Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the Establishment of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), 50926-50928 [E8-20146]
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50926
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 169 / Friday, August 29, 2008 / Notices
mortgage. Without the information it
would be impossible for APHIS to
launch its program to contain and
prevent ISA outbreaks in the United
States.
Description of Respondents: Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 2.
Frequency of Responses:
Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 644.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–20059 Filed 8–28–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
August 25, 2008.
The Department of Agriculture has
submitted the following information
collection requirement(s) to OMB for
review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Comments
regarding (a) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of burden including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information to be
collected; (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB),
OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or
fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail
Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250–
7602. Comments regarding these
information collections are best assured
of having their full effect if received
within 30 days of this notification.
Copies of the submission(s) may be
obtained by calling (202) 720–8958.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs
potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:32 Aug 28, 2008
Jkt 214001
persons are not required to respond to
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
Farm Service Agency
Title: Report of Acreage.
OMB Control Number: 0560–0004.
Summary of Collection: 7 U.S.C.
7333(b)(3) specifically requires, for
crops and commodities covered by the
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance
Program (NAP), annual reports of
acreage planted and prevented from
being planted, as required by the
Secretary, by the designated acreage
reporting data for the crop and location
as established by the Secretary. The
report of acreage is conducted on an
annual basis and is used by the Farm
Service Agency (FSA) county offices to
determine eligibility for benefits that are
available to producers on the farm.
Respondents must provide the
information each year because variables
such as previous year experience,
weather occurrences and projections,
market demand, new farming
techniques and personal preferences
affect the amount of land being farmed,
the mix of crops planted, and the
projected harvest. Prior year information
is not sufficient on its own. Therefore,
respondents must supply current data
on a program year basis by the final
reporting date established for their
country to qualify for NAP assistance.
Need and Use of the Information: FSA
will collect information verbally from
the producers during visits to the
county offices. FSA will collect one or
more of the following data elements, as
required: Crop planted, planting date,
crop’s intended use, type or variety,
practice (irrigated or non-irrigated),
acres, location of the crop (tract and
field), and the producer’s percent share
in the crop along with the names of
other producers having an interest in
the crop. Once the information is
collected and eligibility established, the
information is used throughout the crop
year to ensure the producer remains
compliant with program provisions. If
information is not reported, FSA has no
basis to calculate APH, losses could not
be determined, and information for crop
insurance expansion could not be
provided to RMA.
Description of Respondents:
Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 291,500.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 619,438.
Farm Service Agency
Title: Offer Forms.
OMB Control Number: 0560–0177.
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Summary of Collection: The
Agricultural Trade Development and
Assistance Act of 1954, as amended,
(Title II, Pub. L. 480), Section 416(b) of
the Agricultural Act of 1949, as
amended (Section 416(b)), and the Food
for Progress Act of 1985, as amended
(for Food for Progress) authorizes
International Procurement Division to
procure, sell, and transport agricultural
commodities, and obtain discharge/
delivery survey information.
Contractors, vendors, and steamship
companies submit competitive offers for
agricultural commodities and services.
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will
collect information using several forms.
Need and Use of the Information: The
information collected will enable
Kansas City Commodity Office (KCCO)
to evaluate offers impartially, purchase
or sell commodities, and obtain services
to meet domestic and export program
needs. Without the information KCCO
could not meet program requirements.
Description of Respondents: Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 949.
Frequency of Responses:
Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;
Quarterly; Weekly; Semi-annually;
Monthly; Annually; Other (Bi-weekly &
Bi-monthly).
