Goal 1: To Promote an Agricultural Food and Fiber System That is Productive and Highly Competitive in the Global Economy.

Performance Goal 1.1.1.1: Demonstrate integrated systems and transfer them to users.

Performance Goal 1.1.1.2: Demonstrate and transfer to users computer-based simulation models and decision-support systems.

Performance Goal 1.1.2.1:  Demonstrate techniques to control or eliminate preharvest and postharvest insects and diseases and increase market quality and product longevity.

Performance Goal 1.1.2.2:  Demonstrate technologies to control quarantine pests.

Performance Goal 1.1.2.3:  New and improved diagnostic tests are developed and available.

Performance Goal 1.1.3.1:  Demonstrate postharvest technologies that add value and improve quality.

Performance Goal 1.1.3.2:  Provide knowledge and technology to expand and improve the grading systems for agricultural commodities and products.

Performance Goal 1.1.3.3:  Demonstrate methods to measure the critical processing and end-use properties of agricultural commodities important to the agricultural marketing system and the processing industry.

Performance Goal 1.1.4.1:  Strategic alliances formed with specific foreign institutions, leading to the joint development of germplasm and value-added technologies, mutually protected through intellectual property agreements.

Performance Goal 1.2.1.1:  Experimentally develop and demonstrate production of new, improved, and alternative farm animals, crops, and horticultural products.

Performance Goal 1.2.1.2:  Experimentally demonstrate new and improved management practices for production, harvesting, and postharvest handling procedures of these commodities.

Performance Goal 1.2.2.1:  Experimentally demonstrate improvements in processing technologies and develop new bioproducts and uses that have potential to increase demand for agricultural commodities.

Goal II: To Promote a Safe and Secure Food and Fiber System.

Performance Goal 2.1.1.1:  Demonstrate increases in productivity above current levels, using sustainable technologies.

Performance Goal 2.1.1.2:  Demonstrate a more efficient and cost-effective use of resource inputs while increasing productivity above current levels.

Performance Goal 2.1.2.1:  Demonstrate new integrated technologies to protect plants, animals, and ecosystems.

Performance Goal 2.1.2.2:  Demonstrate scientific measures, practices, and systems to achieve humane care of food animals.

Performance Goal 2.1.3.1:  Collections of well-documented germplasms of importance to U.S. agricultural security are readily available to scientists and breeders for research and development.

Performance Goal 2.1.3.2:  Documented DNA base sequences of agricultural importance.

Goal III: To Promote a Healthy Population Through Improved Nutrition.

Performance Goal 3.1.1.1:  Indicators of function determined and related to diet and health.

Performance Goal 3.1.2.1:  Transfer new measurement techniques and data to users and release results of surveys.

Performance Goal 3.1.3.1:  Improved nutritional quality of animal and plant products.

Goal IV: To Foster an Agricultural System That Protects Natural Resources and the Environment.

Performance Goal 4.1.1.1:  Demonstrate concepts and on-farm agricultural technologies and management practices that maintain and enhance the environment and natural resource base.

Performance Goal 4.1.1.2:  Experimentally demonstrate the appropriateness of watershed-scale technologies and practices that protect the environment and natural resources.

Performance Goal 4.1.2.1:  Determine the extent to which management of croplands and grazinglands affects production and absorption of trace gases that may alter the global environment.

Performance Goal 4.1.2.2:  Determine how trace gases, climate changes, weather variability, and other environmental stressors impact agricultural ecosystems and water and nutrient availability for croplands and grazinglands.

Performance Goal 4.1.2.3:  Demonstrate techniques that can improve efficiency.

Performance Goal 4.1.3.1:  Demonstrate cropland and grazingland management strategies that improve productivity and efficiency of croplands and grazinglands. 

Performance Goal 4.1.3.2:  Provide information to public agencies and private organizations and directly to farmers and ranchers that will lead to adoption of improved cropland and grazingland management strategies.

Performance Goal 4.2.1.1:  Risk-reduction strategies and methods transferred to the Nation's agricultural industry.

Performance Goal 4.2.2.1:  Improve strategies and technologies that reduce the effects of extreme weather variability.

Performance Goal 4.3.1.1:  Deliver integrated pest management strategies that are cost-effective and protect natural resources, human health, and the environment.

Performance Goal 4.3.2.1:  Demonstrate the effectiveness of integrated agricultural production systems in the improvement of natural resources and protection of the environment.

Performance Goal 4.3.2.2:  Provide computer-based models and decision-support systems to farmers, public agencies, and private organizations.

Performance Goal 4.3.3.1:  Develop and demonstrate management practices and technologies to effectively handle, store, treat, and apply wastes to obtain consistent economic benefits, while protecting environmental quality, human health, and animal health.

Performance Goal 4.3.3.2:  Demonstrate the conversion of agricultural waste into liquid fuels and industrial feedstocks.

Goal V:  To Increase the Capacity of Communities, Families, and Individuals to Enhance Their Economic Well-being and Quality of Life.

Performance Goal 5.1.1.1:  Experimentally demonstrate the successful operation of small-scale production and processing systems, evaluate small scale animal and plant production systems, and enhance high-value agricultural products.

Performance Goal 5.1.2.1:  Make information on ARS research results and inventions available electronically via the Internet and similar resources.

Performance Goal 5.1.2.2:  Provide more cost-effective and efficient public information and technology transfer.

Performance Goal 5.1.2.3:  Research programs include information and technology transfer considerations.

