text:
U.S. Code of Federal Regulations
Regulations most recently checked for updates: Oct 04, 2023
(a) The following delegations of authority are made by the Secretary of Agriculture to the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics (who holds the title of Chief Scientist of the Department).
(1) Related to research, extension, and education. (i) Direct, coordinate and provide national leadership and support for research, extension and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences to meet major needs and challenges in development of new food and fiber; food and agriculture viability and competitiveness in the global economy; enhancing economic opportunities and quality of life for rural America; food and agricultural system productivity and development of new crops and new uses; the environment and natural resources; or the promotion of human health and welfare pursuant to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.).
(ii) Provide national leadership and support for research, extension, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences to carry out sustainable agriculture research and education; a National Plant Genetic Resources Program; a national agricultural weather information system; and any other provisions pursuant to title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101–624, 104 Stat. 3703).
(iii) Exercise the authorities of the Secretary in administering the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority, including awarding grants and entering into contracts, cooperative agreements, and other transactions (7 U.S.C. 3319k).
(iv) Carry out research, technology development, technology transfer, and demonstration projects related to the economic feasibility of the manufacture and commercialization of natural rubber from plants containing hydrocarbons and other critical agricultural materials from native agricultural crops having strategic and industrial importance (7 U.S.C. 178–178n).
(v) Conduct research on the control of undesirable species of honey bees in cooperation with specific foreign governments (7 U.S.C. 284).
(vi) Administer the appropriation for the endowment and maintenance of colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanical arts (7 U.S.C. 321–326a).
(vii) Administer teaching funds authorized by section 22 of the Bankhead Jones Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 329).
(viii) Administer a Cooperative Agricultural Extension Program in accordance with the Smith-Lever Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 341–349).
(ix) Cooperate with the States for the purpose of encouraging and assisting them in carrying out research related to the problems of agriculture in its broadest aspects under the Hatch Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 361a–361i).
(x) Evaluate, assess, and report to congressional agriculture committees on the merits of proposals for agricultural research facilities in the States, and ensure that each research activity conducted by an Agricultural Research Service facility serves a national or multistate need (7 U.S.C. 390 et seq.).
(xi) Conduct research concerning domestic animals and poultry, their protection and use, the causes of contagious, infectious, and communicable diseases, and the means for the prevention and cure of the same (7 U.S.C. 391).
(xii) Conduct research related to the dairy industry and to the dissemination of information for the promotion of the dairy industry (7 U.S.C. 402).
(xiii) Conduct research and demonstrations at Mandan, ND, related to dairy livestock breeding, growing, and feeding, and other problems pertaining to the establishment of the dairy and livestock industries (7 U.S.C. 421–422).
(xiv) Conduct research on new uses for cotton and on cotton ginning and processing (7 U.S.C. 423–424).
(xv) Administer and conduct research into the basic problems of agriculture in its broadest aspects, including, but not limited to, production, marketing (other than statistical and economic research but including research related to family use of resources), distribution, processing, and utilization of plant and animal commodities; problems of human nutrition; development of markets for agricultural commodities; discovery, introduction, and breeding of new crops, plants, and animals, both foreign and native; conservation development; and development of efficient use of farm buildings, homes, and farm machinery except as otherwise delegated in § 2.22(a)(1)(ii) and § 2.79(a)(2) (7 U.S.C. 427,1621,1629,2201,and.
(xvi) Conduct research on varietal improvement of wheat and feed grains to enhance their conservation and environmental qualities (7 U.S.C. 428b).
(xvii) Administer a program to make competitive grants to assist in the construction, alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, or remodeling of agricultural research facilities (7 U.S.C. 390b).
(xviii) Enter into agreements with and receive funds from any State, other political subdivision, organization, or individual for the purpose of conducting cooperative research projects (7 U.S.C. 3318a).
(xix) Carry out a program (IR–4 Program) for the collection of residue and efficacy data in support of registration or reregistration of pesticides for minor agricultural use and for use on specialty crops, and to determine tolerances for minor use chemical residues in or on agricultural commodities (7 U.S.C. 3157(e)).
(xx) Administer the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative for competitive grants for fundamental and applied research, extension, and education to address food and agricultural sciences; administer a program of making special grants for research, extension, or education activities (7 U.S.C. 3157(b), (c)).
(xxi)–(xxii) [Reserved]
(xxiii) Conduct research related to soil and water conservation, engineering operations, and methods of cultivation to provide for the control and prevention of soil erosion (7 U.S.C. 1010 and 16 U.S.C. 590a).
(xxiv) Maintain four regional research laboratories and conduct research at such laboratories to develop new scientific, chemical, and technical uses and new and extended markets and outlets for farm commodities and products and the byproducts thereof (7 U.S.C. 1292).
(xxv) Conduct a Special Cotton Research Program designed to reduce the cost of producing upland cotton in the United States (7 U.S.C. 1444a(c)).
(xxvi) [Reserved]
(xxvii) Conduct research to develop and determine methods for the humane slaughter of livestock (7 U.S.C. 1904).
(xxviii)–(xxix) [Reserved]
(xxx) Conduct education and extension programs related to nutrition education (7 U.S.C. 2027(a)).
(xxxi) Prepare an annual report to Congress on disbursements of funds for agricultural research and extension at 1890 and 1862 Institutions for programs under the following authorities: 7 U.S.C. 3221; 7 U.S.C. 3222; 7 U.S.C. 343(b) and (c); and 7 U.S.C. 361a et seq. (7 U.S.C. 2207d).
(xxxii) Develop and maintain national and international library and information systems and networks and facilitate cooperation and coordination of the agricultural libraries of colleges, universities, USDA, and their closely allied information gathering and dissemination units in conjunction with private industry and other research libraries (7 U.S.C. 2201,2204,3125a,and.
(xxxiii) Accept gifts and order disbursements from the Treasury for carrying out of National Agricultural Library (NAL) functions (7 U.S.C. 2264–2265).
(xxxiv) Propagate bee-breeding stock and release bee germplasm to the public (7 U.S.C. 283).
(xxxv) Administer, in cooperation with land-grant colleges and universities where applicable, a rural development research and extension program, a small farm research and extension program, and a rural health and safety education program under the Rural Development Act of 1972, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2661–2667).
(xxxvi) Administer a cooperative extension program under the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3004).
(xxxvii) Coordinate the development and carrying out by Department agencies of all matters and functions pertaining to agricultural research conducted or funded by the Department involving biotechnology, including the development and implementation of guidelines for oversight of research activities, acting as liaison on all matters and functions pertaining to agricultural research in biotechnology between agencies within the Department and between the Department and other governmental, educational, or private organizations and carrying out any other activities authorized by (7 U.S.C. 3121).
(xxxviii) [Reserved]
(xxxix) Establish and oversee the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board (7 U.S.C. 3123).
(xl) Provide and distribute information and data about Federal, State, local, and other Rural Development Assistance Programs and services available to individuals and organizations. To the extent possible, NAL shall use telecommunications technology to disseminate such information to rural areas (7 U.S.C. 3125b).
(xli) Assemble and collect food and nutrition educational material, including the results of nutrition research, training methods, procedures, and other materials related to the purposes of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended; maintain such information; and provide for the dissemination of such information and materials on a regular basis to State educational agencies and other interested parties (7 U.S.C. 3126).
(xlii) Promote cooperation and coordination between 1862, 1890, 1994, and NLGCA Institutions, HSACUs, and cooperating forestry schools and international partner institutions in developing countries by exercising the Secretary's authority in 7 U.S.C. 3292,including,or,developing.
(xliv) Promote and strengthen higher education in the food and agricultural sciences; administer grants to colleges and universities; maintain a national food and agricultural education information system; conduct programs regarding the evaluation of teaching programs and continuing education; administer the National Food and Agricultural Sciences Teaching, Extension, and Research Awards Program to recognize and promote excellence in teaching, extension, and research in the food and agricultural sciences; administer programs relating to secondary education and 2-year postsecondary education, including grants to public secondary schools, institutions of higher education that award an associate's degree, other institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations; and report to Congress on the distribution of funds to carry out such teaching programs (7 U.S.C. 3152).
(xlv) Administer a next generation agriculture technology challenge competition to incentivize mobile technology that removes marketplace entry barriers for beginning farmers and ranchers (7 U.S.C. 3158).