Total Burden Hours: 3,405.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–20060 Filed 8–28–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders
Regarding the Establishment of the
Agriculture and Food Research
Initiative (AFRI)
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and
request for stakeholder input.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension
Service (CSREES) is creating a new
research, education, and extension
program called the Agriculture and
Food Research Initiative (AFRI). By this
notice, CSREES is designated to act on
behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture in
soliciting public comment from
interested persons regarding the
implementing regulation to be
developed for this new program as
required under section 7406 of the
E:\FR\FM\29AUN1.SGM
29AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 169 / Friday, August 29, 2008 / Notices
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Wednesday, September 10, 2008, from
9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. All comments must
be received by close of business
Wednesday, September 24, 2008, to be
considered.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
Room 1410 A/B/C/D; Waterfront Centre
Building; Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service;
United States Department of
Agriculture; 800 9th Street, SW.;
Washington, DC 20024. Meeting
participants will need to provide photo
identification to be admitted to the
building. Please allow sufficient time to
go through security.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Terri Joya, (202) 401–1761 (phone),
(202) 401–1782 (fax), or
tjoya@csrees.usda.gov. You may submit
comments, identified by CSREES–2008–
0002 by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: afri@csrees.usda.gov. Include
CSREES–2008–0002 in the subject line
of the message.
Fax: (202) 401–1782.
Mail: Paper, disk or CD–ROM
submissions should be submitted to
AFRI; Competitive Programs (CP) Unit;
Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service; U.S. Department
of Agriculture; STOP 2240; 1400
Independence Avenue, SW.;
Washington, DC 20250–2240.
Hand Delivery/Courier: AFRI;
Competitive Programs (CP) Unit;
Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service; U.S. Department
of Agriculture; Room 2457, Waterfront
Centre; 800 9th Street, SW.;
Washington, DC 20024.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
CSREES–2008–0002. All comments
received will be posted to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Additional Meeting and Comment
Procedures
Because of the diversity of subjects,
and to aid participants in scheduling
their attendance, the following schedule
is anticipated for the September 10,
2008, meeting:
9:30 a.m.–10 a.m.–Introduction to
AFRI.
10 a.m.–3 p.m.–General
administration of AFRI including
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:32 Aug 28, 2008
Jkt 214001
solicitation of proposals, types of
projects and awards, length of awards,
evaluation criteria, and protocols to
ensure the widest program
participation. Allocation of funds
including protocols to solicit and
consider stakeholder input,
determination of priority areas, and
determination of activities to be
supported—applied research,
fundamental research, extension,
education and integrated. A break is
scheduled for 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Persons wishing to present oral
comments at the September 10, 2008,
meeting are requested to pre-register by
contacting Ms. Terri Joya at (202) 401–
1761, by fax at (202) 401–1782 or by
e-mail to tjoya@csrees.usda.gov.
Participants may reserve one 5-minute
comment period. More time may be
available, depending on the number of
people wishing to make a presentation
and the time needed for questions
following presentations. Reservations
will be confirmed on a first-come, firstserved basis. All other attendees may
register at the meeting. Written
comments may also be submitted for the
record at the meeting. All comments
must be received by close of business
Wednesday, September 24, 2008, to be
considered. All comments and the
official transcript of the meeting, when
they become available, may be reviewed
on the CSREES Web page for six
months. Participants who require a sign
language interpreter or other special
accommodations should contact Ms.
Joya as directed above.
Background and Purpose
Section 7406 of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(Pub. L. 110–246) amends subsection (b)
of the Competitive, Special, and
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C.
450i(b)) to authorize the Secretary of
Agriculture to establish a new
competitive grant program to provide
funding for fundamental and applied
research, extension, and education to
address food and agricultural sciences.
Subject to the availability of
appropriations to carry out this
program, the Secretary may award
grants to State agricultural experiment
stations; colleges and universities;
university research foundations; other
research institutions and organizations;
Federal agencies; national laboratories;
private organizations or corporations;
individuals; or any group consisting of
two or more of the aforementioned
entities. Grants shall be awarded to
address priorities in United States
agriculture in the following areas: (A)
Plant health and production and plant
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50927
products; (B) Animal health and
production and animal products; (C)
Food safety, nutrition, and health; (D)
Renewable energy, natural resources,
and environment; (E) Agriculture
systems and technology; and (F)
Agriculture economics and rural
communities. To the maximum extent
practicable, CSREES, in coordination
with the Under Secretary for Research,
Education, and Economics (REE), will
make awards for high priority research,
education, and extension, taking into
consideration, when available, the
determinations made by the National
Agricultural Research, Extension,
Education, and Economics Advisory
Board. The authority to carry out this
program has been delegated to CSREES
through the Undersecretary for REE.
