Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education: Farm Bill Issues







Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress



The 110th Congress has passed an omnibus farm bill (Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008, P.L. 110-246) that will authorize and direct the implementation of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s (USDA’s) major programs across the spectrum of its mission areas through
FY2012. The enacted bill reorganizes the Department’s research, extension, and economics
mission area, which currently comprises four agencies that separately administer intramural and
extramural programs supporting agricultural research and development (R&D).
The research title of P.L. 110-246 (Title VII) classifies all current research, extension, and
education programs into two groups—capacity programs and competitive programs—based upon
the way in which their funding is distributed to recipients. Title VII creates an umbrella
coordinating entity known as the Research, Extension, and Education Office (REEO) in Office of
the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, and designates the Under Secretary
as the Chief Scientist of USDA. The REEO will coordinate and plan both capacity and
competitive programs, as well as USDA-administered intramural (Agricultural Research Service
(ARS)) and extramural programs. Extramural programs (both capacity and competitive),
currently administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
(CSREES)), will be transferred to a new National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and
CSREES will cease to exist on October 1, 2009.
Within the new NIFA, the existing National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program
(NRI) will be expanded into an Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). It will
incorporate the purposes of the former Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems
(IFAFS), whose authority the new farm bill repeals.
The House and Senate versions of the farm bill would have provided $865 million and $160
million, respectively, in mandatory funding for certain research programs over the five-year life
of the bill. The enacted bill provides a total of $333 million in mandatory funds for (1) a new
specialty crop research initiative ($230 million); (2) research on fresh produce food safety ($25
million); and (3) organic agriculture research ($78 million).
The enacted farm bill research title includes major initiatives to provide capacity-building support
to Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and to make them eligible to receive funding through a
wider range of grant programs.
This report will not be updated.






Backgr ound ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Key Issues.................................................................................................................................1
Proposals for Change.......................................................................................................................2
Administration’s Proposal.........................................................................................................2
2002 Farm Bill Task Force Proposal.........................................................................................2
Land Grant Organization Proposal............................................................................................2
Farm Bill Action..............................................................................................................................3
House- and Senate-Passed Bills................................................................................................3
Enacted 2008 Farm Bill............................................................................................................5
Appendix. Comparison of the Research Titles of the House- and Senate-Passed Farm
Bills and the Enacted Bill (P.L. 110-246).....................................................................................6
Author Contact Information..........................................................................................................22
Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................... 22






The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for conducting agricultural research
at the federal level, and for providing partial support for cooperative research, extension, and
post-secondary agricultural education programs in the states. This mission area of USDA is called
Research, Extension, and Economics (REE). In addition to research in the biological sciences, the 1
mission also includes substantial economic data collection and analysis.
The state partners are the colleges of agriculture at land grant universities in 50 states and eight
U.S. territories, with their affiliated state agricultural experiment stations, schools of forestry and
veterinary medicine, and cooperative extension. There also are 18 historically black land grant
colleges of agriculture (the 1890 institutions) and more than 30 Native American colleges that
gained land grant status in 1994 (referred to as the tribal colleges). Small grant programs have
supported agricultural education at Hispanic-serving institutions, and at Alaskan and Hawaiian
native-serving institutions. The omnibus farm bill enacted May 22, 2008, also extends eligibility
for certain research, education, and extension programs to non-land grant institutions that offer
degree programs in agriculture.
USDA differs from other federal research agencies in allocating the majority of its annual
research appropriation directly to in-house research (ARS, ERS, and NASS). Most federal
science agencies primarily fund extramural research through a competitive, peer-reviewed grant
process. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has recommended for more than a decade that
at least 35% of total USDA research money be distributed competitively. When the Academy first
made its recommendation in 1989, it determined that less than 6% of USDA’s research funding
was competitively awarded. In FY2006 it was approximately 14%, according to CRS
calculations.
The primary and longest-standing mechanisms for distributing annual federal appropriations to
the colleges of agriculture at the state land grant universities are contained in the Hatch Act of
1887 (for cooperative research) and Smith-Lever Act of 1914 (for extension activities). Formulas
set forth in each of these acts determine how annual federal appropriations are divided among
states. The majority of funding for state-level programs, however, comes from state
appropriations, competitive grants from USDA and other federal agencies, and private industry.
States are required to match Hatch and Smith-Lever formula funds; most states appropriate three
to four times the federal allotment. Nonetheless, despite the fact that federal formula funds
represent only a small percentage of total funding at the state level, they traditionally have been
viewed by state research and extension directors as a very reliable source of support for their core
programs.

1 Under the REE mission, the USDA is responsible for conducting agricultural research at the federal level, and for
providing partial support for cooperative research, extension, and post-secondary agricultural education programs in the
states. The USDA’s intramural activities are carried out by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Economic
Research Service (ERS), and National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The federally funded extramural
activities are managed by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). For additional
background information on the REE mission area, see CRS Report RL33327, Agricultural Research, Education, and
Extension: Issues and Background, by Jean M. Rawson.





Congress has set the policies and authorized the funding for USDA’s research, education, and
extension programs as part of omnibus farm bills since 1977. Permanent authority for most of the
programs resides in older laws, but the farm bill renews the authorization for appropriations.
To address the challenges posed by the perceived need to increase competitive grants in
agriculture, several major proposals released in advance of congressional debate on the research
title recommended significant changes in how ARS and CSREES are structured and administered.

In the comprehensive farm bill proposal that USDA released in February 2007, the
Administration proposed to rename the Research, Education, and Extension mission area the
Office of Science, and to merge ARS and CSREES into a single agency conducting both
intramural and extramural programs under the leadership of a Chief Scientist. The proposal called
for the current formula-funded authorities to be retained. ERS and NASS would be the other two
agencies also under the Office of Science. The Administration maintained that an integration of
budgets and programs would provide more efficient and effective program implementation and
resource allocation. In its call for a unified budget and a single scientific agency, this proposal 2
mirrored some of the key aspects of the land grant system’s CREATE-21 proposal (see below).
In Section 7404 of the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171), Congress commissioned a task force “to
conduct a review and evaluation of the merits of establishing one or more National Institutes
focused on disciplines important to the progress of food and agricultural sciences,” among other
things. The task force recommendations, released in July 2004, called for the formation of a
National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within USDA “to supplement and enhance,
not replace, the existing research programs.” The task force conceived of the NIFA as a separate
entity solely for awarding competitive peer-reviewed grants, and called for an annual budget for 3
the institute to build to $1 billion over a five-year period. The task force proposal was reflected
in companion House and Senate bills prior to congressional activity on drafting a farm bill (H.R.
2118 (C. Peterson)/S. 971 (Bond)). The bills would have provided mandatory funds for the NIFA
starting at $245 million in FY2008 and increasing to $966 million by FY2012.
The National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) put forth a
comprehensive recommendation for reorganizing the REE system after a nationwide deliberative
process within the land grant system. These proposals were reflected in H.R. 2398 (Barrow)/S.
1094 (Stabenow). The key provisions included (1) putting all of USDA’s intramural and