(xlvi) Administer the National Agricultural Science Award for research or advanced studies in the food and agricultural sciences (7 U.S.C. 3153).
(xlvii) [Reserved]
(xlviii) Administer a National Food and Human Nutrition Research and Extension Program (7 U.S.C. 3171–3173, 3175).
(xlix) Administer and direct an Animal Health and Disease Research Program under the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3191–3201).
(l) Support continuing agricultural and forestry extension and research at 1890 land-grant institutions, including Tuskegee University (7 U.S.C. 3221,3222,3222d).
(li) Administer grants to 1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University, through Federal-grant funds to help finance research facilities and equipment including agricultural libraries (7 U.S.C. 3223).
(lii) Establish and administer competitive grants to Hispanic-serving Institutions for the purpose of promoting and strengthening the ability of Hispanic-serving Institutions to carry out education, applied research, and related community development programs (7 U.S.C. 3241).
(liii) Provide policy direction and coordinate the Department's work with national and international institutions and other persons throughout the world in the performance of agricultural research, extension, teaching, and development activities; administer a program of competitive grants for collaborative projects involving Federal scientists or scientists from colleges and universities working with scientists at international agricultural research centers in other nations focusing either on new technologies and programs for increasing the production of food and fiber or training scientists and a program of competitive grants to colleges and universities to strengthen United States economic competitiveness and to promote international market development; establish a program in coordination with the Foreign Agricultural Service to place interns from United States colleges and universities at Foreign Agricultural Service field offices overseas; and provide a biennial report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate on efforts of the Federal Government to coordinate international agricultural research within the Federal Government, and to more effectively link the activities of domestic and international agricultural researchers, particularly researchers of the Agricultural Research Service (7 U.S.C. 3291,3292b.
(liv) Provide for an agricultural research and development program with the United States/Mexico Foundation for Science (7 U.S.C. 3292a).
(lv) Administer grants to 1890 Institutions, including Tuskegee University, for purposes of awarding scholarships to individuals pursuing careers in the food and agricultural sciences (7 U.S.C. 3222a).
(lvi) Enter into contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements to further research, extension, or teaching programs in the food and agriculture sciences (7 U.S.C. 3318).
(lvii) Enter into cost-reimbursable agreements with State cooperative institutions or other colleges and universities for the acquisition of goods or services in support of research, extension, or teaching activities in the food and agricultural sciences, including the furtherance of library and related information programs (7 U.S.C. 3319a).
(lviii) Conduct research and development and implement a program for the development of supplemental and alternative crops (7 U.S.C. 3319d).
(lix) Administer an Aquaculture Assistance Program, involving centers, by making grants to eligible institutions for research and extension to facilitate or expand production and marketing of aquacultural food species and products; making grants to States to formulate Aquaculture development plans for the production and marketing of aquacultural species and products; and conducting a program of research, extension and demonstration at aquacultural demonstration centers (7 U.S.C. 3321–22).
(lx) Administer a Cooperative Rangeland Research Program (7 U.S.C. 3331–3336).
(lxi) Conduct a program of basic research on cancer in animals and birds (7 U.S.C. 3902).
(lxii) Design and implement educational programs and distribute materials in cooperation with the cooperative extension services of the States emphasizing the importance of productive farmland, and designate a farmland information center, pursuant to section 1544 of the Farmland Protection Policy Act (7 U.S.C. 4205).
(lxiii) Make competitive grants to land-grant colleges and universities, including 1994 Institutions, to provide identifiable support specifically targeted for Tribal students (7 U.S.C. 3222e).
(lxiv) Administer programs and conduct projects for research, extension, and education on sustainable agriculture (7 U.S.C. 5811–5813).
(lxv) Conduct research and cooperative extension programs to optimize crop and livestock production potential, integrated resource management, and integrated crop management (7 U.S.C. 5821).
(lxvi) Develop and make available handbooks, technical guides, and other educational materials emphasizing sustainable agriculture production systems and practices; carry out activities related to a national training program for sustainable agriculture (7 U.S.C. 5831,5832.
(lxvii) Administer competitive grants for the acquisition of special purpose scientific research equipment for use in the food and agricultural sciences programs of eligible institutions (7 U.S.C. 3310a).
(lxviii) Administer a national research program on genetic resources to provide for the collection, preservation, and dissemination of genetic material important to American food and agriculture production (7 U.S.C. 5841–5844).
(lxix) Conduct remote-sensing and other weather-related research (7 U.S.C. 5852).
(lxx) Establish an Agricultural Weather Office and administer a national agricultural weather information system, including a competitive grants program for research in atmospheric sciences and climatology (7 U.S.C. 5852–5853).
(lxxi) Administer a research and extension grant program to States to administer programs for State agricultural weather information systems (7 U.S.C. 5854).
(lxxii) Establish a National Plant Diagnostic Network to monitor and surveil through diagnostics threats to plant health from diseases or pests of concern in the United States, and establish cooperative agreements with land-grant colleges and universities (7 U.S.C. 8914(c)).
(lxxiii) Establish a National Plant Disease Recovery System to engage in strategic long-range planning to recover from high-consequence plant transboundary diseases (7 U.S.C. 8914(d)).
(lxxiv)–(lxxvi) [Reserved]
(lxxvii) Administer research programs and grants for risk assessment research to address concerns about the environmental effects of biotechnology (7 U.S.C. 5921).
(lxxviii) In consultation with the Secretary of Energy, administer competitive grants to provide education about carbon utilization and biogas (7 U.S.C. 8115).
(lxxix) Conduct a research initiative known as the Agricultural Genome Initiative, and make grants or enter into cooperative agreements on a competitive basis to carry out the Initiative (7 U.S.C. 5924).
(lxxx) Administer a competitive high priority research and extension grants program in specified subject areas (7 U.S.C. 5925), including pollinator activities (7 U.S.C. 5925(g)) not otherwise delegated to the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs in § 2.22(a)(2)(xli); prepare an annual report to Congress regarding pollinator issues (7 U.S.C. 5925(g)(5)).
(lxxxi) [Reserved]
(lxxxii) Administer competitive grants to support research, education, and extension activities regarding organically grown and processed agricultural commodities (7 U.S.C. 5925b).
(lxxxiii) In consultation with the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee, administer competitive grants to support research, education, and extension activities for the purposes of facilitating the development of urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production, harvesting, transportation, aggregation, packaging, distribution, and markets (7 U.S.C. 5925g).
(lxxxiv) Formulate and carry out the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Act program authorized by the National Veterinary Medical Service Act (7 U.S.C. 3151a).
(lxxxv)–(xc) [Reserved]
(xci) Administer education programs on Indian reservations and tribal jurisdictions (7 U.S.C. 5930).
(xcii) [Reserved]
(xciii) Administer a demonstration grants program for support of an assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities (7 U.S.C. 5933).
(xciv)–(xcvi) [Reserved]
(xcvii) Administer the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 for USDA (15 U.S.C. 638(e)–(k)).
(xcviii) Coordinate Departmental policies under the Toxic Substance Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601–2629).
(xcix) Provide educational and technical assistance in implementing and administering the Conservation Reserve Program authorized in sections 1231–1244 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Pub. L. No. 99–198, 99 Stat. 1509 (16 U.S.C. 3831–3844)).
(c) Enter into cooperative research and development agreements with industry, universities, and others; institute a cash award program to reward scientific, engineering, and technical personnel; award royalties to inventors; and retain and use royalty income (15 U.S.C. 3710a–3710c).
(ci) Coordinate USDA activities delegated under 15 U.S.C. 3710a–3710c.
(cii) Conduct educational and demonstrational work in Cooperative Farm Forestry Programs (16 U.S.C. 568).
(ciii) Administer a cooperative forestry program in accordance with the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act, and administer a competitive forestry, natural resources, and environmental grant program (16 U.S.C. 582a–582–8).
(civ) Establish and administer the Forestry Student Grant Program to provide competitive grants to assist the expansion of the professional education of forestry, natural resources, and environmental scientists (16 U.S.C. 1649).
(cv) Provide for an expanded and comprehensive extension program for forest and rangeland renewable resources (16 U.S.C. 1671–1676).
