Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), 68553-68554 [E7-23528]

Download as PDF 68553 Notices Federal Register Vol. 72, No. 233 Wednesday, December 5, 2007 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. Dated: November 27, 2007. Joanne Paskar, Chief, Information and Records Division Office of Administrative Services Bureau for Management. [FR Doc. 07–5935 Filed 12–4–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6116–01–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service Notice of Public Information Collection Requirements Submitted to OMB for Review mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the FederalState Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) [Doc. No. AMS–TM–07–0126; TM–07–13] SUMMARY: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has submitted the following information collections to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13. Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Comments should be sent via e-mail to David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov or fax to 202–395–7285. Copies of submission may be obtained by calling (202) 712– 1365. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Number: OMB 0412–NEW. Form Number: N/A. Title: Partner Information Form. Type of Submission: New Information Collection. Purpose: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Office of Security, intends to collect information from approximately 2000 individuals and/or officers of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) who apply for USAID contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, other funding from USAID, or who apply for registration with USAID as Private and Voluntary Organizations (PVO). Collection of personally identifiable information from these individuals is specifically used to conduct screening to ensure that neither USAID funds nor USAID-funded activities inadvertently provide support to entities or individuals associated with terrorism. Annual Reporting Burden Respondents: 2000. Total annual responses: 2000. Total annual hours requested: 500 hours. VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:05 Dec 04, 2007 Jkt 214001 Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of approximately $1.3 million in competitive grant funds for fiscal year 2008 to enable States to explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible applicants include State departments of agriculture, State agricultural experiment stations, and other appropriate State Agencies. Applicants are encouraged to involve industry groups, academia, communitybased organizations, and other stakeholders in developing proposals and conducting projects. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the information collection requirements have been previously approved by OMB under 0581–0240, Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP). DATES: Proposals will be accepted through February 11, 2008. ADDRESSES: Submit proposals and other required documents to: FSMIP Staff Officer, Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4009 South Building, Washington, DC 20250; telephone (202) 720–8043; e-mail janise.zygmont@usda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janise Zygmont, FSMIP Staff Officer; PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 telephone (202) 720–8043; fax (202) 690–4948; or e-mail janise.zygmont@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSMIP is authorized under Section 204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.). FSMIP provides matching grants on a competitive basis to enable States to explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible applicants include State departments of agriculture, State agricultural experiment stations, and other appropriate State Agencies. Other organizations interested in participating in this program should contact their State Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Division. State agencies specifically named under the authorizing legislation should assume the lead role in FSMIP projects, and use cooperative or contractual linkages with other agencies, universities, institutions, and producer, industry or communitybased organizations as appropriate. Multi-State projects are encouraged as long as one State assumes the coordinating role, using appropriate cooperative arrangements with the other States involved. Applicants other than State Departments of Agriculture and State agricultural experiment stations may wish to include with their applications an explanation of how they meet the definition of ‘‘other appropriate State agency.’’ Proposals must be accompanied by completed Standard Forms (SF) 424 and 424A. AMS will not approve the use of FSMIP funds for advertising or, with limited exceptions, for the purchase of equipment. Detailed program guidelines may be obtained from the contact listed above, and are available at the FSMIP Web site: https://www.ams.usda.gov/ tmd/fsmip.htm. Background FSMIP funds a wide range of applied research projects that address barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transportation, and distribution of U.S. food and agricultural products domestically and internationally. Eligible agricultural categories include livestock, livestock products, food and feed crops, fish and shellfish, E:\FR\FM\05DEN1.SGM 05DEN1 68554 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 233 / Wednesday, December 5, 2007 / Notices mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES horticulture, viticulture, apiary, and forest products and processed or manufactured products derived from such commodities. Reflecting the growing diversity of U.S. agriculture, in recent years, FSMIP has funded projects dealing with nutraceuticals, bioenergy, compost, and products made from agricultural residues. Proposals may deal with barriers, challenges, or opportunities manifesting at any stage of the marketing chain including direct, wholesale, and