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