(cvi) Provide technical, financial, and educational assistance to State foresters and State extension directors on rural forestry assistance (16 U.S.C. 2102).
(cvii) Provide educational assistance to State foresters under the Forest Stewardship Program (16 U.S.C. 2103a).
(cviii) Implement and conduct an educational program to assist the development of Urban and Community Forestry Programs (16 U.S.C. 2105).
(cix) Provide staff support to the Secretary of Agriculture in his or her role as permanent Chair for the Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture established by the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 and coordinate aquacultural activities within the Department (16 U.S.C. 2805).
(cx) Perform research, development, and extension activities in aquaculture (16 U.S.C. 2804 and 2806).
(cxi) Administer an experienced services program to obtain technical, professional, and administrative services to support the research, education, and economics mission area of the Department (16 U.S.C. 3851).
(cxii) Copy and deliver on demand selected articles and other materials from the Department's collections by photographic reproduction or other means within the permissions, constraints, and limitations of sections 106, 107, and 108 of the Copyright Act of October 19, 1976, (17 U.S.C. 106,107,and.
(cxiii) Authorize the use of the 4-H Club name and emblem (18 U.S.C. 707).
(cxiv) Maintain a National Arboretum for the purposes of research and education concerning tree and plant life, and order disbursements from the Treasury, in accordance with the Act of March 4, 1927 (20 U.S.C. 191 et seq.).
(cxv) Conduct research on foot-and-mouth disease and other animal diseases (21 U.S.C. 113a).
(cxvi) [Reserved]
(cxvii) Obtain and furnish Federal excess property to eligible recipients for use in the conduct of research and extension programs (40 U.S.C. 525(c)).
(cxviii) Conduct research demonstration and promotion activities related to farm dwellings and other buildings for the purposes of reducing costs and adapting and developing fixtures and appurtenances for more efficient and economical farm use (42 U.S.C. 1476(b)).
(cxix)–(cxx) [Reserved]
(cxxi) Administer a Cooperative Agricultural Extension Program related to agriculture, uses of solar energy with respect to agriculture, home economics, and rural energy in the District of Columbia (D.C. Code 38–1202.09).
(cxxii) [Reserved]
(cxxiii) Exercise the responsibilities of the Secretary under regulations dealing with Equal Employment Opportunity in the Cooperative Extension Service (part 18 of this title).
(cxxiv) Represent the Department on the Federal Interagency Committee on Education.
(cxxv) Assure the acquisition, preservation, and accessibility of all information concerning food and agriculture by providing leadership to and coordination of the acquisition programs and related activities of the library and information systems, with the agencies of USDA, other Federal departments and agencies, State agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, and other research institutions and organizations.
(cxxvi) Formulate, write, or prescribe bibliographic and technically related standards for the library and information services of USDA (7 U.S.C. 3125a et seq.).
(cxxvii) Determine by survey or other appropriate means, the information needs of the Department's scientific, professional, technical, and administrative staffs, its constituencies, and the general public in the areas of food, agriculture, the environment, and other related areas.
(cxxviii) Represent the Department on all library and information science matters before Congressional Committees and appropriate commissions, and provide representation to the coordinating committees of the Federal and State governments concerned with library and information science activities.
(cxxix) Represent the Department in international organizational activities and on international technical committees concerned with agricultural science, education, and development activities, including library and information science activities.
(cxxx) Prepare and disseminate computer files, indexes and abstracts, bibliographies, reviews, and other analytical information tools.
(cxxxi) Arrange for the consolidated purchasing and dissemination of printed and automated indexes, abstracts, journals, and other widely used information resources and services.
(cxxxii) Provide assistance and support to professional organizations and others concerned with library and information science matters and issues.
(cxxxiii) Pursuant to the authority delegated by the Administrator of General Services to the Secretary of Agriculture in 34 FR 6406, 36 FR 1293, 36 FR 18440, and 38 FR 23838, appoint uniformed armed guards and special policemen, make all needful rules and regulations, and annex to such rules and regulations such reasonable penalties (not to exceed those prescribed in 40 U.S.C. 318(c), as will ensure their enforcement, for the protection of persons, property, buildings, and grounds of the Arboretum, Washington, DC; the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE; the Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD; and the Animal Disease Center, Plum Island, NY, over which the United States has exclusive or concurrent criminal jurisdiction, in accordance with the limitations and requirements of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.), the Act of June 1, 1948, as amended (40 U.S.C. 318 et seq.), and the policies, procedures, and controls prescribed by the General Services Administration. Any rules or regulations promulgated under this authority shall be approved by the Director, Office of Operations, and the General Counsel prior to issuance.
(cxxxiv) Represent the Department on the National Science and Technology Council.
(cxxxv) Administer the Department's Patent Program except as delegated to the General Counsel in § 2.31(a)(5).
(cxxxvi) Review cooperative research and development agreements entered into pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 3710a–3710c, with authority to disapprove or require the modification of any such agreement.
(cxxxvii) Establish and administer a 1994 Institutions Endowment Fund and to enter into agreements necessary to do this (Section 533(b) and (c) of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994, 7 U.S.C. 301 note).
(cxxxviii) Make grants in equal amounts to 1994 Land-Grant Institutions to be used in the same manner as is prescribed for colleges under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), and subject to the requirements of such Act (Section 534(a) of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994, 7 U.S.C. 301 note).
(cxxxix) Make competitive Institutional Capacity Building Grants to assist 1994 Land-Grant Institutions with constructing, acquiring, and remodeling buildings, laboratories, and other capital facilities (including fixtures and equipment) necessary to conduct instructional activities more effectively in agriculture and sciences (Section 535 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994, 7 U.S.C. 301 note).
(cxl) Make competitive grants to 1994 Land-Grant Institutions to conduct agricultural research that addresses high priority concerns of tribal, national, or multistate significance (Section 536 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994, 7 U.S.C. 301 note).
(cxli) Implement and administer the Community Food Projects Program under section 25 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2034).
(cxlii) In consultation with the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, administer pilot projects to encourage the use of public-private partnerships committed to addressing food insecurity (7 U.S.C. 2036d).
(cxliii) Coordinate the Department of Agriculture summer intern program pursuant to section 922 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act (7 U.S.C. 2279c).
(cxliv) Develop and carry out a system to monitor and evaluate agricultural research and extension activities conducted or supported by the Department that will enable the Secretary to measure the impact and effectiveness of research, extension, and education programs according to priorities, goals, and mandates established by law. Conduct a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art information technology systems for use in developing the system (7 U.S.C. 3129).
(cxlv)–(cxlvi) [Reserved]
(cliii) Establish procedures that provide for scientific peer review of each agricultural research grant administered on a competitive basis, and for relevancy and merit review of each agricultural research, extension, or education grant administered on a competitive basis, by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (7 U.S.C. 7613(a)).
(cl) Provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (16 U.S.C. 3830 et seq.).
(cli) Ensure that agricultural research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service, and agricultural research, extension, or education activities administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture on a competitive basis address a concern that is a priority and has national, multistate, or regional significance (7 U.S.C. 7611).
(clii) Solicit and consider input and recommendations from persons who conduct or use agricultural research, extension, or education and, after consultation with appropriate subcabinet officials, establish priorities for agricultural research, extension, and education activities conducted or funded by the Department; promulgate regulations concerning implementation of a process for obtaining stakeholder input at 1862, 1890, and 1994 Institutions and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities; and ensure that federally supported and conducted agricultural research, extension, and education activities are accomplished in accord with identified management principles (7 U.S.C. 7612).
(cliii) Establish procedures that provide for scientific peer review of each agricultural research grant administered on a competitive basis, and for merit review of each agricultural extension or education grant administered, on a competitive basis, by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (7 U.S.C. 7613(a)).
(cliv) Consider the results of the annual review performed by the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board regarding the relevance to priorities of the funding of all agricultural research, extension, or education activities conducted or funded by the Department and the adequacy of funding, when formulating each request for proposals, and evaluating proposals, involving an agricultural research, extension, or education activity funded, on a competitive basis, by the Department; and solicit and consider input from persons who conduct or use agricultural research, extension, or education regarding the prior year's request for proposals for each activity funded on a competitive basis (7 U.S.C. 7613(c)).
