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7 U.S.C. § 5812

Section 5812 · Program administration

Current version, with additions and removals from the November 28, 1990 version.

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(a) Duties of Secretary

The Secretary shall—

(1) administer the programs and projects conducted under sections 5811 and 5813 of this title through the Cooperative State Research Service in close cooperation with the Extension Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, and other appropriate agencies;
(2) establish the Advisory Council a minimum of four Regional Administrative Councils in accordance with subsection (c) (b) of this section; and

(3) establish a minimum of four Regional Administrative Councils in accordance with subsection (e) of this section; and

(4) (3) in conjunction with such Regional Administrative Councils, identify regional host institutions required to carry out such programs or projects.
(b) Reports

The Secretary shall, not later than April 1, 1991, and each April 1 thereafter, prepare and submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and the Advisory Council—

(1) a report describing the results of the programs carried out under sections 5811, 5813, and 5821 of this title; and

(2) a report describing the progress of projects conducted under this subchapter, including—

(A) a summary and analysis of data collected under such projects;

(B) recommendations based on such data for new basic or applied research;

(C) the number, length, and type of projects proposed, funded and carried out, by region; and

(D) the national and regional economic, social, and environmental implications of the adoption of practices developed under this subchapter and section 5881 of this title.

(c) National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council

The membership of the National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council shall include representatives of—

(1) the Agricultural Research Service;

(2) the Cooperative State Research Service;

(3) the Soil Conservation Service;

(4) the Extension Service;

(5) State cooperative extension services;

(6) State agricultural experiment stations;

(7) the Economic Research Service;

(8) the National Agricultural Library;

(9) the Environmental Protection Agency;

(10) the Farmers Home Administration;

(11) the Board on Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences;

(12) private nonprofit organizations with demonstrable expertise;

(13) farmers utilizing systems and practices of sustainable agriculture;

(14) the United States Geological Survey;

(15) agribusiness; and

(16) other specialists in agricultural research or technology transfer, including individuals from colleges eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, or other colleges or universities with demonstrable expertise.

(d) Responsibilities of Advisory Council

The Advisory Council shall—

(A) make recommendations to the Secretary concerning research and extension projects that should receive funding under sections 5811 and 5813 of this title;

(B) promote the programs established under this part at the national level;

(C) coordinate research and extension activities funded under such programs;

(D) establish general procedures for awarding and administering funds under this part;

(E) consider recommendations for improving such programs;

(F) facilitate cooperation and integration between sustainable agriculture, national water quality, integrated pest management, food safety, and other related programs; and

(G) prepare and submit an annual report concerning its activities to the Secretary.

(e) (b) Regional Administrative Councils

(1) Membership

The membership of the Regional Administrative Councils shall include representatives of—

(A) the Agricultural Research Service;

(B) the Cooperative State Research Service;

(C) the Extension Service;

(B) the National Institute of Food and Agriculture;

(D) (C) State cooperative extension services;
(E) (D) State agricultural experiment stations;
(F) (E) the Soil Conservation Service;
(G) (F) State departments engaged in sustainable agriculture programs;
(H) (G) nonprofit organizations with demonstrable expertise;
(I) (H) farmers utilizing systems and practices of sustainable agriculture;
(J) (I) agribusiness;
(K) (J) the State or United States Geological Survey; and
(L) (K) other persons knowledgeable about sustainable agriculture and its impact on the environment and rural communities.

(2) Responsibilities

The Regional Administrative Councils shall—

(A) make recommendations to the Advisory Council concerning research and extension projects that merit funding under sections 5811 and 5813 of this title;

(B) (A) promote the programs established under this subchapter at the regional level;
(C) (B) establish goals and criteria for the selection of projects authorized under this subchapter within the applicable region;
(D) (C) appoint a technical committee to evaluate the proposals for projects to be considered under this subchapter by such council;
(E) (D) review and act on the recommendations of the technical committee, and coordinate its activities with the regional host institution; and
(F) (E) prepare and make available an annual report concerning projects funded under sections 5811 and 5813 of this title, together with an evaluation of the project activity.

(3) Conflict of interest

A member of the Regional Administrative Council or a technical committee may not participate in the discussion or recommendation of proposed projects if the member has or had a professional or business interest in, including the provision of consultancy services, the organization whose grant application is under review.

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