1. Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (FCEA) of 2008
Implications and Funding for the Southern Region
PLN, AEA, and ASRED Meeting
Orlando, FL
L. Washington Lyons
Executive Administrator, AEA
and
Ronald A. Brown
Executive Director, ASRED
August 25, 2009

2. Presentation Format Provide Background and Overview of FCEA
Focus Primarily on Title VII
Identify Implications and Funding for the Region
Respond to Questions

3. Background and Overview

4. Farm Bill Titles Title I - Commodity Programs Title II - Conservation
Title III - Trade
Title IV - Nutrition
Title V - Credit
Title VI - Rural Development
Title VII - Research and Related Matters

5. Farm Bill Titles Cont. Title VIII - Forestry Title IX - Energy
Title X - Horticulture and Organic Ag
Title XI Livestock
Title XII Crop Insurance & Disaster Assistance Programs
Title XIII - Commodities Futures
Title XIV Miscellaneous
Title XV - Trade and Tax Provisions

6. FCEA Enacted into law on June 18, 2008 after being vetoed
CREATE-21 and the Farm Bill Committees
Most of the new authorizations and funding increases are in competitive programs

7. Elements of FCEA Protecting Natural Resources
Protecting the Environment
Increasing Funding for Food Safety and Nutrition
Enhancing Food Security
Emphasis on Biofuels and Renewable Energy

8. Farm Bill Provisions
All existing programs in the land-grant system were reauthorized, including:
Smith-Lever
1890 Extension
Hatch
Evans-Allen
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry
Animal Health

9. EFNEP-7116 EPFNEP is referred to in the bill as Nutrition Education
Increased the authorization to 90M per year
Provides minimum $100K per year to 1862 and 1890 institutions
Provides 10-15% increase to 1890s for appropriations above F.Y level of ($63.538M) ($66.1M) (68.1M)
A revised formula was enacted for distribution of funds that impacted the 1862 institutions
It increased funding for some and decreased it for others
The new formula was not related to the inclusion of 1890s as eligible institutions

10. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) 7406
National Research Initiative (NRI) and Initiative for Future Agriculture Food Systems (IFAFS) Authorities were combined to create AFRI
Supports fundamental, applied, and integrated research
Standalone Extension and teaching projects
Authorized at $700 Million per year ($201.5M)
No matching requirements - unless it is applied research that is commodity-specific and not of national scope

11. AFRI Priorities Areas Plant Health and Production and Plant Products
Animal Health and Production and Animal Products
Food Safety, Nutrition and Health
Renewable Energy, Natural Resources and Environment

12. AFRI Priority Areas Cont.
Agriculture Systems and Technology
Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities
More than 40 different program areas
Conference grants
Special provisions for small, mid-sized, and minority universities

13. 2501 Program
Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
Competitive grant program
Open to Universities, CBOs, and NGOs
Mandatory Funding:
$ 6.0M $15M $20M
Awards limited to $100K per year

14. National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)-7511
Proposed new structure in USDA/REE
Improves visibility of research, education, and Extension
Replaces CSREES
Research, Extension, and Education authorities will be transferred to NIFA
A director appointed by the President
Director will serve a six-year term
Reports to Secretary of Agriculture

15. Other Provisions
1890 Capacity Building Grants Program expanded to include Extension
Authorized $25M Funding 2009 $15M
1890 Extension authorization increased to 20% of Smith-Lever – 7121
Smith- Lever 3(d) programs were reauthorized and changed from formula to competitive distribution
Funding IPM - $9.7M CYFAR - $8.1M

16. Implications New eligibilities provide more funding for the region
More opportunities for 1890 and 1862 universities to collaborate and partner
AFRI provides opportunity for funding Extension proposals as well as integrated
Potential to increase the number of clients being served in the region
New federal agency created (NIFA) to raise the visibility of Extension, research and education
New funding will be in competitive programs

17. Competitive Programs AFRI - $201.5M Water Quality - $12.6M
Extension only grants possible
Integrated 30%
Water Quality - $12.6M
Food Safety - $14.6M
Regional Pest Mgt. Centers - $4.1M
Others (~$25.5M)

18. Mandatory Programs Organic Ag Res & Ext Initiative - $20M BFRDP - $19M
Five types of grants –
Standard R&E
CAPs
Regional Partnerships for Innovation
eXtension Projects (3; eXt RP)
R&E Planning Projects
Mandatory Programs
Organic Ag Res & Ext Initiative - $20M
BFRDP - $19M
Biomass R and D - $28M
Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development Center - $1M
Specialty Crop Res Initiative - $50M

19. Mandatory Programs
Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers - $20M
Ag Risk Management Education - $5M
Biodiesel Fuel Education - $1M
Community Foods Grants Program - $5M

20. Health Information Technology Extension Program: Regional Centers
$598M Total;
$30M – per award ceiling

21. Health Information Technology Extension Program: Regional Centers Cooperative Agreement Program
Yr 1 - $189,000,000 September 8, 2009; September 29, 2009; November 3, Decision: December 11, 2009
Yr 2 - $225,000,000 December 22, 2009; January 19, 2010; March 2, Decision: April 27, 2010
Yr 3 - $184,000,000 June 1, 2010; June 22, 2010; August 3, Decision: September 28, 2010

22. The National Committee for Quality Assurance, a 501(c)(3), focusing on health care quality.
Thank you for participating in our upcoming meeting, What Makes an Effective Regional Extension Center? - NCQA

23. Other FCEA Titles Title II – Conservation – EQIP grants
Title IV – Nutrition – SNAP-Ed -- $141.5M in FY08
Title VI – Rural Development (water, waste disposal, child care, locally produced foods, technology transfer, energy efficiency, telemedicine, etc.)

24. Others DOE - $100M for grants that train people to retrofit houses
Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) - $4.7B
$250M - encourage sustainable adoption of broadband services
$200M to upgrade technology and capacity at public computing centers

25. Potential Others Energy Extension Service Climate Extension Service
Primary Health Care Extension Service

26. Implications Related to Resource Development for CES
Be more entrepreneurial
Be more collaborative, yet agile
Be more connected
Honor our base, but embrace innovation

27. Be More Entrepreneurial
Training in proposal writing
Writing teams (state, regional)
Proposal writing experts
Complement overall broad mission

28. Be More Collaborative, Yet Agile
Multistate, regional, national
Across disciplines
Outside traditional LG areas
Take advantage of communications technology; make prompt decisions
Look for “how we can” rather than “why we can’t”

29. Be More Connected State and national agencies
State agencies - Administrators, directors and PLs need a working relationship with heads of state agencies – Ag, HS, RD, etc.
National - Develop a working relationship with CSREES NPLs and other agencies; get on review panels, discuss needs

30. Honor our Base, but Embrace Innovation
Stick to mission, but look for new ways
Innovate, adopt new technologies; portray a modern CES
Work for formula and capacity
AFRI ~$200M (~$60 Extension applicable)
SL 3b/c ~$300M
be a modern CES

31. Questions