2 The full Administration proposal is available online at http://www.usda.gov/documents/07finalfbp.pdf.
3 National Institute for Food and Agriculture: A Proposal, report of the Research, Education, and Economics Task
Force of USDA, July 2004. The report is available online at http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/Research.htm.





extramural research, education, and extension agencies (including the research arm of the Forest
Service) under one administrative body, working with a unified budget; (2) providing $200
million annually in mandatory funds and substantial annual increases in appropriated funds (to
171.5% of the current level of $2.67 billion) in FY2012; and (3) providing opportunities for
minority and smaller schools, both land grant and non-land grant, to expand their capacity for
agricultural research, education, and extension. The NASULGC proposal, called CREATE-21,
was widely but not unanimously endorsed by the colleges of agriculture at the land grant 4
universities.

In June 2008, the 110th Congress completed action on the 2008 omnibus farm bill, the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, P.L. 110-246. This enacted legislation included aspects of
proposed changes to the research title of the House-passed (H.R. 2419 and Senate-passed farm
bill (introduced as a substitute amendment to H.R. 2419). Both the House and Senate bills drew 5
heavily on the recommendations of USDA and NASULGC.
The House version called for creating, within the Office of the Under Secretary for Research,
Education, and Economics, an overall coordinating organization known as the National 6
Agricultural Research Program Office (NARPO) with six specialized directors. NARPO’s six
subject-area directors would work with the existing National Agricultural Research, Extension,
Education, and Economics Advisory Board to coordinate and plan both the capacity and
competitive programs of the REE agencies. The directors of NARPO would become the primary
program leaders, incorporating the duties of the currently separate ARS and CSREES national
program staffs.
Additionally, the House bill called for establishing a National Institute of Food and Agriculture
(NIFA) within CSREES that would oversee extramural competitive research grants only. NIFA
would merge USDA’s two major competitive grant programs—the National Research Initiative 7
(NRI) and the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS). The NRI portion of
the combined program would focus on fundamental, basic research, and receive 60% of the
available funding. The IFAFS portion would focus on applied, integrated research, education, and
extension projects, and receive 40% of the available funding. The title would reauthorize
appropriations for the NRI at $500 million annually through FY2012, and provide for the transfer 8
of IFAFS’s mandatory funding.

4 Both the NASULGC document and the legislative proposals are under the title “Creating Research, Extension, and
Teaching Excellence for the 21st Century orCREATE-21”; see http://www.create-21.org/.
5 CRS Report RL34696, The 2008 Farm Bill: Major Provisions and Legislative Action, by Ree Johnson et al.,
presents a side-by-side tabular comparison of current law and the House and Senate bills, including the research titles.
6 NARPO would be composed of individual institutes for (1) renewable energy, natural resources, and environment; (2)
food safety, nutrition, and health; (3) plant health and production; (4) animal health and production and animal
products; (5) agriculture systems and technology; and (6) agriculture economics and rural communities.
7 IFAFS was authorized in a free-standing agricultural research law in 1998 (P.L. 105-185).
8 The Deficit Reduction Act of 2007 (P.L. 109-171) cancelled the currently authorized annual $200 million in
(continued...)





The House bill, in support of a more centralized administration of the agencies, called for the
President to submit a unified annual budget reflecting the total amount requested for each of two
categories of mission area programs. The first category, called capacity-building programs, would
include all of the formula-funded programs, support for research at the tribal colleges, the 1890
colleges, the Hispanic-serving institutions, and other selected programs. The second budget
category, called competitive programs (administered by the new NIFA), would reflect the total
amount requested for all programs that distribute funds through peer-reviewed, competitive
processes.
The House bill provided a substantial amount of mandatory research funding, totaling $865
million over the five-year life of the farm bill. The existing Organic Research and Extension
Initiative would receive $25 million in total mandatory funds for FY2008-FY2012 and $25
million in annual appropriations authority for FY2009-FY2012. A new Specialty Crop Research
Initiative would receive a total of $215 million in mandatory funds in addition to annual
appropriations authority of $100 million for FY2008-FY2012. The effort to improve the safety of
fresh cut produce would be provided an additional total of $25 million in mandatory funds to
supplement the annual appropriation. Also, the House bill preserved mandatory funding of $200
million for IFAFS for FY2010-FY2012. Discretionary programs were maintained largely as in the
previous farm bill and most were authorized to receive appropriations of such sums as necessary.
The Senate-passed amendment called for terminating CSREES and recasting the agency as the
National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The institute would plan, coordinate, and manage all
existing extramural USDA research, education, and extension funds (competitive grants,
capacity-building grants, and formula funds). The NIFA director would report directly to the
Secretary of Agriculture (not through the Under Secretary). The bill explicitly directed the Under
Secretary to coordinate research between ARS and NIFA, and to recommend funding for all the
programs within USDA’s research mission area.
The Senate bill provided $160 million in mandatory research funding over the five-year life of the
farm bill. This bill would reauthorize the Organic Research and Extension Initiative with $16
million in annual mandatory funds for FY2008-FY2012. A new Specialty Crop Research
Initiative would receive $16 million in annual mandatory funds for FY2008-FY2012. Mandatory
funds for the Initiative for Future Agricultural and Food Systems (IFAFS, which would be a
program within NIFA) would be eliminated and replaced with annual appropriations of such sums
as necessary. As with the House bill, discretionary programs were maintained largely as in the
previous farm bill and most were authorized to receive appropriations of such sums as necessary.
Other new provisions in the both the House and Senate bills included (1) a grant program to help
non-land grant public colleges and universities improve their capacity for agricultural research,
education, and outreach; (2) establishment of an endowment fund, similar to that established for
the tribal colleges, to provide a continuing base of support for Hispanic-serving agricultural
colleges; (3) establishment of institutional capacity-building and competitive grant programs for
the Hispanic-serving colleges; and (4) a larger commitment to bioenergy and biobased products.

(...continued)
mandatory funds for IFAFS in FY2007 through FY2009. Funding for the program would resume in FY2010 at $200
million annually unless Congress changes it in the 2007 farm bill.





