May 7-11, 2000 Meeting Minutes

agInnovation South Spring Meeting
May 7-11, 2000
U.S. Virgin Islands

Dress Code: Casual for all events – a flowered shirt is highly recommended; No ties allowed!!

General Schedule
Participants
Action Items and Assignments
Agenda
Agenda Briefs

General Schedule of Meetings and Events:
Sunday, May 7, 2000:
5:30 – 7:30 Sunset Reception on the Beach (Snorkel’s Bar) – Open bar with hors d’oeuvres
Monday, May 8, 2000:
7:30 am – Continental breakfast (meeting participants only)
8:30 am – Meeting convenes

Guest Tour to St. Thomas:
8:30 am – Leave the hotel dock
9:15 am – Arrive Charlotte Amalie for shopping and sightseeing (Ladies from UVI will accompany guests.)
11:30 am – Box lunch and safari bus tour to mountaintop for relaxation and spectacular views
1:00 pm – Scenic drive to Coral World
4:30 pm – Leave National Park dock for water taxi back to Westin

4:45 pm -Meeting adjourns
Dinner on your own
Tuesday, May 9, 2000:
7:30 am – Continental breakfast (meeting participants only)
8:30 am – Meeting reconvenes
11:30 am – Lunch and afternoon tour for all guests and meeting participants
6:00 pm – Cash bar (Snorkel’s Bar on the Beach)
7:00 – 10:00 pm – Dinner and Entertainment on the Beach
Wednesday, May 10, 2000:
7:30 am – Continental breakfast (meeting participants only)
11:30 am – Meeting adjourns
Travel home or to St. Croix (Upon arrival in St. Croix, take a taxi from the airport to the Sunterra hotel.)
Thursday, May 11, 2000:
8:00 am – Board bus for tour to UVI Experiment Station
Scenic route to dock in Christiansted
Box lunch provided
12:00 – Board catamaran sailboat for Buck Island and snorkeling in Underwater Coral Trail (Limited spaces will be available for those wishing to return to the hotel rather than sailing to Buck Island).
4:30 – Return to hotel
Dinner on your own
Friday, May 12, 2000:
Return home or free day!!

Participants:

agInnovation South:
Jerry Arkin, GA
Susan Barefoot, SC
John Beverly, TX
Bill Brown, LA
Greg Brown, VA
Everett Emino, FL
Jim Fischer, SC
Marty Fuller, MS
Fernando Gallardo, PR
Frank Gilstrap, TX
Kriton Hatzios, VA
T. J. Helms, Exec. Dir.
Paula Jacobi, LA
Richard Jones, FL

Skip Jubb, VA
John Kirby, AR
Tom Klindt, TN
Fred Knapp, KY
John Lee, VA
David Morrison, LA
Roland Mote, TN
Manuel Palada, VI
Jim Rakocy, VI
Anna Marie Rasberry
Larry Rogers, LA
Mike Salassi, LA
Charles Scifres, AR
Helen Shaw, NC
Scott Smith, KY

Phil Utley, GA
Luther Waters, AL
Vance Watson, MS
Greg Weidemann, AR
Eric Young, NCLiaisons:
George Cooper, CSREES
Art Cosby, SSRC
May Nadaff, AESOP
Terry Nipp, AESOP
Chuck Onstad, ARS
Jay Ritchie, SSRC
Chris Waddill, ASRED

Action Items and Assignments:

Agenda Item 3: Approved previous minutes and interim actions.
Agenda Item 4.6: Approved a resolution supporting a process that would result in an increased national focus, collaboration, and cohesive entity (e.g. institute, academy, etc.) that encompasses all aspects of agricultural research, extension, and academic programs. (In support of this effort, Dr. Nipp was asked to provide a copy of an earlier draft legislative document describing such an entity.) Resolution to be forwarded to ESCOP.
Agenda Item 5.5: Approved funding request of $10,000 for Southern Rural Development Center.
Agenda Item 5.6: Notify AESOP if any universities are currently doing research in Information Technology.
Agenda Item 6: Approved agInnovation South Programmatic Plan and approved implementation strategies for the Operational Plan and the Programmatic Plan as outlined in committee’s report.
Agenda Item 7.1: Participants were asked to provide comments to Dr. Helms by June 5 on the Federal Guidance for Multistate Research document for submission to Dr. Cooper by June 15.
Agenda Item 7.2: Participants were asked to submit further comments/concerns regarding the draft of the National Manual for Multistate Research to Dr. Helms ASAP. Dr. Young, as AA to NRSP-1, was asked to assist with implementation of “Obtaining Full Credit” section of new manual.
Agenda Item 8: Approved budget of $39,908 for Data Support System contract with Social Science Research Center.
Agenda Item 9: Approved association operating budget of $271,000.
Agenda Item 11: Funding requests for NRSP-1, NRSP-3, NRSP-4, NRSP-5, and NRSP-8 were approved with caveat. Funding request for NRSP-6 was disapproved.
- Incoming chair was asked to put together a small group to study the issues surrounding NRSPs.
- Dr. Waters was asked to convey to the Administrative Heads the association’s support of separation of regional and national assessments.
- Requested that the budget director or someone else directly involved in each NRSP come to an annual meeting for indepth discussion (justification) and/or presentation of the budget requests, including funding sources.
Agenda Item 11.6: Dr. Nipp asked for contact names from NRSP-8 to support Genome Initiative.
Agenda Item 12: Approved off-the-top funding for S-009 budget request for a 3% salary increase of $5,881 and an increase in operating funds of $20,000, for a total funding level for FY01 of $370,238.
Agenda Item 13: In evaluation of projects/activities, the Southern Region Multistate Research Committee will use the following as criteria for approval: 1) regional priorities identified in the agInnovation South Programmatic Plan; and 2) demonstrated collaboration/cooperation and/or interdependence. Further, Development Committees appointed in 1999 that complete new project outlines prior to October 1 will follow the old guidelines; completion after October 1, they will follow new guidelines.
Agenda Item 14:
- Termination approved for IEG-30, IEG-32, and SERA-IEG-24.
- One-year extension approved for IEG-61 and SERA-TF-11.
- AC-8, Advisory Committee for Aquaculture, Fisheries, and Wildlife, will be subdivided. The aquaculture component will join AC-2, Animal Science, and the fisheries/wildlife component will join AC-13, Forestry.
Agenda Item 16: Administrative Advisors should initiate development of webpages for any activity not yet having developed one.
Agenda Item 18: Approved postponement of another presentation to justify an IPM facilitator until a general discussion of this and broader issues can be held, perhaps at the joint summer meeting of ASRED and Extension.
Agenda Item 20: Chair should appoint a committee to develop set of principles/guidelines regarding intellectual property for reaction by individual stations prior to August meeting.
Agenda Item 22.1: Dr. Watson asked for submission by June 10 of topics for discussion at joint research/extension meeting during Southern Region Land-Grant Conference in August.
Agenda Item 22.2: agInnovation South recommend to ESCOP that NRSP discussions be included in September’s ESS meeting.
Agenda Item 22.4: Dates of April 1-5, 2001, selected for spring meeting in Baton Rouge, LA.
Agenda Item 23: Approved nominations as follows: William H. Brown (LA), Chair-Elect to serve the remainder of Dr. Beverly’s term, and then assume position of chair in November, 2000; Scott Smith (KY), Chair-Elect; and Nancy Cox (MS), Executive Committee Member-at-Large.
Agenda Item 24: Approved resolutions for: Dr. John R. Beverly – retiring June 30, 2000; Dr. Helen A. Shaw – retiring June 30, 2000; Dr. Don O. Richardson – retired February 29, 2000; Dr. David H. Teem – left agInnovation South December 31, 1999; Dr. Larry A. Crowder – left agInnovation South March 1, 2000; Appreciation to Virgin Islands meeting hosts.

Agenda

Monday, May 8
7:30	~	Continental Breakfast (participants only)
8:30	1.	Passing the Gavel – Jerry Cherry
8:45	2.	Introductions and Approval of/Additions to Agenda – Vance Watson
9:00	3.	Approval of Minutes and Interim Actions – Vance Watson
9:15	4.0	ESCOP Core Committee Reports:
	4.1	Advocacy and Marketing – Larry Rogers
	4.2	Budget and Legislative – Jerry Cherry and Luther Waters
	4.3	Science and Technology – Bill Brown
	4.4	Partnerships – D.C. Coston
	4.5	Planning – Eric Young
	4.6	Executive – Richard Jones
10:00	~	Break
10:30	5.0	Liaison/Agency Reports:
	5.1	CSREES – George Cooper
	5.2	ARS – Chuck Onstad
	5.3	ASRED (Southern Extension Directors) – Christine Waddill
	5.4	ARD (Association of Research Directors) – Sam Donald
	5.5	SRDC (Southern Rural Development Center) – William H. Brown
	5.6	AESOP – Terry Nipp
12:00	~	Lunch (participants only)
1:00	6.	agInnovation South Planning Committee Report – Eric Young
1:30	7.1	Proposed Federal Guidelines for the Multistate Research Fund – George Cooper
2:00	7.2	Multistate Research Guidelines – T. J. Helms and Greg Weidemann
3:00	~	Break
3:30	8.	Report and Presentation of Social Science Research Center – Art Cosby and Jay Ritchie
4:45	~	Recess
Tuesday, May 9
7:30	~	Continental Breakfast (participants only)
8:30	9.	Report of the Chief Operating Officers Meeting – Vance Watson
8:45	10.	Executive Director’s Annual Report – T.J. Helms
9:00	11.	Off-the-top Funding: NRSP’s FY01 Budget Requests:
	11.1	NRSP-1 – Eric Young
	11.2	NRSP-3 – William H. Brown
	11.3	NRSP-4 – Neal Thompson
	11.4	NRSP-5 – D.C. Coston
	11.5	NRSP-6 – Eric Young
	11.6	NRSP-8 – Jerry Cherry
9:30	12.	S-009 FY01 Budget Request – Jerry Arkin
10:00	~	Break
10:20	13.	Multistate Research Committee – Greg Weidemann
10:30	14.	Review Requests for Modification of Activities – Vance Watson
10.45	15.	Changes in agInnovation South By-Laws – T. J. Helms
11.00	16.	Web pages for agInnovation South Activities – Vance Watson
11:15	~	Recess
11:30	~	Lunch and afternoon tours (all participants and guests)
Wednesday, May 10
7:30	~	Continental Breakfast (participants only)
8:30	17.	Southern Region IPM – Fred Knapp
8:45	18.	SERA-IEG-3: IPM / Southern Facilitator Position – Mike Salassi for David Boethel
9:00	19.	Image Enhancement (SERA-IEG-28) – Larry Rogers
9:15	20.	Cotton Inc. Contracts discussion – Larry Rogers
9:30	21.	Bt Resistance to Cotton – Vance Watson
10:00	~	Break
10:30	22.0	Plans and dates for upcoming meetings:
	22.1	Southern Region Mini Land Grant Conference, Virginia Tech – Kriton Hatzios
	22.2	ESCOP ESS Meeting, SAES/ARD Workshop, Regional Meetings, New Orleans – T. J. Helms
	22.3	SAAS – January 27 – January 31 2001 – Fort Worth, TX – T. J. Helms
	22.4	Spring, 2001 agInnovation South Meeting – Baton Rouge, LA – Larry Rogers
10:45	23.	Nominating Committee Report – Jerry Cherry
11:00	24.	Resolutions Committee Report – David Morrison
11:15	25.	Additional announcements/discussions, adjournment – Vance Watson

Agenda Item 1
Passing the Gavel

Presenter: Jerry Cherry
Background: Dr. Jerry Cherry, past chair, will present the Association’s “gavel” to current chair, Vance Watson. For those interested in reading the history of the “gavel,” which is actually a pocketknife, the story is available on the homepage in the agInnovation South Archives section.
Action requested: For information.

Additional information: In Dr. Cherry’s absence, Dr. Jerry Arkin presented the “gavel” to Dr. Vance Watson.

Agenda Item 2
Introductions and Approval of and Additions to the Agenda

Presenter: Vance Watson
Background: Introduction by participants will precede approval of the agenda, including any additions which may be brought by the members at large.
Action requested: Approval of the agenda.
Action taken: Agenda was approved as presented.

Agenda Item 3
Approval of Minutes and Interim Actions

Presenter: Vance Watson
Background:
Minutes from the Association’s August 16-17, 1999 summer meeting in Baton Rouge were announced to all Directors on September 8, 1999. These minutes are available in the Southern Director’s section of the homepage.
The following Interim Actions were taken on behalf of agInnovation South since the previous posting:

Approved IEG-74, “Southern Pine Beetle Working Group” after Extension Directors rejected the request for a SERA-IEG.
Letter of appreciation to Dr. William Richardson, LSU, for hosting the Southern Region Mini Land Grant Conference.
Approved DC99-07, “Enhancing Food Safety Through Control of Foodborne Disease Agents.”
Approved SCSB#393, “Environmental Degradation of Textile and Other Polymetric Materials.”
Appointed Jerry Cherry to replace George Kriz as new administrative advisor to S-291, “Systems for Controlling Air Pollutant Emissions and Indoor Environments of Poultry, Swine, and Dairy Facilities.”
Appointed William H. Brown to replace George Kriz as new administrative advisor to AC-5, “Agricultural Engineering Advisory Committee.”
Appointed Kriton Hatzios to replace Bob Cannell as new administrative advisor to S-262, “Diversity and Interactions of Beneficial Bacteria and Fungi in the Rhizosphere.”
Appointed Vance Watson to serve another term on the Joint Cotton Breeding Advisory Committee.
Appointed Vance Watson to replace David Teem on the Southern Aquaculture Center Board of Directors.
Appointed Randy Luttrell to replace Steve Lommel on the Regional IPM Committee.
Appointed Janet Johnson to replace Helen Shaw as administrative advisor to SERA-IEG-19, “The changing Rural health System: Education for Consumers and Providers.”
Appointed Marty Fuller to replace David Teem as administrative advisor to SERA-IEG-9, “Aquatic Food Animals from Warm Water Aquaculture.”
Appointed David Boethel to replace David Teem as administrative advisor to SERA-IEG-3, “Integrated Pest Management.”
Appointed Greg Weidemann to replace David Teem as administrative advisor to S-268 and DC99-04, “Evaluation and Development of Plant Pathogens for Biological Control of Weeds.”
Appointed Phil Utley to replace Don Richardson as administrative advisor to S-284, “Genetic Enhancement of Health and Survival of Dairy Cattle.”
Appointed David Morrison to replace Don Richardson as administrative advisor to S-277, “Breeding to Optimize Maternal Performance and Reproduction of Beef Cows in the Southern Region.”
Appointed Larry Rogers to replace David Teem as administrative advisor to S-183, “Phenology, Population Dynamics and Interference: A Basis for Understanding Weed Biology and Ecology.”
Appointed William F. Brown as a member of the Southern Multistate Research Committee.
Appointed David Morrison as chair of the Resolutions Committee.
Appointed Everett Emino as member of the Resolutions Committee.
Appointed Fred Knapp to replace Gerald Jubb as chair of the Regional IPM Committee.
Recommended Arthur Cosby, Social Science Research Center, as a member of the Southern Rural Development Center’s Technical Advisory Committee.
Appointed Gerald Jubb to replace Larry Crowder as administrative advisor of AC-12, “Entomology Advisory Committee.”
Appointed David Boethel to replace Larry Crowder as administrative advisor of S-265 and DC99-06, “Development and Integration of Entomopathogens into Pest Management Systems.”