(clv) Establish, in consultation with appropriate subcabinet officials, procedures to ensure scientific peer review of all research activities conducted by the Department (7 U.S.C. 7613(d)).
(clvi) Require a procedure to be established by each 1862, 1890, and 1994 Institution and Hispanic-serving agricultural college and university, for merit review of each agricultural research and extension activity funded and review of the activity in accordance with the procedure (7 U.S.C. 7613(e)).
(clvii)–(clix) [Reserved]
(clx) Coordinate the resources of the Department to develop, commercialize, and promote the use of biobased products, and enter into cooperative agreements with private entities to operate pilot plants and other large-scale preparation facilities under which the facilities and technical expertise of the Agricultural Research Service may be made available (7 U.S.C. 7624).
(clxi) [Reserved]
(clxii) Administer competitive grants for integrated, multifunctional agricultural research, education, and extension activities (7 U.S.C. 7626).
(clxiii) Administer a coordinated program of research, extension, and education to improve the competitiveness, viability, and sustainability of small and medium size dairy, livestock, and poultry operations (7 U.S.C. 7627).
(clxiv) Administer grants to consortia of land-grant colleges and universities to enhance the ability of the consortia to carry out multi-State research projects aimed at understanding and combating diseases of wheat, triticale, and barley caused by Fusarium graminearum and related fungi or Tilletia indica and related fungi (7 U.S.C. 7628).
(clxv) Operate and administer the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database through contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements with appropriate colleges or universities (7 U.S.C. 7642).
(clxvi) Update on a periodic basis, nutrient composition data and report to Congress the method that will be used to update the data and the timing of the update (7 U.S.C. 7651).
(clxvii) Establish and maintain a Food Safety Research Information Office at the National Agricultural Library to provide to the research community and the general public information on publicly and privately funded food safety research initiatives (7 U.S.C. 7654(a)).
(clxviii) Develop a national program of safe food handling education for adults and young people to reduce the risk of food-borne illness (7 U.S.C. 7655).
(clxix) Conduct a performance evaluation to determine whether federally funded agricultural research, extension, and education programs result in public goods that have national or multistate significance, including through a contract with one or more entities to provide input and recommendations with respect to federally funded agricultural research, extension, and education programs (7 U.S.C. 7671).
(clxx) [Reserved]
(clxxi) Take a census of agriculture in 1998 and every fifth year thereafter pursuant to the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997, Public Law 105–113 (7 U.S.C. 2204g); ensure that the census of agriculture documents the number, location, and economic contributions of socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in agricultural production (7 U.S.C. 2279(h)).
(clxxii) Cooperate with other Federal agencies (including the National Science Foundation) in issuing joint requests for proposals, awarding grants, and administering grants under any competitive agricultural research, education, or extension grant program (7 U.S.C. 3319b).
(clxxiii) Administer a program of competitive grants, establish education teams, and establish an online clearinghouse of curricula and training materials and programs, all for training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for the benefit of beginning farmers and ranchers (7 U.S.C. 2279d).
(clxxiv) Administer agricultural research, education, and extension activities (including through competitive grants), using any authority available to the Secretary, to reduce the vulnerability of the United States food and agricultural system to chemical or biological attack, to continue partnerships with institutions of higher education and other institutions to help form stable, long-term programs to enhance the biosecurity of the United States, to make competitive grants to universities and qualified research institutions for research on counterbioterrorsims, and to counter or otherwise respond to chemical or biological attack (7 U.S.C. 3351).
(clxxv) Administer a program of competitive grants to colleges and universities for expansion and security upgrades to enhance the security of agriculture against bioterrorism threats (7 U.S.C. 3352).
(clxxvi) Administer programs for distance education grants and resident instruction grants to eligible institutions in insular areas that have demonstrable capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food and agricultural sciences (7 U.S.C. 3361–3363).
(clxxvii) [Reserved]
(clxxviii) Administer a program of cooperative research (including through competitive award of grants and cooperative agreements to colleges and universities) and extension projects on carbon cycling in soils and plants, the exchange of other greenhouse gases from agriculture, and the carbon sequestration benefits of conservation practices (7 U.S.C. 6711).
(clxxix) [Reserved]
(clxxx) Administer a program of grants to the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, the Boy Scouts of America, the National 4-H Council, and the National FFA Organization to establish pilot projects to expand the programs carried out by the organizations in rural areas and small towns (7 U.S.C. 7630).
(clxxxi) Oversee implementation of the termination of Federal schedule A civil service appointments of State agricultural extension employees at land-grant colleges and universities (section 7220 of Pub. L. 107–171).
(clxxxii) Administer a program of grants to the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (section 10805 of Pub. L. 107–171).
(clxxxiii) Administer grants to assist the land-grant university in the District of Columbia to acquire, alter, or repair facilities or relevant equipment necessary for conducting agricultural research (7 U.S.C. 3222b–1).
(clxxxiv) Administer grants to assist the land-grant colleges and universities in insular areas to acquire, alter, or repair facilities or relevant equipment necessary for conducting agricultural research; and to support tropical and subtropical agricultural research, including pest and disease research (7 U.S.C. 3222b–2).
(clxxxv) Enter into agreements necessary to administer an Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities Fund; enter into agreements necessary to administer a program of making annual payments to Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities; administer an institutional capacity-building grants program for Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities; administer a competitive grants program to fund fundamental and applied research and extension at Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities and to award competitive grants to Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities to provide for training in the food and agricultural sciences of Hispanic agricultural workers and Hispanic youth working in the food and agricultural sciences (7 U.S.C. 3243).
(clxxxvi) Administer the New Era Rural Technology Program to make grants for technology development, applied research, and training to aid in the development of an agriculture-based renewable energy workforce (7 U.S.C. 3319e).
(clxxxvii) Administer a competitive grants program to assist NLGCA Institutions in maintaining and expanding capacity to conduct education, research, and outreach activities relating to agriculture, renewable resources, and other similar disciplines (7 U.S.C. 3319i).
(clxxxviii) [Reserved]
(clxxxix) Administer a competitive research and extension grants program to improve the farm management knowledge and skills of agricultural producers and establish and maintain a national, publicly available farm financial management database to support improved farm management (7 U.S.C. 5925f).
(cxc) Administer the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (7 U.S.C. 7632).
(cxci) Exchange, sell, or otherwise dispose of animals, animal products, plants, and plant products, and use the sale or other proceeds to acquire such items or to offset costs related to the maintenance, care, or feeding of such items (7 U.S.C. 2241a).
(cxcii) Establish and administer a pilot program at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and National Agricultural Library to lease nonexcess property (7 U.S.C. 3125a note).
(cxciii) Lease land at the Grazinglands Research Laboratory at El Reno, Oklahoma, pursuant to section 7503 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110–246).
(cxciv) Administer a competitive research and education grants program relating to antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (7 U.S.C. 3202).
(cxcv) Administer a competitive grants program to establish and maintain a Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (7 U.S.C. 5936).
(cxcvi) [Reserved]
(cxcvii) Administer a natural products research program (7 U.S.C. 5937).
(cxcviii) Administer a Sun Grants Program (7 U.S.C. 8114).
(cxcix) [Reserved]
(cc) Administer a competitive grant program to support the development and expansion of advanced training programs in agricultural biosecurity planning and response for food science professionals and veterinarians (7 U.S.C. 8913).
(cci) Administer the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (7 U.S.C. 8108(e)); consult and coordinate, as appropriate, with the Under Secretary for RD and other mission areas of the Department as deemed necessary in carrying the authorities delegated herein; serve as the designated point of contact referenced in 7 U.S.C. 8108 for the Department for purposes of administering the Biomass Research and Development Initiative.
(ccii) Administer a competitive grants program to encourage basic and applied research and the development of qualified agricultural countermeasures (7 U.S.C. 8921).
(cciii) Administer a competitive grants program to promote the development of teaching programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and disciplines closely allied to the food and agriculture system to increase the number of trained individuals with an expertise in agricultural biosecurity (7 U.S.C. 8922).
(cciv) Administer a program of providing grants to Alaska Native serving institutions and Native Hawaiian serving institutions for the purpose of promoting and strengthening the ability of those institutions to carry out education, applied research, and related community development programs (7 U.S.C. 3156).
(ccv) Administer a competitive grant program for national food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance (7 U.S.C. 7625).