The enacted 2008 farm bill (Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, P.L. 110-246)
reorganizes the Department’s research, extension, and economics mission area, which currently
comprises four agencies that separately administer intramural and extramural programs
supporting agricultural research and development (R&D).
The enacted farm bill’s research title (Title VII) classifies all current research, extension, and
education programs into two groups—capacity programs and competitive programs—based upon
the way in which their funding is distributed to recipients. Title VII creates an umbrella
coordinating entity known as the Research, Extension, and Education Office (REEO) in Office of
the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, and designates the Under Secretary
as the Chief Scientist of USDA. The REEO will coordinate and plan both capacity and
competitive programs, as well as USDA-administered intramural (Agricultural Research Service
(ARS)) and extramural programs. Extramural programs (both capacity and competitive),
currently administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
(CSREES)), will be transferred to a new National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and
CSREES will cease to exist on October 1, 2009.
Within the new NIFA, the existing National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program
(NRI) will be expanded into an Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). It will
incorporate the purposes of the former Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems
(IFAFS), whose authority the new farm bill repeals.
The enacted 2008 farm bill also makes changes regarding how some research contracts and grants
are awarded, and increases the emphasis on the need for a competitive bid process. For example, 9
the enacted bill switches certain Smith-Lever 3(d) special emphasis extension funds from being
awarded on a formula basis to competitive bid. Also, in general, the farm bill increased money
mostly for research programs that are competitively awarded, such as programs for specialty 10
crops, biomass, and organic production, and also for beginning farmer research programs. These
changes reflect statements in the conference committee’s Manager’s Report noting that “the
Managers recognize the numerous benefits of competitive research programs and have supported
the expansion of funding for these programs.” The Manager’s Report also “encourage[s] the
Department to make every effort to increase support for competitive programs while maintaining 11
the needs of capacity and infrastructure programs when making budgetary decisions.”
The Appendix compares the agricultural research, extension, and education policies set in the
2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171) with the provisions in the House- and Senate-passed versions of
H.R. 2419, and the enacted Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246).

9 Smith-Lever 3(d) funds provide support to State and territory programs in Integrated Pest Management (IPM);
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Farm Safety funds, which support health and safety efforts in the
agricultural sector; and National Children, Youth, and Families at Risk, Federally Recognized Tribes Extension
Program and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, which support the nutritional education needs of the
underserved, targeting citizens with limited incomes [7 U.S.C. 343(d)].
10 A breakout of the major research areas is provided in CSREES budget: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/offices/
budget/09_budget_brochure.pdf.
11 Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee of Conference, Title VII, http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/
Legislation/110/FB/Conf/statement_of_managers.pdf.






House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
TITLE VII: AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
Structure and Funding of Research, Education, and Extension
Existing policy functionally categorized Formally categorizes each existing CSREES Formally categorizes each existing CSREES Defines the terms capacity, infrastructure,
Cooperative State Research, Education, program as a “capacity program” or program as an “infrastructure program” and competitive programs [Sec. 7511];
and Extension Service (CSREES) “competitive program,” and designates the (i.e., capacity program) or “competitive critical base funding; Hispanic-serving
programs for state-level research, current level of funding for each category program,” as in the House provision. [Sec. institutions; non-land grant colleges of
education, or extension activities as as “critical base funding.” [Sec. 7101] 7401] agriculture [Sec. 7101]; and 1862, 1890, and
“formula funded” or “competitive.” 1994 institutions for the purposes of
restructuring the Research, Extension, and
iki/CRS-RL34352Economics mission area as outlined in this
g/wact. [Sec. 7501]
s.orThe 1994 USDA reorganization act Establishes a National Agricultural Directs the Undersecretary to coordinate Reflects the House provision but changes the
leakmerged the Extension Service with the Research Program Office (NARPO) under the programs under the authority of the name to the Research, Extension, and
Cooperative State Research Service to the Under Secretary, with six sub-offices ARS and CSREES national program leaders, Education Office (REEO). Establishes a
://wikiestablish CSREES. The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) was established organized by research focus. The provision integrates the administrative functions of as well as the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. [Sec. National Institute of Food and Agriculture as of October 1, 2009. The new Institute
httpin its current form in 1953. Both ARS’s and CSREES’s respective National 7402] comprises all the programs of the former
agencies are under the jurisdiction of the Program Leaders, but retains the separate CSREES. [Sec. 7511]
Undersecretary for Research, Extension, agencies. [Sec. 7104]
and Economics. [7 U.S.C. 6971]
The National Research Initiative (NRI) Merges the existing NRI and IFAFS grant CSREES is terminated as an agency; all of Amends the statute authorizing the NRI to
grant program is an expansion of a 1990 programs and groups them with all other its competitive and infrastructure programs create a new Agriculture and Food Research
farm bill program initially authorized in competitive grant programs currently are to be administered under the National Initiative to make competitive grants for
1965, funded by annual appropriations 7 administered by CSREES to become the Institute of Food and Agriculture. [Sec. fundamental and applied research, and for
U.S.C. 450i). The Initiative for Future National Institute of Food and Agriculture 7401] purchasing research equipment. Repeals 7
Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS) is (NIFA). [Sec. 7105] U.S.C. 7621 (IFAFS) Authorizes $700 million
a mandatory-funded grant program, annually from FY2008 through FY2012. [Sec.
which was first authorized in the 7406]


Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA,
P.L. 105-185), reauthorized in the 2002
farm bill. [7 U.S.C. 7621]


House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
Matching funds are not required for NRI Creates two categories of research grants; No comparable provision. Requires 50% matching funds for equipment
and IFAFS grants; they may be required fundamental research (to be called NRI grants and 100% matching funds for applied
for certain applied research grants. [IFAFS grants); and applied research (to be called research grants on topics that are
7 U.S.C. 7621; NRI 7 U.S.C. 450(b)] IFAFS grants). Matching funds are required commodity-specific and not of national
for IFAFS grants, not for NRI grants. scope. [Sec. 7406]
Authorizes $500 million in annual
appropriations, and transfers mandatory
IFAFS funds to support the merged
NRI/IFAFS program. [Sec. 7106]
Most research and extension programs Requires the President to submit an annual Directs the Under Secretary for Research, Requires the President to submit an annual
appear as individual line items in the budget making a single line item request for Education, and Economics to submit a budget making a single line item request for
President’s annual budget request. capacity programs and a single line item “roadmap” that, among other things, all programs under the Research, Extension,
request for competitive programs. [Sec. describes recommended funding for and Economics mission area. Retains Senate
7102] competitive programs and infrastructure language regarding a “roadmap.”
programs as unified categories, with some Recommends that budget emphasis within
iki/CRS-RL34352flexibility in implementation. [Sec. 7402] the request for capacity/infrastructure base
g/wfunding be on certain institutions, and within
s.orcompetitive base funding, on emerging problems.
leak [Sec. 7504 and 7506]
://wikiSec. 1403 of the National Agricultural Adds integrating and organizing all USDA No comparable provision. Deletes House provision.
httpResearch, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA, Title XIV of P.L. research, extension, and education programs; minimizing duplication; and
97-98) sets out the purposes of maximizing cooperation to the purposes of
agricultural research and extension. [7 the Department’s research mission. [Sec.
U.S.C. 3101] 7103]
Prior law limited eligibility for formula Expands eligibility for these programs to Requires the “roadmap” to include Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7504]


funded and other non-competitive public non-land grant institutions offering consideration of the needs of ASCARR
research, extension, and education 4-year degrees in agriculture (American institutions in addition to those of the
programs to 1862 & 1890 institutions, Association of State Colleges of 1862, 1890, 1994, and Hispanic-serving
1994 institutions (tribally controlled Agriculture and Renewable Resources, or institutions. [Sec. 7402]
colleges), and Hispanic-serving ASCARR institutions). [Sec. 7102]
institutions. [7 U.S.C. 361a, 343 ]