Action requested: Approval of minutes and interim actions.
Action taken: On motion/second by Drs. Scifres/Rogers, the minutes and interim actions were approved.

Agenda Item 4.1
ESCOP Advocacy and Marketing Committee

Presenter: Larry Rogers
Background: This committee was created in FY99/00 when it was decided that the former ESCOP Budget, Legislative, Advocacy, and Marketing Committee should be discontinued and separate committees formed to address the budget and advocacy components. Colin Kaltenbach was appointed committee chair with David MacKenzie as Vice Chair. The southern region is represented on the committee by Larry Rogers and Scott Smith. The committee is charged with responsibility for providing guidance in more effectively reporting the impact of state agricultural experiment stations and cooperative extension services to the general public and especially to decision makers in Congress. The desired outcome is better state and federal financial support for state AES’s and CES’s.
The committee held a conference call on January 31, 2000. The committee recognized the need and urgency of enhancing public awareness of agInnovation South’s and SCES’s at the state, regional and national levels as the first step in achieving greater success in enhancing funding at the local and national levels. We must develop greater grassroot level stakeholder support to better advocate experiment stations and extension services at the national level. Most discussion centered on developing a marketing plan. Should logos be developed to enhance public awareness of AES’s and CES’s? One logo for both or separate logos? The logo(s) would be a component of a national public awareness campaign which would inform the public about significant contributions of our organizations to agriculture, the economy, the environment, and the unprecedented high standard of living of people in the United States. Those could be done to some extent with development of printed materials through the system using conventional methods/systems. However, the most effective way to influence the public is via television. The system has the capacity to produce high quality materials for this media and we have outstanding success stories to share. What we do not have is funding to mount such a campaign.
The committee scheduled a meeting for April 27 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Members were encouraged to reflect on the problems and opportunities discussed during the conference call, and come to the meeting with suggestions and ideas on how to proceed.
Action requested: For information.

Additional information: Discussions from the April 27 committee meeting included exploration of placing an individual at AESOP to run an advertising campaign. Estimated costs for such an operation are approximately $150,000 per year. Another option would be a newspaper campaign to ensure that one article every week reaches the national papers in support of agricultural programs. It was reported that this would cost approximately $10,000 per month. Additionally, it was stressed that the systems needs identity at the national level and that options must be explored for ways to present a national front, rather than individual state efforts.

Agenda Item 4.2
ESCOP Budget and Legislative Committee

Presenter: Jerry Cherry and Luther Waters
Background: Drs. Cherry and Waters serve as the Southern Region’s representatives to this committee and will provide an update of committee activities.
Action requested: For information.

Information: Dr. Waters stressed the importance of convincing the public that agriculture is important and that fundamentally, the system must determine from whom it derives the authority to do what it does, and then must engender their support and garner their respect.

Agenda Item 4.3
ESCOP Science and Technology Committee

Presenter: Bill Brown
Background:
Meetings: May 12, 1999 and September 27,1999
agInnovation South Representatives: Bill Brown and Nancy Cox
Activities:

ESCOP Genetic Resources Subcommittee: After discussion at the last ESCOP Committee Meeting, it was decided to split the Genetic Resources Subcommittee into two separate subcommittees, Genomics and Genetic Resources. Randy Woodson has agreed to chair the Genomics Subcommittee and Richard Lower has agreed to chair the Genetic Resources Subcommittee.The charge and the membership/makeup for the Genomics subcommittee is under development.
The charge for the Genetic Resources Subcommittee is similar to that of the previous subcommittee and follows: To represent the SAESs in the area of genetic resources of all life forms with appropriate agencies and associations; to identify opportunities and problems associated with germplasm and genome research; to develop recommendations on policy and procedures that enhance coordination between SAESs and federal agencies to participate and provide leadership in catalog and retrieval systems.
The subcommittee is presently focusing its activities on the following major topics: germplasm diversity; minor crop protection and gene enhancement/enrichment. These activities are linked and related to one another, it would be appropriate to assure that the subcommittee has representatives from SAESs, ARS, CSREES, industry and other clientele groups that understand these areas of activity.
ESCOP Social Sciences Subcommittee: The ESCOP Social Sciences Subcommittee has three task forces focused on a variety of risk management and policy issues including 1) GMO task force, 2) farm production and management task force, and 3 ) communities, families, and children at risk. This group was well represented on the ECOP/ESCOP Agricultural Biotechnology Task Force.
ECOP/ESCOP Agricultural Biotechnology Task Force: A report the ECOP and ESCOP on “Agricultural Biotechnology: Critical Issues and Recommended Responses from the Land-Grant Universities” was completed and made available on the ESCOP web site on January 25, 2000.
ECOP/ESCOP Food Safety Subcommittee: The solicitation for nominations went to the directors of the five regions on February 3, 2000, with a deadline of February 21, 2000. This subcommittee will make recommendations to the leadership of ECOP, ESCOP, and CSREES on specific action items. In addition, the subcommittee will provide liaison for the land-grant system with the food safety community including the Joint Institute for Food Safety Research.

Action requested: For information

Agenda Item 4.4
ESCOP Partnership Committee

Presenter: D. C. Coston
Background: Members of the Partnership Committee met in February with Charles Laughlin and other CSREES representatives. One positive outcome of the meeting was the encouragement to have a greater partnership between CSREES, Extension Directors, and Experiment Station Directors. Since that meeting, ECOP has defined a steering committee to work with ESCOP and plans are being formulated for ESCOP, ECOP, and CSREES representatives to meet again in late spring or early summer.
Action requested: For information.

Agenda Item 4.5
ESCOP Planning Committee

Presenter: Eric Young
Background: The Planning Committee began implementation of one of our primary goals, to establish a procedure for better integration of planning and budget development, at the SAES Directors Workshop, September 1999, in Memphis. Our committee, along with the Budget & Legislative Committee and Terry Nipp (AESOP), facilitated a process to identify research budget priorities for the 2001 and 2002 ESCOP budget. These priorities are listed below as APPENDIX A and are available on the ESCOP web site athttp://www.escop.msstate.edu/draftdoc.htm. The Budget and Legislative Committee is using these priorities in their budget development process and AESOP will use them to help guide their lobbying efforts.
The Planning Committee’s other primary goal, to facilitate and participate in a joint planning effort with ECOP through collaboration with the ECOP Strategic Planning Committee, has also been implemented. The ESCOP/ECOP Joint Planning Committee met in early February to review several recent studies on the future of Land Grant Universities and Colleges of Agriculture; discuss their implications for extension and research; and make recommendations to ECOP and ESCOP on how to address the key issues raised.
Documents reviewed included the Kellogg Foundation reports “Food System Professions Education Initiative” and “The Engaged Institution”, National Research Council reports “Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities – A Profile” and “Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities – Public Service and Public Policy”, five publications by Chancellor Emeritus James H. Meyer’s on the future of Land Grant College of Agriculture. The joint committee examined questions raised by these reports, identified key issues, discussed operationalization of recommendations, and formulated a process for developing ECOP/ESCOP joint initiatives. A summary of these discussions and recommendations is on the web at http://www.escop.msstate.edu/committee/plan00.htm#Action, identified as minutes of the Feb. 2-4 meeting.
Action requested: For information.

Additional information/discussions:

ESCOP’s Planning Committee is meeting jointly with ECOP’s Strategic Planning Committee in Baltimore on May 18-19 to facilitate discussions and develop implementation strategies on futuring between ESCOP and ECOP.

All members were encouraged to read the reports mentioned above in order to better respond to the issues presented. It was noted that the joint ESCOP-ECOP Planning Committees have already developed a suggested response for the system.

Numerous points were made concerning the importance of promoting a better understanding of agriculture. A lack of understanding leads to little support of increasing formula funds. The need to find better solutions and develop strategies for shaping the legislative agenda was discussed. Building political support to increase agriculture is critical.

Dr. Young was asked to convey points from these discussions to the Joint Planning Committees.

APPENDIX A
SAES NATIONAL INITIATIVE PRIORITIES

(Grouped under the five National Goals)

Goal 1. An Agricultural System That Is Highly Competitive in the Global Economy

Bio-based Products
1. Enhance the development of bio-based products
  - Including special foods that promote health, bio-fuel and alternative farm enterprises
2. Targeted biobased products, alternative crops, organics, agro-medical
Genomics
1. Plant and animal genomics
2. Structural biology of food proteins
3. Improve plant / animal products through biotechnology
4. Gene pool enhancement
Genetically Modified Organisms
1. GMO’s Assessment management and policy
2. Human health impacts
3. Benefits / risks
4. Environmental impacts
5. Marketing (international)
6. Labeling
7. Unintended consequences
8. Safety and use of GMOs
Goal 2. A Safe and Secure Food and Fiber System
Food Safety
1. Disease prevention
2. HACCP implementation
3. Epidemiology
4. Nutritional enhancement
5. Pathogen detection and control
6. Chemical residue detection and prevention
7. Pre- and post-harvest handling
8. Food allergens and allergies
9. Preservation technology
Goal 3. A Healthy, Well Nourished Population
Health
1. Improving human health through food
2. Health-food linkages
  - Functional foods
3. Agriculture, nutrition and human health
4. Food and health
5. Neutraceutical development
Goal 4. Greater Harmony Between Agriculture and The Environment
Environment and Land-use
1. Land use at the urban fringe
2. Landscape stewardship
  - Rural-urban interface
  - Forest fragmentation
3. Nutrient and waste management
4. Natural resource stewardship to enhance quality of life
5. Harmony between agriculture and the environment
6. Agriculture land preservation, use & management
  - Family farm preservation / economic viability
  - Rural / urban interface
  - Recreation / ecotourism
  - Habitat preservation
  - National food security
  - Environmental quality
  - Alternative agriculture enterprises
Goal 5. Enhanced Economic Opportunity and Quality of Life for Americans
Community and Families
1. Families and youth at risk
2. Community and economic development
Farm Risk Management
1. Small farms
  - Including farm family risk management
2. Helping farmers to manage risk
  - In order to remain profitable

[END APPENDIX A]

Agenda Item 4.6
ESCOP Executive Committee

Presenter: Richard Jones
Background: The ESCOP Executive Committee met on April 25-26 in Memphis. An update from that meeting will be presented.
Action requested: For information.

Additional information/discussions:

There are two major initiatives at the federal level to generate funding for agricultural programs at land-grant institutions: 1) The Food and Society Initiative (previously known as Century III); and 2) National model of the C-FAR program. The C-FAR model is in the development phase with a search for funding opportunities ongoing.

Continued interactions between ESCOP and ECOP with highlights of commonalities can be a strength for the system.

A new effort to establish a Joint ESCOP-ECOP Farm Crisis and Rural Communities Task Force has begun with nominations solicited for membership of the 8-10 person group.

The new ESCOP committee structure of 5 core committees is working well and provides needed direction for the subcommittees.

The Planning Committees’ priorities document will be useful for guidance of AESOP’s Plan of Activities, providing focus for Dr. Nipp’s time.

A discussion regarding the concept for a C-FAR model, prompted development of a resolution as stated below

Action taken: On motion/second by Drs. Fischer/Jones, the following Resolution was adopted, with the request that this agInnovation South action be made known to ESCOP. As a follow-up discussion, Dr. Nipp was asked to provide background materials, particularly the draft legislative document from about 10 years ago.

Resolution

Whereas, the critical need for research and education on existing and emerging agriculture, food, and environmental issues is increasing in importance at an unprecedented rate; andWhereas, major break-throughs in science are expanding new knowledge at an exponential rate in areas such as life sciences, electronic and satellite communications, and computer technology; and
Whereas, federal support for increasing the knowledge base for these existing and emerging issues surrounding the national food system is level; and
Whereas, agriculture is rapidly changing, expanding, and consolidating; and
Whereas, numerous studies, workshops, and task forces have presented recommendations and action items for land-grant universities to undertake;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors formulate a response to the recommendations of the appropriate studies, workshops, and task forces enumerating strategies and actions which move research in agricultural, food, and environmental sciences to the next level of excellence and relevance; and
Further, be it resolved that on this tenth day of May, 2000, the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors support a process that would result in an increased national focus, collaboration, and cohesive entity (e.g. institute, academy, etc.) that encompasses all aspects of agricultural research, extension, and academic programs.

Agenda Item 5.1
CSREES Update

Presenter: George Cooper
INITIATIVE FOR FUTURE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS
CSREES published the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the new Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS), in the March 6 Federal Register. About $113 million is available for grants through the Initiative in 2000. The focus of the Initiative is on agricultural genomics and biotechnology, food safety and nutrition, new uses for agricultural products, natural resources management, and farm efficiency and profitability. All Federal research agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research foundations, and private research organizations may submit proposals for grants. The RFP and application materials are also available on the CSREES website (http://www.reeusda.gov/ifafs). Proposals for IFAFS grants must be postmarked by May 22, 2000 (Extended from May 8, 2000).

INITIATIVE FOR FUTURE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS (IFAFS) – NOMINATIONS NEEDED FOR REVIEW PANEL MEMBERSHIP

We are reaching that time in our preparation for the Initiative when we seek to identify individuals to serve as review panelists for proposals now being developed. Specifically, we are in need of County Extension Professionals, State Extension Specialists, farm or forest owners and producers, consumers, and support industry representatives.
The needs of our programs differ, so I am listing them in three groups. I would like to ask each of you to nominate one or more individuals who you think would make good panelists. Proposals will be evaluated for relevance to critical issues as well as scientific and educational soundness, so it is not necessary that nominees be experts in the subject matter. They do need to be mature, experienced, and committed to the solution to problems of rural America through the application of science. Please respond by electronic mail, supplying names, telephone numbers, and addresses, along with a very few words describing your nominee’s background and experience. We are currently identifying panelists, so your responses are needed by April 27 and should be forwarded to Rodney Foil, Director IFAFS (rfoil@reeusda.gov).
Please provide nominations in the areas shown below:

PROGRAM	NOMINATIONS NEEDED
Farm Efficiency and Profitability	County Agent, State Extension Specialist, and producer
Pest Management and Invasive Species	Same as above
Precision Technologies	Same as above
Animal Manure Management	Same as above
Reducing Microbial Hazards in Fresh Produce	Same as above
Alternatives in Natural Resource Management	Same as above
Plant and Animal Genomics	State Extension Specialist, Producer, and Support Industry Representative
Microbial Genomics	Same as above
Health Effects-Ag Biotechnology	Same as above
Socio-economic effects – Ag Biotechnology	Same as above
Factors Influencing Food Choice	State Extension Specialist, consumer, and Support industry representative
Functional Foods	Same as above

