding Methods. 

370. DNA Marker-Assisted Small Grains Breeding. 

371. Managing the Genetic Diversity of Michigan Pines. 

372. Accelerating Domestication of Forest Trees for Intensive 
Plantation Forestry. 

373. Genetics and Regeneration of Pennsylvania Hardwood Forests. 

374. Evaluating Tree Varieties. 

375. Development, Wilt Evaluation, and Marketing of Improved Seeds of 
Acacia Koa. 

376. Genetic Structure within and among Four Grasses Native to 
Ponderosa Pine Ecosystems. 

377. Genetic Improvement, Seed Orchard Construction, and Restoration of 
Tennessee Forest Species. 

378. Biological Improvement, Habitat Restoration, and Horticultural 
Development of Chestnut by Management of Populations,; Pathogens, and 
Pests. 

379. Forest Genetics Research for Sustainable Forest Improvement in 
Mississippi. 

380. Quantitative Genetics and Tree Improvement of Southern Pines. 

381. Genetics of Wheat Grain Hardness Genes. 

382. QTL Mapping and Population Structure of Insecticide Resistance in 
Corn Rootworm. 

383. Genetic Dissection of Quantitative Resistance Using the Barley: 
Barley Stripe Rust Model. 

384. Genetic Control of High Oleic Acid Seed Content in Soybean. 

385. QTL Dissection of Variance Sources for Long-Term Selection. 

386. Simulation Modeling of Heading Time in Rice: A Genetic Control 
Network Approach. 

387. Raspberry as a Model System for Studying Phytophthora Root Rot 
Resistance and for Testing Marker-Assisted; Selection in Cultivar 
Development. 

388. Genetic Correlates of Weediness in Cereal Rye (Secale Cereale). 

389. Development of Corn Germplasm to Reduce Aflatoxin Contamination 
and Genetic Characterization of; Aflatoxin Resistance. 

390. New Genetic Approach to Wide-Species Hybridization, Detection of 
Alien Chromatin, and Transfer of; Agronomically Important Genes into 
Sorghum. 

391. Comparative Analysis of Phenotypic and Marker-Assisted Selection 
in Cucumber for Multiple Traits. 

392. Conference Planning Proposal for a 2005 Coordinated Agricultural 
Project (CAP) in Wheat Translational Genomics. 

393. A Coordinated Research, Education, and Extension Project for the 
Application of Genomic Discoveries to Improve; Rice in the United 
States. 

394. CAP Conference Proposal: Translational Genomics for Cotton. 

395. Coordinated Agricultural Project Conference on Barley 
Translational Genomics. 

396. APGI-CAP Conference: Soybean Translational Genomics. 

397. Genecology, Genetic Diversity, and Adaptive Trait Variation in 
Bitterbrush (Purshia Tridentata) from the Pacific Northwest. 

398. Feed and Forage Analyzer 6500 Equipment Grant. 

399. Genetic Diversity of Wild Apple Accessions in the National Plant 
Germplasm System. 

400. Gene Pair Haplotypes and Sequence Samples from Strawberry 
(Rosaceae): Multipurpose, Transferable Resources; for Genomics and 
Variety Improvement. 

401. Development of Segregating Populations for Molecular and Genetic 
Analyses of X-Disease in Chokecherry; (Prunus Virginiana L.) 

402. Application of Genetic Approaches to Enhance Cold-Hardiness of 
Guava. 

403. Characterizing Cowpea Genotypes for Drought Tolerance in the 
Delmarva Ecosystem. 

404. Bringing Genomics to the Wheat Fields. 

405. Assessment of Weediness and Fertility of Hybrids between Creeping 
Bentgrass and Related Species. 

406. Interdisciplinary Training Program in Agricultural Biology: 
Linking Emerging and Existing Technologies. 

407. Educating Young Researchers for Sustainable Agriculturally-Based 
Bio-Industries. 

408. Harnessing Investments in Genomics of Model Species for Vegetable 
Improvement. 

409. Establishment of a Grape (Vitis L.) Germplasm Center with Emphasis 
on Evaluation and Genetic Analysis of Pierce's Disease. 