(ccvi) Administer a food insecurity nutrition incentive program (7 U.S.C. 7517).
(ccvii) Administer a food and agriculture service learning grant program (7 U.S.C. 7633).
(ccviii) Administer a veterinary services grant program (7 U.S.C. 3151b).
(ccix) Enter into grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other legal instruments with former Department of Agriculture agricultural research facilities (7 U.S.C. 3315(b)).
(ccx) Administer a forestry and forestry products research and extension initiative (7 U.S.C. 7655b).
(ccxi) Submit to Congress an annual report describing agricultural research, extension, and education activities carried out by the Federal Government (7 U.S.C. 7614c(f)).
(ccxii) Enter into cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education regarding the dissemination of agricultural and food law research, legal tools, and information (7 U.S.C. 3125a–1).
(ccxiii) Consult with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research regarding the identification of existing and proposed Federal intramural and extramural research and development programs relating to the purposes of the Foundation and the coordination of Foundation activities with those programs for the purpose of minimizing duplication of existing efforts and avoiding conflicts (7 U.S.C. 5939(d)(1)(B)).
(2) Related to committee management. Establish or reestablish regional, state and local advisory committees for the activities authorized. This authority may not be redelegated.
(3) Related to defense and emergency preparedness. Administer the responsibilities and functions assigned under the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 U.S.C. App. 2061 et seq.), and title VI of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5195 et seq.), concerning scientific and educational programs; estimates of supplies of agricultural commodities and evaluation of requirements therefor; coordination of damage assessment; food and agricultural aspects of economic stabilization, economic research, and agricultural statistics; and the coordination of energy programs.
(4) Related to rural development activities. Provide guidance and direction for the accomplishment of activities authorized under Section V of the Rural Development Act of 1972, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2661 et seq.), for programs under the control of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, coordinating the policy aspects thereof with the Under Secretary for Rural Development.
(5) Related to environmental response. With respect to land and facilities under his or her authority, exercise the functions delegated to the Secretary by Executive Order 12580, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 193, under the following provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ("the Act"), as amended:
(i) Sections 104 (a), (b), and (c)(4) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9604 (a), (b), and (c)(4)), with respect to removal and remedial actions in the event of release or threatened release of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant into the environment;
(ii) Sections 104(e)–(h) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9604(e)–(h)), with respect to information gathering and access requests and orders; compliance with Federal health and safety standards and wage and labor standards applicable to covered work; and emergency procurement powers;
(iii) Section 104(i)(11) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9604(i)(11)), with respect to the reduction of exposure to significant risk to human health;
(iv) Section 104(j) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9604(j)), with respect to the acquisition of real property and interests in real property required to conduct a remedial action;
(v) The first two sentences of section 105(d) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9605(d)), with respect to petitions for preliminary assessment of a release or threatened release;
(vi) Section 105(f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9605(f)), with respect to consideration of the availability of qualified minority firms in awarding contracts, but excluding that portion of section 105(f) pertaining to the annual report to Congress;
(vii) Section 109 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9609), with respect to the assessment of civil penalties for violations of section 122 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9622), and the granting of awards to individuals providing information;
(viii) Section 111(f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9611(f)), with respect to the designation of officials who may obligate money in the Hazardous Substances Superfund;
(ix) Section 113(k) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9613(k)), with respect to establishing an administrative record upon which to base the selection of a response action and identifying and notifying potentially responsible parties;
(x) Section 116(a) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9616(a)), with respect to preliminary assessment and site inspection of facilities;
(xi) Sections 117 (a) and (c) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9617 (a) and (c)), with respect to public participation in the preparation of any plan for remedial action and explanation of variances from the final remedial action plan for any remedial action or enforcement action, including any settlement or consent decree entered into;
(xii) Section 119 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9119), with respect to indemnifying response action contractors;
(xiii) Section 121 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9621), with respect to cleanup standards; and
(xiv) Section 122 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9622), with respect to settlements, but excluding section 122(b)(1) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 9622(b)(1)), related to mixed funding agreements.
(6) Related to compliance with environmental laws. With respect to facilities and activities under his or her authority, to exercise the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to section 1–102 related to compliance with applicable pollution control standards and section 1–601 of Executive Order 12088, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 243, to enter into an inter-agency agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or an administrative consent order or a consent judgment in an appropriate State, interstate, or local agency, containing a plan and schedule to achieve and maintain compliance with applicable pollution control standards established pursuant to the following:
(i) Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as further amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments, and the Federal Facility Compliance Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.);
(ii) Federal Water Pollution Prevention and Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.);
(iii) Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.);
(iv) Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.);
(v) Noise Control Act of 1972, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.);
(vi) Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.);
(vii) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.); and
(viii) Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.).
(7) Related to national food and human nutrition research. (i) Administer a National Food and Human Nutrition Research Program under the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended. As used herein the term "research" includes:
(A) Research on the nutrient composition of foods and the effects of agricultural practices, handling, food processing, and cooking on the nutrients they contain;
(B) Surveillance of the nutritional benefits provided to participants in the food programs administered by the Department; and
(C) Research on the factors affecting food preference and habits (7 U.S.C. 3171–3173, 3175).
(ii) The authority in paragraph (a)(7)(i) of this section includes the authority to:
(A) Appraise the nutritive content of the U.S. food supply;
(B) Develop and make available data on the nutrient composition of foods needed by Federal, State, and local agencies administering food and nutrition programs, and the general public, to improve the nutritional quality of diets;
(C) Coordinate nutrition education research projects within the Department; and
(D) Maintain data generated on food composition in a National Nutrient Data Bank.
(iii) Conduct, in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Program. Included in this delegation is the authority to:
(A) Design and carry out periodic nationwide food consumption surveys to measure household food consumption;
(B) Design and carry out a continuous, longitudinal individual intake survey of the United States population and special high-risk groups; and
(C) Design and carry out methodological research studies to develop improved procedures for collecting household and individual food intake consumption data;
(iv) [Reserved]
(v) Co-chair with the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services, the Interagency Board for Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research for the development and coordination of a Ten-Year Comprehensive Plan as required by Pub. L. No. 101–445, 7 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.
(8) Related to economic research and statistical reporting. (i) Conduct economic research on matters of importance to cooperatives as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627).
(ii) Conduct economic and social science research and analyses relating to:
(A) Food and agriculture situation and outlook;
(B) The production, marketing, and distribution of food and fiber products (excluding forest and forest products), including studies of the performance of the food and agricultural sector of the economy in meeting needs and wants of consumers;
(C) Basic and long-range, worldwide, economic analyses and research on supply, demand, and trade in food and fiber products and the effects on the U.S. food and agriculture system, including general economic analyses of the international financial and monetary aspects of agricultural affairs;
(D) Natural resources, including studies of the use and management of land and water resources, the quality of these resources, resource institutions, and watershed and river basin development problems; and
(E) Rural people and communities, as authorized by title II of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627), and the Act of June 29, 1935, as amended (7 U.S.C. 427).
(iii) [Reserved]
(iv) Prepare crop and livestock estimates and administer reporting programs, including estimates of production, supply, price, and other aspects of the U.S. agricultural economy, collection of statistics, conduct of enumerative and objective measurement surveys, construction and maintenance of sampling frames, and related activities. Prepare reports of the Agricultural Statistics Board covering official state and national estimates (7 U.S.C. 476,951,and.
(v) Take such security precautions as are necessary to prevent disclosure of crop or livestock report information prior to the scheduled issuance time approved in advance by the Secretary of Agriculture and take such actions as are necessary to avoid disclosure of confidential data or information supplied by any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or association (18 U.S.C. 1902,1903,and.
(vi) Improve statistics in the Department; maintain liaison with OMB and other Federal agencies for coordination of statistical methods and techniques.
(vii) Investigate and make findings as to the effect upon the production of food and upon the agricultural economy of any proposed action pending before the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for presentation in the public interest, before said Administrator, other agencies, or before the courts.
(viii) Review economic data and analyses used in speeches by Department personnel and in materials prepared for release through the press, radio, and television.
(ix) Coordinate all economic analysis and review all decisions involving substantial economic policy implications.