retail. Proposals may involve small, medium, or large scale agricultural entities but should potentially benefit multiple producers or agribusinesses. Proprietary proposals that benefit one business or individual will not be considered. Proposals that address issues of importance at the State, regional or national level are appropriate for FSMIP. FSMIP also seeks unique proposals on a smaller scale that may serve as pilot projects or case studies useful as a model for other States. Of particular interest are proposals that reflect a collaborative approach among the States, academia, the farm sector and other appropriate entities and stakeholders. FSMIP’s enabling legislation authorizes projects to: • Determine the best methods for processing, preparing for market, packing, handling, transporting, storing, distributing, and marketing agricultural products. • Determine the costs of marketing agricultural products in their various forms and through various channels. • Assist in the development of more efficient marketing methods, practices, and facilities to bring about more efficient and orderly marketing, and reduce the price spread between the producer and the consumer. • Develop and improve standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade, and packaging in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in commercial practices. • Eliminate artificial barriers to the free movement of agricultural products in commercial channels. • Foster new/expanded domestic/ foreign markets and new/expanded uses of agricultural products. • Collect and disseminate marketing information to anticipate and meet consumer requirements, maintain farm income, and balance production and utilization. Paperwork Reduction Act In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the FSMIP information collection requirements were previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:05 Dec 04, 2007 Jkt 214001 were assigned OMB control number 0581–0240. AMS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), which requires Government agencies in general to provide the public with the option of submitted information or transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible. How To Submit Proposals and Applications Applicants have the option of submitting FSMIP applications electronically through the Federal grants Web site, https://www.grants.gov instead of mailing hard copy documents. Applicants considering the electronic application option are strongly urged to familiarize themselves with the Federal grants Web site well before the application deadline and to begin the application process before the deadline. Additional details about the FSMIP application process for all applicants are available at the FSMIP Web site: https:// www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm. FSMIP is listed in the ‘‘Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance’’ under number 10.156 and subject agencies must adhere to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination in all federally assisted programs. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. Dated: November 29, 2007. Lloyd C. Day, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. E7–23528 Filed 12–4–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2007–0149] National Animal Identification System; Updated Program Standards Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we are making available for review and comment a revised version of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) Program Standards and Technical Reference document. A previous Program Standards document was originally made available in May 2005. The revised Program Standards and Technical Reference document PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 reflects the continuing evolution of the NAIS, particularly with regard to identification devices available for official use within the system, and provides further guidance to NAIS participants and other interested stakeholders. ADDRESSES: The revised Program Standards and Technical Reference document is available on the Internet at https://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/. The document may also be viewed in our reading room. The reading room is located in Room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 690–2817 before coming. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Adam Grow; Director, Surveillance and Identification Programs, National Center for Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 200, Riverdale, MD 20737–1231; (301) 734– 3752. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On May 6, 2005, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published in the Federal Register (70 FR 23961–23963, Docket No. 05–015–1) a notice advising the public that two documents related to the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), a Draft Strategic Plan and a Draft Program Standards document, were being made available to the public for review and comment. The Draft Program Standards document provided technical data standards to be used for information systems in the NAIS. Subsequently, a Draft User Guide for the NAIS replaced the 2005 Draft Program Standards, as well as other draft NAIS documents. We published a notice of availability of the Draft User Guide in the Federal Register (72 FR 4680–4681, Docket No. APHIS– 2007–0007) on February 1, 2007. The February 2007 notice also announced the availability of a technical specification document for animal tracking databases and an updated Program Standards and Technical Reference document. The Program Standards and Technical Reference document supplemented the User Guide and contained an update of the data element standards that were in the 2005 Draft Program Standards. It was targeted to entities that are involved in the administration of the program, including manufacturers of animal identification devices. At that time, only E:\FR\FM\05DEN1.SGM 05DEN1