410. Identification and Characterization of Potato Clones for Organic 
Production Systems. 

411. Southern Regional Canola Research Program. 

412. Development of Seedless Pawpaw Fruit by Germplasm Enhancement. 

413. Development and Management of Canola in the Great Plains Region. 

414. Utilization of Genomics for Molecular Breeding of High-quality and 
Disease-Resistant Peppers. 

415. Biological Nitrogen-Fixation and Seed-Composition Traits of White 
Lupin. 

416. Southern Regional Canola Research Program. 

417. Stakeholder Workshop Implementation of Molecular Marker 
Technologies in Public Wheat Breeding Programs. 

418. Natural Systems Agriculture. 

419. Gene Flow in Transgenic Tall Fescue and Ryegrasses: Pollen 
Dispersal and Hybridization Potential with Related Grass Species. 

420. Use of Resident Biological Resources for the Management of Replant 
Disease in Organic Tree Fruit Production Systems. 

421. The Organic Seed Partnership. 

422. International Cotton Research Center. 

423. North Central Region Canola Research Program. 

424. Southern Regional Canola Research Program. 

425. International Cotton Research Center--Part 3 (Breeding and 
Genetics Projects). 

426. Developing Medicinally Used Echinacea Cultivars by Intra-and Inter-
Species Hybridization. 

427. Improved Agricultural Sustainability through Microbial Enhanced 
Disease Resistance and Yield in Corn. 

428. Developing Medicinally Used Echinacea Cultivars by Intra-and Inter-
Specific Hybridization--Phase II. 

429. Biology, Epidemiology, and Development of Methods for Detection 
and Suppression of Citrus Canker. 

430. Using A Patho-System Approach to Develop Disease-Resistant 
Ornamental Foliage Plants. 

431. Squash Breeding for Disease Resistance to Phytophthora Blight, 
Caused by P. Capsici. 

432. Environmental Constraints and Genetic Improvement of Tropical 
Forage Production. 

433. Improving the Sustainable Production of Specialty Crops. 

434. Alternative Crops for Arid Lands. 

435. Technology and Market Development for the Gulf Coast Satsuma 
Mandarin Industry. 

436. Crop Diversification, North Dakota and Missouri. 

437. Hawaii Floriculture Research Grant--2002. 

438. Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Research (T-STAR) for Hawaii 
2002: Umbrella A. 

439. Hawaii Agricultural Diversification 2002--New Crop/Product 
Development for Market Niches. 

440. Caribbean Basin Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture Research-- 
Virgin Islands. 

441. T-STAR Agricultural Research at the University of Guam for FY2002. 

442. Identification and Introgression of Silverleaf Whitefly (Bemissa 
Argentifolii) Resistance Genes from; Lycopersicon Hirsutum to Tomato. 

443. Integrated Biotechnological and Genetic Systems for Enhanced 
Forest Productivity and Health. 

444. Improving the Sustainable Production of Specialty Crops. 

445. Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research Program. 

446. Peach Tree Short Life in South Carolina. 

447. Genetically Enhancing the Industrial Oilseed Crop Meadowfoam. 

448. Blueberry and Cranberry Breeding, Disease, and Insect Management. 

449. Management of Russian Wheat Aphids in Dryland Cropping Systems of 
the Great Plains. 

450. International Cooperation for Agricultural Research in Central 
Asia and the Caucasus. 

451. Technology and Market Development for the Gulf Coast Satsuma 
Mandarin Industry. 

452. Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Research (T-STAR) Umbrella 
B: Tropical Agriculture. 

453. Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Research (T-STAR) Umbrella 
D: Agriculture Research in the Tropics. 

