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Since the enactment of GPRA, ARS has systematically explored ways to express its research activities through goals that are measurable. One such effort was the agency's cochairing of the Research Roundtable, an ad hoc committee consisting of major Federal research agencies. This group met monthly in an effort to define ways to apply GPRA principles in a research environment. These efforts were very helpful to ARS in evolving this strategic plan, but they also identified several reasons why it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to apply numerical measures to research, especially basic research. For example
- the outcomes/impacts of research are difficult to identify and measure in advance
- the value of knowledge gained is not always immediately recognized
- results are not always predictable
- there is a high percentage of negative determinations or findings
- the unknown cannot be measured
For these reasons and after efforts to do so proved unsatisfactory, ARS decided not to provide numerical measures for its research activities.
Outcomes, General Goals, and Explanatory Statements
The ARS strategic plan is focused on achieving five broad outcomes, which are expressions of long-term, desirable societal results towards which the work of the agency is ultimately directed. The five outcomes are identical to the ones mentioned in the REE mission area strategic plan. Under each outcome and general goal is a brief explanatory statement that describes how ARS interprets and relates the outcome and general goal to the work of the agency.
Objectives
Each of the REE outcomes and general goals has several objectives that more precisely focus the outcomes and general goals on the mission and work of ARS. ARS derives its objectives from statutory language, specifically the “Purposes of Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education” set forth in section 801 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. The objectives set off by quotation marks are taken directly from the statute. The objectives are broad enough to allow some activities to overlap. In those instances, the explanatory statements cross-reference the objectives where certain areas of related research would be covered. Each objective has been given a short title.
Strategies
Under each of the ARS objectives are several strategies that more clearly define how the agency's work will contribute to achieving each objective, general goal, and outcome.
Program Activities
Program activities describe briefly and broadly what activities ARS will undertake to accomplish each strategy, objective, general goal, and outcome.
Performance Goals
The performance goals describe specific measurable achievements that indicate progress towards reaching the objectives, general goals, and outcomes. In each annual performance plan, which will accompany the ARS budget submission, the agency will identify specific performance indicators and outcomes that will, if accomplished, measure progress towards achieving the objectives, general goals, and outcomes.
Linking Performance Goals, Strategies, Objectives, General Goals, and Outcomes to the Annual Performance Plan
As the strategic plan is implemented, the ARS research activities—at both the project and national program levels—will be linked to specific performance goals and strategies, which relate directly to the ARS objectives, which in turn support the broad, longer term general goals and outcomes. The annual performance plan will accompany the agency's annual budget request.
General Goal I—Through research and education, empower the agricultural system with knowledge that will improve competitiveness in domestic production, processing, and marketing.
Outcome 1—An agricultural system that is highly competitive in the global economy
Explanatory Statement: ARS will conduct research designed to generate new knowledge; improve production systems; enhance resource efficiencies; improve processing quality, performance, and value of commodities; and develop technologies to reduce nontariff trade barriers. The national needs for scientific agricultural information will be met in a timely manner with attention given to the variety of needs by different scales of agriculture. U.S. agricultural producers and processors of all sizes will have access to current knowledge and technologies. Because trade issues are global, ARS will expand collaboration with foreign research institutions. The outcomes will be technologies and practices that encourage trade in agricultural products and mitigate nontariff barriers to such commerce.
Objective 1.1—Strengthen Competitiveness
“Enhance the competitiveness of the United States agriculture and food industry in an increasingly competitive world environment.”
Explanatory Statement: ARS will generate new knowledge and develop new and improved production systems with greater resource efficiencies; improve the processing quality, performance, and value of commodities to meet domestic and global market needs; develop technologies to eliminate trade barriers due to quarantine issues and other nontariff trade constraints; develop sustainable and cost-competitive food and industrial commodity processing technologies and concepts; and balance the needs of agriculture and the environment.
Strategy 1.1.1—Cost-Effective Agricultural Production Systems
Develop new knowledge and integrated technologies for more efficient and economically sustainable agricultural production systems of all sizes.