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[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68553-68554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23528]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-07-0126; TM-07-13]


Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the 
Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP)

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the 
availability of approximately $1.3 million in competitive grant funds 
for fiscal year 2008 to enable States to explore new market 
opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products and to encourage 
research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and 
performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible applicants include 
State departments of agriculture, State agricultural experiment 
stations, and other appropriate State Agencies. Applicants are 
encouraged to involve industry groups, academia, community-based 
organizations, and other stakeholders in developing proposals and 
conducting projects. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, the information collection requirements have been previously 
approved by OMB under 0581-0240, Federal-State Marketing Improvement 
Program (FSMIP).

DATES: Proposals will be accepted through February 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit proposals and other required documents to: FSMIP 
Staff Officer, Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4009 South Building, Washington, DC 
20250; telephone (202) 720-8043; e-mail janise.zygmont@usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janise Zygmont, FSMIP Staff Officer; 
telephone (202) 720-8043; fax (202) 690-4948; or e-mail 
janise.zygmont@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSMIP is authorized under Section 204(b) of 
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.). FSMIP 
provides matching grants on a competitive basis to enable States to 
explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural 
products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving 
the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible 
applicants include State departments of agriculture, State agricultural 
experiment stations, and other appropriate State Agencies. Other 
organizations interested in participating in this program should 
contact their State Department of Agriculture's Marketing Division. 
State agencies specifically named under the authorizing legislation 
should assume the lead role in FSMIP projects, and use cooperative or 
contractual linkages with other agencies, universities, institutions, 
and producer, industry or community-based organizations as appropriate. 
Multi-State projects are encouraged as long as one State assumes the 
coordinating role, using appropriate cooperative arrangements with the 
other States involved. Applicants other than State Departments of 
Agriculture and State agricultural experiment stations may wish to 
include with their applications an explanation of how they meet the 
definition of ``other appropriate State agency.''
    Proposals must be accompanied by completed Standard Forms (SF) 424 
and 424A. AMS will not approve the use of FSMIP funds for advertising 
or, with limited exceptions, for the purchase of equipment. Detailed 
program guidelines may be obtained from the contact listed above, and 
are available at the FSMIP Web site: https://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/
fsmip.htm.

Background

    FSMIP funds a wide range of applied research projects that address 
barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transportation, 
and distribution of U.S. food and agricultural products domestically 
and internationally.
    Eligible agricultural categories include livestock, livestock 
products, food and feed crops, fish and shellfish,

[[Page 68554]]

horticulture, viticulture, apiary, and forest products and processed or 
manufactured products derived from such commodities. Reflecting the 
growing diversity of U.S. agriculture, in recent years, FSMIP has 
funded projects dealing with nutraceuticals, bioenergy, compost, and 
products made from agricultural residues.
    Proposals may deal with barriers, challenges, or opportunities 
manifesting at any stage of the marketing chain including direct, 
wholesale, and retail. Proposals may involve small, medium, or large 
scale agricultural entities but should potentially benefit multiple 
producers or agribusinesses. Proprietary proposals that benefit one 
business or individual will not be considered.
    Proposals that address issues of importance at the State, regional 
or national level are appropriate for FSMIP. FSMIP also seeks unique 
proposals on a smaller scale that may serve as pilot projects or case 
studies useful as a model for other States. Of particular interest are 
proposals that reflect a collaborative approach among the States, 
academia, the farm sector and other appropriate entities and 
stakeholders. FSMIP's enabling legislation authorizes projects to:
     Determine the best methods for processing, preparing for 
market, packing, handling, transporting, storing, distributing, and 
marketing agricultural products.
     Determine the costs of marketing agricultural products in 
their various forms and through various channels.
     Assist in the development of more efficient marketing 
methods, practices, and facilities to bring about more efficient and 
orderly marketing, and reduce the price spread between the producer and 
the consumer.
     Develop and improve standards of quality, condition, 
quantity, grade, and packaging in order to encourage uniformity and 
consistency in commercial practices.
     Eliminate artificial barriers to the free movement of 
agricultural products in commercial channels.
     Foster new/expanded domestic/foreign markets and new/
expanded uses of agricultural products.
     Collect and disseminate marketing information to 
anticipate and meet consumer requirements, maintain farm income, and 
balance production and utilization.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the FSMIP 
information collection requirements were previously approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and were assigned OMB control 
number 0581-0240.
    AMS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act (GPEA), which requires Government agencies in general 
to provide the public with the option of submitted information or 
transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible.

How To Submit Proposals and Applications

    Applicants have the option of submitting FSMIP applications 
electronically through the Federal grants Web site, https://
www.grants.gov instead of mailing hard copy documents. Applicants 
considering the electronic application option are strongly urged to 
familiarize themselves with the Federal grants Web site well before the 
application deadline and to begin the application process before the 
deadline. Additional details about the FSMIP application process for 
all applicants are available at the FSMIP Web site: https://
www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm.
    FSMIP is listed in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance'' 
under number 10.156 and subject agencies must adhere to Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination in all federally 
assisted programs.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: November 29, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-23528 Filed 12-4-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P

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