454. Hawaii Floriculture Research Grant--2003. 

455. Caribbean Basin Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture Research-- 
Virgin Islands. 

456. Life and Death in Plants: Studies on Perennial Wheat as a 
Sustainable Alternative Cropping System. 

457. Developing Multi-Species Insect Resistance in Romaine Lettuce. 

458. Galia Melon: A New High-quality Shipping Melon for Florida 
Producers. 

459. Genetic Diversity and Domestication of Forage Legumes for the 
Subtropics and Tropics. 

460. Development of Phytophthora Root Rot-Resistant Avocado Rootstocks 
for the Caribbean. 

461. Peach Tree Short Life in South Carolina. 

462. Controlling Fire Blight of Apple Trees. 

463. Potato Breeding and Variety Development to Enhance Pest Resistance 
and Marketing Opportunities in the; Eastern United States. 

464. Potato Variety Development and Improvement in the Northwest. 

465. Development of Multipurpose Potato Cultivars with Enhanced 
Quality, Disease, and Pest Resistance--North; Central Program. 

466. Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research Program. 

467. International Cooperation for Agricultural Research in Central 
Asia and the Caucasus. 

468. Improving the Sustainable Production of Specialty Crops. 

469. Potato Breeding and Cultivar Development in the Southwest. 

470. Identification, Inheritance, and Utilization of Host Plant 
Resistance in Caladiums to Fusarium and Pythium. 

471. Genetic Control of Ripening of West Indian and West Indian- 
Guatemalan Avocado Fruit. 

472. Squash Breeding for Disease Resistance to Phytohthora Blight 
Caused by P. Capsici Part II. 

473. Identification and Introgression of Silverleaf Whitefly (Bemisia 
Argentifolii) Resistance Genes from; Lycopersicon Hirsutum to Tomato. 

474. Grass Seed Cropping Systems for a Sustainable Agriculture: ID, OR, 
and WA. 

475. Development of Citrus Germplasm that Will Eliminate Loss of Trees 
and Production Due to CTV. 

476. Increasing Sustainability of Tropical Pastures through Selection 
of Legumes Tolerant to Drought and Aluminum. 

477. Hawaii Floriculture Research Grant--2004. 

478. Feed Barley for Rangeland Cattle. 

479. Varietal Variation in Papaya Fruit Softening and Its Inheritance. 

480. Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture Reseach (T-STAR) Umbrella B-
-2004. 

481. Improving the Sustainable Production of Specialty Crops. 

482. Center for Sorghum Improvement. 

483. Designing Foods for Health. 

484. Potato Breeding and Variety Development to Enhance Pest Resistance 
and Marketing Opportunities in the; Eastern United States. 

485. Novel Approaches to Integrated Management of Armillaria Root Rot 
of Peach. 

486. Blueberry and Cranberry Breeding, Disease, and Insect Management. 

487. International Cooperation for Agricultural Research in Central 
Asia and the Caucasus. 

488. Field Testing of Resistant Tomato Lines to Control Late Blight and 
Early Blight in Conventional and Organic Growing Systems. 

489. Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research Program. 

490. Peach Tree Short Life in South Carolina. 

491. Organic Cropping Research for the Northwest. 

492. Developing Multi-Species Insect Resistance in Romaine Lettuce. 

493. Screening Tropical Pumpkin and Related Species for Melonworm 
Resistance. 

494. Enhancing the Genetics and Productivity of the Oilseed Crop 
Meadowfoam. 

495. Genetic Diversity and Domestication of Forage Legumes for the 
Subtropics and Tropics. 

496. Molecular Improvement of Physiological Traits Defining the 
Environmental Adaptation of Tropical Forage; Grass Production. 

497. Improving the Quality of Kava Beverage. 

498. Integrated Management of Phytophthora Root Rot of Avocado in 
Puerto Rico. 

CSREES provided a list of current extramural classical animal breeding 
projects. Projects with funding to multiple states may be repeated on 
this list. 

1. Advanced Technologies For the Genetic Improvement of Poultry. 

2. Alabama Beef Connection. 

3. Analysis of the Hairless-Wrinkled Mouse: A Spontaneous Mutant with 
Severe Skin Abnormalities. 

4. Application of Genomic and Proteomic Approaches to the Improvement 
of Disease Resistance and Performance in; Farm Animals. 

5. Assessment of Live Animal, Quantitative Genetic, and Molecular 
Biological Approaches to Enhance Genetic; Improvement in Pork Quality. 