Program Activity
Integrate production, processing, and marketing technologies and knowledge into systems that optimize resource management, improve environmental quality, and facilitate technology transfer.
Performance Goals
Demonstrate integrated systems and transfer them to users.
Demonstrate and transfer to users computer-based simulation models and decision-support systems.
Strategy 1.1.2—Postharvest Control of Pests
Develop postharvest technologies and processes to meet domestic needs and reduce or overcome nontariff trade and quarantine barriers caused by pests (insects, weeds, pathogens, etc.).
Program Activity
Develop and evaluate alternative means of controlling or eliminating postharvest insects, diseases, and spoilage organisms in agricultural commodities and products.
Performance Goal
Demonstrate techniques to control or eliminate postharvest insects and diseases and increase market quality and product longevity.
Program Activity
Develop technologies to identify and control weeds, diseases, and pests that must be controlled to permit the international movement of animals, plants, or animal and plant products.
Performance Goals
Demonstrate technologies to control quarantine pests.
New and improved diagnostic tests are developed and available.
Strategy 1.1.3—Measurement of Product Quality and Marketability
Improve quality, uniformity, value, and marketability of commodities and other agricultural products.
Program Activity
Develop technologies to add value and improve quality of postharvest products.
Performance Goal
Demonstrate postharvest technologies that add value and improve quality.
Program Activity
Support the mission of action/regulatory agencies by defining and characterizing the desired physical, chemical, and aesthetic properties of agricultural commodities.
Performance Goal
Provide knowledge and technology to expand and improve the grading systems for agricultural commodities and products.
Program Activity
Advance the technology for measuring important nutrients and other quality components.
Performance Goal
Demonstrate methods to measure the critical processing and end-use properties of agricultural commodities important to the agricultural marketing system and to the processing industry.
Strategy 1.1.4—International Technology Interchange
Develop a strategy for selective international research interchange to supplement ARS technology developments and strengthen competitiveness of U.S. agriculture.
Program Activity
Gain access to foreign technology developments through tactical selection of opportunities for international research cooperation coherent with ARS domestic programs.
Performance Goal
Strategic alliances formed with specific foreign institutions, leading to joint development of germplasm and value-added technologies, mutually protected through intellectual property agreements.
Objective 1.2—Develop New Uses and Products
“Develop new uses and new products for agricultural commodities, such as alternative fuels, and develop new crops.”
Explanatory Statement: ARS will contribute to development of new and alternative crops, new food and nonfood uses and products from plants and animals, alternative fuels, and new processes and other technologies using these commodities, making the information accessible to users of all sizes.
Strategy 1.2.1—New and Alternative Crops
Develop new and alternative crops with economic and social value.
Program Activity
Genetically improve and introduce new and alternative crops to increase diversity of agricultural commodities and satisfy societal needs.
Performance Goal
Experimentally demonstrate production of new, improved, and alternative crops and horticultural products with potential for successful introduction and demonstrate successful operation of aquaculture systems.
Program Activity
Develop management practices for production, harvesting, and postharvest handling of new and alternative crops.
Performance Goal
Experimentally demonstrate new and improved production, harvest, and postharvest handling procedures of these crops.
Strategy 1.2.2—New Uses and Products
Develop new food and nonfood uses and products from plants and animals and new processes and other technologies that add value.
Program Activity
Improve processing technologies and develop new bioproducts and uses that will increase the demand for agricultural commodities.
Performance Goal
Experimentally demonstrate improvements in processing technologies and develop new bioproducts and uses that have potential to increase demand for agricultural commodities.
General Goal II—To ensure an adequate food supply and improve detection, surveillance, prevention, and education programs for the American public's health, safety, and well-being.
Outcome 2—A safe and secure food and fiber system
Explanatory Statement: ARS will conduct research designed to generate knowledge regarding new and improved management practices, pest management strategies, sustainable production systems, and control of potential contaminants for farms of all sizes. Food safety research seeks ways to assess and control potentially harmful food contaminants. These activities will ensure a safe, plentiful, diverse, and affordable supply of food, fiber, and other agricultural products.
Objective 2.1—Secure Food and Fiber System
“Maintain a safe and secure food and fiber system that meets the Nation's needs now and in the future.”