(x) Cooperate and work with national and international institutions and other persons throughout the world in the performance of agricultural research and extension activities to promote and support the development of a viable and sustainable global and agricultural system. Such work may be carried out by:
(A) Exchanging research materials and results with the institutions or persons;
(B) Engaging in joint or coordinated research;
(C) Entering into cooperative arrangements with Departments and Ministries of Agriculture in other nations to conduct research, extension; and education activities (limited to arrangements either involving no exchange of funds or involving disbursements by the agency to the institutions of other nations), and then reporting these arrangements to the Secretary of Agriculture;
(D) Stationing representatives at such institutions or organizations in foreign countries; or
(E) Entering into agreements with land-grant colleges and universities, other organizations, institutions, or individuals with comparable goals, and with the concurrence of the Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA, international organizations (limited to agreements either involving no exchange of funds or involving disbursements by the agency to the cooperator), and then reporting these agreements to the Secretary of Agriculture (7 U.S.C. 3291(a)).
(xi) Collect and, not less frequently than once every 3 years report, data and analysis on farmland ownership, tenure, transition, and entry of beginning farmers and ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (7 U.S.C. 2204i).
(xii) Enter into contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements to further research and statistical reporting programs in the food and agricultural sciences (7 U.S.C. 3318).
(xiii) Enter into cost-reimbursable agreements relating to agricultural research and statistical reporting (7 U.S.C. 3319a).
(xiv) Conduct surveys and analysis and publish reports relating to organic production, handling, distribution, retail, and trend studies (including consumer purchasing patterns); develop surveys and report statistical analysis on organically produced agricultural products (7 U.S.C. 5925c).
(xv) Assist the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs with respect to Dairy Product Mandatory Reporting (7 U.S.C. 1637–1637b).
(xvi) Include in each issuance of projections of net farm income an estimate of the net farm income earned by commercial producers in the United States that will in addition show the estimate of net farm income attributable to commercial producers of livestock, loan commodities, and agricultural commodities other than loan commodities (7 U.S.C. 7998).
(xvii) Ensure that studies carried out by the Economic Research Service document the number, location, and economic contributions of socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in agricultural production (7 U.S.C. 2279(h)).
(xviii) Coordinate implementation of section 10016 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 regarding locally or regionally produced agricultural food products (7 U.S.C. 2204h).
(9) Related to immigration. Serve as the designee of the Secretary pursuant to Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, 8 U.S.C. 1182(e) and 22 CFR 41.63(2)(3).
(10) Related to hazardous materials management. (i) Serve on the USDA Hazardous Materials Policy Council.
(ii) Recommend actions and policies that enable USDA agencies under his or her authority to comply with the intent, purposes, and standards of environmental laws for pollution prevention, control, and abatement.
(iii) Consult with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and other appropriate Federal agencies in developing pollution prevention, control, and abatement policies and programs relating to agencies under his or her authority.
(11) Related to scientific integrity. (i) Provide to the Secretary information on topics that can benefit from scientific input to ensure informed decision-making at the highest levels of Government.
(ii) Facilitate the coordination and collaboration within the Department on high priority science issues that will benefit from intra-Departmental collaboration, including coordinating the assessment of the relevance, quality, performance, and impact of the Department's efforts in science.
(iii) Build partnerships within the scientific community by serving as a point of contact for interactions with other agencies of science, universities, and other external members of the scientific community for the purpose of leveraging and promoting relationships to explore common scientific interests and shared goals.
(iv) Develop mechanisms to address scientific integrity within the Department.
(v) Serve as Chair of the USDA Science Council.
(12) Related to coordination of agricultural research, education, and extension programs and activities. Coordinate the agricultural research, education, and extension activities of the Department pursuant to sections 251(c)(2) and 251(d)(2) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971(c)(2), (d)(2)).
(13) Carry out prize competition authorities in section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) related to functions otherwise delegated to the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, except for authorities delegated to the Chief Financial Officer in § 2.28(a)(29) and authorities reserved to the Secretary in paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
(b) The following authorities are reserved to the Secretary of Agriculture:
(1) Related to science and education.
(i)–(iii) [Reserved]
(iv) Final concurrence in Equal Employment Opportunity Programs within the cooperative extension programs submitted under part 18 of this title.
(2) Related to economic research and statistical reporting.
(i) Final approval and issuance of the crop and livestock reports.
(ii) Final action on rules and regulations for the agricultural statistics board.
(3) Approval of prize competitions that may result in the award of more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes under section 24(m)(4)(B) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719(m)(4)(B)).


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6 Lessons Learned: Tips
Useful l Tips on Online College Courses for Credit
With the recent changes in the education sector have made online college courses for credit to become quite famous. The online college courses for credit are the most effective alternative for those individuals who are not able to meet the fee needs. One of the reasons as to why the online college courses for credit have become much known is because they offer to learn opportunities for students even when they have financial challenges. Most of the colleagues which are providing the online course for credit allows the students to continue with the education and then make fees payment on a later date.
Having a chance of learning online courses for credit today is entirely possible since there are some colleges which are offering online courses for credit. Various benefits usually arise where one decides of taking the online courses for credit. Convenience is one of the merits which usually arise when one decides to attend the colleges which offer online courses for credit. Having the chance to learn from the comfort of your home is one of the elements which makes the online courses for credit to be quite convenient. The second benefit if taking the online courses offered for credit is that they help one to save money.
The fact that when considering the online courses for credit one makes payment on a future date one can reduce the current learning budget. When one is deciding on joining the colleges which offer the online courses for credit there are some tips that one should be aware of. The most important thing that one should ensure is joining the most suitable college which provides the best online course for the loan. By reading this article one will be able also to understand the various elements that one should look out for when choosing an online college course for credit.
Insurance is one of the elements that are worth looking at when looking for the right college which offers an online course for credit. Insurance is a significant document which helps in showing the college has met the conditions which will enable them to offer the online course for credit. The second factor that one should consider when selecting the best college which provides an online course for credit is the budget. One of the essential things that one should ensure when choosing the online course for credit is that the amount of money to be paid on a future date is quite reasonable. When one makes the .decision of joining a college which is offering online courses for credit one should look at the status.
Lessons Learned from Years with Tips

subset: commoncrawl


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In this Section: Instructor Grading Policy Syllabus Online TA Help Video Response Quizzes Group Presentations In-class Assignments
Group Presentations
Team-based Hydrological Experiment Design
Motivation For Activity
- In real-world jobs, people spend most of their time working with other people and they also must be effective at developing creative scientific ideas and communicating their ideas through discussion and presentations. Creative thought and skeptical reflection are the two most essential elements of science. Many university courses teach scientific content and critical thinking, but few teach students how to think creatively as scientists. This set of three activities is designed to grow each student's ability to be creative scientists and help them develop their speaking skills.
- This class has 3 of these activities, because repetition is required to learn and develop your abilities to think creatively, work in a group, and speak in front of a group.
Assignment Concept
- On three occassions, class time will be devoted to breaking up into small teams of 3-4 students to integrate and critique the material presented in a topical unit. The challenge for each small group is to identify an aspect of the topic that remains poorly understood and then design an experiment (field, lab, or computer model) that can address the identified problem.
- You should come to class individually prepared for the exercise by completing all relevant readings in advance and thinking about the limitations of the science that has been done so far. Your group will have a full 50 minutes to discuss the topic amongst yourselves and generate an experiment outline. The discussion time will only be sufficient if you come prepared with your individual ideas to contribute to the group.
- Each group will prepare a 7-minute presentation about their experiment, including visual aids in the form of a digital slide presentation. Given 6 groups times 7 minutes = 42 minutes, leaving 1 minute for transition between presentations.
- In the following class meeting each group will present their experiment and receive feedback.
- Finally, outside of class, your group will type up a brief experimental method (using the standard scientific method, not a full proposal or paper) and submit it to the professor for grading.
- Every student will fill out a grading sheet judging the presentations of all the other groups. These peer evaluations will be used to assign bonus points to the top presentations.
- Except for unusual situations, everyone in each group will receive the same grade, so make sure that all members contribute fairly.