CSREES ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS MEETING
On May 1-5, CSREES Administrative Officers will meet in Buffalo, NY to share information about budget, finance, grants management, and human resource management. The meeting is hosted by Cornell University.
RFP FOR FY 2000 TRIBAL COLLEGES EXTENSION PROGRAMS ANNOUNCED
The Fiscal Year 2000 Tribal Colleges Extension Program Request for Proposals (RFP) is now available. The guidelines for proposal preparation and submission, along with appropriate forms, are being mailed to the presidents of each of the 1994 land-grant institutions. The deadline for submitting proposals is May 25, 2000. A copy of the guidelines will soon be posted to the CSREES-1994 Institutions web site (http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/programs/1994.htm).
FY 2000 SECRETARY’S HONOR AWARDS PROGRAM
The Honor Awards Program is scheduled in Washington, DC, June 5, 2000. Our agency submitted names based on recommendations from agency and system colleagues. We are unable to share the names of individuals or groups until a decision is rendered. The Partnerships Office will share this information with Directors and recipients as soon as this information becomes available.
1999-2000 SALARY ANALYSIS
The Current Research Information System (CRIS) has released the 1999-2000 Salary Analysis. This report was compiled from data provided by State Agricultural Experiment Stations, 1890 Colleges and Universities, Forestry Schools, and Schools of Veterinary Medicine and includes annual analyses of salaries of research workers and research administrators at cooperating state organizations. The Salary Analysis is available on the World Wide Web at http://cristel.nal.usda.gov:8080/reports/salary.html. For further information, please contact the CRIS Office at crisadm@cris.nal.usda.gov or by telephone oat 301-504-6846.
CSREES PROGRAM REVIEW REQUESTS (MEMORANDUM DATED FEBRUARY 16, 2000)
The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service is seeking university program review requests for FY 2001 reviews (October 1, 2000 – September 30, 2001). The deadline is April 30, 2000. While program reviews are voluntary on the part of eligible institutions, we believe they are important in assessing current strengths, identifying future opportunities and recommending appropriate strategies for enhancing university-based programs. If you did not receive a copy of the February 16, 2000 memorandum, please contact Rosa Monroe at 202-720-5285 or by email: rmonroe@reeusda.gov.
CSREES ELECTRONIC MAILING GROUPS UPDATE
All System Administrators received a notice to update the mailing group lists that are used by the agency and partners for electronic communications. Any new appointments or permanent/interim assignments should be reported. This will ensure that our distribution lists are current and useful to us all as information is shared among and between administrative groups (ECOP, ESCOP, AHS, ACOP, 1890 Institutions, 1994 Institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and International Program Directors). We would appreciate your assistance in providing updates as changes occur within your universities. Changes should be reported to Jerry McNamara (jmcnamara@reeusda.gov).
NRI GRANT RECIPIENT RECEIVES PRESIDENTIAL NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
On April 12, CSREES-funded scientist Smita Mohanty received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. CSREES nominated Mohanty for the Presidential award after she received a FY 99 New Investigator Award from the CSREES National Research Initiative. The Presidential award is the highest honor bestowed on recipients of Federal funds who are at the onset of their research careers. As a result of the Presidential award, Mohanty’s CSREES grant will be extended from two to five years, enabling her to concentrate fully on her research program. Mohanty’s research seeks to determine the three dimensional structure of the pheromone binding protein of the silk moth and tobacco budworm, potentially leading to an environmentally benign strategy for insect control. She is an assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology at the State University of New York, Stony Brook.
AGRABILITY NATIONAL PROJECT
The Request for Applications (RFA) for the AgrAbility National Project is now available. The AgrAbility Program assists farmers, agricultural workers, and their families who have physical and mental disabilities. Education and assistance are available to accommodate disabilities and eliminate barriers on farms and ranches, and create a favorable climate among rural service providers for people with disabilities. The main purpose of the National project is to provide training, technical assistance and information support to State and regional AgrAbility projects; there are currently 18 such projects. The National Project is to be conducted under contract to a single 1862 or 1890 Land-Grant University Extension Service which will partner with, and subcontract to, a private, non-profit disability organization with national scope. The application deadline is May 15, 2000. The RFA and application materials are available at: http://www.reeusda.gov/agsys/agsyspp/agrabil/rfp2000.htm
INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM
CSREES published the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the new Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program, in the April 7, 2000 Federal Register. This program will be funded at $39,541,000 for the following integrated activities: Water Quality ($13 million), Food Safety ($15 million), Pesticide Impact Assessment – Pest Management Centers ($4.541 million), Crops at Risk from Food Quality and Protection Act ($1 million), Food Quality Protection Act Risk Mitigation Program for Major Crop Systems ($4 million), and Methyl Bromide Transition Program ($2 million). All universities and colleges (4 year and above) may submit proposals for grants. The RFP and application materials are also available on the CSREES website (http://www.reeudsa.gov/integrated). Proposals for grants must be postmarked by June 6, 2000.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES EMPLOYMENT FORECAST
Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in the Food and Agricultural Sciences, U.S. 2000-2005 forecasts employment for agricultural graduates. Students with science and marketing skills will be the most sought after by employers through 2005. For a copy, contact Food and Agricultural Careers for Tomorrow, Purdue University, 1140 Agricultural Admin. Bldg., West Lafayette, IN 47907-1140. Information about the report and the methodology can be found at http://faeis.tamu.edu/supplydemand/. For more information contact Sheri Whatley at 979-845-5068, email ssw@tamu.edu.
PROJECT DIRECTORS’ CONFERENCE
This year’s annual conference of project directors for recipients of Higher Education Program grants was held with the joint meetings of NASULGC’s Academic Programs Section and the American Association of State Colleges of Agriculture and Renewable Resources in Washington DC, March 5-6, 2000. More than 100 displays highlighting accomplishments were displayed on the patio of the Jamie Whitten Building for viewing by USDA agency representatives. Over 200 project directors and 75 academic deans were in attendance to discuss grants management, opportunities for collaborative efforts, future directions for education reform, and opportunities to enhance dissemination of exemplary project impacts and results. For summary information contact Greg Smith at 202-720-2067, email gsmith@reeusda.gov.
BLUE RIBBON REVIEW OF GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS PROGRAM The Higher Education Program unit is planning to convene a Blue Ribbon Panel of academic deans, university and government scientists and educators, industry, and Federal funding agencies to review the scope and scale of the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants Program. The panel will gather essential baseline data, review relevant program information and materials, and make recommendations and suggestions to enhance the Graduate Fellowships Program to prepare the next generation workforce of scientists, educators and extensionists to serve private and public sector needs. For more information contact Howard Sandberg at 202 720 4570, email hsandberg@reeusda.gov.
CRIS REPORTS
The CRIS staff would like to thank all of the partners institutions for their assistance in completing the reclassification process of the CRIS projects. The FY 1998 financial information, with the new classification, is available on the CRIS web site. We are still in the process of collecting FY 1999 financial data, which was due February 1, 2000. Date is not yet ready because several stations have not yet reported. Contact Ted Bauer on 301-504-5847 or tbauer@cris.nal.usda.gov.
CSREES STAFF HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS

Institute of Food Technologists honor Rao – On February 1, CSREES National Program Leader Ramkishan Rao received the Professional Scientist Award from the Southern regional section of the Institute of Food Technologists. The award was based on Rao’s contributions to the food technology profession for his research on lactose intolerance, anti-carcinogens in foods, and the nutritional value of foods.
Ebodaghe honored for small farms leadership – On February 10 CSREES National Program Leader Denis Ebodaghe received a Thomas M. Campbell Leadership Award for supporting the needs of the small farm community. The award was conferred during 108th Annual Farmers Conference, held at Tuskegee University. The award, named for Thomas Monroe Campbell, the first Extension Agent in the U.S., commemorates outstanding achievements in support of small farms.
Foreign Agriculture Service honors Reynnells – On February 2, USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service honored CSREES National Program Leader Richard Reynnells for his work on a USAID-led US-Asia Environmental Partnership project. Reynnells served on a team which developed and established an environmental center for livestock waste management at the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) in Taiwan.

Action requested: For information.

Additional information:

Handouts were distributed as follows: 1) “Administrative Guidance for Multistate Extension Activities and Integrated Research and Extension Activities” – Sections 105 and 204, 2) CSREES assessment of State Plans of Work (Will be available electronically soon).

Secretary’s Honor Awards – Can this be a tool to help increase formula funds? Participants were asked to think about ways to utilize this activity to better advantage.

Most year-end reports (AD419 and AD421) have been submitted. The CRIS website shows which states are delinquent.

Agenda Item 5.2
ARS Update

Presenter: Charles Onstad
Background: Dr. Onstad will present an update of ARS activities and personnel matters.
Action requested: For information.

Additional information: ARS is presently working on a system to evaluate national programs; presently, one program has gone through an entire review cycle. Personnel matters addressed concerned: 1) retirement of Darwin Muriel; 2) death of E. Knipling, Sr.; 3) vacancy in Area Director position in Athens; appointment pending; and 4) new position of plant geneticist at Griffin, GA. Another item on which update was provided was ARS’ participation in the 50th annual year of joint SAES/ARS/Mexican involvement at Tecoman Cotton Winter Nursery.

Agenda Item 5.3
ASRED Update

Presenter: Christine Waddill
Background: Dr. Waddill is the Association of Southern Region Extension Director’s liaison to agInnovation South, replacing Dr. Jon Ort. Dr. Waddill will provide an update of activities of ASRED.
Action requested: For information.

Additional information:

Dr. Waddill reported that ASRED is continuing its discussions regarding creation of an “Executive Director” position for the organization.

Extension directors have discussed ways to effectively balance areas of responsibility with meetings of all aspects of land-grant family such as 1890, AES, etc.

A New Directors’ Workshop is being held in Atlanta on June 26-27 with a focus on “survival” issues.

Agenda Item 5.4
ARD Update

Presenter: Sam Donald
Background: (Dr. Donald was unable to attend the meeting; thus no report was given.)
Action requested: For information.

Agenda Item 5.5
Southern Rural Development Center

Presenter: Bill Brown
Background: The programs of the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) are organized around five priority areas: (1) Strengthen and support the capacity of Southern land-grant institutions and their partners to conduct rural development research and outreach education programing. (2) Enhance the economic, environmental, and social well-being of rural communities and people. (3) Strengthen the human capital resources of the region’s rural communities. (4) Improve rural Southerner’s access to vital community services. (5) Enhance the capacity of rural people and communities to carry out their expanded responsibilities in the design, management, and financing of government programs.
The SRDC Director, Dr. Bo Beaulieu, provided an update to the agInnovation South at the 1999 Southern Land-Grant Meeting highlighting numerous workshops, grant activities, and publications that the SRDC was leading or involved in. Among these many activities, the SRDC leadership has embarked on a special publication series titled “The Rural South: Preparing for the Challenges of the 21st Century.” Approximately 35 articles are envisioned during this year; four have already been published and are available on the SRDC website.
The SRDC held a 25th Year Anniversary Celebration on January 31 in conjunction with the SAAS meeting in Lexington, KY. About 75 people attended. Three past SRDC Directors addressed the gathering. A highlight was the presentation of a $15,000 grant to the SRDC from Pegasus Satellite Television.
Year 2000 activities include an ambitious agenda of workshops, training conferences, publications, and research activities. Some highlights are an ERS funded proposal for $200,000 to provide mini-grants for research or food assistance issues and a regional meeting to explore and define e-commerce issues as they affect rural areas.
The 10-member SRDC Board of Directors met in San Antonio, TX on October 7-8, 1999. Southern region 1862 and 1890 institutions and research and extension are represented. The Board includes two private sector members. Both ERS and CSREES have Board advisors. Dr. Ron Brown serves as Chair for this year and Dr. Bill Brown is Vice-chair.
The SRDC has a very enthusiastic leader in Bo Beaulieu and his enthusiasm has resulted in a very ambitious set of activities in which the Center is involved. The Center is making good progress, is raising the visibility of many rural issues, and is beginning to attract funding to support an energized agenda.
At the summer, 1999 meeting of agInnovation South, Dr. Beaulieu presented information about the Millennium Series project and asked Directors to consider a $10,000 one-time donation to help fund this effort. A decision was deferred to the spring, 2000 meeting. Thus, the following proposal is submitted:
REQUEST
Southern Rural Development Center
April 20, 2000The Rural South: Preparing for the Challenges of the 21st Century (Millennium Series)
This series of over 35 information papers is intended to focus on some of the key topics that are likely to shape the future of the rural South. Eight thematic areas have been developed through the SRDC Advisory Committee process. The areas are as follows:

The Changing Demography of the Rural South
Agriculture in Transition
Diversifying the Rural Economy
Family and Child Well-Being
Health Care Quality and Access
Building Community in a Time of Policy Changes

Six (6) papers in the Series have been published and distributed, with seven (7) currently in the production process, and over 30 have been commissioned for publication. Copies are sent to approximately 1,800 persons including land-grant administrators, faculty, Southern senators and representatives, as well as other national and regional organizations concerned about the Rural South.
Support for writing and peer review is coming from within the land-grant system. Financial support for publishing over 2,400 copies, distributing throughout the nation, and posting to the SRDC WebSite has been received from the Economic Research Service–$10,000; TVA Rural Studies–$10,000; and Farm Foundation–$6,000. In-kind contribution comes from the SRDC for editing, layout and design.
Action requested: PROPOSAL: Even with the $26,000 currently provided for this Series, the SRDC is short approximately $10,000, and requests the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors commit to providing this one-time support.
Action taken: A decision concerning the one-time funding request for $10,000 was deferred to the meeting of the Chief Operating Officers, at which time, approval was granted. Assessment will come from the new fiscal year beginning July 1.

Agenda Item 5.6
AESOP Update

Presenter: Terry Nipp
Background: Dr. Nipp will provide an update of AESOP’s activities and status of budgets.
Action requested: For information.

Additional information:

Funding for USDA/CSREES: Senate and House are both marking up bills this week.

Exploring opportunities for multi-agency collaboration with NIH, NSF, etc on issues such as Ag Genome, Ag and Environment, BioBased Products, Bio Energy, and Community/Families.

Science – The NRC report has been released.

Emerging Issues – The area of Information Technology is quickly becoming a focus issue. How will this benefit research? Are any institutions currently doing research in Information Technology? If so, let AESOP know about it.

Agenda Item 6
agInnovation South Planning Committee Final Report

Presenter: Eric Young
Background: The Planning Committee, with input from agInnovation South members and SR-CARET representatives, have developed the attached list (See Appendix 1 below) of Southern Region Priority Areas for Multistate Research Activities. These Priority Areas were placed on the agInnovation South web site and have been reviewed and revised over the past nine months. The Committee submits this list for approval as the Association’s Programmatic Plan to guide Multistate Research Activities over the next five years.
The agInnovation South Mission and Vision Statements (see Appendix 2 below) and Operational Plan (see Appendix 3 below) were approved by the Association on 8/17/99 and, together with the Programmatic Plan, constitute the agInnovation South Strategic Plan for 2000-05. The Planning Committee has the following recommendations regarding communication and implementation of this plan:

Communication of final strategic plan outside of agInnovation South membership.
- Put Strategic Plan on agInnovation South web site linked directly from home page (i.e. replace old plan).
- Notify membership and other appropriate groups and constituents of its web address by email.
- Publish a tri-fold brochure of the plan for distribution to clientele and other supporters.
Implementation of Operational Plan.
- The agInnovation South Executive Committee should be the primary group overseeing implementation of any changes driven by the Operational Plan. They may reconstitute the Planning Committee to act as an implementation committee or they may choose to charge certain standing committees or ad-hoc committees with responsibility for specific objectives.
Implementation of Programmatic Plan
- Assess the relationship of current Southern Region Multistate Activities to the priority areas, including participation in other regions, and determine if any areas are not being addressed.
- For priority areas not currently being addressed, do the following:
  - If any of these areas are being addressed by projects in other regions without southern participation, encourage appropriate southern states to participate.
  - If there are priority areas not covered by projects in any region, encourage the development of a new activity in this area by the Directors agreeing to fund travel of key faculty from appropriate states, and an administrative advisor, to an initial IEG-type meeting to discuss a possible multistate activity.
- Require future multistate project outlines to include a statement regarding how it addresses one or more of these priority areas.

