Overview of ARS National Programs Steven Kappes Deputy Administrator Animal Production & Protection National Program Staff Agricultural Research Service

ARS is the intramural research arm of USDA CSREES funds extramural research

Profile of ARS 8,000+ employees 2,200+ scientists 100+ laboratory locations $1.1+ billion annual budget Partnerships with universities and industry Intramural Research Farm-to-table research scope 21 (19) National Programs 1,100+ research projects Information & technology transfer

ARS Is a National Organization

ARS Organization (Matrix Management)

ARS is a Mission-Driven Organization Our mission is to conduct research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and provide information access and dissemination to: Ensure high quality, safe food and other products Assess the nutritional needs of Americans Sustain a competitive agricultural economy Enhance the natural resource base and the environment Provide economic opportunities to rural citizens and society as a whole

Through National Programs! A National Program is a set of research projects directed toward common goals to solve agricultural problems of high National priority. National Programs are outcome driven, e.g., a safer food supply. How Do We Meet Our Mission?

New Uses, Quality & Marketability of Plant & Animal Products Human Nutrition Food Safety Plant, Microbial & Insect Germplasm Conservation & Development Plant Biological & Molecular Processes Plant Diseases Crop Protection & Quarantine Crop Production Methyl Bromide Alternatives National Programs Animal Prod/Prot Natural Resources Crop Prod/Prot Water Availability & Management Soil and Air Resource Management Pasture, Forages and Rangeland Systems Ag. Waste & Byproduct Utilization Agricultural System Competitiveness & Sustainability Bioenergy Food Animal Production Animal Health Veterinary, Medical and Urban Entomology Aquaculture Nutrition, Food Quality and Safety

 Provide Program Leadership  Receive input on ‘high priority’ research needs (relevance) and develop Action Plan  Develop research objectives for each research project with scientists  Identifies opportunities to leverage ARS research activities  Develop budget initiatives  National Program Champion  Technical expert – advises ARS Administrator, USDA Secretary, President and Congress NPS Function

How ARS Plans and Sets Research Priorities Executive Branch (Department, other Federal agencies) Agency Scientists & Managers Customers, Partners, & Stakeholders Scientific Communities ARS Program & Budgeting Priorities

How does ARS address new research problems? Redirection Collaborations New budget initiatives Does ARS have the expertise and capacity? Can the research be done by universities or industry? Fundamental (Basic) vs Applied Research

Relevance Quality(Prospective) Quality(Retrospective) Program Planning & Priority Setting Scientific Merit Peer Review Program Assessment ARS National Program Cycle 2003 – 2008 (current 5 year cycle) Performance Project Implementation Program Coordination

Quality (retrospective) External panels of scientific experts and stakeholders Did the program component achieve the goals of the action plan? Was the work of high quality? Each component scored for impact Program evaluation; not project evaluation

Relevance Quality(Prospective) Quality(Retrospective) Program Planning & Priority Setting Scientific Merit Peer Review Program Assessment ARS National Program Cycle (new 5 year cycle) Performance Project Implementation Program Coordination Workshop

Relevance Each National Program conducts a national planning workshop –Stakeholder input Develops action plan (NPS and scientists) –5 year plan –Defines program objectives and directions –Set the outcomes for the retrospective reviews

Program Direction and Resource Allocation Memos (PDRAM’s) NPL assigns research objectives and expected outcomes for each project Specify the level of SY effort and funding to be allocated to research project If applicable, a SY recruitment or assignment action and the scientific discipline required may also be specified

Relevance Quality(Prospective) Quality(Retrospective) Program Planning & Priority Setting Scientific Merit Peer Review Program Assessment ARS National Program Cycle Performance Project Implementation Program Coordination

Relevance Quality(Prospective) Quality(Retrospective) Program Planning & Priority Setting Scientific Merit Peer Review Program Assessment ARS National Program Cycle Performance Project Implementation Program Coordination

Performance (individual scientist) Annual performance ratings Annual reports including milestones met RPES evaluation

Workshop Outcomes What we need from our Customers and Stakeholders- High priority research problems (prioritized) We need to understand the problem Long term needs Balanced research portfolio (basic and applied) ARS will develop an Action Plan ARS will customers and stakeholders our Annual Reports