House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
Prior law authorized capacity-building Authorizes the appropriation of such sums No comparable provision. Authorizes capacity-building grants to
grant programs for 1890 and 1994 as necessary for a new capacity-building ASCARR institutions [Sec. 7138]; and
institutions, and Hispanic-serving grant program for ASCARR institutions. changes the term from ASCARR institutions
institutions. [Sec. 7107] to non-land grant college of agriculture
[7 U.S.C. 3152] (NLGCA) institutions.
[Sec. 7101]
Sec. 1417 of NARETPA makes land grant Expands eligibility for grants/fellowships for Similar to the House bill. Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7109]
and non-land grant, high minority food and agricultural sciences education to [Sec. 7007]
enrollment, and secondary and post-include Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom
secondary institutions eligible for higher programs, nonprofit organizations, and
education grants. [7 U.S.C. 3152] other institutions of higher education. [Sec.
7206]
The Hatch Act and Smith-Lever Acts set Sets 25% as the minimum amount of No comparable provision. Deletes House provision.
the minimum amount of federal formula federal formula funds that must be
iki/CRS-RL34352funds spent on multi-state research and extension projects at either 25% or expended on multistate research and extension projects. [Sec. 7603]
g/wtwice the percentage of state matching
s.orfunds, whichever is less. [7 U.S.C. 361a,
leak343]
://wikiAnnual work plans are required from states to receive federal funds under Requires USDA to prepare a report for Congress on how to streamline the Similar to the House bill. [Sec. 7503] Requires a review of annual plans of work, but does not require a report on how to
httpNARETPA, the Hatch Act of 1887 (for submission, reporting requirements, and streamline the plan-of-work process.
research), and the Smith-Lever Act (for implementation of plan-of-work [Sec. 7505]
extension). requirements.
[7 U.S.C. 3101, 361a, 343] [Sec. 7602]
The 1998 research act (AREERA) Provides for the continuation, under NIFA, No comparable provision. Deletes House provision.
requires CSREES to conduct merit of the mandatory merit and peer review
reviews of non-competitive research and processes for non-competitive and
extension grants, and peer reviews of competitive grants. [Sec. 7601]
grants. [7 U.S.C. 7613]
Sec. 1462(a) of NARETPA limits the Amends Sec. 1462(a) to apply the 19% Raises the limitation on reimbursement of Raises the limitation on reimbursement of
amount of indirect costs that USDA limitation on indirect cost reimbursement indirect costs from 19% to 30% for indirect costs from 19% to 22%.
reimburses to institutions that are to any grant the institution receives, not competitively awarded research, extension, [Sec. 7132]


awarded research, extension, and just competitively awarded grants. and teaching grants. [Sec. 7027]
teaching grants to 19%. [Sec. 7225]
[7 U.S.C. 3310]


House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
Sec. 1408(g)(1) of NARETPA authorizes Increases authorized appropriations for the Similar to the House bill. Increases the maximum annual
the National Agricultural Research, Advisory Board from $350,000 to [Sec. 7002] appropriations for the Advisory Board to
Extension, Education, and Economics $500,000 annually. [Sec. 7201] $500,000. Reduces the number of Board
Advisory Board. [7 U.S.C. 3123] members from 31 to 24. Adds
representation from crop, livestock,
aquaculture producer organizations.
[Sec. 7102]
Subtitle K of NARETPA authorizes No comparable provision. Authorizes $19 million annually through Adopts Senate provision. [Sec 7529]
miscellaneous programs. [7 U.S.C. 3311] FY2012 for grants to the Consortium for
Agricultural and Rural Transportation
Research and Education. [Sec. 7051]
Sec. 103(a) of AREERA authorizes peer No provision. No provision. Amends AREERA to prohibit consideration
and merit review of research and of the availability of matching funds in
extension grant applications. [7 reviewing grant proposals. [Sec. 7301]
iki/CRS-RL34352U.S.C.7613(a)]
g/wProvisions Affecting Certain Research Institutions
s.orSec. 1417 of NARETPA authorizes Specifies that the University of the District Similar to the House bill. Makes UDC eligible to compete for food and
leakgrants/fellowships to land grant colleges of Columbia (UDC) be eligible to receive [Sec. 7004] agricultural sciences education grants. [Sec.
and universities for food and agricultural education grants and fellowships. [Sec. 7106]
://wikisciences education. [7 U.S.C. 3152] 7204]
httpSec. 1447 of NARETPA authorizes grants Extends eligibility to UDC for grants to Similar to the House bill. Authorizes $750,000 in annual appropriations
to upgrade agriculture and food science upgrade facilities, and authorizes [Sec. 7020] to upgrade agriculture and food science
facilities at the 1890 institutions. [7 U.S.C. appropriations of $750,000 annually facilities at UDC. [Sec. 7124]
3222b] through FY2012. [Sec. 7212]
The District of Columbia Public Post- Makes UDC eligible to receive funds for Similar to the House bill. Makes UDC eligible for EFNEP grants. [Sec.
secondary Education Reorganization Act the Expanded Food and Nutrition [Sec. 7313] 7417]
(P.L. 93-471) designates UDC as a land Education Program (EFNEP). [Sec. 7512]
grant institution, with certain exceptions.
[88 Stat. 1423]
The Hatch Act of 1887 authorizes Exempts UDC from the matching funds Requires 50% matching funds from the Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7404]


federal funding for agricultural research requirement for Hatch Act funds. [Sec. District of Columbia in order for UDC to
in the states/U.S. territories. [7 U.S.C. 7513] be eligible for Hatch Act funds. [Sec. 7304]
361a]