Action Requested:

Approval of agInnovation South Programmatic Plan (Southern Region Priority Areas for Multistate Research Activities).
Approval of recommendations for communication and implementation of the agInnovation South Strategic Plan.

Additional information:

A spreadsheet was distributed listing all multistate research activities involving southern region scientists, with activities grouped by agInnovation South research priorities. Administrative Advisors were asked to notify Dr. Young or Dr. Helms of changes needed in the listings.

A draft of a tri-fold brochure containing the agInnovation South Strategic Plan was distributed for comments.

Action Taken:

On motion/second by Drs. Young/Jones, the agInnovation South Programmatic Plan was approved.
On motion/second by Drs. Scifres/Jones, the committee’s report was accepted and implementation strategies for the Operational Plan and the Programmatic Plan were approved.

Appendix 1:

DRAFT
Southern Region Priority Areas for
Multistate Research Activities

The Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors’ vision is be a highly efficient and effective facilitator of high quality research relevant to the needs of the Southern Region. To successfully accomplish this vision, the Southern Directors will engage faculty with expertise in the physical, biological, and social sciences in multistate research activities in high priority areas. In addition, to assure relevancy of our research programs, our stakeholders from agriculture, forestry, natural resources, and rural communities will assess the merit of our research activities. When appropriate, research activities will include the entire range from discovery to application.
The following are areas of high priority for multistate research and will serve as a guide for soliciting and approving multistate research activities over the next five years.

GOAL 1. AN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM THAT IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

Integrated and sustainable agricultural production systems

Precision agriculture

Regional impact of FQPA

Value-added plant and animal genes in conventional breeding and molecular biology

New plant and animal species for agricultural production

Bio-based products

Competitiveness in international markets

Processing agricultural byproducts

Health and well-being of food animals

Public policy & economics of agricultural production systems

GOAL 2. A SAFE AND SECURE FOOD AND FIBER SYSTEM

Food safety

Plant and animal food and fiber processing systems

GOAL 3. A HEALTHY, WELL NOURISHED POPULATION

Nutritional quality of plant and animal food products

Food choices for optimum nutrition and individual health

Functional foods for enhancing health

Prevention and treatment of diet-related diseases

Interrelationships of food animal health and human health

GOAL 4. GREATER HARMONY BETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Air, soil, and water resources conservation and enhancement

Natural resource and ecosystem management

Multiple uses of agricultural lands

Environmentally benign agricultural operations

Nutrient management in agricultural systems

Integrated pest management systems, including biologically-based tactics

Environmental policy and regulations

GOAL 5. ENHANCED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AMERICANS

Economic and policy analysis of agricultural industrialization

Rural community development and revitalizing rural economies

Risk management and assessment in agricultural systems

Suburbanization of rural areas

Housing quality in rural areas

Agriculture-related social and consumer concerns

[END APPENDIX 1]

Appendix 2:
agInnovation South Mission and Vision Statements

MISSIONThe Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (agInnovation South) facilitates research of its member agricultural experiment stations to enhance the quality of life throughout the Southern Region and nation.
The agInnovation South:

is an association of research administrators of the state agricultural experiment station system within the 1862 Land-Grant universities of the 13 southern states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands;
solicits stakeholder and member input to identify high priority research needs in food, agriculture, and natural resources for the Southern Region;
encourages and establishes relevant research activities that are multi-state, multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary, and multi-functional;
provides a link to related academic, governmental, industrial and private allies to represent the nature, importance and needs of member agricultural experiment stations;
communicates timely information to member agricultural experiment station administrators to enhance their ability to effectively engage interested public, clientele, and funding groups.
expands the regional and national impact of member agricultural experiment stations through broad advocacy for agriculture and agricultural research.

VISION
The Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (agInnovation South) will be a highly efficient and effective facilitator of high quality research relevant to the needs of the Southern Region.
The agInnovation South will:

regularly solicit stakeholders’ and members’ opinions in a systematic planning and prioritization process which identifies and updates Southern Region research priorities.
facilitate the development of and coordinate research activities that are multi-state, multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary, and multi-functional and that address currently identified Southern Region needs.
have strong linkages to appropriate academic, governmental, industrial and private entities which foster productive alliances between those entities and member agricultural experiment stations.
manage a comprehensive information gathering, storing, and disseminating network that provides for reporting, analysis, planning and accountability of Southern Region research.
be an active and effective advocate for the state food, agriculture and and natural resources research system at the regional, national and international levels.
facilitate interaction and coordination of research activities with extension activities.

[END APPENDIX 2]

Appendix 3:
agInnovation South Operational Plan

1999 – 2003The following goals, with associated objectives, will be pursued by the agInnovation South over the next five years to improve the operations of the agInnovation South in its mission to facilitate research of the member agricultural experiment stations. These goals and objectives were modified and/or adopted from the 1999-2003 ESCOP Strategic Plan and in so doing, the agInnovation South will support the strategic initiatives outlined in that plan.
Goal 1. Improve the effectiveness of agricultural research.

Objective 1: Share research management approaches and successful leadership experiences through professional development programs, seminars, workshops, and in other ways.

Objective 2: Develop improved performance and accountability measures to better assure scientific quality and research relevance.

Objective 3: Develop, maintain, and share methods for assessing the impacts of research.

Objective 4: Enhance the effective use of the Southern Region’s research capacity (human, fiscal, and physical resources) for solving relevant problems.

Objective 5: Appropriately use merit assessment (stakeholders) and peer review (scientists) to ensure the relevance and quality of research activities.

Objective 6: Develop a program portfolio for the Southern Region’s research activities.

Goal 2. Expand the research capability of the Southern Region’s agricultural experiment stations to respond to stakeholder needs.

Objective 1: Emphasize the development of science-based knowledge and technology through a targeted portfolio of priority multistate, multidisciplinary and multifunctional research activities.

Objective 2: Develop a “rapid response” process for initiating short-term multistate research activities to address rapidly emerging issues or problems.

Objective 3: Expand consultation, participatory planning, and stakeholder involvement in program implementation.

Objective 4: Facilitate expanding funding opportunities, including the development of nontraditional sources of funding.

Objective 5: Directly contribute to CSREES’s reporting requirements.

Objective 6: Support communication of research impacts.

Goal 3. Expand and reinvigorate our strategic partnerships.

Objective 1: Strengthen partnerships among the member agricultural experiment stations.

Objective 2: Develop and enhance partnerships with federal agencies, private laboratories, commodity groups and other non-governmental organizations, including international partners.

Objective 3: Foster improved integration of research, extension, and academic programs.

Objective 4: Promote collaborations with cross-functional institutes, centers and similar organizations.

[END APPENDIX 3]

Agenda Item 7.1
Federal Guidance for the Multistate Research Fund

Presenters: George Cooper
Background: Dr. Cooper will distribute copies of the “Proposed Guidelines for the Multistate Research Fund” (MRF) which provides federal guidance for procedural management of the MRF by SAES.
Action requested: For information and discussion.

Additional information: There was considerable discussion regarding allocation and match requirements, and how this issue might better be dealt with in the next farm bill to avoid unnecessary problems. For the present document, participants were asked to provide comments to Dr. Helms by June 5, in order for him to assemble individual concerns for presentation to Dr. Cooper by June 15.

Agenda Item 7.2
Multistate Research Guidelines

Presenters: T.J. Helms and Greg Weidemann
Background: The Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) established new requirements and offered opportunities to change policies and procedures followed in the conduct of our regional (now Multistate) research program. New guidelines for the Multistate Research program have been drafted by the four regional Executive Directors. An overview of these guidelines will be presented for discussion and reaction by the agInnovation South. agInnovation South’s comments and recommendations along with those of the North Central, Northeast and Western Directors Associations will form the basis for debate leading to development of the final version of the “Guidelines for Multistate Research Activities.”
Directors are requested to review the guidelines prior to the annual meeting. This document appears in the “Workroom” section of the ESCOP homepage (http://www.escop.msstate.edu/) or directly at: http://www.escop.msstate.edu/Nat10.5.pdf.
Specific Southern regional policy and procedural matters related to the Southern Multistate Research Committee (formerly SRRC) will also be reviewed.
Proposed formats for electronic recording/reporting information on IEGs, SERA-IEGs, and other activities may be found in two draft documents linked from the Special Notice section of the agInnovation South homepage or available directly as follows:

Action requested: For information and discussion.

Additional information/discussion:

General concerns were discussed and noted by Dr. Helms for consideration when the next revision of the Guidelines is made.

Dr. Young, as AA to NRSP-1, was asked to help with implementation of the section entitled, “Obtaining Full Credit” on page 6.

Additional concerns and specific comments should be transmitted to Dr. Helms as quickly as possible.

Dr. Watson referred to Agenda Item 16 which calls for all southern region activities to initiate homepages in order to comply with the new guidelines.

Agenda Item 8
“Toward a Dynamic Atlas of U.S. Agricultural Production”:
A Social Science Research Center (SSRC) Presentation

Presenters:
Arthur G. Cosby, Director & Research Fellow, SSRC/MSU
and Jay Ritchie, P.I.-agInnovation South Information Support System, Research Associate, SSRC/MSU
Background: This presentation will present a set of advance visual images of selected people, crops, and animals for the United States and southeastern region. These visualizations incorporate spatial, temporal and three-dimensional elements to visually convey the dynamics of agriculture. Selected subject matter will include U. S. Population, African-American Population, Corn, Soybeans, Poultry, and Swine. The presentation can be seen as a first step toward a “dynamic atlas” of U.S. Agriculture Production.
Action requested: For information.

Additional information: A concept paper, including budget for the agInnovation South Data Support System was distributed. Funding was considered during the meeting of the Chief Operating Officers, at which time the proposed budget of $39,908 was approved.

Agenda Item 9
Report of the Chief Operating Officers’ Meeting

Presenter: Vance Watson
Background: The Chief Operating Officers meet privately to discuss matters concerning the agInnovation South’s Office of the Executive Director. Dr. Watson will present a brief report of this meeting.
Action requested: For information.
Action taken: Chief Operating Officers approved the following items:

agInnovation South budget was approved at $271,000 with assessments remaining at the previous level of $246,395. Expenditures over and above the assessed amount will be moved from carryover funds.
The one-time budget request of $10,000 from the Southern Rural Development Center (see Agenda 5.5) was approved.
The agInnovation South’s Data Support System contract with the Social Science Research Center at Mississippi State University was approved for $39,908.

Agenda Item 10
Executive Director’s Annual Report
to the agInnovation South
May, 2000

Presenter: T. J. Helms
Introduction
This FY 2000 annual report is my fourth report since being appointed as your Executive Director. During the past year we have continued to conduct the business of the Association in the manner prescribed by your action in 1996. I sincerely hope we have fulfilled every expectation you have of this office.
General Comments
The Office of the Executive Director is located in Mississippi State University’s Bost Extension Center and continues to be co-located with the Southern Rural Development Center. The Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station serves as the host experiment station for agInnovation South.
As I have remarked in past years, Anna Marie Rasberry’s service as Assistant to the Executive Director is indeed exemplary. She has established excellent working relationships with members of your staffs, with several key USDA/CSREES personnel, with her counterparts in the other regions, and with many others in the NASULGC family. In addition to serving as the webmaster for the Association’s homepage, Anna Marie also serves ESCOP in the same capacity. Anna Marie’s skills in this area have enabled us to conduct most of our agInnovation South and ESCOP business electronically.
Regional Activities
Although I was able to visit only three Southern Region Experiment Stations during the past year, making on-site visits continues to be a high priority for me. These visits are useful from the standpoints that they allow me to be better informed about your universities, your research programs and priorities and, of course, to become better acquainted with you (Directors and Associate or Assistant Directors) and your staffs.
Several reports of FFY ’97 CRIS data which are formatted to support various aspects of plan of work requirements were placed on the agInnovation South website. FFY ’98 data will be available in the very near future. Your comments regarding the utility of these reports are welcomed.
A recent analysis of FFY ’97 and FFY ’98 CRIS data for the Southern Region Multistate Research Program showed a major shift in resources expended from GPRA Goal 1 to Goal 4. The revised sorting scheme utilizing the new CRIS RPAs and the project reclassification exercise that each of you were asked to complete were largely responsible for this change.
The Southern Regional Data Support System, agInnovation South’s grant-supported project with the MSU Social Science Research Center (SSRC), continues to function under the leadership of Dr. Arthur Cosby. The emphasis of the project is communication of information from large, complex data sets (e.g., CRIS data; agricultural census data; etc.) in a visual format to a wide variety of audiences. Dr. Cosby will utilize an unique approach in presentation of data in his annual report to the Association this year. The data support system has enhanced our ability to develop a wide variety of presentations and reports in a timely manner for individual stations and the region. Funding for the project is scheduled to continue through June 30, 2000. (See the appended annual report for this activity.) A request for continuation will be presented during the U.S.V.I. meeting.
Regional assignments include:

T-STAR (Tropical/Subtropical Agricultural Research Program) administrative group (C-BAG)
agInnovation South Liaison Representative to the Association of Southern Regional Extension Directors (ASRED)
agInnovation South Liaison Representative to the 1890 Association of Research Directors.
Joint agInnovation South/ASRED Committee (Integrated Activities)
Member, Tecoman Cotton Winter Nursery Committee (National Cotton Council)
Joint Cotton Breeding Advisory Committee (National Cotton Council)
Beltwide Cotton Conference Steering Committee

National Activities
AREERA Implementation. Development of the “Guidelines for Multistate Research” commanded more time and effort than should be reasonably required for an activity of this nature. However, we now have a draft (Version 10.5) available for your review. We expect to have the final version available for adoption during the September meeting of the Experiment Station Section. The guidelines are designed to facilitate the requirements (multidisciplinary; integrated activities, etc.) for multistate research in the AREERA.
We anticipate that “Paperless Management of Regional Research” will be fully implemented in the near future.
In addition to participation in the regularly scheduled meetings of ESCOP and joint meetings with ECOP, the Executive Directors are holding face-to-face meetings and conference calls on a regular basis and as needed, with the USDA/CSREES Administrator and other leaders within the administration. Other ESCOP activities include:

Executive Vice Chair
Executive Committee
Chair’s Advisory Subcommittee
Science and Technology Core Committee, Vice Chair
Regional Research Partnership Subcommittee
Joint ESCOP/ACOP Leadership Development Advisory Committee
ESCOP Liaison to the National Forestry Coalition
Genome Initiative Steering Committee

OTHER NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

REEIS – Steering Committee (Subcommittee on Needs Assessment — Chair)
REEIS – Chair, Technical Committee

(The Association homepage contains a complete listing of T.J. Helms’ Assignments).
Action requested: For information.

Agenda Item 11
Off-the-Top Funding: NRSP FY01 Budget Requests

Presenter: Vance Watson
Background: Budget requests for FY01 MRF Funding are submitted as below. Regional Administrative Advisors will have the opportunity to discuss specific requests.

