TETRAPARTITE 2008

USA COUNTRY REPORT

Dr. Edward B. Knipling Administrator

Agricultural Research Service

TOPICS

• Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Delegation

• U.S. Policy Environment• ARS Budgets• Research Priorities• Emerging/Continuing Issues• Farm Bill

ARS Delegation

• Dr. Edward B. Knipling, Administrator

• Dr. Caird E. Rexroad, Jr., Associate Administrator

• Dr. Wilbert (Will) H. Blackburn, Director – Northern Plains Area

• Dr. Allison A. Yates, Director – Beltsville

Human Nutrition Research Center

U.S. Policy Environment

• New Secretary – Edward Schafer

• Tight budgets for non-defense spending

• Election year – Administration change

• New Farm Bill

• High Commodity/Food Prices and Food vs Fuel debates

• Greater policy attention to climate change?

ARS Budget FY 2008

• $1.1 Billion appropriation

• Down $10 Million from 2007 level

• Third consecutive year with a flat, no- increase budget

• Aligns 80 percent of prior-year earmarks ($210 Million) with National priorities; 20 percent ($41 Million) earmarks remain

Proposed Budget FY 2009

• Pending before Congress

• $1 Billion – 7.5 percent net reduction ($84 Million) from 2008

• Redirects $64 Million base programs to enhance priority research

Proposed Budget FY 2009

(continued)• Terminates $59 Million in lesser

priority base research programs and $41 Million in prior-year earmarks – closes 20 ARS laboratories

• New BSL-3 Avian Influenza facility at Athens, Georgia (planning funds)

• Final Congressional action 6 months away, after election

Proposed Budget FY 2010

• On hold pending new Administration

• Expected to reflect level or reduced spending from FY 2009

• May reflect food price crisis and new Farm Bill provisions

ARS Research Priorities

• Human Nutrition/Obesity Prevention

• Bioenergy/Biobased Products

• Food Safety

• Emerging Diseases/Invasive Species

• Water Resources (reuse)

• Genetic Resources and Genomics

• Specialty Crops

Emerging/Continuing Issues

• High Food Prices• Colony Collapse Disorder – Honeybees• Wheat Stem Rust Threat (Ug-99

Race)*• Produce Food Safety • Avian Influenza

*Special opportunity for Tetrapartite collaboration

New 2008 Farm Bill

• U.S. farm/food policy and authorizing legislation

• Enacted May 2008; still highly controversial

• Modestly reduces crop and ethanol subsidies; establishes payment limits

• Enhances trade, nutrition assistance, and conservation programs

New 2008 Farm Bill(continued)

• Research and related matters- Proposed reorganization of ARS did not occur

- New Program Director staff established at the Under Secretary level to coordinate intramural and extramural programs

- Under Secretary provided dual title of USDA Chief Scientist

- Tasked to set the USDA research, education, and extension agenda (“Roadmap”) and recommend funding levels

New 2008 Farm Bill(continued)

- Former USDA extramural funding organization (CSREES) renamed National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), with enhanced funding authorities for competitive research

- Specialty Crop and Organic Crop Research Initiatives

- Bioenergy Research Initiative

- Foot and Mouth Disease Research on Mainland

A better future through

agricultural research and information