USA Country Report

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USA Country Report

Dr. Edward B. Knipling

Administrator

Agricultural Research Service

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Topics

• ARS Delegation and Hosts

• U.S. Policy Environment

• ARS Budgets

• Research Priorities

• Emergency Problems

• Farm Bill

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U.S. Delegation

• Dr. Edward B. Knipling, Administrator ARS• Dr. Antoinette Betschart, Associate Administrator

for Research Operations and Management• Dr. Ghassem Asrar, Deputy Administrator Natural

Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems• Dr. Pai-Yei Whung, Director International Research

Programs• Dr. Kevin Hackett, National Program Leader• Mr. Ibrahim Shaqir, International Affairs Specialist

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ARS Hosts

• Dr. Dwayne Buxton, Area Director Pacific West Area

• Mr. Jeffrey Van Houten, Deputy Area Director Pacific West Area

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U.S. Policy Environment

• New Under Secretary– Dr. Gale Buchanan

• Democrat-controlled Congress

• Tight budgets for non-defense spending

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U.S. Policy Environment (continued)

• New Farm Bill

• Up-coming election year

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ARS Budget (FY 2007)

• $1.1 Billion

• Same as 2006 level

• Aligns $210 Million in prior-year earmarks with National priorities

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Proposed Budget FY 2008

• Pending before Congress

• $1 Billion – 10 percent net reduction from 2007

• Eliminates $212M prior-year earmarks

• Redirects $106M to enhance priority programs

• New BL-3 Avian Influenza facility at Athens, Georgia

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Proposed Budget FY 2009

• Under development

• June 7 submission

• Flat

• Enhancements off-set by reductions

• Publicly announced Feb. 2008

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ARS Research Priorities

• Emerging Diseases/Invasive Species

• Bioenergy/Biobased Products

• Food Safety

• Human Nutrition/Obesity Prevention

• Genetic Resources and Genomics

• Water Resources

• Sustainable Production Systems

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Emergency Problems

• Avian Influenza

• Produce Food Safety

• Wheat Stem Rust

• Colony Collapse Disorder - honeybees

• Light Brown Apple Moth

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Proposed 2007 Farm Bill

• Authorization Legislation

• Reforms farm policy: more market-oriented, more predictable, less market distorting and better able to withstand challenge

• Reduce crop subsidies

• Expand trade capacity

• Increase conservation and research

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Proposed 2007 Farm Bill(continued)

• Title I: Commodity Programs

• Title II: Conservation

• Title III: Trade

• Title IV: Nutrition Programs

• Title V: Credit

• Title VI: Rural Development

• Title VII: Research & Related Matters

• Title VIII: Forestry

• Title IX: Energy

• Title X: Miscellaneous

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Proposed 2007 Farm Bill(continued)

• Title VII: Research & Related Matters– Research, Education and Economics

Reorganization – Bioenergy and Biobased Products Research

Initiative – Specialty Crop Research Initiative – Organic Crop Research Initiative– Foot and Mouth Disease Research on

Mainland

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Proposed 2007 Farm Bill(continued)

• Proposed Research, Education and Economics Reorganization – Rename Research, Education, and Economics

Mission Area to Office of Science headed by Under Secretary

– Consolidate intramural (ARS) and extramural research into single organization

– Establish a single national program staff for research planning, coordination, and stakeholder relations

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Proposed 2007 Farm Bill(continued)

• U.S. House of Representatives initial response to reorganization proposal– Does not consolidate intramural and

extramural research– ARS remains separate agency– National planning staff established in Under

Secretary’s Office– New research initiatives not provided

additional funding

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A better future through agricultural research and

information.