6. Association of Imprinted Genes with Reproductive Efficiency in 
Swine. 

7. Beef Cattle Breeding and Management. 

8. Beef Cattle Breeding at the V Bar V Ranch. 

9. Beef Cattle Production Systems in the Southern Great Plains. 

10. Biological Basis for Variation in Net Feed Efficiency in Beef 
Cattle. 

11. Cell Cycle Control of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. 

12. Cell-Mediated Gene Transfer in Fish. 

13. Cellular and Molecular Characterization of the Spider Lamb 
Syndrome, a Heritable Chondrodysplasia. 

14. Characterization and Genetic Evaluation of Conformation and Gait in 
the American Warmblood and Tennessee; Walking Horse. 

15. Characterization of a Unique Ap4A Receptor. 

16. Comparative Mapping of the Bovine Genome. 

17. Controlled Breeding, Larviculture, and Intensive Growout of High- 
value Marine Fish Species for U.S. Agriculture. 

18. Delineation of Interactive Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms 
Involved in Pathogenesis Disease Using Unique Modalities as; 
Investigative Probes. 

19. Developing New Technology for Aquaculture in Louisiana. 

20. Development of Selection and Mating Strategies to Improve Dairy 
Cattle Health and Performance Using Field Data. 

21. Discovery and Evaluation of Genetic Factors that Influence Growth, 
Carcass Merit, and Meat Quality of the Pig. 

22. Discovery and Use of Quantitative Trait Loci Associated With 
Growth, Carcass Traits, and Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle. 

23. Effect of Culture Conditions on the Protein Expression Patterns and 
Viability of Bovine Embryos. 

24. Effect on Carcass Traits Due to Sire Selection Based on EPD 
Predicted From Live Animal Carcass Measures; On Young Seedstock. 

25. Effects of Genotype and Plane of Nutrition Performance, Carcass 
Composition, and Meat Quality Traits of; Guinea Fowl (Numida 
Meleagris). 

26. Engineering Mammalian Glutamine Metabolism. 

27. Enhancement of Dietary Energy Use For Maintenance, Growth, and 
Lactation by Beef Cattle. 

28. Evaluating and Modeling Extended Lactations in Dairy Goats. 

29. Evaluation and Further Development of Sheep Genetic Resources. 

30. Evaluation of Crossbred Calf and Cow Types for the Coastal Plan of 
North Carolina. 

31. Evaluation of Market Potential and Production Characters Related to 
Two Specialty Markets for Maine Livestock Producers. 

32. Expression and Function of Chicken MHC Class I Molecules. 

33. Factors Mediating Nuclear Reprogramming in Porcine Embryos Produced 
by Using Nuclear Transfer. 

34. Feed Efficiency in Cattle. 

35. Finfish Aquaculture: Improved Production Technologies, Cultivars, 
and Farming Practices. 

36. Genetic (Co) Variance of Parasite Resistance, Temperament, and 
Production Traits of Traditional and Non-Bos Indicus Tropically Adapted 
Breed. 

37. Genetic (Co) Variance of Parasite Resistance, Temperament, and 
Production Traits of Traditional and Non-Bos Indicus Tropically Adapted 
Breeds. 

38. Genetic (Co)Variance of Parasite Resistance, Temperament, and 
Production Traits of Traditional and Non-Bos Indicus Tropically Adapted 
Breed. 