NRSP # (Advisor)	Title	Approved FY00	Requested FY01	$ Change % Change
NRSP 1 E. Young	CRIS	$225,622*	$289,250	$63,628 32%
NRSP 3 B. Brown	The National Atmospheric Deposition Program – Long Term Monitoring Program in Support of Research of Effects of Atmospheric Chemical Deposition (see brief below)	$113,011	$116,401	$3,390 3%
NRSP 4 N. Thompson	A National Agricultural Program to Clear Pest Control Agents for Minor Uses	$482,243	$482,243	n/a
NRSP 5 D.C. Coston	Develop and Distribute Deciduous Fruit Tree Clones Free of Virus and Virus-like Agents	$244,000**	$258,264	$14,265 5.8%
NRSP 6 E. Young	Introduction, Preservation, Classification, Distribution and Evaluation of Solanum Species	$161,931	$170,028	$8,097 5%
NRSP 8 J. Cherry	National Animal Genome Research Program	$380,000	$389,272	$9,272 2.4%
* The amount reported by CSREES as approved for FY00 is $219,398. ** The amount reported by CSREES as approved for FY00 is $248,332.

Action requested: Discussion and vote.

Additional information:

There was considerable discussion concerning the assessments, and the NRSP budget process as a whole. The incoming chair was asked to put together a small group to study the issues and to make a recommendation to facilitate a better understanding of this part of the MRF portfolio.

Dr. Waters was asked to convey to the Administrative Heads the feeling that national assessments (such as NASULGC dues) should be separated from those assessments which directors deem are regional priorities.

A suggestion was made to have the budget director or someone else directly involved in each NRSP come to an annual meeting for indepth discussion (justification) and/or presentation of the budget request.

Funding sources should be included in future discussions of budget requests.

Action taken: Individual action items for each NRSP budget request are summarized as follows:

NRSP-1: Budget increase was approved subject to caveat as stated below.
NRSP-3: Budget increase was approved subject to caveat as stated below.
NRSP-4: Level funding request of $482,243 was approved.
NRSP-5: Budget increase was approved subject to caveat as stated below.
NRSP-6: The Southern Region does not support this activity this year.
NRSP-8: Budget increase was approved subject to caveat as stated below.

CAVEAT: Using FY 2000 funding as a base for comparison, the Association approves FY 2001 funding at the level requested or a percentage change the same as the change in Hatch funding, whichever is smaller.

Agenda Item 11.1
NRSP-1 Budget Justification

Presenter: Eric Young
Background:
A ninety-five thousand dollar (approximately $63,600 from MRF) increase is requested for the Current Research Information System (CRIS) in order to provide an additional technical support position to fulfill a critical need. CRIS has not had an increase in the operating budget since 1994 and the CRIS staffing level was reduced by one position in 1997. Currently the entire senior staff is either already eligible to retire, or will be eligible in the next two years. An increase in funding would establish a new mid level technical position on the CRIS staff which would assist in succession planning. Acquiring the additional staff member now is needed to allow sufficient time for training while current staff are still involved in the program. The knowledge base of the present staff is an irreplaceable resource that has been acquired through many years of experience working within the CRIS program. A new staff member, regardless of technical experience, cannot acquire the esential insight into the CRIS data environment without extensive interactions with the present staff members.
The increase requested in the MRF “Other” category ($38,700) will be utilized to pay a contractor for “expert” advice and assistance in the refinement and implementation of many of the CRIS reporting and database needs. Dr. Rose Broome, who is an “expert” in CRIS software, will be retiring from CRIS sometime this summer. Some of the increase will be used for a temporary replacement until a permanent person is hired. Also, part of the increase will be utilized to pay for the shared position with U.S. Geological Survey (USGS – Biological Resources Division). BRD contributes the “slot” and 50% of the salary and benefits and CRIS contributes the remaining 50% and office space. Said Nurhussein provides “expert”systems support to our UNIX servers and the ones owned by BRD. This has been an excellent arrangement which has resulted in a minimum of downtime for our UNIX servers. Neither CRIS nor BRD are able to hire a full time individual to provide the needed expertise.

NRSP-1: Current Research Information System
Description	MRF FUNDING			OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING
Description	Authorized FY99	Authorized FY00	Proposed FY01	Authorized FY00	Proposed FY01
Salaries	129,852 (2.2 FTE)	$129,852 (2.2 FTE)	$140,977 (2.8 FTE)	$481,380 (9.8 FTE)	$520,889 (10.2 FTE)
Fringe Benefits	32,270	32,270	45,643	132,853	168,642
Wages	0	0	0	0	0
Travel	600	1,500	1,200	4,500	4,500
Supplies	1,200	1,500	2,130	4,500	7,870
Maintenance	900	1,000	1,100	3,000	3,000
Equipment/Capital Improvement	4,400	5,000	5,000	15,000	15,000
Other	50,176	54,500	93,200	163,500	115,629
TOTAL	$219,398 (2.2 FTE)	$225,622 (2.8 FTE)	$289,250 (2.8 FTE)	$804.733 (9.8 FTE)	$836.430 10.2 FTE)

Action Requested: Approval of requested budget.
Action Taken: On motion/second by Drs. Young/Scifres, the NRSP-1 budget request was approved subject to the standard caveat as stated in Agenda 11.0. (The vote was 14 for, 0 against, 1 absentee.)

Agenda Item 11.2
NRSP-3 Budget Justification

Presenter: Bill Brown
Background: NRSP-3 partially supports the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), a long-term monitoring program that supports research on the effects of atmospheric chemical deposition. The NADP seeks to characterize geographic and temporal trends in biologically important chemical deposition from three networks. Weekly wet-deposition samples are collected from 220 sites in 47 states, many of which are located on AES sites. Nine sites provide more intense time resolution of wet deposition and 39 sites record mercury deposition.
The NADP database now has over 21 years of data and is an invaluable resource supporting research on atmospheric deposition and its effects on ecosystems. The NADP website recorded over 34,000 visitors in 1999, over 70,000 maps were viewed and more than 17,000 data files were retrieved, mostly by university researchers. Innumerable specific studies have been conducted using the NADP database. The CENR used NADP data to assess the atmospheric contribution of nitrogen to the Mississippi River drainage basin which has been linked to a hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. In a similar study, scientists used NADP data to estimate that 21% of the N entering the Chesapeake Bay came from atmospheric sources.
The NRSP-3 budget (all salaries) requests an increase from $113,011 to $116,401, an increase of 3%. These funds support 1.83 fte, the same as in fy 2000. Other funding sources provide $412,163 or 78% of the Coordination Office support. Each AES’s share of the NRSP-3 program averages $2,260. The Coordination Office is located within the Illinois Water Survey in Champaign, IL. It maintains a comprehensive website that provides access to all program maps, data sets, etc. The NRSP-3/NAPD technical committee meets each fall and sponsors an excellent technical paper and poster session. Dr. Van Bowersox, the NADP program coordinator, provides excellent leadership to the program. NRSP-3 was subjected to peer review two years ago and received an excellent evaluation. I recommend approval of the budget increase at the percentage requested or at the percentage increase in the Hatch budget, whichever is least.

NRSP-3: National Atmospheric Deposition Program
Description	MRF FUNDING			OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING
Description	Authorized FY99	Authorized FY00	Proposed FY01	Authorized FY00	Proposed FY01
Salaries	$104,844 (1.89 FTE)	$106,872 (1.83 FTE)	$110,078 (1.83 FTE)	$285,521 (6.65 FTE)	$299.645 (6.65 FTE)
Fringe Benefits	5,611	6,139	6,323	60,179	63,210
Wages	0	0	0	0	0
Travel	0	0	0	18,840	18,000
Supplies	0	0	0	8,270	8,000
Maintenance	0	0	0	0	o
Equipment/Capital Improvement	0	0	0	5,715	5,000
Other Direct Costs	2,556	0	0	33,638	19,627
TOTAL	$113,011 (1.89 FTE)	$113,011 (1.83 FTE)	$116,401 (1.83 FTE)	$412,163 (6.65 FTE)	$413,482 (6.65 FTE)

Action requested: Approval of requested budget increase.

Additional information: Dr. Brown circulated copies of two recent publications from this group and copy of the budget request materials. Concerns were expressed regarding who uses the database and how valuable it is to the AES. It was suggested that a presentation at a future meeting would be beneficial.

Action Taken: On motion/second by Drs. Arkin/Waters, the NRSP-3 budget request was approved subject to the standard caveat as stated in Agenda 11.0. (Vote was 14 for, 0 against, 1 absentee.)

Agenda Item 11.3
NRSP-4 FY2001 Budget Request

Presenter:

NRSP-4: National Agricultural Program to Clear Pest Control Agents for Minor Uses
Description	MRF FUNDING			OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING
Description	Authorized FY99	Authorized FY00	Proposed FY01	Authorized FY00	Proposed FY01
Salaries	$499,668 (7.5 FTE)	$481,243 (6.5 FTE)	$481,243 (5.5 FTE)	$1,041,884 (17.5 FTE)	Not Available
Fringe Benefits	0	0	0	250,052	Not Available
Wages	0	0	0	1,291,936	Not Available
Travel	0	0	0	190,000	Not Available
Supplies	0	0	0	60,000	Not Available
Maintenance	0	0	0	0	Not Available
Equipment/Capital Improvement	1,000	1,000	1,000	60,000	Not Available
Other*	0	0	0	868,597	Not Available
TOTAL	$500,668 (7.5 FTE)	$482,243 (6.5 FTE)	$482,243 (5.5 FTE)	$2,470,533 (17.5 FTE)	Not Available
* Consultants, off-campus facilities rental, postage, phone, copier maintenance, publications, subcontracts (biopesticide & research).

Action requested: Budget approval.
Action Taken: On motion/second by Drs. Fischer/Scifres, the NRSP-4 budget request was approved subject to the standard caveat as stated in Agenda 11.0. (Vote was 14 for, 0 against, 1 absentee.)

Agenda Item 11.4
NRSP-5 FY2001 Budget Request

Presenter: Eric Young in absence of D. C. Coston

NRSP-5: Develop and Distribute Deciduous Fruit Tree Clones Free of Viruses and Virus-Like Agents
Description	MRF FUNDING			OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING¹
Description	Authorized FY99	Authorized FY00	Proposed FY01²	Authorized FY00	Proposed FY01²
Salaries	$108,023 (2.77 FTE)	$104,995 (2.45 FTE)	$111,404 (2.70 FTE)	$144,311 (4.88 FTE)	$150,083 (4.88 FTE)
Fringe Benefits	39,481	38,374	40,390	40,083	41,684
Wages	54,632	53,102	58,427	18,720	19,468
Travel	3,897	4,688	4,052	4,360	4,534
Supplies (Includes facilities and field charges of $22,591 from RRF	42,299	42,841	43,991	60,565	62,988
Maintenance	0	0	**	39,371³
Equipment/Capital Improvement	0	0	0	0	0
TOTAL	$248,332 (2.77 FTE)	$244,000 (2.45 FTE)	$258,264 (2.70 FTE)	$307,410 (4.88 FTE)	$278,757 (4.88 FTE)
¹ Other sources include private grants, fees paid for services rendered, and non-reimbursed WSU costs (salaries) and maintenance. ² Increase of 4% for faculty/staff and approximately 4% annual increase of costs in most categories. ³ Funds assigned for repair & restoration of screenhouses, greenhouse, and growth chambers. ** Supplemental Budget Request: $25,000 for Maintenance and Program Enhancement

Action requested: Budget approval.
Action Taken: On motion/second by Drs. Fischer/Scifres, the NRSP-5 budget request was approved subject to the standard caveat as stated in Agenda 11.0. (Vote was 14 for, 0 against, 1 absentee.)

Agenda Item 11.5
NRSP-6 Budget Justification

Presenter: Eric Young
Background: Justification For 5% increase in FY 2001 — Over the past decade we have received budget increases equivalent to 1% per year. The size of the collection, costs per unit of labor, supplies and upkeep are increasing much more rapidly than this. This situation means that in lieu of extraordinary increases in efficiency, the project’s ability to support potato research will necessarily decline. A 5% increase is proposed in FY 2001. This will make total allocations for the period FY92-01 (the past decade) equivalent to a steady increase of only 1.8% per year. This will not solve the problem, but will help.

NRSP-6: Introduction, Preservation, Classification, Distribution, and Evaluation of Solanum Species
Description	MRF FUNDING			OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING
Description	Authorized FY99	Authorized FY00	Proposed FY01	Authorized FY00	Proposed FY01
Salaries	$87,102 (3.3 FTE)	$87,102 (3.3 FTE)	$91,458 (3.3 FTE)	$122,267 (3.1 FTE)	$128,380 (3.1 FTE)
Fringe Benefits	27,324	27,324	$28,690	39,140	41,097
Wages	8,915	12,000	12,600	0	0
Travel	4,078	4,014	4,215	8,250	8,663
Supplies	19,000	20,000	21,000	0	0
Maintenance	8,143	11,491	12,065	0	0
Equipment/Capital Improvement	7,369	0	0	0	0
UW Contribution (est.)	0	0	0	60,500	63,525
TOTAL	$161,931	$161,931	$170,028	$230,157	$241,665

Action requested: Approval of requested budget increase.
Action Taken: On motion/second by Drs. Scifres/Jones, the NRSP-6 budget request was disapproved on vote of 5 for, 7 against, 2 abstentions, 1 absentee. Official position was to be that the “Southern Region does not support this activity this year.”

Agenda Item 11.6
NRSP-8 FY2001 Budget Request

Presenter: Jerry Cherry

NRSP-8: National Animal Genome Research Program
Description	MRF FUNDING			OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING
Description	Authorized FY99	Authorized FY00	Proposed FY01	Authorized FY00	Proposed FY01
Salaries	$93,143 (3.16 FTE)	$99,683 (3.76 FTE)	$99,021 (3.51 FTE)	$183,874 (3.15 FTE)	$188,802 (3.57 FTE)
Fringe Benefits	22,059	23,787	27,711	48,442	48,386
Wages	9,500	24,000	24,000	3,000	3,000
Travel	75,000	58,000	62,500	0	0
Supplies	110,038	104,050	108,850	13,000	8,357
Maintenance	37,000	34,000	2,000	2,000	2,000
Equipment/Capital Improvement	12,560	10,640	11,780	10,000	0
Other Direct Costs	20,700	25,840	53,410	6,000	9,000
Non-Reimbursable Overhead	0	0	0	167,387	167,387
TOTAL	$380,000 (3.16 FTE)	$380,000 (3.76 FTE)	$389,272 (3.51 FTE)	$433,703 (3.15 FTE)	$426,932 (3.57 FTE)

Action requested: Budget approval.

Additional information: Dr. Nipp suggested that contact names from this group would be helpful to support the work of the Genome Initiative.

Action Taken: On motion/second by Drs. Beverly/Smith, the NRSP-8 budget request was approved subject to the standard caveat as stated in Agenda 11.0. (Vote was 14 for, 0 against, 1 absentee.)