CSREES is holding a public meeting
to obtain comments to use in developing
the implementing rule for the new AFRI
competitive grants program. The
meeting is open to the public. Written
comments and suggestions on issues
that may be considered in the meeting
may be submitted to the CSREES Docket
Clerk at the address above.
Summary of Agriculture and Food
Research Initiative
The program authorizes for
appropriation $700 million in grants for
FY 2008–12, of which the Secretary may
retain no more than 4% for
administrative costs. Funds will be
available for obligation for a two-year
period beginning in the fiscal year for
which funds are first made available.
Grants will be awarded on the basis of
merit, quality, and relevance and may
have terms of up to 10 years.
Of the AFRI funds allocated to
research activities, section 7406 directs
60 percent toward grants for
fundamental (or basic) research, and 40
percent toward applied research. Of the
AFRI funds allocated to fundamental
research, not less than 30 percent of
AFRI grants will be directed toward
research by multidisciplinary teams. In
addition, the law specifies that of the
total amount appropriated for AFRI, not
less than 30 percent is to be used for
integrated programs.
Implementation Plans
CSREES plans to consider stakeholder
input received from this public meeting
as well as other written comments in
developing an implementing regulation
for this program. CSREES anticipates
releasing a Request for Applications
(RFA) by mid-January 2009.
E:\FR\FM\29AUN1.SGM
29AUN1
50928
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 169 / Friday, August 29, 2008 / Notices
Done at Washington, DC, this 26th day of
August 2008.
Colien Hefferan,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service.
[FR Doc. E8–20146 Filed 8–28–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders
Regarding Implementation of the
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment
Program (VMLRP)
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and
request for stakeholder input.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension
Service (CSREES) is soliciting
stakeholder input on the
implementation of the Veterinary
Medicine Loan Repayment Program
(VMLRP), which is authorized under
section 1415A of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3151a). The purpose of this program is
for the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) to enter into agreements with
veterinarians under which the
veterinarians agree to provide, for a
specific period of time as identified in
the agreement, veterinary services in
veterinarian shortage situations. As part
of the stakeholder input process,
CSREES is conducting a public meeting
to solicit comments regarding the
implementing regulations to be
developed for this program.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Monday, September 15, 2008, from 9
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All comments must be
received by close of business Tuesday,
September 30, 2008, to be considered.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
room 1410B–C–D of the Waterfront
Centre Building, Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension
Service, United States Department of
Agriculture, 800 9th St., SW.,
Washington, DC 20024. Meeting
participants will need to provide photo
identification to be admitted to the
building. Please allow sufficient time to
go through security. You may submit
comments, identified by CSREES–2008–
0001, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:32 Aug 28, 2008
Jkt 214001
E-mail: vmlrp@csrees.usda.gov.
Include CSREES–2008–0001 in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: 202–401–6156.
Mail: Paper, disk or CD–ROM
submissions should be submitted to
VMLRP, Plant and Animal Systems
(PAS) Unit, Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture; STOP 2220,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–2220.
Hand Delivery/Courier: VMLRP; Plant
and Animal Systems (PAS) Unit,
Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Room 3153, Waterfront
Centre, 800 9th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20024.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
CSREES–2008–0001. All comments
received will be posted to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Lisa Stephens, (202) 401–6438, or
lstephens@csrees.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additional Meeting and Comment
Procedures
Because of the diversity of subjects,
and to aid participants in scheduling
their attendance, the following schedule
is anticipated for the September 15,
2008, meeting:
9–9:30 a.m.—Introduction to VMLRP.
9:30–12 p.m.—Identification and
prioritization of veterinarian shortage
situations (e.g., geographically and by
expertise).