39. Genetic Analysis of Fatty Acid Composition of Beef and Milk- 
Developing Tools for Use in Selection. 

40. Genetic Analysis of Production Traits in Beef Cattle and Sheep. 

41. Genetic Analysis of Selected Traits in Swine. 

42. Genetic and Environmental Aspects of Dairy Cattle Health and Milk 
Quality. 

43. Genetic and Functional Genomic Approaches to Improve Production and 
Quality of Pork. 

44. Genetic and Functional Genomic Approaches to Improve Production and 
Quality of Pork. 

45. Genetic Approaches to Enhance Efficiency and Profitability of Pork 
Production. 

46. Genetic Bases for Resistance and Immunity to Avian Diseases. 

47. Genetic Effects on Reproduction in Beef Cattle. 

48. Genetic Engineering of Dairy Animals to Improve Milk Composition. 

49. Genetic Enhancement of Agriculturally Important Animals. 

50. Genetic Improvement of Aquaculture Stocks. 

51. Genetic Selection and Crossbreeding to Enhance Reproduction and 
Survival of Dairy Cattle. 

52. Genetic Selection and Crossbreeding to Enhance Reproduction and 
Survival of Dairy Cattle. 

53. Genetic Selection and Crossbreeding to Enhance Reproduction and 
Survival of Dairy Cattle. 

54. Genetic Variation in Feed Energy Utilization. 

55. Genetic, Nutritional, and Environmental Methods to Improve 
Hatchability in Long-Stored Avian Eggs. 

56. Genetics and Functional Genomic Approaches to Improve Production 
and Quality of Pork. 

57. Genetics of Growth and Reproduction in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus 
Mykiss) Fed a Plant-Based Diet. 

58. Genetics of Growth and Reproduction in the Turkey. 

59. Genetics of Phytate Phosphorus Utilization in Chickens. 

60. Genetics Selection for Increased Hatchability of Japanese Quail 
Embryos when Incubated at 102ï¿½F. 

61. Germ Cell and Embryo Development and Manipulation for the 
Improvement of Livestock. 

62. Growth-Hormone Receptor DNA Polymorphisms and Their Associations 
with Growth Traits in Grass-Fed Cattle Populations. 

63. Haplotype Structure of the Bovine Prion Gene Region and Association 
with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. 

64. Hawaii Agricultural Diversification 2005--New Crop/Product 
Development and Marketing. 

65. Homologous Gene Targeting of Primary Embryonic Bovine Fibroblast 
Cells. 

66. Identification of Genes Controlling Animal Growth and Development. 

67. Identification of Genes Underlying Production Traits in Poultry. 

68. Identification of the Cellular Components Involved in the 
Recognition and Pairing of Homologous Chromosomes during Meiosis. 

69. Improved Ewe Productivity. 

70. Improving Nuclear Transfer Efficiency Using Donor Cells of Known 
XCI Patterns. 

71. Improving Responses of Range Beef Cattle to Estrus Synchronization. 

72. Improving the Design Of Breeding Schemes in Ruminant Livestock 
Using a Sheep Paradigm. 

73. Improving Yields of Pacific Oysters through Selection. 

74. Increasing Sheep Productive Efficiency. 

75. Inflammatory Responses to Diseases. 

76. Integrated Resource Management Beef Production Systems for the 
South Carolina Coastal Plains. 

77. Interpreting Cattle Genomic Data: Biology, Application, and 
Outreach. 

78. Interpreting Cattle Genomic Data: Biology, Applications, and 
Outreach. 

79. Interpreting Cattle Genomic Data: Biology, Applications, and 
Outreach. 

80. Livestock Management Systems. 

81. Maintenance of Immune Gene Variation. 

82. Material Genotype and Fescue Endophyte Effects on Meat Goats' 
Performance Traits. 

83. Metabolic Profiling of Butterball, a Morbidly Obese Mouse Mode. 

84. Minimizing Neonatal Lamb Losses. 

85. Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms in Agriculture. 

86. Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms in Agriculture: Gene Expression 
Mechanisms. 

87. Molecular Cloning and Characterization of the Androgenic Hormone(s) 
in Aquacultured Prawns and Shrimp. 

88. Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Skeletal Muscle Growth and 
Differentiation. 