Agenda Item 12
S-009 Budget Request for FY2001

Presenter: Gerald Arkin
FY 2001 BUDGET REQUEST FOR
SOUTHERN REGION MULTISTATE RESEARCH PROJECT S-009
PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATIONSUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE PAST FISCAL YEAR (1999)
Genetic resources representing 902 new accessions were received, increasing the total collection maintained at the Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit (PGRCU) to 80,097 accessions. The new introductions represented a broad range of five families, fourteen genera, and thirty-eight species from thirty-four countries. A total of 1,350 accessions was requested for regeneration from S-9. Thus far, 507 inventory samples that were harvested in 1999 have been processed into cold storage. This includes 445 pearl millet accessions which were sent from the National Seed Storage Laboratory (NSSL) to St. Croix for quarantine increase.
There were 630 orders processed containing 16,027 items (in-vitro, plants, rhizomes, seeds, canes) with 27% (4,304 accessions) of the order items being supplied to foreign requestors. More than 2,400 items were shipped to the NSSL for long-term storage or backup. These included peanuts (687 accessions), watermelon (30), cucurbits (21), hibiscus (18), grasses (624), sorghum (712), and Vigna (289). Overall, 72.7% of the collection has been backed up at NSSL.
In complement, 193,079 records were created and 210,709 records were modified by site personnel to enhance the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database. Evaluation studies and associated observation data were added to the GRIN for clover, peanuts, peppers, cowpea, luffa, and sorghum. Traits evaluated included disease, plant growth, insect damage, molecular, morphology, phenology, production, quality, stress, and taxonomic. A total of 134,964 observation records were created or modified for these studies. Characterizations were also obtained in all regenerations conducted by the curators. Training was begun and is on-going with two employees in using the GRIN to maintain passport and observation data, as well as process orders and field books.
Numerous accessions (1,138) of annual clover and special-purpose legumes were sent to researchers throughout the world for use on forage, archaeology, breeding programs, identity checks, genetic resources, teaching, salinity reduction studies, winter hardiness, powdery mildew resistance, crop evaluations, physiology, restoration, phylogenetics, new crop evaluation, taxonomy, human diet, soil improvement studies, genome diversity, edible legumes, ornamental research, seed production, revegetation, farming systems, virus resistance, cover cropping, population structures, natural products, genetic improvement as well as both nutraceutical (16 accessions) and pharmaceutical (28 accessions) studies for human therapeutic applications.
The new bar code system was added for a workstation to produce shipping labels for orders as well as aid with in-house processing. It includes an off-line database accessible through a single form-based interface on a PC. The use of bar codes and related systems has increased efficiency and accuracy while enabling a smaller staff to process and distribute germplasm in a timely manner. Equipment was purchased for a workstation to be set up in another seed storage work room.
An S-9 Multistate Research Project web site (http://www.ars-grin.gov/ars/SoAtlantic/Griffin/pgrcu/s9.html) was developed and linked to the ARS and PGRCU web site. The S-9 Project web site provides an easily accessible system and common repository for information such as membership lists, abbreviated history, project objectives, minutes, annual reports, publications, and announcements associated with the multistate research project.
The project of cleaning, weighing, and counting the warm season grasses was completed. This collection consists of more than 6,700 accessions in 101 genera and almost 500 species. At Griffin, 161 grasses, 31 castors, 12 sesame, and six water chestnut accessions were regenerated. In addition, 30 Hibiscus spp. and 637 quarantined pearl millet accessions from the winter nursery at St. Croix were cleaned and processed into the collection. An additional 98 bamboo plots at Byron, Ga were maintained.
A total of 53 cowpea lines which had not produced seeds in the field were regenerated in the greenhouse, 51 of which produced seeds. For a field increase at Griffin, 153 cowpea lines were planted in the greenhouse to check for virus symptoms before transplanting to the field. Of these lines, two failed to germinate, 28 were grown in the greenhouse because they were last seed or had poor germination and 123 were taken to the field for regeneration. Only 84 lines produced seed in the field and 26 lines in the greenhouse. In addition, six lines that had not produced seed in Georgia were grown in the field in Puerto Rico in the summer and all six produced seed. This left 41 lines which produced plants but no seeds; they will have to be grown either in the field in Puerto Rico or in the greenhouse. Descriptive data were collected on all increases and entered into GRIN.
A new growth chamber was installed to house the in vitro sweetpotato collection. This upgrade in facilities greatly improves the security of the collection. Seven hundred fifty sweetpotato accessions maintained on nutrient agar were clonally regenerated.
Field regenerations of vegetables included 100 accessions of watermelon, six miscellaneous accessions of curcurbits, and 50 accessions of okra. The increase samples of the pepper collection were cleaned and work was begun on weighing, counting, bar coding, and backing up the samples. Major research accomplishments with vegetable crops included: the isolation and sequencing of 100+ microsatellite loci from pepper (Capsicum annuum), further characterization of the activation of retrotransposons in sweetpotato, and a preliminary screen of the Cucurbita moschata germplasm from Mexico for genetic diversity.
Thirty-four self-pollinated annual clovers, 33 cross-pollinated annual clovers, 20 Ethiopian clovers, 28 Winged bean, 7 Serradella, and 123 legumes were regenerated in 1999. Forty-seven legumes were reordered due to low viability. In all, 292 clover and minor legume accessions were regenerated in 1999. The Ethiopian clovers and the winged bean are Fall annuals and are continuing regenerating this FY in a greenhouse. A major lectin producing legume species, Canavalia ensiformis was successfully regenerated in the field by transplanting older plants to the field in June when the soil temperatures had increased sufficiently. Crimson clover accessions were regenerated by direct seeding in the fall, resulting in quality crimson clover regeneration. In addition, velvetbean (Mucuna pruriens var. utilis), a major phytopharmaceutical/nutraceutical species, was successfully regenerated by utilizing a freeze protectant known as remay fiber. This remay fiber sheet was placed over plants with immature pods in October. Healthy and unfrozen quality seeds were later harvested from several of these velvetbean accessions. Thus far this winter, exceptional quality early growth was observed for several Ornithopus spp. (Serredella) and Trifolium spp. from both direct seeding and transplants at the PGRCU regeneration plots at Byron, GA.
Through collaborative efforts, we discovered that Canavalia ensiformis, Indigofera spicata, and I. nummularifolia reduce root-knot nematode galls by 90% when added as a soil amendment. Thus C. ensiformis, I. spicata, and I. nummularifolia could be used as a rotation crop in the southeastern U.S. or used in home gardens for control of Meloidogyne spp. nematode populations. Furthermore, additional legume species including Clitoria ternatea, and Desmodium adscendens have been identified as having useful phytochemicals and quality plant production characteristics at Griffin, GA. Several Crotalaria spp. have been identified as having either additional or newly identified phytochemicals.
More than 500 cultivated peanut accessions were regenerated at Byron, Ga in 1999. Ten accessions of wild peanut species were regenerated at Griffin, Ga. Associated characteristic data were recorded. Seven peanut SSR markers were used to evaluate the within accession variation and to determine if cultivars could be separated at the varietal level of classification as proposed by Krapovickas and Gregory in a selected group of cultivated peanut accessions. Accessions evaluated were 25 Arachis hypogaea var. hirsuta, 12 A. hypogaea var. peruviana, and two each from A. hypogaea var. hypogaea, vulgaris, fastigiata, and aequatoriana. All SSR markers were polymorphic except for one (Ah6-125). The phenogram derived from the SSR data seems to indicate that the accessions cluster together better according to geographical location rather than botanical variety. For example, one clade was comprised solely of accessions collected from the state of Pinchincha, Ecuador within one degree area of both longitude and latitude. Three other clades comprised accessions from Mexico, each clade representing different, confined areas within the country. No clear segregation of peanut variety into clades was apparent. This suggests that more genetic variability may be found by selecting from different geographic areas rather than basing selection on botanical variety, and may indicate a need for changing the composition of the core collection. Many accessions had very low within accession variation based on the SSR data, a desired characteristic as it indicates that the homogeneity of an accession is high. There were some accessions, however, that were not genetically homogenous and may represent mixed seed. It is imperative for peanut curation that more SSR markers are discovered in order to maximize the discerning power of the marker set, thus improving the core collection.
An improved method for the detection of two viruses in peanut seeds, peanut stripe virus and peanut mottle virus, has been developed. This method, called immunocapture-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, is much more sensitive than currently used serological methods for detecting peanut stripe and peanut mottle viruses in seeds. This method allows for large numbers of seeds to be processed more rapidly than with currently used serological test and reduces the chance of these viruses being brought into the U.S. or being distributed to peanut growing areas.
Cultivated and wild peanut germplasm was identified with resistance to thrips, tomato spotted wilt virus, early maturation, and/or good yields. This identification of new cultivated and wild peanut germplasm with improved characteristics offers the breeder new sources of genes which will broaden the genetic base for cultivated commercial peanuts.
A core collection for sorghum (2,443 accessions) was identified, bringing the total number of crops with core collections to seven, clover (three species: T. alexandrinum, T. resupinatum, T. subterraneum), cultivated peanut, eggplant, okra, mung bean, cowpea, and sorghum.
SUMMARY OF PROJECTED PLANS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR (2000)
Vigna:

Regenerate a minimum of 300 Vigna accessions for seed increase and characterization, 50 or more of which may have to be increased in the greenhouse (for photoperiod reasons). The seeds obtained from the winter increase will be used for a summer increase at Puerto Rico. A group of ~50 lines of photoperiod-sensitive materials will be increased at Puerto Rico.
Plan and perform tests to characterize several unknown viruses isolated from crops in regeneration. The most important of these is a virus(es) of Crotalaria which seems to be seedborne and is very severe on tobacco, but which has defied attempts at identification thus far. Biological tests, serology, dsRNA, purification, and electron microscopy have given few positive results to date. This has been a cooperative effort with laboratories at Tifton, Ga, Beltsville, Md, and with the special -purpose legume curator at Griffin.

Peanut:

Five hundred to 1000 cultivated peanuts will be grown in Byron, Ga., for an increase. Selection will be made based on low seed counts and then lack of back up at Ft. Collins at NSSL.
Approximately, 10 wild peanut accessions will be selected for an increase in the greenhouse. Each accession will be grown in about 20 baskets or trays, so that sufficient seed is returned for storage and backup.
Approximately 350 cultivated peanuts from China, Ecuador, Guatemala will be evaluated for virus and other disease resistance and pest resistance at Attapulgus, Ga. Disease and pest notes will also be made available for entry into GRIN.
Bayo Grande and five Bayo Grande-like accessions will be compared with selected varieties available to the growers now and evaluated for yield and disease and pest resistance Attapulgus, Ga.
Five to fifteen wild species will be increased outside at Griffin, Ga., in cages and without cages using bumble bees to aid pollination. The purple variety of Echninacea, ornamental cone flower, will be used to attract the bees for pollination.
Develop a genomic library for cultivated peanut and screen the library for SSRs. We will develop markers based on the results of the screening and test the markers to determine if they are polymorphic. We have submitted a proposal to the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Peanuts in hopes of providing funds for the project.
Screen an Arachis molecular core collection, approximately 80 accessions, using SDS-PAGE to document the ability of the protein profiles generated in distinguishing among the accessions at the botanical variety level. Subsequently, a western blot will be performed using serum from peanut allergic patients to see if any differences exist among cultivars in the binding of IgE to proteins, i.e., to test for differences in allergens present in the peanut. A proposal will be submitted to the American Peanut Foundation in hopes of providing funds for this project.
Use the seven SSR markers available to date to screen 45 accessions of cultivated peanut. This work is a continuation of a project funded by the Georgia Commodity Commission for Peanuts in 1999.
Plan and perform tests to develop PCR-based detection method for the strain of cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) of peanuts from Brazil.
Plan and perform tests to develop an RT-PCR test for detection of peanut clump furovirus in peanuts from Africa and India.

Vegetables:

Increase and characterize a minimum of 200 germplasm accessions which will include 100 accessions of Citrullus lanatus and other vegetable crop germplasm.
Plan and conduct research relative to the utilization of molecular markers for characterization of plant germplasm including characterization of diversity in Cucurbita moschata.
Continue investigation into molecular basis of retrotransponson activation in vitro. Isolate and sequence molecular markers from vegetable crop germplasm.
Maintain 750 tissue cultures of sweetpotato and distribute on request.

Minor Legumes:

Regenerate 300 annual clovers and legumes during FY 00.
Conduct field tests to identify particular cropping systems needed to optimally regenerate quality seed and to determine if particular species such as phytopharmaceutical/ nutraceutical species can and will grow well in Griffin and/or Byron.
Identify additional phytopharmaceutical/nutraceutical/pesticidal legume species within the annual clover and special-purpose legume collection.
Complete molecular marker (AFLP) discovery for identifying variation/duplication within the Trifolium subterraneum collection.
Conclude a collaborative study on the effect of various legume species as soil amendments for suppression of root-knot nematodes with Jerry Walker, plant pathologist, UGA, Griffin, GA.
Collaborate with Barry Cumfer, plant pathologist, UGA, Griffin, GA in the evaluation of T. subterraneum for powdery mildew resistance.

Grasses and Others:

Five hundred PI’s of aged and/or low seed quantities will be grown for regeneration of seed on a priority basis as determined by analysis of the detailed inventory. A minimum of 300 new accessions will be planted each year at Griffin to provide a continuous regeneration with those accessions from which seed are collected for more than one growing season.
Submit 51 PI’s with critically low levels of seed for embryo rescue methods. Plantlets produced will be grown in greenhouse and/or field for seed regeneration.
Pearl Millet Collection (Pennisetum glaucum)
1. One hundred PI’s of pearl millet with aged and/or low seed quantities will be grown for seed regeneration at the ARS unit at St. Croix, V.I., and the seed harvest will be received and processed for storage at Griffin.
Fiber Crop Collection (Kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus; Roselle, H. sabdiriffa)
1. Thirty to 50 PI’s of kenaf and /or roselle will be regenerated in Mexico at the Tecoman Winter Nursery.

SUMMARY OF PERSONNEL ACTIONS
Two candidates were interviewed for the vacant Research Leader (RL) position, but the selection committee, composed of Drs. Wayne Hanna (USDA), Andy Patterson (Univ. GA), Tom Stalker (NC State Univ.), Graves Gillaspie (PGRCU), Mark Hopkins (PGRCU), Ray Schnell II (USDA), Al Handler (USDA), and Paul Raymer (Univ. GA), decided that it would be better to readvertise the position. The position description was revised to make the RL a Category IV scientists (non-research) in either genetics or agronomy and has been submitted to Personnel to be advertised. Dr. Rob Dean was hired as a Research Coordinator II. Dr. Dean will serve as the database and bioinformatics manager in the Molecular Biology Laboratory with responsibility for applying population genetics to the data generated by molecular analyses. Ms. Melanie Newman, Research Coordinator I, was hired to assist with the molecular research on peanut with funds provided by the agInnovation South in FY99.
ACTION REQUESTED
The most pressing problem for the PGRCU at Griffin continues to be a lack of operation funds to maintain the collection and back up needed accessions. Many of the accessions require specialized procedures and techniques or isolation for regeneration. Thus, regeneration of these accessions is very labor intensive and requires frequent observation to insure that proper growth is occurring for adequate regeneration of viable seed. For the last 2 years, Dr. Peter Bretting, USDA/ARS, National Program Leader for Germplasm, has provided an additional $50,000 per year for operating. Several of the curators have also prepared outside grant proposals that have been funded (approximately $25,000) to supplement their operating budgets.
Assigned operating budgets for the curators in FY99 range from $10,000 to $23,000. This amount simply is not sufficient to perform the needed regenerations to characterize and back up the collection. This request is for funds to cover a 3% average salary increase ($5,881) plus an additional $20,000 in operating funds to support the regeneration work to back up old accessions that have been in storage for many years and are in danger of losing viability, and for regenerating newly acquired accessions so they can be backed up at the National Seed Storage Laboratory and become available for distribution.
USDA/ARS National Program Leader and others who have examined and reviewed the S-9 program and budget have consistently recommended a minimum $500,000 increase in support personnel and operating funds is required for effective and efficient program operations. Additionally, a geneticist with molecular expertise is essential for the future progress of the program. The expected salary and operational expenses for this position are estimated to be $200,000 annually. Certainly, the program curators need to increase their extramural funding and USDA/ARS needs to increase its base budget commitment to this partnership program.
After two exhaustive national searches for the USDA/ARS PGRCU Research Leader position, it is eminently clear that inadequate program funding is making it all but impossible to recruit quality candidates. The President’s 2001 budget includes $350,000 in increased funding for the PGRCU. This increase, should it be appropriated, will help, but will not be sufficient.
It is recognized that the agInnovation South has been exceptionally supportive of the S-9 budget requests, particularly the past two years. It is also recognized that the President’s FY01 budget recommendations are, indeed, far from becoming a reality and, in reality, inadequate. The FY01 funds requested are for the bare essentials to cover salary increases and for operating expenses to make ends meet. Any further downsizing of support personnel to recoup essential operation funds will only further increase the backlog in regeneration and backup of the collection.
Budget S-009:

	FY1999	FY2000	Requested FY2001
Personnel	$254,357^a	$277,865^b	$324,316^c
Travel	500	1,500	1,500
Operations	67,500	61,992	41,422^d
Equipment	2,000	3,000	3,000
TOTAL	$324,357	$344,357	$370,238

^a In FY99, an additional $50K was approved by the agInnovation South to hire a Research Coordinator I to help with molecular research on peanut. During the year, Ms. Melanie Newman was hired in the position. Two additional employees were moved from RSA to the S-9 salary account for a portion of the fiscal year.
^b The entire salary of the Research Coordinator I and two former USDA/ARS Research Support Agreement employees are included in the FY 2000 budget.
^c Reflects a 3% increase in salaries based on projections established by the University of Georgia. One additional person will be moved from RSA to the S-9 salary account in July as ARS cannot hire permanent personnel on the RSA.
^d Includes a request for an additional $20,000 in operating for back-up and regeneration of the germplasm.
Budget USDA/ARS:

	FY1999	FY2000	FY2001
Personnel	$1,120,600^a	$1,127,595^b	$1,146,699^c
Travel	9,000	9,000	15,000
Indirect Research Cost	230,000	241,500	249,953
Operation	130,502	71,332	30,775
Equipment	3,000	4,000	3,000
Construction	0	0	0
Building and Field Maintenance/ Support	49,025	50,000	50,000
TOTAL	$1,542,127	$1,495,427	$1,495,427

^a Salaries for FY99 includes $50,000 provided by USDA/ARS/National Program Staff to cover a postdoc’s salary for work on molecular biology.
^b Salaries for FY00 includes $25,000 provided by USDA/ARS/National Program Staff to cover a postdoc’s salary for work on molecular biology for 6 months.
^c Includes an average 4% projected increase in salaries.
Table 1. Status of germplasm back up for the Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit as of April 11, 2000.

Crop	Total Accessions	Backed Up at NSSL	Percent Backed Up
Bamboo	98	50	51.0
Castor	363	356	98.1
Clover	2,052	1,434	69.9
Cucurbits	1,372	854	62.2
Eggplant	947	916	96.7
Gourds	467	306	65.5
Grasses	6,812	3,773	55.4
Guar	412	406	98.5
Hibiscus	353	296	83.9
Ipomoea spp.	1,133	233	19.7
Legumes	2,914	2,291	78.6
Luffa	160	130	81.3
Miscellaneous	270	230	85.2
Okra	3,061	1,913	62.5
Pepper	3,889	2,309	59.4
Pearl millet	1,088	1,047	96.2
Peanut	9,404	8,273	88.0
Sesame	1,204	1,204	100.0
Sorghum	30,022	23,891	79.6
Vigna	12,797	10,072	78.7
Watermelon	1,642	1,507	91.8
Wingbean	166	18	10.8
Totals	80,626	61,499	76.3

Action requested:

Increase the S-9 FY 01 budget personal services funds in the amount of $5,881.
Increase the S-9 operating budget for FY01 in the amount of $20,000 for the collection backup and regeneration.

We request an FY2001 budget of $ 370,238.
Action taken: On motion/second by Drs. Arkin/Hatzios, the budget request for a 3% salary increase of $5,881 and an increase in operating funds of $20,000 was approved, for a total funding level for FY01 of $370,238. (The vote was 14 for, 0 against, 1 absentee).

Agenda Item 13
Multistate Research Committee Report
(formerly SRRC)

Presenter: Greg Weidemann
Project outlines approved by MRC (formerly SRRC) and forwarded to CSREES:

DC 96-05, Postharvest Quality and Safety in Fresh-Cut Vegetables and Fruits (S-294), Bill Brown Administrative Advisor
DC 97-04, Improved Pecan Insect and Mite Pest Management Systems (S-293), Frank Gilstrap Administrative Advisor
DC 97-13, The Poultry Food System: A Farm to Table Model (S-292), Jerry Cherry Administrative Advisor
DC 98-03, Systems for Controlling Air Pollution Emissions and Indoor Environments of Poultry, Swine and Dairy Facilities (S-291), Jerry Cherry Administrative Advisor

Project Proposals under review:

DC98-05 (S-259), Rural Labor Markets: Workers, Firms and Communities in Transition, Tom Klindt Administrative Advisor, reveiwed by SRRC and returned to the AA for minor revision
DC99-07 (S-263), Enhancing Food Safety Through Control of Food-borne Disease Agents, Janet Johnson Administrative Advisor, under review by SRRC

Action requested: For information.

Additional information: Three issues were raised concerning the future approval of projects by the Multistate Research Committee (MRC). The association’s actions are as follows:

Action taken:

Approved: MRC will use regional priorities identified in the agInnovation South Programmatic Plan as criteria for approval of projects.
Approved: MRC will use demonstrated collaboration/cooperation and/or interdependence as a criteria for approval of projects.
Approved: Development Committees appointed in 1999 that complete new project outlines prior to October 1 will follow the old guidelines; completion after October 1, they will follow new guidelines.

Agenda Item 14
Review Requests for Modification of Activities

Presenter: Vance Watson
Background:
Requests were presented for establishing or modifying the activities listed below. Those activities requiring review by Advisory Committees were not received in time for vote at this meeting. According to Association policy, the requests for Development Committees are reviewed by Advisory Committees and subsequently relayed to the agInnovation South Executive Committee for final action.

Requested Action	Prev. Activity/ Term. Date/ Advisor/Sponsor	Title	General Comments
Multi-State Research Funded (MRF) Projects:
Establish DC	S-272 2001 W. H. Brown	Development of Innovative and Value-Added Products from Agriculturally-Produced Materials	Received 3/21. Review requested by AC-3, 5.
Establish DC	S-273 2001 G. F. Arkin	Development and Assessment of TMDL Planning and Assessment Tools and Processes	Received 4/4. Review requested by AC-1, 5, 7.
Establish DC	(NEW) n/a W. H. Brown	Biotechnology and Bioconversion Engineering and Processes	Received 4/21. Review requested by AC-1, 2, 4, 5, 12.
Information Exchange Groups:
Terminate	IEG-30 2000 W. H. Brown	Cottonseed Quality	In recent years, this IEG has not served the function for which it was intended, that being for scientists to gather periodically for in-depth exchange of information on their research programs, findings, and accomplishments. There no longer seems to be a critical mass of research scientists in the SAES in the southern region with cottonseed quality as a major program thrust. Thus, there is little interest in continuing this IEG.
Terminate	IEG-32 2000 L. A. Crowder	Host Plant Resistance to Soybean Insects	The membership of IEG-32 requests termination of this activity. Meeting attendance has continued to decline over the years due to retirements and changes in work assignments. The remaining members will meet informally during the S-281 meetings.
Renew	IEG-33 2000 V. H. Watson	Review of Cooperative Variety Testing Programs in the Southern Region	Received 4/10. After review by Advisory Committees, this request will be submitted for vote at the summer meeting.
One-Year Extension	IEG-61 2000 V. H. Watson	Cotton Germplasm: Acquisition, Evaluation, and Utilization	IEG-61 members are participating with DC98-01 in writing a replacement project for S-258 and will become part of that project when approved. Thus a one-year extension for IEG-61 is requested to allow time for the new regional project to be completed.
Terminate	SERA-IEG-24 2000 L. Verma	Composting and Compost Utilization in Land Management Systems	The Administrative Advisors of SERA-IEG-24 requests termination of this activity. Lack of participation and common interests are cited as reasons that the membership does not plan to seek renewal. AC-5 concurs with this request.
One-Year Extension	SERA-TF-11 2000 D.C. Coston		The Administrative Advisors of SERA-TF-11 requests a one-year extension to finish this activity. Extension directors have already approved such extension.
Advisory Committees:
Replace AA	AC-8 B. Blackmon	Aquaculture, Fisheries & Wildlife	The administrative advisor assigned to this activity has been Bob Blackmon. Dr. Blackmon has left the AES Administration in Arkansas and is now the Director of the School of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries at LSU, which is outside the realm of the LAES. Should this Advisory Committee be continued? If so, decisions concerning a new AA need to be made.

NOTE: To date, modification requests have not been received on the following activities which are scheduled to terminate as indicated:
IEG-3 (2000): Animal Disease Research (J. C. Lee, AA)
IEG-22 (2000): Soil Survey (Everett Emino, AA)
IEG-69 (2000): Inventory, Classification, and Waste Application Potential of Disturbed Lands (R. L. Westerman, AA)
SERA-TF-11 (2000): Utilization of University-Based Food Processing Centers (D. C. Coston, AA)
S-270 (2001): Utilizing Potassium Buffering Capacity to Predict Cotton Yield Response to Potassium Fertilizer (R. L. Rogers, AA)
S-271 (2001): Solid-Phase Extraction Techniques for Pesticides in Water Samples (N. P. Thompson, AA)
S-274 (2001): Integrated Management of Arthropod Pests of Livestock and Poultry (F. W. Knapp, AA)
S-275 (2001): Animal Manure and Waste Utilization, Treatment, and Nuisance Avoidance for a Sustainable Agriculture (J. R. Beverly, AA)
S-276 (2001): Rural Restructuring: Causes and Consequences of Globalized Agricultural and Natural Resource Systems (L. J. Beaulieu, AA)
S-286 (2001): Herbicide Persistence in Southern Soils: Bioavailable Concentration and Effect on Sensitive Rotational Crops(C. J. Scifres, AA)
Action requested: Action as appropriate.
Action taken:

Termination approved for IEG-30, IEG-32, and SERA-IEG-24.
One-year extension approved for IEG-61 and SERA-TF-11.
AC-8, Advisory Committee for Aquaculture, Fisheries, and Wildlife, will be subdivided. The aquaculture component will join AC-2, Animal Science, and the fisheries/wildlife component will join AC-13, Forestry.

Agenda Item 15
Changes in agInnovation South By-Laws

Presenter: T. J. Helms
Background: As prescribed in the Association’s By-Laws, recommended changes must be placed before the Directors at least one month prior to consideration and vote. The proposed changes in the By-Laws are available as a Word-Perfect file linked in the agInnovation South “Special Notice” section of the homepage. When downloaded, Directors may view the highlighted sections with suggested changes. In addition to general housekeeping items, changes relate to agInnovation South membership on ESCOP, makeup of the Executive Committee, and Association requirements for candidacy as chair-elect.
Action requested: For review in anticipation of voting during the summer meeting.

Additional information: The changes of substance provide for:

election of a non-senior chief operating officer as chair;

the chair-elect to be the junior member of ESCOP; and

the chair of the Multistate Research Committee to be a member of the Executive Committee.

Agenda Item 16
Web Pages for agInnovation South Activities
(Multistate Projects, IEGs, and SERAs)

Presenter: Vance Watson
Background: In August, 1998, Southern Directors adopted Guidelines for Homepages of Regional Projects and Activities. The stated goal of this effort was “to have an easily accessible system and common repository for information such as membership lists, abbreviated history, project objectives, minutes, annual reports, and publications associated with regional research projects, IEG’s and SERA’s.” CSREES then agreed to accept the required meeting minutes and annual reports via posting to an activity’s web page.
When Southern Directors adopted the guidelines, it was noted that activity web pages were recommended but would not become mandatory until a future date. That mandatory time is now approaching with the latest draft of the Multistate Research Guidelines indicating that recordkeeping for all activities “shall be” in electronic form, to include use of CRIS, the ESCOP homepage, regional homepages, and individual activity homepages.
The technical committees of the activities that already have an activity website are to be commended. Administrative Advisors need to check the list of Regional and Interregional Project/Activity Homepages on the agInnovation South site to see if their activity is listed and if so, if it is in compliance with the guidelines approved in 1998. (Our association guidelines were copied for the national guidelines.) If no activity homepage exists, the Administrative Advisor and technical committee need to identify an activity participant willing to create a web page and notify the Association in order that a link might be placed on the agInnovation South homepage. (A template is available to facilitate the process). A basic homepage will take very little time to create and Anna Marie is glad to assist in this effort.
Action requested: For information.

Agenda Item 17
Southern Region IPM Policy Committee
2000 Southern Region IPM Grants Program

Presenter: Fred Knapp (Chair) and Skip Jubb (Past-Chair)
Background: The 2000 grants program was begun in Spring 1999 with the drafting of the RFP and completed in early April 2000 with notification to USDA/CSREES of regional funding decisions. The elements of the 2000 RFP were discussed and recommended by SERA-IEG-13 following their Spring 1999 meeting. The SERA-IEG-3 RFP writing team submitted the draft RFP. The final draft RFP was approved by the Regional IPM Policy Committee and submitted to USDA-CSREES for approval on June 21, 1999. USDA approved the RFP on August 25, 1999.
The 2000 RFP was released to the public on Tuesday, August 31, by sending it electronically to all experiment station and extension directors in the Southern Region. Also, the RFP was posted on the agInnovation South, and the URL was publicized.
The deadline for preproposals to arrive in Blacksburg, VA was October 7, 1999. A total of 50 preproposals were received including 44 in the research category and six in the extension category. In addition, eight letters of intent for the combined research/extension category were received.
On October 28, 1999, the preproposal review team (Frank Gilstrap, Steve Lommel, David Teem, Jack Bagent, and Skip Jubb) selected 29 preproposals in the research category plus the four extension preproposals to be invited to full proposals. Full proposal application packets were sent by overnight mail to the successful preproposal writers on November 1, 1999. All others were notified by e-mail on the same date.
The deadline for full proposals to arrive in Lexington, KY was January 5, 2000. A total of 39 full proposals were received; 29 in the research category, four in the extension category, and six in the combined category.
Proposals were mailed to the review panel and the panel meeting was held on March 14, 2000 in Lexington, KY. Review panel members were:

S.A. Clay, South Dakota State University
A.J. Dieleman, Kansas State University
Dorrance, Ohio State University
R.B. Hammond, Ohio State University
R. Isaacs, Michigan State University
Medlin, Purdue University
T.O. Powers, University of Nebraska
P.E. Sloderbeck, Kansas State University
R.J. Wright, University of Nebraska

Eleven of the 39 proposals were funded (28.5%) including eight research, two extension, and one joint research/extension. A total of $1,036,965 was obligated for the 11 projects: $766,965 for research, $70,000 for extension, and $200,000 for joint research/extension.
The Committee expresses its sincere appreciation to Dr. Bobby Pass for handling the full proposal process of the Southern Region IPM Grants Program.
Action requested: For information.