1–3:30 p.m.—Administration of the
VMLRP including eligible applicant
criteria; number, size, and length of
VMLRP agreements; solicitation for
VMLRP applications; application
prioritization and review; execution of
VMLRP agreements, including service to
the Federal government in emergency
situations; agreement terms and
conditions; reimbursement for tax
liability; and monitoring and oversight
of VMLRP agreements.
Persons wishing to present oral
comments at this meeting are requested
to pre-register by contacting Ms. Lisa
Stephens at (202) 401–6438, by fax at
(202) 401–6156 or by e-mail to
lstephens@csrees.usda.gov. Participants
may reserve one 5-minute comment
period per topic area, and should
indicate the topic area(s) for which they
are registering (i.e., identification of
veterinarian shortage situations and/or
administration of the VMLRP). For any
participant who may require only one 5minute period to fully present testimony
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
regarding both topic areas, the
participant should indicate this
intention and may reserve their 5minute comment period under one of
the two topic areas. More time may be
available, depending on the number of
people wishing to make a presentation
and the time needed for questions
following presentations. Reservations
will be confirmed on a first-come, firstserved basis. All other attendees may
register at the meeting. Written
comments may also be submitted for the
record at the meeting. All comments
must be received by close of business
Tuesday, September 30, 2008, to be
considered. All comments and the
official transcript of the meeting, when
they become available, may be reviewed
on the CSREES Web page for six
months. Participants who require a sign
language interpreter or other special
accommodations should contact Ms.
Stephens as directed above.
Background and Purpose
In December, 2003, the National
Veterinary Medical Service Act
(NVMSA) was passed into law adding
section 1415a to the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(NARETPA). This law established a new
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment
Program (7 U.S.C. 3151a) authorizing
the Secretary of Agriculture (secretary)
to carry out a program of entering into
agreements with veterinarians under
which they agree to provide veterinary
services in veterinarian shortage
situations. In November 2005, the
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006
(Pub. L. 109–97), appropriated $495,000
(after the 1 percent rescission) for
CSREES to implement the Veterinary
Medicine Loan Repayment Program and
represented the first time funds had
been appropriated for this program. In
February 2007, the Revised Continuing
Appropriations Resolution, 2007 (Pub.
L. 110–5), appropriated an additional
$495,000 to CSREES for support of the
program, and in December 2007, the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008
(Pub. L. 110–161), appropriated an
additional $868,875 (after the .7 percent
rescission) to CSREES for support of this
program. Consequently, there is
approximately $1.8 million available for
CSREES to administer this program.
As enacted on June 18, 2008, section
7105 of the Food, Conservation, and
Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) amended
section 1415A to revise the
determination of veterinarian shortage
situations to consider (1) geographical
areas that the Secretary determines have
E:\FR\FM\29AUN1.SGM
29AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 169 (Friday, August 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50926-50928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20146]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the Establishment of
the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)
AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for stakeholder input.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service (CSREES) is creating a new research, education, and extension
program called the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). By
this notice, CSREES is designated to act on behalf of the Secretary of
Agriculture in soliciting public comment from interested persons
regarding the implementing regulation to be developed for this new
program as required under section 7406 of the
[[Page 50927]]
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.
DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, from
9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. All comments must be received by close of business
Wednesday, September 24, 2008, to be considered.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Room 1410 A/B/C/D; Waterfront
Centre Building; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service; United States Department of Agriculture; 800 9th Street, SW.;
Washington, DC 20024. Meeting participants will need to provide photo
identification to be admitted to the building. Please allow sufficient
time to go through security.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Terri Joya, (202) 401-1761
(phone), (202) 401-1782 (fax), or tjoya@csrees.usda.gov. You may submit
comments, identified by CSREES-2008-0002 by any of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: afri@csrees.usda.gov. Include CSREES-2008-0002 in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: (202) 401-1782.
Mail: Paper, disk or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to
AFRI; Competitive Programs (CP) Unit; Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP
2240; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250-2240.
Hand Delivery/Courier: AFRI; Competitive Programs (CP) Unit;
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S.