House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
The 2002 farm bill amended NARETPA Increases the level of required federal Identical to the House bill. Adopts House and Senate provision.
Sec. 1444(a)(2) to require that (1) support for (1) extension at the 1890 [Sec. 7017-7018] [Sec. 7121-7122]
federal support for extension at the 1890 institutions to 20% of the amount
institutions be at least 15% of the appropriated for 1862 extension programs
amount appropriated for extension at [Sec. 7215], and (2) research at the 1890
1862 universities [7 U.S.C. 3221], and (2) schools to 30% of the amount appropriated
federal support for research at the 1890 for research at the 1862 schools [Sec.
institutions be at least 25% of the 7216]
amount appropriated for research at the
1862 universities. [7 U.S.C. 3222]
Sec. 1434(b) of NARETPA defines which No comparable provision. Specifies that 1890 institutions are eligible Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7120]
institutions are eligible for animal to receive funding for animal health and
health/disease funding. [7 U.S.C. 3196] disease research. [Sec. 7016]
The 2002 farm bill amended NARETPA Makes permanent the requirement that Similar to the House bill. Extends 100% matching funds requirement
iki/CRS-RL34352Sec. 1449 to phase in increasing state matching funds for federal formula funds states provide a 100% match to federal funds for research and extension at the [Sec. 7022] for research and extension at the 1890 colleges through FY2012 and amends
g/wfor research and extension at the 1890 1890 colleges. [Sec. 7220] NARETPA to update permanent law and
s.orinstitutions, reaching the 100% matching clarify current requirement of providing equal
leaklevel in FY2007. [7 U.S.C. 3222d] matching funds from non-federal sources.
[Sec. 7127]
://wikiSec. 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (extension) No comparable provision. Makes 1890 institutions eligible for the Adopts Senate provision. Requires Smith-
httpauthorizes federal funds for cooperative Children, Youth, and Families Education Lever 3(d) special emphasis extension funds
state extension programs. [7 U.S.C. 343] and Research Network funds (CYFERNet). (of which CYFERNet is one) to be awarded
[Sec. 7303] competitively. [Sec. 7403]
The McIntire-Stennis Cooperative No comparable provision. Makes the 1890 institutions eligible for Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7412]
Forestry Act (P.L. 87-788) authorizes McIntire-Stennis forestry research funds.
certain forestry research programs. [16 [Sec. 7310]
U.S.C. 582]
Sec. 1447 of NARETPA authorizes grants Authorizes $8 million annually for grants to No comparable provision. Amends NARETPA to authorize assistance
to upgrade facilities at 1890 institutions. land grant institutions in insular areas to to insular area land grant institutions, and
[7 U.S.C. 3222] upgrade agriculture and food science authorizes $8 million in annual appropriations
facilities. [Sec. 7237] through FY2012. [Sec. 7125]




House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
Funding for tropical and subtropical No comparable provision. Within miscellaneous programs, adds Adds Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural
research is provided under the Special authority for a Tropical and Subtropical Research to the list of high-priority research
Research grant program to the land Agricultural Research competitive grant and extension initiatives under Sec. 1672 of
grant institutions in U.S. insular areas. [7 program limited to the insular area land the 1990 farm bill. Extends authorization of
U.S.C. 450i] grant institutions and divided equally Sec. 1672 through FY2012. [Sec. 7204]
between the Caribbean and Pacific basins.
Authorizes appropriations of such sums as
necessary.
[Sec. 7038]
Subtitle K of NARETPA authorizes No comparable provision Establishes a grant program for research, Adds Agricultural Development in the
miscellaneous programs. [7 U.S.C. 3311] extension, and education programs at land American-Pacific Region to the list of high-
grant institutions in the American Pacific priority research and extension initiatives.
region (AK, HI). [Sec. 7204]
[Sec. 7041]
iki/CRS-RL34352Sec. 1425(c)(2)(B) of NARETPA sets a minimum distribution level and a formula Authorizes annual appropriations of $90 million; sets a minimum $100,000 annual Establishes UDC’s eligibility to receive EFNEP funds. [Sec. 7313] The bill does not UDC is eligible to receive EFNEP funds [Sec. 7417]. Amends NARETPA to increase the
g/wfor distribution of any annual distribution in EFNEP funds to each land contain other comparable provisions in the authorization of appropriations to $90
s.orappropriation for the Expanded Food grant institution; sets minimum funding House bill. million annually. Authorizes each institution
leakand Nutrition Education Program percentages for the 1890 institutions to receive $100,000as a base amount. [Sec.
(EFNEP) in excess of the previous year’s through FY2013; establishes a formula to 7116]
://wikilevel. [7 U.S.C. 3175] distribute funds to states after FY2013; and
httpestablishes UDC’s eligibility to receive EFNEP funds. [Sec. 7604]
Sec. 1417(b)(4) of NARETPA authorizes Adds extension capacity-building as one of Similar to the House bill. Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7107]
capacity-building grants for research and the purposes for which grants and [Sec. 7005]
teaching at high minority-enrollment fellowships may be made to high minority-
institutions. [7 U.S.C. 3152] enrollment institutions. [Sec. 7605]
Sec. 1455 of NARETPA authorizes grants Authorizes the grant program through Amends NARETPA to require that Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7128]
to Hispanic-serving institutions to FY2012 at $20 million annually. [Sec. 7221] Hispanic-serving institutions compete for
strengthen educational capacity, and strengthening grants; and increases the
authorized $20 million annually in authority for appropriations to $40 million
appropriations through FY2007. [7 U.S.C. annually through FY2012. [Sec. 7023]
3241]
No comparable provision. Establishes an endowment fund for Similar to the House bill. Amends NARETPA to establish an
Hispanic-serving institutions for basic [Sec. 7024] endowment fund, institutional capacity-
institutional support. Authorizes building program, and a competitive grant
appropriations through FY2012 for grant program to benefit Hispanic-serving




