Objective 1.2:  Contribute to the Efficiency of Agricultural Production Systems.

Intense competition in global markets and pressure on U.S. farm policy to reduce price supports emphasize the need for American agriculture to pursue and market higher value agricultural products. Research must respond to consumer demands for more healthful and safe products to ensure a sustainable and profitable agricultural production system that capitalizes on an abundant source of raw material for value-added food, fiber, and industrial products. These superior technologies must effectively differentiate U.S. agricultural products from competing sources and provide customers with value-added processes that enhance product quality.

ARS will develop and disseminate science-based information to provide U.S. producers of agricultural products with increased flexibility to effectively manage unforeseen risks that affect profitability and product quality. U.S. agricultural production and marketability is constantly influenced by factors such as unpredictable weather, disease and pest outbreaks, and changing consumer demands. Use of genetically diverse germplasm resource collections and best management practices requires research that helps improve production efficiency and productivity through the development of pest resistant varieties and information to facilitate decision-making.

Performance Measures

1.2.1:    Provide producers with scientific information and technology that increase production efficiency, develop improved germplasm, safeguard the environment, improve animal well-being, and reduce production risks and product losses.

Baseline:    2002 - Key animal production systems have been identified and research is being conducted that will lead to more efficient production techniques that safeguard the environment and reduce production risks.

Target:    2007 - Specific information and technology will be available to food animal producers for evaluating animal productivity and well-being, increasing efficiency, and decreasing environmental impact through improved management models and reproduction methods.

1.2.2:    Develop needed information on the relationships between nutrients, reproduction, growth, and conversion to and marketability of animal products.

Baseline:    2002 - Information exists for several economically significant species on the relationship between feed intake, utilization, and nutrient requirements related to animal growth.

Target:    2007 - Information will be available to producers for more efficiently converting improved knowledge about the interaction of reproduction, growth, and nutrient intake to increase marketability of food animals.

1.2.3:    Identify genes responsible for economically important traits, including animal product quality, efficiency of nutrient utilization, and environmental adaptability.

Baseline:    2002 - Identified important quality trait loci in a variety of food animals and made progress on sequencing parts of several animal genomes.

Target:    2007 - Better understanding will be available of how genes are responsible for economically important traits in food animals, such as nutrient utilization and environmental adaptability.

1.2.4:    Maintain, characterize, and use genetic resources to optimize and safeguard genetic diversity and promote viable, vigorous animal production systems.

Baseline:    2002 - Established a repository and developed techniques for the long-term preservation and identification of genetic resources of economically significant animals.

Target:    2007 - The diversity of food animal germplasm will be maintained and optimized to invigorate production systems.

1.2.5:    Provide producers with scientific information and technology that increase production efficiency, safeguard the environment, and reduce production risks and product losses.

Baseline:    2002 - Production systems have been identified and information exists on the relationship between intake, utilization, and nutrient requirements for plant growth.

Target:    2007 - Cultivars will be developed that are adapted for management practices that optimize soil microbial, carbon, nitrogen, and water resources for sustainable production; production systems and technologies will be developed that harness genetic potential to maximize profits and provide secure supply and market competitiveness; and user-friendly models and decision aids will be enhanced to determine cost-effective inputs for specific enterprises or the whole operation.

1.2.6:    Improve the understanding of the biological mechanisms that influence plant growth, product quality, and marketability to enhance the competitive advantage of agricultural commodities.

Baseline:    2002 - Information exists for several economically significant crops on the fundamental biological mechanisms that control seed composition.

Target:    2007 - Information will be available for more species to guide manipulation of regulatory metabolic processes that influence plant growth, product composition, product quality, and profitability.

1.2.7:    Identify genes responsible for plant product quality and resistance to disease, pests, and weather losses.

Baseline:    2002 - Identified important quantitative trait loci that govern key agronomic traits for a variety of crop species and made progress on sequencing gene-rich regions of a limited number of plant genomes.

Target:    2007 - Have a more complete understanding of the structure and function of genes responsible for quality, growth, and health of crops and how those individual genes are regulated in the context of gene systems or networks.

1.2.8:    Maintain, characterize, and use genetic resources to optimize, safeguard, and enhance genetic diversity and promote viable and vigorous plant production systems.

Baseline:    2002 - Established genebanks and techniques for the long-term preservation and identification of diverse genetic resources of economically significant crops to provide germplasm for development of varieties and with disease and pest resistance and weather tolerance.

Target:    2007 - The diversity of the germplasm collections will be expanded by acquisition of new accessions, and genetic resources from these collections will be used to produce new and improved food, agricultural, and industrial applications for agricultural products.