Agenda Item 18
SERA-IEG-3, Integrated Pest Management
Southern Region IPM Facilitator Position

Presenter: Mike Salassi (on behalf of David Boethel)
Background: Dr. Mike Salassi, Assistant Director, LAES, will give an overview of the continuing request on the part of SERA-IEG-3 for approval of an IPM facilitator for the Southern Region.
When the SERA-IEG-3 met in mid-March, the vote of the Southern Experiment Station Directors relative to the position of an IPM facilitator was as follows: 5 – yes; 7 – no; 1 yes (if temporary) no (if permanent), and 2 did not respond (another no vote was received after the meeting). Based on this vote and with the Southern Extension Directors’ vote in the affirmative (contingent on SAESD doing so), the SERA-IEG-3 members voted unanimously to request that the position be approved for FY2001. Mike Fitzner indicated that $50K per year of CSREES funds would be available for the position in FY2001 and possibility FY2002.
The group developed the justification below that illustrates some of the activities and accomplishments of the Northeast Region IPM facilitator. The Facilitator is the only individual in the region whose only function is to develop and promote regional IPM.
Related tasks include:

Develop multi-state grant proposals in IPM program areas. (e.g., the NE Facilitator is Principal Investigator on a Turf IPM project recently funded by the National Center for IPM). This is a critical role of the position because state coordinators often do not have time to coordinate regional projects. The funding is now being used as “leverage” in applications for additional funds to support the research effort.
Develops regional reports on IPM-related activities and success stories and facilitates distribution to federal elected officials from the region and the media.
Developed and released a compilation of impact reports from projects funded by the regional IPM grants program.
Developed and maintains the Northeast IPM Web site.
Assists the Grants Manager with coordination of the Northeast Region IPM Grants Program, including RFP revision and upload to web site, committee membership, group email list, conference calls, prepares and distributes draft revisions, note taking, grants review, and publicity.
Organizes the regional IPM Coordinators meeting (NEREAP-IPM), including agenda planning, acting as meeting facilitator, keeping minutes of meeting, help organize and support NEREAP-IPM work groups.
Set up IPM mail and email lists for IPM staff in the region.
Links the region to national IPM efforts, and serve to facilitate communications between states in the region and federal IPM staff.
With the current emphasis on “multi” activities, the need for an IPM facilitator should be more evident and timely.
Other SERA’s are not as likely to request facilitators or coordinators because grant funds are not linked to them.

Action requested: Request that a representative from SERA-IEG-3 present justification for the position at the agInnovation South meeting at the Southern Land Grant Meeting in August, and that the request for an IPM facilitator for FY2001 be reconsidered at that time.
Action taken: On motion/second by Drs. Smith/Young, and approval by the association, it was decided to postpone another presentation to justify an IPM facilitator until a general discussion of this and broader issues can be held, perhaps at the joint summer meeting of ASRED and Extension.

Agenda Item 19
SERA-IEG-28: Image Enhancement

Presenter: Larry Rogers
Background: SERA-IEG-28 held its annual meeting at Mississippi State University January 17 – 19. Dr. Dave Foster joined the group to replace Dr. Clark Jones as the co-administrative advisor from Cooperative Extension. Ms. Katie Smith was re-elected chair and Ms. Gould and Dr. Benedict as co-vice chairs. Seventeen impact reports were prepared from the data base created by submissions from the southern region. The 1998, 1999 and 2000 Southern Successes can be accessed at http://www/agctr.lsu.edu/southsuccess. The 2001 meeting of SERA-IEG-28 will be held in Little Rock, Arkansas in mid January 2001. Ms. Frankie Gould and Mr. Chuck Woods participated in developing the 2000 national impact reports entitled Science and Education Impacts. They can be accessed at http://www.reeusda.gov/success/impact.htm.
Action requested: For information.

Agenda Item 20
Cotton Incorporated Cooperative Research Agreement

Presenter: Larry Rogers and Paula Jacobi
Background: Master and Project Cooperative Research Agreements developed by the committee were discussed at the August 1999 meeting with agInnovation South Directors and Cotton Incorporated Vice President Bill Lalor. Apparent agreement was reached on the content of the documents and they were forwarded to Cotton Incorporated for implementation with the 2000 contracts. However, that did not occur. The committee engaged in negotiations with Dr. Preston Sasser, Cotton Incorporated Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Research, to determine why the agreements approved at the August meeting were not implemented. Subsequently, LAES Director Larry Rogers and Assistant Director Paula Jacobi worked with Dr. Sasser and his staff to develop revised cooperative agreements that addressed concerns expressed by Dr. Sasser and Cotton Incorporated Directors. The revised documents were approved by Dr. Sasser and forwarded to agInnovation South Directors on April 13. The documents forwarded to agInnovation South Directors highlighted changes made from the documents approved by the agInnovation South Directors at the August 1999 meeting. agInnovation South Directors were encouraged to approve the revised agreements, and to notify Director Rogers if they approved so Cotton Incorporated could be advised to move forward with 2000 contracts using the uniform Master and Project Cooperative Agreements with all southern agInnovation South’s.
Action requested: For discussion.

Additional information: Since each university in the region is bound by different state laws, a boiler-plate document that fits all stations may not be practical. However, a set of principles/guidelines to which all stations might strive, could be extracted from the draft boiler plate documents, for posting on the agInnovation South homepage. A committee could put a document together, without specific mention of Cotton Incorporated, in time for review by individual stations prior to the August meeting. It was further suggested that it would be helpful to have an indepth discussion at a future meeting, or perhaps even a workshop, dedicated to issues of intellectual property, royalty sharing, etc. Included should be information on how individual universities handle these issues. Discussions should involve AES, AES’ legal representatives, industry representatives, university research foundations, etc.

Agenda Item 21
Bt Cotton Resistance Management

Presenter: Vance Watson
Background: Delta Council and the National Cotton Council have requested that Mississippi’s AES host and conduct a meeting to discuss Bt cotton resistance management. Stated purposes of the meeting are:

Critically examine the data available and determine whether or not they are sufficient to support the posture being taken by EPA on refuges for resistance management in Bt cotton production.
Provide Delta Council and National Cotton Council with a summary statement of any considerations that should be taken into account as they work with policy makers on Bt cotton resistance management.

Colleagues from other states and agencies that have an interest in resistance management will be included in the discussions. Southern Directors will be notified when a meeting date and additional details are available.
Action requested: For information.

Agenda Item 22.1
2000 Southern Region Land-Grant Meeting
“The Land-Grant System in the Global Society”

Presenter: Kriton Hatzios
Background: The 2000 Southern Region Land-Grant Conference is being hosted by Virginia Tech on August 12-15, 2000 at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. The schedule of activities is as follows:

Friday, August 11, 2000:
1-5 Association of 1890 Extension Administrators
3-6 Registration
Saturday, August 12, 2000:
8-4 Registration
8-12 Installation of exhibits
8-4 CARET Tour
12-5 Exhibits
1-5 AHS, COP, 1890 Directors meetings as needed
6 Reception and dinner at the Virginia Transportation Museum
Sunday, August 13, 2000:
8:30-12 Individual and joint meetings as needed
12-1 Lunch for all participants
1:15 General Session – “The Land-Grant System in the Global Society”
1:30 Keynote Address – “Opportunities and Challenges
2:15 “Impact of the Land-Grant System on Global Food and Agricultural Sciences Research, Extension, and Instruction”
3:30 “Impact of the Land-Grant System on Global Markets and Trade”
4:15 Panel Discussion (Charles Laughlin)
6-7 Cocktail reception
7 Dinner
Monday, August 14, 2000:
8:15 General Session
8:30 “USDA’s Commitment to the Global Agenda”
9:15 “Globalizing Agricultural Sciences and Education Programs for America” (GASEPA)
10:30 “NASULGC’s Commitment to the Global Agenda”
11:00 Regional Panel
12 Lunch
1:30-5 Individual and joint meetings as needed
- Joint AES/CES Meeting (tentative)
Tuesday, August 15, 2000:
8-5 Individual and joint meetings as needed
- agInnovation South meeting (tentative)

Action requested: For information and discussion regarding the Association’s meetings.

Additional information: Dr. Watson requested that any suggestions for agenda items for the joint AES/CES Meeting on the afternoon of August 14 be submitted by June 10.

Agenda Item 22.2
ESS Meeting, SAES/ARD Directors’ Workshop, Regional Meetings
September 26-28, 2000
New Orleans, LA

Presenter: T. J. Helms
General Schedule:
Monday, September 25, 2000:

Evening Reception

Tuesday, September 26, 2000:

8-noon ESS Meeting

noon Lunch

1-5 SAES/ARD Workshop

6:30-9 Dinner with speaker

Wednesday, September 27, 2000:

8-5 SAES/ARD Workshop with breakout sessions

Thursday, September 28, 2000:

8-10 SAES/ARD Workshop wrapup

10-2 Regional Meetings

2-4 ESCOP Executive Committee Meeting if desired

Action requested: For information and discussion.

Additional information: It was suggested that the region recommend NRSP discussions as an agenda item for the Tuesday morning ESS meeting, with either a program director or coordinator attending to present the budget.

Agenda Item 22.3
Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS) Meeting
January 27 – 31, 2001

Presenter: T. J. Helms
Background: The 2001 SAAS meeting is being held January 27-31, 2001 in Fort Worth, TX. The Association no longer has a regularly scheduled meeting in conjunction with SAAS, but could have a called meeting if needed.
Action requested: For information.

Agenda Item 22.4
agInnovation South Spring 2001 Meeting

Presenter: Larry Rogers
Background: The Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station is pleased to have the opportunity of hosting the Spring 2001 meeting. We have initiated plans that will follow the usual format of the meeting. We are also planning afternoon and evening events that will be enjoyable and inform the group about the agriculture and culture of Louisiana. Appropriate dates are being selected for the meeting which will be held at the Radisson Hotel. The group should come to the meeting prepared to select the time frame most convenient for the meeting so these dates can be confirmed with the hotel.
Action requested: Identification of best dates.
Action taken: Dates of April 1-5, 2001 were set for the next spring meeting. (It was noted that Georgia would be in line as the host for the 2002 meeting).

Agenda Item 23
Nominating Committee Report

Presenter: Richard Jones on behalf of Jerry Cherry
Background: As chair of the Nominating Committee, Dr. Cherry will present nominations for Chairs-Elect and Executive Committee Member-at-Large. (Two chairs-elect are being selected due to the announcement by Dr. John Beverly that he plans to retire June 30.) Directors will also have opportunity to provide nominations from the floor.
Action requested: Election of Chairs-Elect and Executive Committee Member-at-Large.
Action taken: The following nominations were approved:

William H. Brown (LA), Chair-Elect to serve the remainder of Dr. Beverly’s term, and then assume position of chair in November, 2000
Scott Smith (KY), Chair-Elect
Nancy Cox (MS), Executive Committee Member-at-Large

Agenda Item 24
Resolutions Committee

Presenter: David Morrison
Background: As chair of the Resolutions Committee, with Everett Emino serving as member, Dr. Morrison will present resolutions on behalf of the Association.
Action requested: For information.
Action taken: On motion/second by Drs. Morrison/Rogers, the following resolutions were adopted:

Dr. John R. Beverly – retiring June 30, 2000
Dr. Helen A. Shaw – retiring June 30, 2000
Dr. Don O. Richardson – retired February 29, 2000
Dr. David H. Teem – left agInnovation South December 31, 1999
Dr. Larry A. Crowder – left agInnovation South March 1, 2000
Appreciation to Virgin Islands hosts, Dr. Jim Rakocy, Dr. Manual Palada, Ms. Yvonne Horton, Ms. Audrey Schuster, and Ms. Helen Dookhan.

Agenda Item 25
Additional Announcements, Discussions and Adjournment

Presenter: Vance Watson
Background: Any remaining announcements and discussions will precede adjournment.
Action requested: For information.

[END]

	Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701
Executive Director Gary A. Thompson 479-502-9707 (office) 814-380-3295 (cell) gat009@uark.edu	Program Coordinator Cindy Morley 479-502-9545 (office) 479-422-1405 (cell) cmorley@uark.edu

Agenda Item 1 Passing the Gavel

Agenda Item 2 Introductions and Approval of and Additions to the Agenda

Agenda Item 3 Approval of Minutes and Interim Actions

Agenda Item 4.1 ESCOP Advocacy and Marketing Committee

Agenda Item 4.2 ESCOP Budget and Legislative Committee

Agenda Item 4.3 ESCOP Science and Technology Committee

Agenda Item 4.4 ESCOP Partnership Committee

Agenda Item 4.5 ESCOP Planning Committee

(Grouped under the five National Goals)

Agenda Item 4.6 ESCOP Executive Committee

Agenda Item 5.1 CSREES Update

Agenda Item 5.2 ARS Update

Agenda Item 5.3 ASRED Update

Agenda Item 5.4 ARD Update

Agenda Item 5.5 Southern Rural Development Center

Agenda Item 5.6 AESOP Update

Agenda Item 6 agInnovation South Planning Committee Final Report

Appendix 1:

DRAFT Southern Region Priority Areas for Multistate Research Activities

GOAL 1. AN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM THAT IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

GOAL 2. A SAFE AND SECURE FOOD AND FIBER SYSTEM

GOAL 3. A HEALTHY, WELL NOURISHED POPULATION

GOAL 4. GREATER HARMONY BETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

GOAL 5. ENHANCED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AMERICANS

Appendix 2: agInnovation South Mission and Vision Statements

Appendix 3: agInnovation South Operational Plan

Agenda Item 7.1 Federal Guidance for the Multistate Research Fund

Agenda Item 7.2 Multistate Research Guidelines

Agenda Item 8 “Toward a Dynamic Atlas of U.S. Agricultural Production”: A Social Science Research Center (SSRC) Presentation

Agenda Item 9 Report of the Chief Operating Officers’ Meeting

Agenda Item 10 Executive Director’s Annual Report to the agInnovation South May, 2000

Agenda Item 11 Off-the-Top Funding: NRSP FY01 Budget Requests

Agenda Item 11.1 NRSP-1 Budget Justification

Agenda Item 11.2 NRSP-3 Budget Justification

Agenda Item 11.3 NRSP-4 FY2001 Budget Request

Agenda Item 11.4 NRSP-5 FY2001 Budget Request

Agenda Item 11.5 NRSP-6 Budget Justification

Agenda Item 11.6 NRSP-8 FY2001 Budget Request

Agenda Item 12 S-009 Budget Request for FY2001

Agenda Item 13 Multistate Research Committee Report (formerly SRRC)

Agenda Item 14 Review Requests for Modification of Activities

Agenda Item 15 Changes in agInnovation South By-Laws

Agenda Item 16 Web Pages for agInnovation South Activities (Multistate Projects, IEGs, and SERAs)

Agenda Item 17 Southern Region IPM Policy Committee 2000 Southern Region IPM Grants Program

Agenda Item 18 SERA-IEG-3, Integrated Pest Management Southern Region IPM Facilitator Position

Agenda Item 19 SERA-IEG-28: Image Enhancement

Agenda Item 20 Cotton Incorporated Cooperative Research Agreement

Agenda Item 21 Bt Cotton Resistance Management

Agenda Item 22.1 2000 Southern Region Land-Grant Meeting “The Land-Grant System in the Global Society”

Agenda Item 22.2 ESS Meeting, SAES/ARD Directors’ Workshop, Regional Meetings September 26-28, 2000 New Orleans, LA

Agenda Item 22.3 Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS) Meeting January 27 – 31, 2001

Agenda Item 22.4 agInnovation South Spring 2001 Meeting

Agenda Item 23 Nominating Committee Report

Agenda Item 24 Resolutions Committee

Agenda Item 25 Additional Announcements, Discussions and Adjournment