Explanatory Statement: ARS' research program will conserve and enhance genetic resources and improve the efficiency of agricultural production and processing systems to provide America with a safe, adequate, secure, affordable, and nutritious supply of food and fiber.
Strategy 2.1.1—Plant and Animal Production Systems
Improve efficiency of agricultural production systems to ensure the security of the Nation's food, fiber, and energy supply.
Program Activity
Enhance output of agricultural products through development of new production methods that maximize net economic returns and reduce input costs, while using environmentally sustainable technologies.
Performance Goals
Demonstrate increases in productivity above current levels, using sustainable technologies.
Demonstrate a more efficient and cost-effective use of resource inputs, while increasing productivity above current levels.
Strategy 2.1.2—Plant, Animal, and Ecosystems Protection
Improve integrated management systems that contribute to protection of plants, animals, and ecosystems against pests (insects, weeds, pathogens, etc.).
Program Activity
Develop new concepts, technologies, and practices that protect plants, animals, and ecosystems.
Performance Goal
Demonstrate new integrated technologies to protect plants, animals, and ecosystems.
Strategy 2.1.3—Germplasm Resources and Genomics
Acquire, preserve, evaluate, describe, and enhance genetic resources and develop new knowledge and technologies to increase the productive capacity and usefulness of plants, animals, and other organisms.
Program Activity
Collect, preserve, evaluate, provide descriptors for, document, and make available a diverse range of germplasm that increases genetic variability and enhances productive capacity and food and fiber security.
Performance Goal
Collections of well-documented germplasms of importance to U.S. agricultural security are readily available to scientists and breeders for research and development.
Program Activity
Develop genome maps and maintain information systems that document DNA base sequences of agriculturally important organisms.
Performance Goal
Document DNA base sequences of agricultural importance.
Program Activity
Develop improved genetic engineering and conventional methods and use them to produce new germplasm with increased production potential, improved resistance to pests and diseases, and enhanced productive capacity.
Performance Goals
Release of improved germplasm, varieties, and breeds based on effective use of genetic resources.
Improve methods for identifying useful properties of plants, animals, and other organisms and for manipulating the genes associated with these properties.
Strategy 2.1.4—Plant and Animal Biological Processes
Develop biologically based technologies to improve productivity, safety, nutrient content, and quality of plants, animals, microbial organisms and for manipulating the genes associated with these properties.
Program Activity
Conduct fundamental and applied investigations of plant and animal biological processes that influence productivity, safety, nutrient content, and quality.
Performance Goal
Make technologies available for improving productivity, safety, and quality.
Objective 2.2—Safe Food
“Maintain an adequate, nutritious, and safe supply of food to meet human nutritional needs and requirements.”
Explanatory Statement: ARS' food safety research program will assess the safety of animal and plant products and develop methods to control potential food contaminants. The human nutrition research activities covered in this objective are addressed in general goal 3, objective 3.1.
Strategy 2.2.1—Plant and Animal Product Safety
Provide knowledge and means for production, storage, and processing of safe plant and animal products.
Program Activity
Develop methods to reduce toxin-producing and/or pathogenic bacteria and fungi, parasites, mycotoxins, chemical residues, and plant toxins.
Performance Goal
Transfer knowledge developed by ARS to industry and regulatory agencies.
General Goal III—A healthy and well-nourished population who has knowledge, desire, and means to make health-promoting choices.
Outcome 3—A healthy, well-nourished population
Explanatory Statement: ARS will conduct research to generate new knowledge in human nutrition that will establish the relationship between diet and health, measure food consumption patterns, and develop new methods to measure the nutrient composition of food. The outcomes of these efforts will be a nutritious food supply and a knowledge base that enables people to make healthful food choices.
Objective 3.1—Nutritious Food
“Maintain an adequate, nutritious, and safe supply of food to meet human nutritional needs and requirements.”