Actionable Strategies

GOAL 2:  SUPPORT INCREASED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE IN RURAL AMERICA

The major thrusts of the ARS mission are to conduct research that ensures high quality, safe food and other agricultural products; assesses the nutritional needs of Americans; sustains a competitive agricultural economy; and enhances the natural resource base and the environment. In doing these things, ARS also helps provide economic opportunities for rural citizens, communities, and society as a whole. While ARS research has a large and very positive impact on rural America, we have chosen to organize our research program around the other four programmatic USDA/REE/ARS Strategic Plan goals.

GOAL 3:  ENHANCE PROTECTION AND SAFETY OF THE NATION'S AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SUPPLY

For the Nation to have affordable and safe food, the food system must be protected at each step from production to consumption. The production and distribution system for food in the United States has been a diverse, extensive, and easily accessible system. This open system is vulnerable to introduction of pathogens and toxins through natural processes and global commerce and by intentional means. In response to these threats, crop and livestock production systems must be protected from the ravages of diseases whether domestic or exotic in origin. The food supply must be protected during production, processing, and preparation from pathogens, toxins, and chemical contamination that cause disease in humans.

Food safety research seeks ways to assess and control potentially harmful food contaminants. Research to ensure a secure agricultural production system refers to work that reduces or eliminates factors that threaten the ability of U.S. agriculture to produce enough food and fiber, year to year, to meet the needs of American consumers. ARS will conduct research designed to generate knowledge regarding new and improved management practices, pest management strategies, sustainable production systems, and control of potential contaminants for farms of all sizes. These activities will ensure a secure production system able to provide a safe, plentiful, diverse, and affordable supply of food, fiber, and other agricultural products.

ARS will provide scientific information and technology to producers, manufacturers, regulatory agencies, and consumers to support their efforts to provide a secure, affordable, and safe supply of food, fiber, and industrial products.

Objective 3.1:  Provide Science-Based Knowledge on the Safe Production, Storage, Processing, and Handling of Plant and Animal Products and on the Detection and Control of Toxin-producing and/or Pathogenic Bacteria and Fungi Parasites, Mycotoxins, Chemical Residues, and Plant Toxins So as To Assist Regulatory Agencies and the Food Industry in Reducing the Incidence of Foodborne Illnesses.

Central to providing a safe food supply is preventing the contamination of food by pathogens, toxins, or chemical contaminants throughout production and distribution. Contamination of food can result from complex and diverse factors ranging across agricultural practices, ecological and environmental factors, manure use, water quality, weather, plant and animal genetics, industrial hygiene, storage and packaging, transportation, and food preparation. The safety of our food supply has long been a priority; the increased threat of intentional introduction has placed more emphasis on food safety in general and specifically on methods to prevent and detect contamination during processing and distribution.

Basic applied and developmental science and resulting technologies and management practices are key to both preventing and detecting contamination of the food supply by microbial pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites), bacterial toxins, fungal toxins (mycotoxins), or chemical residues.

Performance Measures

3.1.1:    Develop new on-farm preharvest systems, practices, and products to reduce pathogen and toxin contamination of animal- and plant-derived foods.

Baseline:    2002 - Achieved development of some practices and products that reduce preharvest contamination of animal- and plant-derived food products, e.g., AF 36, the non-aflatoxin competitive fungus that prevents aflatoxin in cottonseed and a program for broiler growers that will reduce the contamination of broilers with Salmonella and Campylobacter.

Target:    2007 - Develop practices and/or products that reduce preharvest contamination of two additional major animal- and plant-derived food products.

3.1.2:    Develop and transfer to Federal agencies and the private sector systems that rapidly and accurately detect, identify, and differentiate the most critical and economically important foodborne microbial pathogens.

Baseline:    2002 - Achieved various stages of sequencing and annotating the genomes for several different bacterial pathogens that will be used to develop these systems.

Target:    2007 - Develop practices and/or products that reduce postharvest contamination of two additional major animal- and plant-derived food products.

Actionable Strategies

Objective 3.2:  Develop and Deliver Science-Based Information and Technologies To Reduce the Number and Severity of Agricultural Pest, Insect, Weed, and Disease Outbreaks.

