• Encouraging efficiencies throughout the research, education and extension
system and reinvesting administrative savings in programs.
• Encouraging multi-functional, multi-regional, multi-institutional activities
to achieve maximum leverage of federal, state and local dollars.
• Continuing support for a range of funding mechanisms and the current
structure of intramural and extramural research.
• Continuing support for formula funds.
• Merit review with peer evaluation in all research programs with competitively
awarded programs.
• An active federal-state-local partnership in setting priorities, conducting
the work, and evaluating the work.
• Public sector∕private sector partnerships as a means of leveraging scarce
federal dollars.
• Responsiveness to national and regional needs in setting priorities with
partners and stakeholders conducting the work and evaluating the work.
• Maintain world leadership in agricultural science and education.
• Improving communications with the public.
Currently, members of Congress are closely examining the research, extension
and teaching title of the farm bill. On September 25, 1997, the Subcommittee on
Forestry, Resource Conservation, and Research of the House Committee on
Agriculture will mark up its recommendations. In the Senate, S. 115 0, introduced by
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Chairman Lugar, is pending
consideration. S. 115 0 addresses new resources, collaboration and efficiency reforms,
accountability reforms and offsets. As you can see, challenges translate into
opportunities.
Another challenge before us is how to develop a wiser investment of resources,
both human and financial, to continue our effectiveness in an era of tight budgets.
The congressionally-mandated Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA)
requires that federal agencies develop strategic plans that correlate to the formulation
of agency budget requests and that adhere to the “management for results” concept.
This plan outlines our expectations for research, education and extension, including
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