Oral Graded Elements
- Each group oral presentation will be graded using 100 points and evaluated on the basis of 8 elements:
- Was a clear and sufficient background explanation of the problem explained? (10 pts)
- Was there a clear scientific question, and for each question raised, was there a clear and well-stated scientific hypothesis about it? (20 pts)
- Was there a clear experimental design, and in the design were the individual methods technically sound? (20 pts)
- Were specific data analyses proposed that clearly test the hypotheses? (10 pts)
- Example graphics, tables, or statisticla results that illustrate the expected results of the study? (20 pts)
- Was the experiment novel and of scientific and/or societal significance? (10 pts)
- Was the presentation given in the allotted time? (5 pts)
- Was the group adequately prepared? (5 pts)
- Each student must participate in preparation and presentation of at least 2 of the 6 elements. This insures actual collaboration instead of parsing out work on an individual basis. One goal of this activity is to get students to practice working with others, even when other people have different agendas, desires, and abilities. This is a common experience in a real-world job.
- If a student is not communicating with the group and failing to do the work on a fair basis, then the other group members should continue on with their activity and alert the professor about what is happening.
- Bonus points will be assigned on the following basis:
- Activity 1: each of the top 2 groups get 5 bonus points
- Activity 2: each of the top 2 groups get 10 bonus points
- Activity 3: the top group gets 20 points, 2nd place gets 10 points, and 3rd place gets 5 points.
Written Report
- Use the standard report template for the write-up and save the file to PDF format so it looks the way you want visually.
- Write a brief (~ 2 page) report explaining the experiment, including 1-2 key graphics that help convey the experiment and the expected results. This is intended to cement the ideas that were developed and gain practice writing quick proposals, which is a common requirement of working in the real world.
- It is OK if the document is a little less or more than 2 pages.
- If you talk about published work, then you have to cite it.
- The report will be graded out of 30 points and will look for the same elements as in the oral presentation.
Even though there is only 1 report shared per group, it is going to be easiest for Canvas if each person turns in a copy of the report, so that the system registers everybody as having made a submission. If we were re-using the same groups, then it would make sense for me to set up all the groups for group submission, but with it changing every time I think it is easiest to do individual submission of the group report.
Overall Scoring
- The overall grade on presentations will be a simple sum of scores on oral presentations (X/100) and write-up (X/30)
I'm Scared to Speak Publicly
- Everybody begins at the same point of being very scared to stand in front of others and speak. It is not a question of being good or bad at it, just a question of practice and experience. You will not be penalized for being a beginning speaker, no matter how scared you are. To begin with, focus on just getting through delivery of the content without speaking too fast or softly.
- As you grow your comfort level with being in front of people, try to shift from rote delivery of words to adding pauses and emphases on key points, which is a natural part of speaking mindfully about something you know of instead of just reading words.
- Learn to use your hands to point out elements of the visual aids and gesture appropriately about what you are talking.
- Once you are comfortable with delivering content mindfully, switch gears to imagine what you want your speaking persona to be and start playing with how you can animate yourself more to bring greater charisma to the presentation. There is no one style of speaking that is best, so focus on finding your individual speaking persona.
In this Section: Instructor Grading Policy Syllabus Online TA Help Video Response Quizzes Group Presentations In-class Assignments


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Benedict Cumberbatch had a very English reaction to news of his sixth Emmy nomination
Benedict Cumberbatch received his sixth Emmy nomination as actor in a limited series for his portrayal of the titular character in Showtime's pitch-black dramedy "Patrick Melrose." The show, about an Englishman struggling with rampant addiction rooted in memories of sexual abuse at the hands of his father, is based on a series of autobiographical books by Edward St. Aubyn. The show is as searing as it is hilarious — a heady mixture that attracted Cumberbatch from the start. The actor is currently in London working on another project and says he completely forgot it was Emmy nominations day.
Where were you when you got the good news?
I was in a car going home from East London where we're doing some filming for a show about Brexit, and my phone just blew. I thought, 'Whoa, what's going on here, is there a malfunction?' But then I saw, 'Congratulations, huge love,' and what not, and that's how I found out. It was quite lovely.
Did you expect the honor?
If your ambition grows beyond getting the part and doing it well, you're in a lot of trouble as an actor. You don't hold your breath for things like this — you do the work and you move on. I'm really happy about this because it means the project has another life with more focus on it. And that is really the reward of this because we're so proud to be associated with these extraordinary masterpieces [the books]. We all came to give them new life and new shape and a new audience. So being at the right age and place in my career to play this role with a killer cast and superb direction — for all of us in every department — we came to this project feeling that was reward enough. It's an embarrassment of riches, to use that phrase, but we're not going to be embarrassed, we'll enjoy it and have a great night.
This is your sixth Emmy nomination and you are now tied with Laurence Olivier for the second most ever nominations in the limited series category. Is that an insane feeling?
It's amazing. I don't know what to say about that really. That's something to put on your gravestone. I don't know — yeah, I'm speechless. That's my very English reaction to that. Maybe I should try other categories? Art direction?
2018 Emmy nominations: The complete coverage »
Given the dark material, viewers might find themselves laughing at times that seem inappropriate. Was adding this comic, almost absurd touch to such dark material intentional?
The rich truth of life is that joy and sorrow, happiness and despair, don't live in separate corridors and never meet — whether it's getting the giggles at a funeral or finding something amusing in the worst possible situation and being wry. It's necessary and true and it's what makes this material have a universal appeal. He lives in a very white, privileged, elite section of society, but addiction doesn't just manifest on one social rung—this isn't unique to just one part of society. So you should feel awkward [like] "I'm laughing at somebody who looks like they're about to die on drugs, and then I'm having something wrenched out of me and I've taken a 180-degree turn into pathos." I'm always taken by brutal offerings that go to the extremes. It's all there in the books.
Patrick Melrose is such a complex character. How did you go about owning him?
That's one of the great draws to the material — you get to do those sharp turns and that's a challenge. You don't feel you're beating one rhythm, and you can afford nuance. It works, and you sort of hold your hand over your mouth and laugh at the same time, and I think it pulls you in as well. He'd be very difficult company in real life, but when you realize the core of pain that it comes from, and when you see how charming and witty he can be, it's a marvel. That's kind of what turns him into a hero because he shifts from being a victim into being a survivor at the end of the story, and that's a very potent theme in our time. As a child, he managed to speak truth to power.
What was the most challenging thing about playing a character who is so far down the rabbit hole with substance abuse?
The physicality. It was very important to me that it wasn't just one energy— that all the substances had their moments of screen time. But you see the struggle with the abuse of his cocktail of drugs in the first episode and later, sobriety being this dull, dead patch with him being haunted by fractured memories because he has yet to admit what happened. It is hard to be in a place that's quite dull — to accept that and play that and change the tempo. It affected everything from vocalization to physical movement. I also had conversations with [St. Aubyn] about what he remembered and witnessed in others. Things would be described to me and I would play-act it, and fit it into my body, and manifest it. In a way it comes with a health warning because it's pretty full-on despite the comedy in hiding. The two communities I was most keen to validate in my performance were those who suffered child abuse and those who suffered addiction. That head space [of trying to imagine being sexually abused] was the hardest. Being high or recovering and having delirium tremors — I had to sprain every muscle in my neck — but that was an easier place to go than putting oneself in the position of imagining that horror. And when you know you're playing a veiled alter ego of the writer … I can't speak highly enough about him as a human being and an extraordinarily gifted writer … it's very upsetting.
Was it hard to end the show? Or does it feel good to wrap a limited series and move on without worrying about a Season 2?
It was hard. Although it leaves on a profoundly inspirational act of quiet heroism and it feels complete. By the end of his mother's funeral and wake in Episode 5, that's a complete character arc. But I was sad to say goodbye to him. I spent deliriously, wonderful, terrifying, joyful, shocked hours with him in the pages of the book, and with him as a person. So for me, that doesn't stop. He's a friend for life. I'm the lucky guy who gets to continue my friendship with the source of Patrick Melrose.
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We're pleased to be exhibiting at the Achieving Efficiencies in Schools and MATS Conference in London today, where we will be sharing information on how academic organisations can reduce their energy spend by utilising the services of a renowned energy consultancy such as ours.
By offering the complete energy management solution, from energy procurement through to invoice validation and smart meter management, we can deliver significant savings and help Schools and MATS in their budget management.
While we are skilled to tackle large-scale projects, there are simple ways in which those in charge of Schools and MATS can keep their energy costs in check on a daily basis.