Economic sustainability of agricultural crop and livestock systems and participation in global markets is limited by the disease status of crops and livestock. Many factors affect the likelihood of diseases to crops and livestock. These include globalization and international commerce, presence of pathogen vectors, industrialization of agriculture, availability of vaccines and protection systems, movements of animals during production, continued emergence of new diseases, genetic resistance of crops and livestock, and the availability of trained plant and animal health specialists. Livestock production systems are in transition from open and extensive systems to more closely monitored intensive management systems but remain vulnerable to accidental and intentional exposure to pathogens. Many of these pathogens are zoonotic and affect public health. Crops have limited diversity and will remain vulnerable to intentional exposure to pathogens.

New science-based approaches to protection of crops and livestock are necessary to meet the demands of new production systems and new threats to agriculture. ARS has a critical role in providing the science basis for biosecurity and disease management, developing optimal agricultural practices, understanding emerging diseases, and transferring knowledge and technologies to producers and crop and animal health professionals.

Performance Measures

3.2.1:    Provide scientific information to protect animals from pests, infectious diseases, and other disease-causing entities that affect animal and human health.

Baseline:    2002 - The pathogenicity, virulence determinants, and transmission mechanisms of animal pathogens are studied to improve biosecurity and disease management.

Target:    2007 - Increase the delivery of dependable high quality scientific information to customers, stakeholders, and partners. New discoveries and technologies will be effectively communicated to improve the management of diseases that affect the livestock, poultry, and which may affect public health. Effective communication will be achieved by publishing in highly regarded scientific journals and trade publications and on the Internet and through presentations at industry meetings.

3.2.2:    Identify, develop, and release to the U.S. agricultural community genetic markers, genetic lines, breeds, or germplasm that result in food animals with improved (either through traditional breeding or biotechnology) pest- and disease-resistance traits.

Baseline:    2002 - Initiated the identification of genetic markers that are associated with resistance to parasites and infectious diseases (e.g., avian coccidiosis, Ostertagia, Marek's disease). Identified and implemented the use of new and improved technologies for selecting animals with disease-resistance traits.

Target:    2007 - Release new and improved genetic lines, breeds, and/or germplasm of food animals that exhibit enhanced pest- and disease-resistance traits.

3.2.3:    Develop and transfer tools to the agricultural community, commercial partners, and Federal agencies to control or eradicate domestic and exotic diseases that affect animal and human health.

Baseline:    2002 - Completed the genomic sequencing of some domestic and exotic pathogens and identified unique sequences that are potential targets for diagnostic and vaccine development.

Target:    2007 - Develop diagnostic and preventative tools to control and/or eradicate domestic and exotic diseases that affect production, trade, and public health. Provide action agencies with data to support risk analyses to assess the impact of domestic and exotic diseases and develop control and eradication strategies.

3.2.4:    Develop and release to potential users varieties and/or germplasm of agriculturally important plants that are new or provide significantly improved (either through traditional breeding or biotechnology) characteristics enhancing pest or disease resistance.

Baseline:    2002 - Developed molecular diagnostics for classification of diseases that threaten economically significant plants and established more effective technologies for selecting plants with disease resistance to Sclerotinia, downy mildew, rusts, and exotic viral diseases.

Target:    2007 - Make available reliable diagnostic molecular assays to detect and identify emerging diseases and pests. Primers and probes are developed and protocols established for validation by State action agencies and cooperators.

3.2.5:    Provide fundamental and applied scientific information and technology to protect agriculturally important plants from pests and diseases.

Baseline:    2002 - Cultural and management practices have been studied and improvements explored that will provide additional protection for agriculturally important plants from diseases, pests, pathogens, insects and/or weeds.

Target:    2007 - Specific information and technology will be available to producers to control disease and pest outbreaks as they occur. Strategies and approaches will be available to producers to control emerging crop diseases and pest outbreaks.

3.2.6:    Provide needed scientific information and technology to producers of agriculturally important plants in support of exclusion, detection and early eradication; control and monitoring of invasive insects, weeds and pathogens; and restoration of affected areas. Conduct biologically based integrated and areawide management of key invasive species.

Baseline:    2002 - Developed and implemented strategies for management of key invasive pest species such as Asian longhorned beetle, leafy spurge, melaleuca, and other species. Providing data in support of APHIS and other action agencies. Conducting six areawide pest management programs for insects and weeds. Increasing systematic capabilities for rust diseases and insect pests. Developing data for use in risk analyses of biological control agents, particularly with regard to modeling prediction of risk and protection of non-target species. NAL operates www.invasivespecies.gov web portal.

Target:    2007 - Knowledge and understanding of the ecology, physiology, epidemiology, and molecular biology of emerging diseases and pests will be improved. This knowledge will be incorporated into pest-risk assessments and management strategies to minimize chemical inputs and increase production.

