May 24, 2002

HOUSE MEMBERS ADVOCATE FOR CSREES BUDGET INCREASE
There is a new effort in the House to increase the CSREES budget to $212 million in FY03. This increase will help develop new programs and augment existing programs to enhance agrosecurity, as developed by the Board on Agriculture Assembly--Budget and Advocacy Committee. Congressman John Thune (R-SD) and Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (D-OR) are sending a Dear Colleague letter in support of the increase to the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. The letter highlights land-grant and state colleges and universities as institutions that need to be beefed up to enhance agrosecurity. Currently Thune and Hooley are circulating the letter to other Members of the House asking them to sign it before it goes to the subcommittee.

EXTENSION PROVISIONS IN THE FARM BILL
The following selected highlights are some of the sections of particular interest to Extension in the REE, rural development, conservation, forestry, and energy titles of the Farm Bill:

Sec. 6025 Grants to Train Farm Workers in New Technologies and to Train Farm Workers in Specialized Skills Necessary for Higher Value Crops. This program authorizes the Secretary to make grants to non-profit organizations or a consortium of non-profits, agribusinesses, public agencies, farmer cooperatives, and community-based organizations to train farm workers in new technologies. The legislation authorizes appropriations of $10 million annually through 2007. The Farm Bill Task Force supported the program with the recommendation that the land-grant universities be identified specifically in the legislation. As written, extension services could be eligible to participate in a consortium, depending on the Department's interpretation of a community-based organization.

Sec. 6030 Rural Strategic Investment Program. Authorizes $100 million annually in mandatory funding to support regional rural development planning and implementation. The legislation authorizes the establishment of a National Rural Development Board that would approve grants to Regional Rural Development Boards. Membership on both the national and regional boards is specifically stipulated in the legislation and the national board maintains the authority to certify the membership of regional boards. The Secretary must approve a national rural strategic investment plan developed by the National Board before in order to release the funding. Of the $100 million, $8 million is dedicated to planning grants, $87 million to innovation (implementation) grants, and $5million to a national conference on rural America. Planning and innovation programs must address the following topics: basic infrastructure needs; basic services within the region; opportunities for economic diversification and innovation, with particular attention to entrepreneurship; human resource capacity; access to market-based financing and venture and equity capital; and the development of public-private partnerships for investment. Innovation grants can be used by the Regional Board to support infrastructure development critical to economic development; provide assistance to basic service entities; assist with job training, workforce development, and other economic development needs; assist in the development of public, private, and philanthropic collaboration in regional development; and provide support to business investment. While land-grant university representation is not specified on the regional boards, they are eligible to participate. Representatives of colleges, universities, and state and tribal extension personnel are specified for participation in the National Conference on Rural America authorized to take place between November 2002 and October 2004.

Sec. 7221 Biosecurity The Farm Bill conference report includes section 7221 Biosecurity Planning and Response Programs, an authorization for the USDA to conduct research, extension and education programs in agro-security, using such sums as necessary. The biosecurity research, extension and education provision is broadly drawn language authorizing the Secretary to carry out such programs in addition to, not in place of, currently authorized REE programs. It gives the Secretary maximum leeway in designing programs to address biosecurity, be it through competitive grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts for service.

Sec. 7405 Beginning farmer and rancher development program Authorizes a competitive grant program to support training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers. Eligible grantees include, among others, State cooperative extension services, Federal, State or tribal agencies, and community-based organizations. The provision includes a 25% set-aside for limited resource and socially disadvantaged beginning farmers and ranchers. Senate staff and sustainable agriculture interest groups developed this provision, which the Farm Bill Task Force supported.

Sec. 10802 Program of public education regarding use of biotechnology in producing food for human consumption This provision instructs the Secretary to develop and implement a program to communicate with the public regarding the use of biotechnology in producing food for human consumption, including science-based evidence of such foods and the human outcomes of biotechnology used to produce food for human consumption. This program is authorized with such sums as necessary through 2007.

SCHEDULE
This week, Tuesday, May 28 through Friday, May 31, both Mike and Linda will be out of the office. Mike is taking annual leave and Linda is in Washington DC attending meetings of the NASULGC Board on Human Sciences and the ECOP committee to enhance federal Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) funding.