Explanatory Statement: ARS' human nutrition research program will establish the relationship between diet, nutritional status, and health throughout life and the contribution of diet to disease resistance and the reduction of disorders related to nutrition. The program will develop methods for determining food components and will maintain national food composition databases. ARS will monitor food consumption, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of the U.S. population and design and test techniques that enable people to improve their nutritional status. The food safety activities covered in this objective are addressed in general goal 2, objective 2.2.
Strategy 3.1.1—Human Nutrition Requirements
Determine requirements for nutrients and other food components of children, pregnant and lactating women, adults, and elderly of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Program Activity
Using population and survey data, human feeding studies, genetic models of metabolism, animal studies, and other methods, establish indicators of nutrient functions that show requirements and bioavailability of food components and their effects on health.
Performance Goal
Indicators of function determined and related to diet and health.
Strategy 3.1.2—Food Composition and Consumption
Develop techniques for determining food composition, maintain national food composition databases, monitor the food and nutrient consumption of the U.S. population, and develop and transfer effective nutrition intervention strategies.
Program Activity
Develop new methods for measuring selected nutrients and food components, conduct surveys of food consumption, analyze survey results to determine consumption of nutrients, and design strategies for improvement.
Performance Goal
Transfer new measurement techniques and data to users, release results of surveys, and transfer effective nutrition intervention strategies.
Strategy 3.1.3—Nutritious Plant and Animal Products
Develop more nutritious plant and animal products for human consumption.
Program Activity
Improve the nutritional value of animal and plant products.
Performance Goal
Demonstrate improved nutritional quality.
General Goal IV—To enhance the quality of the environment through better understanding of and building on agriculture's and forestry's complex links with soil, water, air, and biotic resources.
Outcome 4—An agricultural system that protects natural resources and the environment
Explanatory Statement: ARS will conduct multidisciplinary research to solve problems arising from the interaction between agriculture and the environment. New practices and technologies will be developed to conserve the Nation's natural resource base and balance production efficiency and environmental quality. Since environmental quality is a global problem, ARS will expand collaboration with foreign research institutions. The outcome will be technology and practices that will mitigate the adverse impact of agriculture on the environment, applicable to the scale of production.
Objective 4.1—Balance Agriculture and the Environment
“Increase the long-term productivity of the United States agriculture and food industry while maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base on which rural America and the United States agricultural economy depend.”
Explanatory Statement: ARS will conserve and enhance genetic resources, improve the efficiency of agricultural production systems, and develop new and improved high-quality food and nonfood agricultural and industrial products with improved pest and disease resistance and better adaptability to a wider range of climatic conditions. ARS will develop new and improved management practices, elucidate the potential effects of global climate change, and develop new ways to manage crop and animal production systems in the changing global climate, develop integrated pest management strategies, including biocontrol strategies, and develop integrated sustainable agricultural production systems to maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the Nation's soil, water, and air, ensuring conservation of the natural resource bases essential to meet future needs.
Strategy 4.1.1—Natural Resource Quality
Develop new concepts, technologies, and management practices that will enhance the quality, productivity, and sustainability of the Nation's soil, water, and air resources.
Program Activity
Develop concepts and on-farm agricultural technologies and practices to assess, predict, and improve soil, water, and air quality.
Performance Goal
Demonstrate concepts and on-farm agricultural technologies and management practices that maintain and enhance the environment and natural resource base.
Program Activity
Develop concepts and agricultural technologies and practices at the watershed scale that maintain and enhance the quality of natural resources.
Performance Goal
Experimentally demonstrate the appropriateness of watershed-scale technologies and practices that protect the environment and natural resources.
Strategy 4.1.2—Global Change
Increase understanding of the responses of terrestrial ecosystems to man-made and natural changes in the global environment.
Program Activity
Quantify the positive and negative aspects of agriculture's role in global change.
Performance Goal
Documentation of agriculture's effects on the global environment.
Program Activity
Assess and predict how changes in the global environment will affect agriculture.
Performance Goal
Documentation of how changes in the global environment affect agriculture.
Program Activity
Develop technologies that promote operational efficiency for agriculture in a changing global climate.
Performance Goal
Demonstrate techniques that can improve efficiency.