Actionable Strategies

GOAL 4:  IMPROVE THE NATION'S NUTRITION AND HEALTH

Improving the Nation's health requires enhancing the quality of the American diet. The United States is experiencing an obesity epidemic resulting from multifaceted causes including a "more is better" mindset, a sedentary lifestyle, and the selection of readily available high calorie foods. In addition, 4 of the top 10 causes of death in the United States-cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes-are associated with the quality of our diets-diets too high in calories, total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol or too low in fiber. Americans want fresh foods that taste good, are convenient to prepare, and consume and yet offer nutrition and health benefits. Building a strong connection between agriculture and human health is an important step to providing a nutritionally enhanced food supply. Promoting healthier food choices and educating Americans to balance caloric intake with sufficient daily physical activity are vital steps to preventing obesity and decreasing risk for chronic disease.

ARS conducts research to generate new knowledge in human nutrition, to improve the understanding of optimal nutrient requirements for known and new classes of nutrients at all stages of the life cycle, and to better understand relationships between diet and health. ARS provides information on the composition of beneficial known and emerging food components in a variety of foods and develops new methods to measure the nutrient composition of foods. ARS conducts national food consumption surveys to assess nutrient intake and food patterns of the American people and targeted populations. ARS conducts research on dietary interventions and strategies for modifying diets, food choices, and eating and physical activity behaviors. The outcomes of these combined research efforts provide a sound scientific knowledge base for education, intervention, and outreach efforts to promote better diets, reach children early, and enable people to make healthful food and lifestyle choices.

Objective 4.1:  Promote Healthier Individual Food Choices and Lifestyles and Prevent Obesity; Improve Human Health by Better Understanding the Nutrient Requirements of Individuals and the Nutritional Value of Foods; Determine Food Consumption Patterns of Americans.

Good health is dependent on consumption of foods that have the right balance of nutrients to meet an individual's needs. Nutritional values of foods appear to be more complex than their fat, carbohydrate, protein, mineral, and vitamin composition. Recent progress points to classes of compounds that play a critical role in health, such as antioxidants, lycopenes, and isoflavones. The role of these and other food components on individual health needs to be characterized. In addition, there are very few studies to discover and measure the presence of other new classes of nutrients in the varied food supply. Building databases of food composition is critical to developing healthy diets. Also critical is improving the health- promoting value of food, through selection, biotechnology, processing, and other practices.

ARS research will determine the requirements for new classes of nutrients, determine their composition in a variety of foods, and enhance the nutritional value of our food.

Performance Measures

4.1.1:    Scientifically assess the efficacy of enhancements to the nutritional value of our food supply and identify, conduct, and support intramural and extramural research to develop, test, and evaluate effective clinical and community dietary intervention strategies and programs for modifying diet, eating behavior, and food choices to improve the nutritional status of targeted populations. A special emphasis is to prevent obesity and promote healthy dietary behaviors.

Baseline:    2002 - Developed a tomato with enhanced levels of lycopene. Established local cooperators to define and implement Nutritional Intervention Research Initiatives (Delta NIRI) in a consortium of communities in the tri-state Lower Mississippi Delta area.

 Target:    2007 - Scientifically assess the health benefits to humans of two new functional foods introduced via ARS research programs. Execute and report on two completed Delta NIRI projects.

4.1.2:   Define functions, bioavailability, interactions, and human requirements (including effects such as genetic, health status, and environmental factors) for known, emerging, and new classes of nutrients. Determine the abundance of known, emerging, and new classes of nutrients in the food supply and provide that information in databases.

Baseline:    2002 - Provided background information and research required to update and revise Dietary Reference Intakes. Issued Release 15 of the USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.

Target:    2007 - Develop research information and technology on human requirements and functions of known and emerging classes of nutrients and on the relationships between diet and health needed to support Departmental food policy reflective of revised Dietary Guidelines 2005. Expand the Nutrient Database for Standard Reference to include phytochemicals and release the joint ARS-NIH Dietary Supplement Ingredient Database (DSID).

4.1.3:    Determine food consumption patterns of Americans, including those of different ages, ethnicity, regions, and income levels. Provide sound scientific analyses of the U.S. food consumption information to enhance the effectiveness and management of the Nation's domestic food and nutrition assistance programs.

Baseline:    2002 - Implemented the combined "What We Eat in America" dietary survey and provided food consumption information for 5,000 individuals.

Target:    2007 - Provide food consumption information from the "What We Eat in America" dietary survey for 10,000 individuals.