House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
programs and for collaborative extension agricultural colleges and universities;
projects at 1862 institutions. [Sec. 7222] authorizes necessary funds to be
appropriated through FY2012.
[Sec. 7129]
The definition of “Hispanic-serving Changes the definition of a Hispanic- Similar to the House bill. Adopts House and Senate provision.
institution” in NARETPA is based on a serving institution in NARETPA from one [Sec. 7001] [Sec. 7101]
formula found in Sec. 316(b)(1) of the based on a formula to one based on the
Higher Education Act of 1965. [20 U.S.C. total enrollment of students being at least
1059] 25% Hispanic, as it is in the Higher
Education Act of 1965. [Sec. 7234]
Sec. 1458 of NARETPA authorizes Extends eligibility for participation in Similar to the House bill. Adopts House and Senate provision and adds
USDA agencies and land grant international research, extension, and [Sec. 7025] anti-hunger, nutrition, and food availability to
institutions to participate in international teaching programs to Hispanic-serving the purposes of international programs. [Sec.
research, extension, and teaching institutions. Gives priority to institutions 7130]
programs. with existing cooperative agreements with
iki/CRS-RL34352[7 U.S.C. 3291] federal or state agencies.
g/w[Sec. 7223]
s.orOrganic Agricultural Research
leak
Sec. 1672B of the 1990 farm act, as Adds emphasis on the environmental Provides $16 million annually in mandatory Reflects the House bill language concerning
://wikiamended, provides $3 million annually in impact of organic farming and on new plant funds through FY2012 to support the new areas of program emphasis. Provides a
httpmandatory funds to support an organic agriculture research and extension varieties suited to organic farming. Authorizes annual appropriations through organic research and extension initiative. [Sec. 7104] total of $78 million in mandatory funds in FY2009-FY2012. [Sec. 7206]
initiative. FY2012 of $25 million; and provides $25
[7 U.S.C. 5925] million annually in mandatory funds
through FY2012. [Sec. 7310]
No comparable provision. Sense of Congress that in -house funding Similar to the House bill. Deletes House and Senate provisions.
for ARS research on organic agriculture be [Sec. 7505]
at least commensurate with its share of the
U.S. food market. [Sec. 7608]
Sec. 7405 of the 2002 farm bill No comparable provision. Authorizes annual appropriations of $30 Provides $18 million in mandatory funds for
established the Beginning Farmer and million through FY2012; permits grants for the program in FY2009, and $19 million in
Rancher Development program. [7 U.S.C. farmers/ranchers who convert to certified mandatory funds in FY2010-2012. Authorizes
3319f] organic production. $30 million in annual appropriations (FY2008-
[Sec. 7309] FY2012).
[Sec. 7410]




House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
Specialty Crops Research
The Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act Expand information that the specialty crop No comparable provision. Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7103]
of 2004 (P.L. 108-465) established a committee provides the Advisory Board to
specialty crop committee to inform the include a comprehensive analysis of the
Advisory Board on research needs. specialty crop sector. [Sec. 7204]
[7 U.S.C. 3123a(c)]
Sec. 1672 of the 1990 farm act Adds new specialty crop research initiative Similar to the House bill, but authorizes Provides $230 million in mandatory funds
authorizes research and extension grants to the 1998 research act (AREERA). $16 million annually in mandatory funds over a five-year period for a specialty crop
on specialty crops as a high-priority Authorizes annual appropriations of $100 through FY2012. [Sec. 7211] research initiative; provides $25 million in
research area. million through FY2012; provides $215 mandatory funds for specialty crop food
[7 U.S.C. 5925] million annually in mandatory funds. [Sec. safety research grants. [Sec. 7311]
7411]
Food safety research is part of USDA’s Authorizes USDA to make competitive No comparable provision. Includes a food safety research emphasis in
research, extension, and education grants to universities/others to design and Sec. 7311, above.
iki/CRS-RL34352mission area, and is included in both implement programs to improve the safety
g/wintra- and extramural programs. of fresh-cut produce; authorizes
s.orappropriation as necessary, with $25
leakmillion annually in mandatory funds through FY2012. [Sec. 7511]
://wikiSection 1419A of NARETPA authorizes Requires the Food and Agricultural Policy Amends NARETPA to specify four Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7111]
httpthe Secretary to enter into a wide Research Institute (a university-based university-based policy research centers as
variety of grants and other collaborative economic research institute, in part eligible to receive grants under existing
agreements with private and public supported by federal funds) to establish a authority. Adds specialty crops policy
educational institutions, corporations, corollary institute specializing in specialty issues as a priority focus for these centers’
and individuals to conduct independent crop policy research (drawing on university activities.
research and public policy analysis on expertise in states with specialty crop [Sec. 7009]
food and agriculture. [7 U.S.C. 3155] production). [Sec. 7235]
Bioenergy Research
No comparable provision. Establishes a renewable energy committee No comparable provision. Amends NARETPA to authorize the
to report to the Advisory Board concerning research needs and budget establishment of a permanent renewable energy subcommittee to the Advisory Board.
recommendations. [Sec. 7203] [Sec. 7104]
Sec. 404 of the 1998 research act Extends this authority through 2012. [Sec. Contains an identical provision. [Sec. 7204] Adopts House and Senate provision.
(AREERA) authorizes public-private 7403] [Sec. 7304


cooperative agreements to conduct pilot
projects to develop biobased products


House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
with commercial potential, and
authorizes the appropriation of such
sums as necessary. [7 U.S.C. 7624]
Section 1419 of NARETPA authorizes Establishes a bioenergy and biobased No comparable provision. Repeals the authority under NARETPA [Sec.
grants for research on production and products research initiative, coordinated by 7110] and amends the 1998 research act
marketing of alcohols and industrial the National Agricultural Research (AREERA) to authorize a bioenergy and
hydrocarbons from agricultural Program Office, focused on the conversion biobased products research initiative as in
commodities and forest products. [7 of biomass to renewable fuels. Authorizes the House provision. Incorporates several
U.S.C. 3154] $50 million annually in appropriations additional provisions from House bill and
through FY2012. [Sec. 7410] Senate amendment energy titles authorizing
research on: (1) on-farm renewable energy
[H. Sec. 9010 and S. Sec. 9011]; (2) using
sweet sorghum and switchgrass to
supplement corn as an ethanol feedstock [H.
Sec. 9020]; (3) regional biomass crop
iki/CRS-RL34352experiments [S. Sec. 9010]; (4) renewable energy at a laboratory in Colorado [S. Sec.
g/w9022]; and (5) farm energy demonstration
s.orprojects [S. Sec. 9025]. [Sec. 7207]
leakNo comparable provision. Establishes a New Era Rural Technology Similar to the House bill. Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7137]
://wikiProgram that makes grants available to rural community colleges and technical [Sec. 7043]
httpcenters to support training a workforce in
bioenergy, renewable energy, and pulp and
paper manufacturing; authorizes
appropriation as necessary. [Sec. 7312]
Other Research Provisions
No comparable provision. Authorizes USDA to establish animal Requires USDA to issue a permit to the Adopts Senate provision, but replaces the
disease laboratories, conduct research on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tern National Bio- and Agro-defense Lab with
diseases that constitute a threat to the for work on live Foot and Mouth Disease more general language. [Sec. 7524]


livestock industry, and gives USDA virus at the National Bio- and Agro-defense
discretion over the importation and Lab; clarifies only the Secretary of
movement of live viruses. [Sec. 7108] Agriculture has the authority to grant and
revoke such permits. [Sec. 11016]