Strategy 4.1.3—Cropland and Grazingland Sustainability
Develop cropland and grazingland management strategies that will improve quality, quantity, and sustainability of food and fiber products needed for U.S. competitiveness.
Program Activity
Develop concepts, technologies, and practices for managing croplands and grazinglands that will accommodate major increases in the quantity and quality of food and fiber products and maintain the sustainability of the system that produces them.
Performance Goals
Demonstrate cropland and grazingland management strategies that improve productivity and efficiency of croplands and grazinglands.
Provide information to public agencies and private organizations and directly to farmers and ranchers that will lead to adoption of improved cropland and grazingland management strategies.
Objective 4.2—Risk Management
“Improve risk management in the United States agriculture industry.”
Explanatory Statement: ARS will address the multifaceted risks that are inherent in the U.S. food and fiber production and processing systems. They can have economic, environmental, and human health components. The risks associated with weather extremes, such as droughts and floods, often result in serious economic losses and major environmental damage. Serious crop and animal losses can also result from temperature extremes, hail, and other weather conditions. Crop and animal producers frequently suffer severe economic losses from diseases, insects, and other pests. This objective is targeted towards minimizing and, where feasible, eliminating the impact of these risks through development of better animals and plants and improved production and processing systems. The presence of toxic elements and bacterial contaminants in the food supply is addressed under general goal 2, objective 2.2.
Strategy 4.2.1—Economic and Environmental Risks
Reduce economic and environmental risks through improved management of agricultural production systems.
Program Activity
Develop strategies and methods for conserving soil, water, and energy; managing pests and diseases; and reducing plant and animal stresses to minimize economic and environmental risks in agricultural production systems.
Performance Goal
Risk-reduction strategies and methods transferred to the Nation's agricultural industry.
Strategy 4.2.2—Weather and Environmental Risks
Develop concepts and technologies for predicting and reducing the socio-economic costs and resource damages associated with extreme weather variability.
Program Activity
Develop improved technologies and strategies (for example, crop residue management, irrigation systems, crop pest and disease forecast systems, and plant and animal genetic improvements) that reduce the effects of extreme weather variability on food and fiber production.
Performance Goal
Improve strategies and technologies that reduce the effects of extreme weather variability.
Objective 4.3—Safe Production and Processing
“Improve the safe production and processing of, and adding of value to, United States food and fiber resources using methods that maintain the balance between yield and environmental soundness.”
Explanatory Statement: ARS will develop new and improved management practices, integrated pest management strategies, and integrated sustainable agricultural production systems to enhance the safety, quality, and productivity of the U.S. agricultural production and processing systems, while protecting the Nation's environment.
Strategy 4.3.1—Environmentally Safe Pest Management
Develop environmentally safe methods to prevent or control pests (insects, weeds, pathogens, etc.) in plants, animals, and ecosystems.
Program Activity
Develop knowledge and strategies for environmentally safe pest management.
Performance Goal
Deliver integrated pest management strategies that are cost-effective and protect natural resources, human health, and the environment.
Strategy 4.3.2—Integrated Agricultural Production Systems
Develop knowledge and integrated technologies for promoting use of environmentally sustainable agricultural production systems.
Program Activity
Develop integrated agricultural production systems that sustain soil, water, air, plant, and animal resources and recognize the importance of social and economic considerations.
Performance Goals
Demonstrate the effectiveness of integrated agricultural production systems in the improvement of natural resources and protection of the environment.
Provide computer-based models and decision-support systems to farmers, public agencies, and private organizations.
Strategy 4.3.3—Waste Management and Utilization
Develop and transfer cost-effective technologies and systems to use agricultural, urban, and industrial wastes for production of food, fiber, and other products.
Program Activity
Improve waste-management practices and systems to recycle agricultural, municipal, and industrial wastes on agricultural lands in more profitable and environmentally beneficial ways.
Performance Goal
Demonstrate technologies to store, mix, compost, inoculate, incubate, and apply wastes to obtain consistent economic benefits, while minimizing environmental degradation, nutrient loss, and noxious odors.
Program Activity
Devise technologies and processes that are cost-effective on a small scale for converting agricultural residues and wastes into renewable energy and industrial feedstocks.