Actionable Strategies

GOAL 5:  PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE NATION'S NATURAL RESOURCE BASE AND ENVIRONMENT

Agriculture relies on a natural resource base whose sustainability depends on sound, science-based production practices. The management of our renewable natural resources often seems to be a continuous balancing of conflicting and competing goals and concerns. While this is often the case, particularly in the short-term, longer term management strategies combined with adequate knowledge of the complex natural systems can yield maximum sustainable benefits from our resources that can satisfy most competing concerns.

ARS will conduct multidisciplinary research to solve problems arising from the interaction between agriculture and the environment. New practices and technologies will be developed to conserve the Nation's natural resource base and balance production efficiency and environmental quality. Since environmental quality is a global problem, ARS will expand collaboration with foreign research institutions. The outcome will be technology and practices that will mitigate the adverse impact of agriculture on the environment, applicable to the scale of production.

ARS will develop the knowledge base, conservation practices, and tools needed to achieve maximum sustainable benefits from our renewable natural resources on both public and private lands.

Objective 5.1:  Provide Science-Based Knowledge and Education To Improve the Management of Forest, Rangelands, and Pastures.

Forest, rangeland, and pasture ecosystems provide a number of goods and services that are critical to maintaining a healthy and livable environment. Among those are clean water, clean air, productive soils, carbon storage, biodiversity, scenic vistas, and recreational opportunities. In addition, they are an important source of food, fiber, and forest products. Even though these systems are managed less intensively than conventional farmlands, sound scientific management is critical in maintaining their goods and services.

ARS will provide the knowledge base to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of ecosystem management strategies that will give the greatest long-term benefits from our public and private forests, rangelands, and pastures, including the mitigation of global change.

Performance Measures

5.1.1:    Develop ecologically based information, technologies, germplasm, and management strategies that sustain agricultural production while conserving and enhancing the diverse natural resources found on rangelands and pasture lands.

Baseline:    2002 - Approximately half of the rangelands have been significantly degraded by fire, invasive weeds, environmental changes, and poor grazing management.

Target:    2007 - Demonstrate management strategies that integrate improved germplasm, biological controls, grazing practices, prescribed fire and decision-support tools to promote the restoration of degraded rangelands in a sustainable manner.

Actionable Strategies

Objective 5.2:  Provide Science-Based Knowledge and Education To Improve Quality and Management of Soil, Air, and Water Resources.

Intensively managed croplands, in addition to providing food and fiber, play a critical role in determining air, water, and soil quality. Because these lands are intensively utilized, effective management is critical in sustaining the Nation's natural resource base. Sound scientific management of productive croplands should lead to the maintenance of sustainable high levels of soil, air, and water quality and benefit both agricultural production and the environment. Not the least of the benefits of improved production systems is removing the necessity of farming environmentally sensitive marginal lands.

ARS will provide producers with management practices and tools that will allow sustainable food, feed, and fiber production while protecting soil, air, and water resources.

Performance Measures

5.2.1:    Develop the tools and techniques required to maintain and restore the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the Nation's watersheds and its surface and groundwater resources.

Baseline:    2002 - Currently EPA estimates that 70 percent of the rivers, 68 percent of the estuaries, and 60 percent of the lakes now meet legislatively mandated goals.

Target:    2007 - ARS, in conjunction with other Federal, State, and local agencies, will provide the tools and means to improve the quality of the Nation's waters that affect agricultural watersheds.

5.2.2:    Develop agricultural practices that maintain or enhance soil resources, thus ensuring sustainable food, feed, and fiber production while protecting environmental quality.

Baseline:    2002 - Approximately 500 million acres of cropland and grazingland have been degraded by various causes, including erosion, loss of organic matter, compaction, salinity, and soil acidification.

Target:    2007 - Develop improved conservation practices and systems that would, if adopted, improve productivity, conserve soil resources, and enhance environmental quality.

5.2.3:    Develop approaches that mitigate the impact of poor air quality on crop production and provide scientific information and technology to maintain or enhance crop and animal production while controlling emissions that reduce air quality or destroy the ozone layer.

Baseline:    2002 - Dust emissions from agricultural operations and ammonia emissions from animal feeding operations pose a threat to environmental quality and human health.

Target:    2007 - Develop management practices that would, if adopted, reduce dust emissions from agricultural operations.

5.2.4:    Develop agricultural practices and decision-support strategies that allow producers to take advantage of beneficial effects and mitigate adverse impacts of global change.

Baseline:    2002 - Increases in the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases and related increases in weather variability affect the physiology and ecology of plants on croplands and rangelands in often unpredictable ways.

Target:    2007 - Develop models that will provide quantitative estimates of how management practices will affect crop production and soil carbon sequestration under climatic and carbon dioxide conditions projected for major U.S. agricultural systems in the mid-21st century.