89. Multi-Cropping Strategies for Aquaculture: A Collaborative Approach 
to Aquaculture Research and Extension--2004. 

90. Multi-Cropping Strategies for Aquaculture: A Collaborative Approach 
to Aquaculture Research and Extension--2005. 

91. Muscularity Genes and Their Functional Regulations for Efficient 
Animal Production. 

92. National Animal Genome Research Program. 

93. National Animal Genome Research Program (From NSRP-8). 

94. National Animal Genome Research Program Species Coordinator for the 
Horse. 

95. National Animal Genome Research Project (NRSP-8): Aquaculture 
Genomics (Oysters). 

96. National Beef Cattle Genetic Evaluation. 

97. NC1010: Interpreting Cattle Genomic Data: Biology, Applications, 
and Outreach (NC-209). 

98. Nutritional and Genetic Factors Affecting Growth, Adipocyte 
Development, and Muscle Characteristics in Cattle. 

99. Ohio Aquaculture Research and Development Initiatives. 

100. Paternal, Maternal, and Environmental Influence on Hatchability 
and Post-Hatching Survival of Turkeys. 

101. Performance of Crossbred Hair Sheep Ewes under Extensive 
Management in the Tropics. 

102. Physiological Genomics of Growth and Reproduction in Chickens. 

103. Poultry Production Systems: Optimization of Production and Welfare 
Using Physiological, Behavioral, and Physical Assessments. 

104. Predicting Genetic Merit by Gene-Expression Profiling. 

105. Regional Aquaculture Center. 

106. Reproductive Physiology in Male Japanese Quail Selected for 
Divergent Adrenocortical Responsiveness to Restraint. 

107. Risk Assessment of a-Lactalbumin Transgenic Pigs. 

108. Role of Antioxidants in Health and Disease in Poultry. 

109. Roles of a GTPase-Activating Protein, PRGAP, in Mediating Pitx2 
Function. 

110. Selection Strategies for Improving the Pulmonary Vascular Capacity 
in Broilers. 

111. Selective Breeding Programs for Commercially Important Bivalves in 
Maine. 

112. Shellfish Genetics and Breeding for Aquaculture. 

113. Statistical Procedures for Genetic Evaluation of Susceptibility to 
Mastitis in Dairy Cattle. 

114. Strategies to Enhance Meat Goat Production in North Carolina. 

115. Systems Evaluation of Animal Production. 

116. The Genomic and Proteomic Basis of Marek's Disease Virus-Induced 
Cellular Transformation. 

117. The Interface of Molecular and Quantitative Genetics in Plant and 
Animal Breeding. 

118. The Mechanism of PDHE1/Fdi Regulation in Response to Oxidative 
Stress in Azotobacter Vinelandii. 

119. The Molluscan Broodstock Program. 

120. The Relationship between Function and Mutations within the 
Mitochondrial NADH Dehydrogenase Complex 1 Gene. 

121. Tn5 Transposase--Host-Protein Interaction. 

122. Understanding Ecological Aspects of Shellfish Pathogens to Improve 
Management. 

123. Uracil-DNA Repair in Vitro and in Vivo. 

124. Use of Halothane Gas to Identify Novel SR Calcium Release Channel 
Protein Defects in Pigs. 

125. Utilization, Characterization, and Preservation of Goat Genetic 
Resources II. 

126. Validation and Characterization of a High-density Chicken SNP Map. 

127. Western Regional Aquaculture Center--17th Annual Work Plan (FY03). 

128. Western Regional Aquaculture Center--18th Annual Work Plan (FY04). 

129. Western Regional Aquaculture Center--19th Annual Work Plan (FY05). 

[End of section] 

Footnotes: 

[1] For the purposes of this report, USDA defines a scientist-year as a 
full-time, permanent scientist assigned to the program. 
 
[2] Genomics refers to the study of genes and their function. Genetic 
engineering refers to methods by which biologists splice genes from one 
species into the DNA of another species in an attempt to transfer 
chosen genetic traits. 

[3] Extramural research refers to research that is funded by federal 
sources but conducted by nonfederal entities. 

[4] For the purposes of this report, USDA defines plant germplasm as 
the genetic variation of a species and animal germplasm as any unique 
breed, line, or strain of a species. 

[5] Dollar figures have been adjusted for inflation to 2007 dollars. 

[6] CSREES noted that it also contributes to the infrastructure for 
classical plant breeding in the United States through funding for plant 
breeding research at state agricultural experiment stations and land- 
grant universities, including funding for collaborative work with NPGS. 

[7] Pub. L. No. 96-517, ï¿½ 6, 94 Stat. 3019 (1980). 

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