Performance Goal
Demonstrate the conversion of agricultural waste into liquid fuels and industrial feedstocks.
General Goal V—Empower people and communities, through research-based information and education, to address the economic and social challenges of our youth, families, and communities.
Outcome 5—Enhanced economic opportunity and quality of life for Americans
Explanatory Statement: ARS will conduct research to identify new crops, products, technologies, and practices to increase profitability, expand markets, add value, and make small-scale processing capabilities available in rural communities. Access to technologies and information will be expanded and simplified so that farmers, ranchers, and rural residents can obtain information in a timely manner. Progress towards this goal will be seen in the gradual strengthening of rural economic growth and improvements in the quality and stability of rural life.
Objective 5.1—Economic Opportunity and Technology Transfer
Conduct “agricultural research . . . to promote economic opportunity in rural communities and to meet the increasing demand for information and technology transfer throughout the United States agriculture industry.”
Explanatory Statement: ARS will integrate basic long-term research and targeted short-term research to develop new technologies, practices, and production enterprises that increase profits, enhance the farm ecosystem, and develop small-scale processing technologies to create value-added products from agricultural commodities. In addition, ARS will improve access to research information, target information dissemination, transfer technology more effectively, and enhance exchange of problem-solving information with domestic and international research organizations. While the introductory focus of this goal is expanding economic opportunities, ARS interprets the information and technology transfer provisions to apply across the board to all areas of agricultural research. Activities specifically related to the work of the National Agricultural Library are addressed in initiative 2.
Strategy 5.1.1—Rural Development Opportunities
Develop farming systems tailored to diverse agricultural production enterprises to enhance profits, sustainability, and environmental quality.
Program Activity
Devise new technologies and practices and adapt existing ones to create new and diverse farming enterprises, products, and markets.
Performance Goal
Experimentally demonstrate the successful operation of small-scale production and processing systems, evaluate small-scale animal production systems, and enhance high-value agricultural products.
Strategy 5.1.2—Information Access and Delivery
Provide improved access to and dissemination of information to increase public knowledge and awareness of agricultural research, to aid technology transfer, and to speed up sharing of new knowledge.
Program Activity
Expand use of electronic means for information delivery.
Performance Goal
Make information on ARS research results and inventions available electronically via the Internet and similar resources.
Program Activity
Increase use of marketing techniques in targeting of public information and technology transfer products and activities.
Performance Goal
Provide more cost-effective and efficient public information and technology transfer.
Program Activity
Develop mechanisms to ensure proper consideration is given to public information and technology transfer needs during the planning and execution of research programs.
Performance Goal
Research programs include information and technology transfer considerations.
Strategy 5.1.3—Commercialize Research Results
Develop technology transfer systems that lead to commercialization of research results by industry.
Program Activity
Enhance the probability of success in commercializing ARS technology by ensuring that potential cooperators and businesses have access to non-ARS information on financing and business and product development.
Performance Goal
Provide small businesses with contacts and information on the programs available from public and private sources.
Program Activity
Increase the flexibility and decrease the development time for technology transfer agreements.
Performance Goal
Expand the types of agreements used by ARS and delegate signatory authority to the lowest feasible level. .
Introduction
ARS' objectives and strategies focus primarily on the agency's research activities. The three ARS initiatives represent major activities that are of overarching importance to the agency because they relate to and support all its critical work. The ARS objectives and initiatives are of equal status and importance in the ARS strategic plan. Initiatives set off by quotation marks are taken directly from statutory language. Each initiative has been given a short title.
Explanatory Statements
Under each initiative is a brief explanatory statement that describes how ARS interprets the initiative and relates it to the work of the agency.
Strategies
Under initiatives 2 and 3 are several subinitiatives that focus on the mission and work of ARS. Each strategy has a short title.
Program Activities
The program activities describe briefly and broadly what activities ARS will undertake to accomplish each initiative.
Performance Goals
The performance goals describe specific achievements that indicate progress towards reaching the initiative. In each annual performance plan, which will accompany the ARS budget submission, the agency will identify specific performance indicators and outcomes that will, if accomplished, measure progress towards achieving the initiative.