5.2.5:    Develop management practices, treatment technologies, and decision tools for effective use of animal manure and selected industrial and municipal byproducts to improve soil properties and enhance crop production while protecting the environment.

Baseline:    2002 - Inappropriate management of animal manure and byproducts poses a threat to soil, water, and air quality.

Target:    2007 - Develop manure and byproduct management practices and treatment technologies that improve soil quality; reduce inputs of nutrients, sediment, and pathogens to surface and ground waters; and reduce air emissions of gases and particulates from animal feeding operations.

5.2.6:    Develop agricultural and decision-support systems that assist in increasing the efficiency of agricultural enterprises and achieve economic and environmental sustainability.

Baseline:    2002 - Inadequate tools to replace those lost because of environmental constraints and the uncertainty of outcomes (financial, ecological, and social) and interactions associated with changing cropping management systems are constraining the development of sustainable agriculture management systems.

Target:    2007 - Develop alternative crop and animal production systems that increase productivity and profitability.

Actionable Strategies

GOAL 6:  Management Initiative 0.1:  Ensuring the Quality, Relevance, and Performance of ARS Research (Covers All Research Objectives)

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has established governmentwide R & D Investment Criteria that are designed to assess the relevance, quality, and performance of federally funded research. ARS will rely on organized interactions with customer, stakeholders, and partners to establish the relevancy of our research programs. Peer reviews conducted by Office of Scientific Quality Review (OSQR) and the Research Position Evaluation System (RPES) ensure the quality of our research and scientific workforce, and data gathered from the Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) to monitor performance.

Objective 6.0:  Provide Mechanisms To Ensure the Relevance, Quality, and Performance of the ARS Research Program

Performance Measures

6.0.1:    Relevance:  ARS' basic, applied, and developmental research programs are well conceived, have specific programmatic goals, and address high priority national needs.

Baseline:    2002 - NPS is currently developing a system that will track data on National Program workshops, conferences, mid-term assessments, and other activities that are designed to ensure the relevancy of the research program.

Target:    2007 - When the baseline data is collected, specific targets will be established for FY 2007.

6.0.2:    Quality:  ARS research projects are reviewed by National Program by external peer review panels at the beginning of the 5-year program cycle.

Baseline:    2002 - OSQR reviewed 115 research projects (7 required no revisions, 46 required minor revisions, 29 required moderate revisions, 28 required major revisions, and 5 were found to be not feasible).

Target:    2007 - OSQR plans to review 200 research projects.

Baseline:    2002 - RPES conducted 378 reviews of ARS scientists; 186 (49.2%) were upgraded, 191 (50.5%) remained in grade or were referred to the Super Grade Panel, and 1 (0.3%) had a grade/category problem.

Target:    2007 - RPES will conduct 340 reviews of ARS scientists.

6.0.3:    Performance:  ARS will monitor and measure the performance of each research unit and National Program.

Baseline:    2002 - NPS is currently developing a system that will track data on on-site location reviews, papers published, CRADAs entered into, patents and licenses applied for, and plant varieties and germplasm releases that demonstrate National Program performance.

Target:    2007 - When the baseline data is collected, specific targets will be established for FY 2007.

Actionable Strategies

Management Initiative 1:  Provide Agricultural Library and Information Services to USDA and the Nation via the National Agricultural Library

Timely, relevant information is a fundamental component of agricultural research, academic pursuits, effective policy development, and decisions related to U.S. agriculture both within and beyond USDA. Targeted information resources and services are also crucial to the successful accomplishment of USDA missions, programs, and services by inspectors, regulators, nutritionists, and other specialists, as well as their peers, customers, and stakeholders nationwide. Beyond USDA agencies and specialized technical communities, the American public requires information on a very broad set of agriculture-related topics, ranging from small business development to gardening to nutrition to food safety to farming to textiles to statistics and beyond. In addition, the permanent preservation of USDA's and the Nation's agricultural intellectual heritage is a key national responsibility. The National Agricultural Library (NAL) is mandated to support these needs; further, NAL is a global resource for access to agricultural information. NAL's work in collecting, preserving, and ensuring useful access to agricultural information is fundamental to maintaining the competitive position and growth of U.S. agriculture and the development of food supplies for the Nation and world.