House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
Sec. 1433(a) of NARETPA authorizes Requires the Secretary to encourage No comparable provision. Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7118]
animal health and disease research. cooperation among institutions eligible to
[7 U.S.C. 3195(a)] receive these funds. [Sec. 7213]
The ARS National Animal Disease No comparable provision. Authorizes $16 million annually through Deletes Senate provision.
Center in Ames, Iowa, is currently the FY2012 to construct a higher-level bio-
highest bio-security lab for animal disease secure ARS animal health and disease
research. facility in Bozeman, MT. [Sec. 7508]
Sec. 1415A of NARETPA authorizes a No comparable provision. Amends program to require USDA to Adopts Senate provision and clarifies that
program to defray the school loans of favor large and mixed animal practitioner large and mixed animal practitioner shortages
veterinary medical school graduates who shortages in rural areas in initial phases of have priority. Requires USDA to return to
agree to serve for limited time periods in program implementation. the Food Safety and Inspection Service fund
under-served areas. [7 U.S.C. 3151] [Sec. 7003] that had been transferred to CSREES. [Sec.
7105]
Sec. 1672(e) of the 1990 farm bill, as Adds nine new subjects to the list of high Adds 14 subjects to the list of high priority Adopts House and Senate lists of priority
iki/CRS-RL34352amended, authorizes USDA to make priority research and extension areas. [Sec. research and extension areas. [Sec. 7102] areas to add 23 subjects. Eliminates certain
g/wgrants for research and extension 7305] specified areas from the list enacted in the
s.orprojects in a variety of high priority topic 1990 farm bill; includes some of these in the
leakareas. [7 U.S.C. 5925] larger priority area categories in the new law. [Sec. 7204]
://wikiSec. 410 of the 1998 research act Amends the 1998 act to encourage Reauthorizes appropriations through Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7309]
http(AREERA) provides a one-time transfer of $8 million in mandatory funds to make flexibility in making grants to youth organizations; allows the organizations to FY2012. [Sec. 7209]
grants to four national youth groups to redistribute grant funds among themselves;
support pilot projects in rural areas; also authorizes the appropriation of such sums
provides authority for appropriations as necessary through FY2012.
through FY2007. [7 U.S.C. 7630] [Sec. 7408]
A number of international agricultural Authorizes appropriations to establish a Similar to the House bill. Adopts Senate provision, which amends
research exchange opportunities Borlaug International Agricultural Science [Sec. 7042] NARETPA to authorize the program and
currently are available under several and Technology Fellowship Program to annual appropriations. [Sec. 7139]
different statutes. promote collaboration between U.S. and
foreign agricultural professionals and
international research systems. [Sec. 7606]
The Act of March 4, 1927, authorizes the Authorizes the construction of a Chinese Also authorizes construction of a Chinese Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7415]


establishment of the National garden at the National Arboretum, using garden at the arboretum, but forbids use of
Arboretum. [20 U.S.C. 191] federal appropriations. [Sec. 7509] appropriated funds. [Sec. 7312]


House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
Subtitle K of NARETPA authorizes No comparable provision. Authorizes appropriations for grants to Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7523]
miscellaneous programs. [7 U.S.C. 3311] nonprofits to distribute donated vegetable
seeds to community food projects in low-
income areas. [Sec. 7046]
No comparable provision. Authorizes appropriations for grants to Included in Sec. 7204 (high priority research
support farm safety education/outreach. and extension areas).
[Sec. 7047]
No comparable provision. Authorizes appropriations for grants to Included in Sec. 7204 (high priority research
increase participation of women/under-and extension areas).
represented minorities from rural areas in
science, technology, engineering, and math
education/careers. [Sec. 7408]
No comparable provision. Establishes a National Farm Management Authorizes competitive research and
Center to create a public benchmarking extension grants to improve farm
iki/CRS-RL34352database and to improve farm financial management skills and create a financial
g/wmanagement training. management database. [Sec. 7208]
s.or[Sec. 7037]
leak No comparable provision. Authorizes appropriations for a research Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7525]
program to develop pharmaceuticals and
://wikiagrichemicals from plant, marine, and
httpmicrobial sources. [Sec. 7049]
No comparable provision. Authorizes a $1 million annual Adds the purposes of the Senate provision to
appropriation to support nonprofit the authorization for international
research on international anti-hunger and agricultural research, extension, and
nutrition activities. [Sec. 7050] education. [Sec. 7130]
No comparable provision. Authorizes appropriations for competitive Adds food systems veterinary medicine to
grants to establish regional centers of the list of high priority research and
excellence in food systems veterinary extension areas. [Sec. 7204]
medicine. [Sec. 7052]
No comparable provision. Authorizes appropriations for land grant Adds regional centers of excellence to the
institutions to establish regional centers of list of high priority research and extension
excellence for agricultural commodities areas. [Sec. 7204]


(incl. poultry sustainability); requires
matching funds. [Sec. 7039]


House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
No comparable provision. Establishes a farm and ranch stress Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7522]
assistance network to provide behavioral
programs to U.S. producers. [Sec. 7044]
No provision. No provision. Establishes six regional centers to administer
a Sun Grant program making competitive
grants for rural biobased energy development
and diversification. [Sec. 7526]
No comparable provision. Establishes a grant program focusing on Adopts Senate provision with additional
critical rural and agricultural transportation language to give priority to collaborative
and logistics issues facing producers and efforts. [Sec. 7529]
rural businesses. [Sec. 7051]
No comparable provision. Prohibits USDA from disposing of land or No comparable provision. Adopts House provisions.
facilities at the Grazinglands Research [Sec. 7502 and 7503]
Laboratory in El Reno, OK. [Sec. 7109]
iki/CRS-RL34352Authorizes USDA to lease land at the El
g/wReno facility to the University of
s.orOklahoma. [Sec. 7111]
leakNo comparable provision. Requires scientists conducting research on No comparable provision Deletes provision.
biotech crops to receive training in
://wikiUSDA’s biotech regulatory regime.
httpAuthorizes the certification of third-party providers of such training. [Sec. 7110]
No comparable provision. Authorizes appropriations for a grant to No comparable provision. Deletes provision.
update USDA’s Nutrient Composition
Handbook for Beef. [Sec. 7112]
No comparable provision. Sense of Congress that there should be No comparable provision. Deletes provision.
greater support for USDA human nutrition
research.
[Sec. 7113]
Sec. 1433 of NARETPA authorizes Encourages setting priorities for animal No comparable provision. Contains the
animal health and disease research. [7 health/disease research through regular House provision. [Sec. 7119]
U.S.C. 3195] regional/national meetings. [Sec. 7213]
Sec. 1424(b) of NARETPA authorizes a Adds as a focus of human nutrition No comparable provision. Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7113]


human nutrition research initiative. research examination of the efficacy of
[7 U.S.C. 3174] current agriculture policies in promoting


