TETRAPARTITE 2008 USA COUNTRY REPORT

1. TETRAPARTITE 2008USA COUNTRY REPORT Dr. Edward B. Knipling Administrator Agricultural Research Service

2. TOPICS • Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Delegation • U.S. Policy Environment • ARS Budgets • Research Priorities • Emerging/Continuing Issues • Farm Bill

3. 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

4. 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?

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. A better future through agricultural research and information