- Educate your students: Getting pupils on board is essential to reducing your carbon footprint. Buy-in from them makes cultural change so much easier. Why not arrange a visit from one of our engineers to discuss simple energy-saving techniques?
- Power down personal devices: Unplugging one smartphone may not seem that big a deal but across a whole school flicking power switches to 'off" – or banning recharging altogether – could make a notable difference over the school year.
- Turn off the lights in unused classrooms: An obvious one but nonetheless important especially if LED lights have yet to be installed.
- Unplug when done: Make sure overhead projectors and other devices such as laptops are unplugged once a presentation is finished. Many of them use small amounts of energy if left on. It all adds up!
- Time management: With many schools occupying a large geographical footprint it is sometimes easy for people to remember to physically switch off lights themselves. As some far-flung classrooms might only be used on an occasional basis, this could result in lights being left on for hours at a time when there is no need. Use of electric timer outlets can address this.
- Keep doors closed: Energy consumption in schools can vary depending on the age of the buildings, their state of repair,
occupancy hours and the amount and type of electrical equipment installed, but one thing is pretty constant across most classrooms – they have doors. Keeping them shut helps to ensure that learning space remains warmer for longer and leads to a reduction in HVAC energy consumption.
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For all enquiries related to this article, or any of our services, call us on 01225 867722 or use the form below to arrange a callback.


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Ingredients List
- 300 g sultanas or mix of glace cherries, sultanas, raisins and currants
- 175 g caster sugar
- 1 tablespoon whisky
- 300 ml tea cold
- 2 egg whites
- 300 g self-raising flour
- 3 tablespoons honey or whiskey
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- Mix the sultanas or glace and dried fruit, sugar, whiskey and tea in a large bowl and set aside to soak for at least 24 hours, until all the liquid has been absorbed into fruit.
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees (350 F). Grease a 20 cm cake tin, or line a muffin tin with paper cases.
- Stir the egg whites, then the flour, into the fruit mixture and beat thoroughly with a wooden spoon until well mixed
- Pour into prepared tin and bake the cake for 1 1/2 hours or the cupcakes for 40 minutes. The cake/s are ready when a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Allow to stand for five minutes, then remove from the tin and place on a wire rack.
- To make the glaze, whisk the icing sugar and orange juice in a small bowl until smooth, then brush on top of the cake/s while still warm
If you want, prick the top of the cake/s and drizzle the honey or whiskey over the top while it's still hot
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P.S. Here's info about the MIT Sloan Memorial fund for Jennifer. And there are memorial services Sunday, June 10, at 1pm in the MIT Chapel.
03 June 2012
R.I.P. Jennifer Mapes ~ MIT MOT/SF Memory
Posted by Joost Bonsen at 10:06
1 comment:
- ad said...
We will miss you dear Jennifer, RIP. You were a critical person in the success of my year at Sloan.
Adrien Lehideux SF08
- June 8, 2012 at 7:38 AM
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The Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Office of Safety and Security was recently awarded a grant to enhance initiatives the office has set forth this school year. The $374,576 grant from the Maryland Center for School Safety will fund several projects — the bulk of which being the expansion of an existing mental health program from two to all seven CCPS high schools.
High school students may be the most at-risk student population to display unsafe behavior inside and outside of school, said Mike Blanchard, supervising school psychologist for CCPS. "It is important to note that the risk of violence in school is significantly lower than what students may experience outside of school," he said. "However, in the rare instances where there have been risks identified for violent acts in school, providing mental health supports to students is one of the main prevention tools to keep these behaviors from occurring."
The four phases of emergency management are prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, said Jason Stoddard, director of CCPS safety and security. "This grant will enhance the school system's security posture overall," he added.
The grant money is funding the student identification card program and broadening Restorative Practices to more staff members. Restorative Practices promotes positive communication and relationship building, said Dawn Schaeffer, coordinator of staff development.
Other projects that will benefit from the grant are the installation of cameras on 12 school buses, the design, marketing and printing of outreach materials, additional professional development for School Resource Officers (SRO), systemwide enhancements of crisis notification for all employees including itinerate staff and enhance staff identification badges.
The grant will also pay for the purchase of software that allows for public announcements from various locations in each school, and reimbursement to the Maryland State Police for school bus stop arms and overtime enforcement.
MCSS is a center focused on emergency management, bullying, substance abuse and mental health. The center was founded in 2013 to coordinate and provide a comprehensive policy for safety in Maryland schools.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,108 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 36 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.


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That mid century icon of modern design is now a classic staple in well appointed homes all over the world. In the 1950's Eero Saarinen designed a pedestal table commonly called the Tulip Table. It was a brilliant piece of design, incorporating, strength, beauty, and function. I have the 1960s Burke brand version like this one pictured below in a Nashville loft, but in black. The Burke tables are heavier than the Euro versions.
And last but certainly not least, the most time enduring classic every home can use is the Louis chair.
And there is one more timeless item you can gift yourself this season. And of course that is fresh flowers. Flowers can breathe life into a room like nothing else.
My small apartment is never ever without them.


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Building the tenders for Seven Seas last year has clearly been fruitful for Maine builder Hodgdon: they have recently signed contracts for four more tenders. Two 10.5-metre limo tenders, one open, have been commissioned for an Oceanco client. The new build design and construction specifications for these designs by Michael Peters Yacht Designs were developed by A.J. Anderson of Wright Maritime Group, based in Fort Lauderdale.
Another pair of tenders, custom designs by Andrew Winch and Hodgdon, are 8.5 metres each. One has a retractable moon roof and a cruising speed of 30 knots; the other is fitted with a ramp that lowers onto a beach for easy embarkation. They are due for delivery in early 2013.
See videos of Hodgdon's tenders at www.hodgdonyachts.com


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Metallics are decidedly 'in Vogue', so follow these simple steps to recreate {@ccclarkebeauty 's} hypnotic beauty look…
This look is all about the glow, so once you've created a flawless canvas using NYX Professional Makeup's {Total Control Drop Foundation} and sculpted cheekbones using {Highlight & Contour Pro Palette} – with a dusting of {Duo Chromatic Illuminating Powder in 'Snow Rose'} you can turn your attention to eyes and that luscious lip look.
Use the {Micro Brow Pencil} to achieve immaculate arches (CC is wearing 'Brunette'), then prep your eyelids with a wash of metallic dusky pink. The {Cosmic Metals Shadow Palette} has six beautiful shimmering shades – eye-deal for adding depth and definition. Define the cut-crease with the {Slide On Pencil} in 'Sunrise Blue', then use the {Vinyl Liquid Liner} to mimic CC's feline flick.
Finish by lining your lips with the {Slide On Lip Pencil} in 'Brick House', then apply {Cosmic Metals Lip Cream} in shade 'Galactic Love' (the perfect russet-toned metallic). To cement your knock-em-dead look, finish with a spritz of the matte {Make Up Setting Spray} and get set to stun.


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Hi! I'm Lily6161 and I am harryginny4eva61 in Gryffindor on the boards!
My favorite hp movie is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and my favorite book is Deathly Hallows! I love the Buffalo Sabres, and i can't wait for the hp enclyclopedia!
Ninety-five percent of teenagers are concerned about being popular. If you are one of the five percent who aren't, copy this, put it in your profile, and add your name to the list: Queen S of Randomness 016, Queen B of Randomness 016, AnimieKittyCaffe, The Gypsy Pirate Queen, That Bloody Demon, The Astrology Nerd, Shadow929, Crazy Billie Joe Loving Freak, Yavie Aelienel, Hyperactively Bored, Spymaster E, Shanny-Boo, Gem W, Brown-eyed angelofmusic, piratesswriter/fairy to be, Bara-Minomoto, Em Quagmire, Buffy The Mary-Sue Slayer, Random Little Writer, SamanthaFantasyFan, EdwardAddict, Supergirrl, Elemental-ANimal, Mother Nature's Daughter, Schmerg_The_Impaler, Sirius4Sabres, lily6161
Even when you cant see Him, GOD is there! if you belive in GOD put this in your profile.
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If you have ever pushed on a door that said pull or vice versa copy and paste this into your profile
If you ever forgotten what you were talking about in a conversation copy and paste this into your profile.
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My other favorite series are The Black Stallion and Redwall. If you wanted to know. Whcih you did.