NAL, the most comprehensive agricultural library in the world, has been serving USDA and the agricultural community since 1862. Established by Congress as the primary agricultural information resource of the United States, NAL's mission is to foster a vibrant national economy and improved quality of life by providing excellent agricultural knowledge services. In recent years, Congress has broadened NAL's responsibilities to include providing leadership in developing and operating a comprehensive national agricultural library and information network. NAL is the only U.S. institution with the statutory mandate to carry out international agricultural information responsibilities for the agricultural community. A national treasure, NAL provides comprehensive information collections and services to the many thousands of customers who access NAL on any given day. In addition to developing and managing a comprehensive collection of more than 3.5 million items published in all forms and formats, for more than 30 years NAL has led in developing electronic information services for its customers. From FY1997 to FY2002, largely because of the effective use of Internet technologies, NAL increased its total annual volume of direct customer services from 6,000,000 to more than 42,000,000.

Objective 6.1:  Provide Rapid, Comprehensive, and Long-Term Access to the Full Range of Agricultural Information Resources Through a Variety of National Agricultural Library (NAL) Delivery Systems, With Particular Emphasis on Digital Technologies                                                                                   

In 2002, the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education and Economics Advisory Board made recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture about the role and future development of the National Agricultural Library. In particular, the Board recommended that NAL work with a broad array of partners and stakeholders to develop the NAL National Digital Library for Agriculture (NDLA). The NDLA incorporates many of NAL's existing programs and services, while deepening and expanding NAL's digital collections and electronic information services. By 2007, NAL expects to have made significant progress toward developing the NDLA. The NDLA will provide services via highly trained specialized staff and modern information technologies, based on a mix of printed and other physical publications and a large universe of information that will exist primarily or solely in digital format. These services will enable NAL to provide integrated, seamless access to a broader and deeper array of resources than has been possible through previous services.

Performance Measures

6.1.1:    Develop and deliver content for the NAL National Digital Library for Agriculture (NDLA).

Baseline:    2002 -The National Agricultural Library (NAL) receives 19,000 printed journal titles and serial publications and manages the access for USDA to 2,100 digital publications (ejournals, statistics, reports, databases, etc.). This literature, along with that already in NAL's more than 3 million item national collection of agricultural literature, documents the knowledge base in the food and agricultural sciences. Procedures and policies for delivering electronic publications to desktops, for example via NAL's DigiTop initiative for USDA staff, are evolving. NAL provides information to a broad customer base via reference services, web sites, and specialized information centers. NAL provides leadership and support for the Agriculture Network Information Center (AgNIC).

Target:    2007 - NAL's national collection of agricultural literature in printed, digital, and other publication formats is comprehensive. NAL provides information in direct support of USDA priorities in agriculture to a very large and broad customer base via Web-based reference and information services, digital desktop access for licensed electronic publications, and rapid document delivery for paper-based materials. NAL serves as the hub for an information network of libraries and institutions with access to a variety of information resources.

6.1.2:    Integrate the NAL AGRICOLA database into the NDLA.

Baseline:    2002 - AGRICOLA resides on an obsolete computer system implemented in 1988. A standard methodology to link AGRICOLA citations to the full text of publications available in digital form has not been implemented. Throughput time for AGRICOLA indexing of journal articles averages 180 days from receipt of the journal issue to appearance of indexing records in AGRICOLA.

 Target:    2007 - AGRICOLA is the state-of-the-art online index to all NAL resources. AGRICOLA is compatible with current information technology standards for record input and output as well as for linking digital resources. Throughput time for indexing top priority journal articles is 30 days or less.

6.1.3:    Ensure long-term access to the resources of the NAL NDLA.

Baseline:    2002 - A digitization program is initiated to convert USDA publications from printed copies into digital publications. Metadata standards are developed for description of digital resources and the registration of persistent unique identifiers for digital objects, which will enable long-term consistent retrieval of publications in digital format.

 Target:    2007 - NAL will have digitized and preserved digitally 50,000 core documents from NAL non-digital collection materials to preserve them and provide Web access for customers. NAL takes responsibility for USDA documents by implementing a national plan for preserving agricultural information in standard digital formats.

Actionable Strategies

Management Initiative 2:  Provide Adequate Federal Facilities Required To Support the Research Mission of ARS

ARS research needs are the driving force behind the construction and renovation of ARS facilities. To maintain and enhance our capability to meet the needs of American agriculture-for both foreign and domestic consumption-requires a large and diverse inventory of laboratories and support facilities. Most ARS research facilities have been designed for a lifespan of approximately 30 years. Once the facility has reached this milestone, the infrastructure-electrical, heating, and ventilation systems-is generally inadequate to meet current safety standards and equipment demands of modern scientific programs. Significant investment is needed to either replace or modernize the facility to meet the needs of the research.