Performance Goal 5.1.2.4:  An ARS plan to achieve the requirements of GPEA will be submitted to the Department by October 15. 2000.

Performance Goal 5.1.2.5:  Implementation of the requirements of the GPEA will be accomplished by October 21, 2003.

Performance Goal 5.1.3.1: Expand the types of agreements used by ARS and delegate signatory authority to the lowest feasible level.

Goal VI:  Effectively Marshal the Diverse Capabilities and Resources of ARS.

Performance Goal 6.2.1.1:  Maintain up-to-date data on NAL customer information needs and satisfaction.

Performance Goal 6.2.1.2:  Integrate customer data into continuous refinement of NAL operations.

Performance Goal 6.2.1.3:  Develop and improve NAL information delivery systems.

Performance Goal 6.2.1.4:  Develop an Agricultural Subject Headings thesaurus.

Performance Goal 6.2.1.5:  Increase collaboration via AgNIC (Agriculture Network Information Center).

Performance Goal 6.2.1.6:  Develop NAL programs and services for previously under-served audiences.

Performance Goal 6.2.1.7:  Support increased diversity in librarianship and information management.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.1:  Expand acquisition of information in all formats by NAL.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.2:  Gain space for collection growth.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.3:  Preserve and secure collections.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.4:  Increase number of AGRICOLA records.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.5:  Increase links to full-text electronic content in the AGRICOLA database.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.6:  Continue modernization of the Abraham Lincoln Building.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.7:  Ensure systematic upgrade of NAL equipment.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.8:  Ensure security of NAL data and equipment.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.9:  Implement new electronic library management system with minimal disruption to NAL customers and staff/operations.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.10:  Refine NAL administrative and business processes, organizational structures, and functions.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.11:  Develop NAL Intranet.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.12:  Ensure equitable opportunities for NAL staff development.

Performance Goal 6.2.2.13:  Implement NAL staff succession plan.

Performance Goal 6.3.1.1:  Annual conferences of public and private individuals are convened to discuss major researchable issues in agriculture and articulate approaches to addressing these problems.

Performance Goal 6.3.2.1:  Recommendations are implemented and processes and practices are modified as appropriate.

Performance Goal 6.3.2.2:  ARS managers, supervisors, and employees are better informed on EEO/CR issues.

Performance Goal 6.3.2.3:  Recommendations resulting from the agency-wide on-site EEO compliance review are implemented.

Performance Goal 6.3.2.4:  A comprehensive, fully integrated system is installed to assist in analyzing workforce profiles, analyzing adverse impacts, and monitoring every aspect of discrimination complaint processing.

Performance Goal 6.3.3.1:  Criteria and priorities are identified.

Performance Goal 6.3.3.2:  Priority projects are proposed for funding in ARS annual building and facility request.

Performance Goal 6.3.4.1:  Identify core capability requirements and develop a scientific staff to meet long-term research needs.

Performance Goal 6.3.4.2:  Train postdoctoral students through the ARS Research Associate Program and competitively select 10 percent each year to fill full-time positions.

Performance Goal 6.3.5.1:  Customer participation in planning processes.

Performance Goal 6.3.5.2:  Strategic plan is developed and communicated to REE customers.

Performance Goal 6.3.5.3:  Formal feedback is solicited from REE customers.

Performance Goal 6.3.6.1:  Panel peer reviews are conducted on all research projects before implementation and subsequently every five years.  The majority of the peer reviewers are external to ARS.

Performance Goal 6.3.6.2:  Review of the productivity, quality, and impact of individual scientists is conducted as scheduled in the Research Position Evaluation System (RPES).

Performance Goal 6.3.7.1:  Implement integrated management systems in USDA.

Performance Goal 6.3.7.2:  Correct in a timely manner internal control deficiencies.

Performance Goal 6.3.7.3:  Make available reliable cost accounting information.

Performance Goal 6.3.8.1:  ARS will identify and generate a comprehensive directory of organizations that serve the under-served who are potential users of ARS research.

Performance Goal 6.3.8.2:  ARS will convene a national outreach workshop that will bring together representatives of under-served populations.

Performance Goal 6.3.8.3:  In FY 2001, each ARS Area will convene Area workshops to identify researchable issues of interest to under-served populations.

Performance Goal 6.3.8.4:  In FY 2000 (using 1999 data), establish baseline data for extramural agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, and Letters of Agreement with organizations serving historically under?served populations.

Performance Goal 6.3.8.5:  In FY 2001, ARS will increase its extramural agreements to organizations which serve under?served populations by no less than 20 percent over its established (FY 1999) baseline.

Performance Goal 6.3.8.6:  In FY 2001, ARS will show an increase in the number of invitations extended to representatives of under?served populations to participate in program workshops, symposia, project/program reviews, and site/ location reviews.

Performance Goal 6.3.8.7:  In FY 2001, ARS will show an increase in the number of research collaborations and technology transfer activities focused on meeting the special needs of this target population.

Performance Goal 6.3.8.8:  In FY 2000, ARS will inform all senior managers and SYs of their roles and responsibilities under the outreach plan.

Performance Goal 6.3.8.9:  In FY 2001, ARS will expand access to research information by the historically under?served organizations.

Performance Goal 6.3.8.10:  ARS will expand outreach efforts to interest under?served students in agriculture/food science.

Performance Goal 6.3.8.11:  ARS will work with educational institutions and community?based organizations serving target populations to identify barriers and develop strategies to get information to under?served populations.

Summary of Agency Resources for FY 2003.

Summary of Agency Resources for FY 2004.