House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
the health and welfare of economically
disadvantaged populations. [Sec. 7236]
Sec. 1672(d) of the 1990 farm bill, as Requires USDA to give funding priority to No comparable provision. Adopts House provision. [Sec. 7203]
amended, encourages USDA to give collaborative research grants. [Sec. 7303]
funding priority to high-priority
collaborative research proposals.
[7 U.S.C. 5925]
The 1990 farm bill authorizes research Changes the focus of aflatoxin research and No comparable provision. Adds the House bill language to the authority
and extension on aflatoxin. [7 U.S.C. extension from controlling aflatoxin to for high priority research and extension
5925] improving and commercializing control projects on aflatoxin. [Sec. 7204]
technologies. [Sec. 7304]
The 1990 farm bill, as amended, Adds dairy cattle waste and regional No comparable provision. Adds House bill language to section
authorizes a nutrient management concerns to the purposes of the nutrient reauthorizing the nutrient management
research and extension initiative. [7 management research and extension research and extension initiative.
iki/CRS-RL34352U.S.C. 5925] initiative. [Sec. 7307] [Sec. 7205]
g/wSec. 1417(i) of NARETPA authorizes a No comparable provision. Adds extension and research to the award Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7108]
s.orNational Food and Agricultural Sciences program and requires at least one cash
leakTeaching Awards. [7 U.S.C. 3152] award be made per year. [Sec. 7006]
://wikiSec. 604 of AREERA, the 1998 research act, authorizes the Food Animal Residue No comparable provision. Authorizes annual appropriations of $2.5 million through FY2012. [Sec. 7213] Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7312]
httpAvoidance Databank. [7 U.S.C. 7642]
USDA’s FY2000 appropriations act (P.L. No comparable provision. Permits the Alaskan consortia of Adds Senate bill language to reauthorization
106-7) authorizes grants for education at institutions to designate fiscal agents for of the education grants program at Alaska
Alaska Native- and Native Hawaiian-each member institution, and to allocate Native- and Native Hawaiian-serving
serving institutions. [7 U.S.C. 3242] funds among members. [Sec. 7308] institutions. [Sec. 7112]
In 1994, the Federal Crop Insurance No comparable provision. Gives USDA authority to exchange, sell, or Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7408]
Reform and Department of Agriculture otherwise dispose of ARS’s animals, animal
Reauthorization Act (P.L. 103-354) products, plants, and plant products
reorganized USDA, including the merger (except for seeds, germplasm). [Sec. 7314]
and realignment of certain research Authorizes a pilot program to allow
agencies. [7 U.S.C. 6971] property at the ARS research center and
the National Agricultural Library to be
leased out. [Sec. 7316]
Research on antibiotic-resistant bacteria No comparable provision. Authorizes a competitive grant program Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7521]


in livestock is authorized under general for targeted research on antibiotic-
statutory authority for federal and state


House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
agricultural research. resistant bacteria in livestock. [Sec. 7317]
No comparable provision. No comparable provision. Directs USDA to prepare a report, in Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7527]
coordination with other federal agencies,
on the prevalence of areas in the U.S. with
limited access to affordable and nutritious
food, and to make recommendations. [Sec.
7504]
No comparable provision. No comparable provision. Requires USDA to prepare a report on: (1) Deletes provision.
domestic and international markets for
products from cloned animals; and (2) the
safety of foods from cloned animals
(particularly milk). [Sec. 7507]
No comparable provision. No comparable provision. Provision concerning the recruitment and Adopts Senate provision. [Sec. 7528]
hiring processes for ARS and the Forest
iki/CRS-RL34352Service, but does not directly affect
g/wresearch policy. [Sec. 7502]
s.orNo comparable provision. No comparable provision. Provision concerning the National Finance No comparable provision.
leakCenter and National Information
Technology Center, but not related to
://wikiUSDA’s research mission. [Sec. 7502]
httpExtended Program Authorizations
Program under prior law. Comparable provision in some cases. Comparable provision in some cases. —Human nutrition intervention and health
promotion research program [Sec. 7114]
—Pilot research program to combine
medical/agricultural research [Sec. 7115]
—Continuing animal health and disease
research [Sec.7117]
—Grants to upgrade agricultural and food
sciences facilities at 1890 land grant colleges,
incl. Tuskegee University [Sec. 7123]
—National research and training virtual
centers [Sec. 7126]
—Competitive grants for international
agricultural science and education [Sec. 7131]




House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
—Equipment grants [Sec. 7133]
—University research [Sec. 7134]
—Extension Service [Sec. 7135]
—Supplemental and alternative crops
[Sec. 7136]
—Aquaculture assistance programs
[Sec. 7140]
—Rangeland grants [Sec. 7141]
—Authorization for biosecurity
planning/response [Sec. 7142]
—Resident instruction & distance education
iki/CRS-RL34352grants program for insular area institutions of higher education [Sec. 7143]
g/w
s.or—National genetic resources program [Sec. 7201]
leak
—National Agricultural Weather Information
://wikiSystem [Sec. 7202]
http—Assistive technology program for farmers
with disabilities [Sec. 7210]
—National Rural Information Center
Clearinghouse [Sec. 7212]
—Integrated research, education, and
extension competitive grants program [Sec.
7306]
—Fusarium graminearum grants
[Sec. 7307]
—Bovine Johne’s disease control program
[Sec. 7308]
—Agricultural biotechnology research and
development for developing countries
[Sec. 7310]




House-Passed Bill Senate-Passed Food, Conservation, and
Prior Law/Policy (H.R. 2419) Substitute Amendment Energy Act of 2008
(H.R. 2419) (P.L. 110-246)
—Office of pest management policy
[Sec. 7313]
—Critical Agricultural Materials Act
[Sec. 7401]
—Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status
Act of 1994 [Sec. 7402]
—Agricultural Experiment Station Research
Facilities Act [Sec. 7405]
—Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000
[Sec. 7407]
—National Aquaculture Act of 1980
[Sec. 7414]
iki/CRS-RL34352—National Agricultural Research, Extension,
g/wand Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985 [Sec. 7416]
s.or
leakRepeal of Program Authorizations
://wikiProgram under prior law. Comparable provision in some cases. Comparable provision in some cases. —Agricultural telecommunications program [Sec. 7209]
http—Research on honey bee diseases
[Sec. 7211]
—Partnerships for high value agricultural
product quality research [Sec. 7302]
—Precision agriculture [Sec. 7303]
—Biobased products [Sec. 7304]
—Public education regarding the use of
biotechnology in producing food for human
consumption [Sec. 7411]






Renée Johnson
Specialist in Agricultural Policy
rjohnson@crs.loc.gov, 7-9588

This report is an updated and revised version of a report originally written by former CRS specialist Jean
M. Rawson.