Performance Measures

6.2.1:    Complete priority buildings and facilities projects on schedule and within budget.

Baseline:    2002 - In FY 2002, ARS received $118,987,000 for buildings and facilities account. Funding was provided to continue modernization projects and new research facilities at 24 locations. An additional $75 million was provided for Ames, IA, for modernization.

 Target:    2007 - Will not be determined until FY 2005.

Actionable Strategies

ARS COMMITMENT TO THE USDA MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES

Improve Human Capital Management

ARS is participating in the development of the REE Human Capital Management Plan. This plan will be developed in line with the USDA Human Capital Management Plan and the President=s Management Agenda goal to improve human capital management in the Federal Government.

The REE plan focuses on strategic workforce planning and maximizing employee performance, while meeting the challenges of developing a workforce with the leadership, technical, and customer service skills needed to carry out the mission of each REE agency.

ARS has identified specific goals toward the improvement of human capital management, including leadership development, succession planning, workforce analysis, and human capital management accountability. ARS will continue to use alternate hiring methods including Alternative Merit Promotion and the USDA Demonstration Project hiring authorities, to recruit a highly qualified, diverse workforce to meet the needs of the agency and to close the skills gap. ARS will also continue to use hiring incentives, such as recruitment bonuses and repayment of student loans, for the same purpose: to recruit a highly qualified, diverse workforce. Workforce analyses will be conducted, and competitive sourcing will be considered among the alternatives when deciding to close skills gaps or determining how to operate more efficiently and effectively. ARS will ensure that a cadre of qualified, competitive candidates will be available to lead and manage the agency's programs in the future, through established leadership training programs (including LEAD, PEAK, Path to Leadership, and SES CDP) and development of new programs. ARS is also creating training programs to develop a future workforce in occupations facing a critical shortage of available candidates. In addition, programs are being developed to ensure accountability within the agency for the improvement of human capital management.

ARS will:

• Participate in development of the REE Human Capital Plan.
• Develop goals specific to ARS within the REE Human Capital Plan.
• Evaluate and redesign leadership training through development of a new program (tentatively titled Path to Leadership Program).
• Link the Recruitment Strategic Plan to Skills Gap and Workforce Analysis.
• Develop a method of accountability through the Human Capital Management Assessment Program.

Improve Financial Management

ARS will:

Expand Electronic Government

Expanding Electronic Government (eGovernment) is one of the five key elements in the President's Management Agenda. Its objective is to transform and enhance the delivery of Government information, programs, and service to the public and other customers through integrated, cross-agency, innovative electronic solutions. In support of this objective, USDA has established an enterprise-wide eGovernment Strategic Plan that focuses on improving citizens' knowledge of and access to agency services and programs, enhancing collaboration with public and private organizations, improving internal efficiency by promoting enterprise-wide solutions, and ensuring the security of information provided by and for agency customers. ARS has likewise developed an eGovernment Tactical Plan that establishes how it will transform its core business processes in support of the Department's eGovernment goals and objectives, as well as enhance program delivery to its own customers and stakeholders. The Tactical Plan identifies specific ARS eGovernment initiatives in which ARS is working collaboratively as part of a Department-wide development effort and others that address agency-specific program objectives.

Baseline:    2002 - ARS has not yet implemented any of the proposed Department-wide or multi-agency eGovernment initiatives, including eLearning, eProcurement, eGrants, Content/Knowledge Management, Web Presence/Portals, and eAuthentication.

Target:    2007 - ARS has successfully implemented the Department-wide or multi-agency eGovernment initiatives that are relevant to agency services and programs. (The timeframe to implement these initiatives in ARS dependents on the schedule established by the Department.)

Actionable Strategies

ARS actively participates on Department-wide teams established to develop the business cases, requirements definition, and eventual implementation of the Department-wide eGovernment initiatives.

ARS integrates the eGovernment planning process with its overall strategic and IT planning processes to ensure that its eGovernment goals and objectives support and enhance the overall mission goals and priorities of the agency.

Funding and resource requirements needed in support of initiatives identified in the ARS eGovernment Tactical Plan are properly addressed in the agency IT Capital Investment Plans and budget plans.

The ARS eGovernment Tactical Plan is revised and refined as needed to reflect updated agency and Department-wide goals and objectives, changes in priorities, and accomplishments.

Budget and Performance Integration (BPI)

The ARS Strategic Plan was developed to improve the performance and programmatic accountability of ARS research programs. In developing the plan, ARS has sought to fully support and comply with the President's Management Agenda, the USDA Strategic Plan, and the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993.