Department of Agriculture; Room 2457, Waterfront Centre; 800 9th
Street, SW.; Washington, DC 20024.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and CSREES-2008-0002. All comments received will be posted to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additional Meeting and Comment Procedures
Because of the diversity of subjects, and to aid participants in
scheduling their attendance, the following schedule is anticipated for
the September 10, 2008, meeting:
9:30 a.m.-10 a.m.-Introduction to AFRI.
10 a.m.-3 p.m.-General administration of AFRI including
solicitation of proposals, types of projects and awards, length of
awards, evaluation criteria, and protocols to ensure the widest program
participation. Allocation of funds including protocols to solicit and
consider stakeholder input, determination of priority areas, and
determination of activities to be supported--applied research,
fundamental research, extension, education and integrated. A break is
scheduled for 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Persons wishing to present oral comments at the September 10, 2008,
meeting are requested to pre-register by contacting Ms. Terri Joya at
(202) 401-1761, by fax at (202) 401-1782 or by e-mail to
tjoya@csrees.usda.gov. Participants may reserve one 5-minute comment
period. More time may be available, depending on the number of people
wishing to make a presentation and the time needed for questions
following presentations. Reservations will be confirmed on a first-
come, first-served basis. All other attendees may register at the
meeting. Written comments may also be submitted for the record at the
meeting. All comments must be received by close of business Wednesday,
September 24, 2008, to be considered. All comments and the official
transcript of the meeting, when they become available, may be reviewed
on the CSREES Web page for six months. Participants who require a sign
language interpreter or other special accommodations should contact Ms.
Joya as directed above.
Background and Purpose
Section 7406 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(Pub. L. 110-246) amends subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special,
and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)) to authorize the
Secretary of Agriculture to establish a new competitive grant program
to provide funding for fundamental and applied research, extension, and
education to address food and agricultural sciences. Subject to the
availability of appropriations to carry out this program, the Secretary
may award grants to State agricultural experiment stations; colleges
and universities; university research foundations; other research
institutions and organizations; Federal agencies; national
laboratories; private organizations or corporations; individuals; or
any group consisting of two or more of the aforementioned entities.
Grants shall be awarded to address priorities in United States
agriculture in the following areas: (A) Plant health and production and
plant products; (B) Animal health and production and animal products;
(C) Food safety, nutrition, and health; (D) Renewable energy, natural
resources, and environment; (E) Agriculture systems and technology; and
(F) Agriculture economics and rural communities. To the maximum extent
practicable, CSREES, in coordination with the Under Secretary for
Research, Education, and Economics (REE), will make awards for high
priority research, education, and extension, taking into consideration,
when available, the determinations made by the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board. The
authority to carry out this program has been delegated to CSREES
through the Undersecretary for REE.
CSREES is holding a public meeting to obtain comments to use in
developing the implementing rule for the new AFRI competitive grants
program. The meeting is open to the public. Written comments and
suggestions on issues that may be considered in the meeting may be
submitted to the CSREES Docket Clerk at the address above.
Summary of Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
The program authorizes for appropriation $700 million in grants for
FY 2008-12, of which the Secretary may retain no more than 4% for
administrative costs. Funds will be available for obligation for a two-
year period beginning in the fiscal year for which funds are first made
available. Grants will be awarded on the basis of merit, quality, and
relevance and may have terms of up to 10 years.
Of the AFRI funds allocated to research activities, section 7406
directs 60 percent toward grants for fundamental (or basic) research,
and 40 percent toward applied research. Of the AFRI funds allocated to
fundamental research, not less than 30 percent of AFRI grants will be
directed toward research by multidisciplinary teams. In addition, the
law specifies that of the total amount appropriated for AFRI, not less
than 30 percent is to be used for integrated programs.
Implementation Plans
CSREES plans to consider stakeholder input received from this
public meeting as well as other written comments in developing an
implementing regulation for this program. CSREES anticipates releasing
a Request for Applications (RFA) by mid-January 2009.
[[Page 50928]]
Done at Washington, DC, this 26th day of August 2008.
Colien Hefferan,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-20146 Filed 8-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