Linking Performance Goals, Specific Initiatives, and Initiatives to the Annual Performance Plan
As the strategic plan is implemented, the ARS nonresearch activities will be linked to the strategies that relate directly to each ARS initiative. The annual performance plan will provide the framework for the agency's yearly budget request.
“Support higher education in agriculture to give the next generation of Americans the knowledge, technology, and applications necessary to enhance the competitiveness of United States Agriculture.”
Explanatory Statement: ARS has a very limited role to play in directly supporting higher education. The agency provides training opportunities for graduate and postdoctoral students to enable them to gain valuable knowledge and experience. Some of these scientists are eventually hired as full-time employees where they serve to maintain and enhance the agency's core scientific capabilities. Most go on to serve U.S. agriculture in other Federal, State, and local agencies, private industry, or academia (see initiative 3, strategy 3.6). ARS, through the programs and services of the National Agricultural Library, provides access to information for institutions of higher education, their faculties, researchers, and students (see initiative 2). In addition, ARS supports public information, outreach, extension, and educational activities.
Initiative 2—National Agricultural Library
“Ensure and enhance worldwide access to agricultural information through the programs of the National Agricultural Library (NAL).”
Explanatory Statement: ARS, through the programs and services of the National Agricultural Library, will ensure that agricultural information essential to the Nation is acquired, organized, disseminated, and preserved for current and future use and that appropriate advances are made to improve access to such information. The performance measures in extension, outreach, education, and library services and in higher education under each of the five goals relate to the work of NAL.
Strategy 2.1—Access to Information
Collect, organize, and provide access to information that supports agricultural programs and responds to information needs.
Program Activity
Ensure that the NAL collection supports the information needs of current and future customers.
Performance Goals
Implemented selection guidelines for the electronic resources to be acquired and used by NAL.
Expanded representation of electronic formats such as Internet resources, online databases, and digital documents in AGRICOLA (NAL's bibliographic database of references to the literature of agriculture), and NAL's online catalog.
Program Activity
Provide access to agriculture-related information and resources over a network where connections are transparent to the customer.
Performance Goal
A gateway is provided to a large body of electronic information on agriculture over a network, such as the Internet.
Program Activity
Collaborate with land-grant universities and other institutions of higher education to improve access to information for faculty and students.
Performance Goal
Demonstrate increased use of agricultural information by institutions of higher education.
Strategy 2.2—Meet Customer Needs for Information
Anticipate and provide information products and services, including educational programs, that enable NAL's diverse customers to identify, locate, and obtain desired information on agricultural topics.
Program Activity
Use new technologies and methods to promote faster delivery of information services.
Performance Goal
The time for processing requests for services and delivering the information requested is further reduced.
Program Activity
Enhance the coverage, currency, and accessibility of NAL-produced databases.
Performance Goal
The gap between the time that information is published and made available in NAL-produced databases is further reduced.
Program Activity
Develop and implement a multifaceted, integrated training program that enables customers to take full advantage of current and emerging technologies and information systems.
Performance Goal
Expanded provision of Internet and other technology-related training programs for NAL customers.
Strategy 2.3—Preservation of Significant Materials
Preserve significant and important works in agriculture and the fields related to agriculture to ensure availability of NAL's collections to current and future generations.
Program Activity
Work with land-grant universities and other national and international organizations to coordinate preservation of USDA documents, agriculture-related publications of other Federal and State agencies, and other materials important to agriculture.
Performance Goal
Establishment of a national archive for agricultural literature that serves as a centralized storage facility for archival copies prepared by cooperators in the program.
Program Activity
Coordinate evaluation of digital preservation technologies and recommend policies and procedures for cooperators in the national preservation program for agricultural materials.
Performance Goal
Development of a program for monitoring the quality of electronically archived materials to ensure that the data remain accessible.
“Promote excellence, relevance, and recognition of agricultural research through creative leadership in management and development of resources, communications systems, and partnerships with our customers and stakeholders.”
Explanatory Statement: ARS research administrators, research leaders, and scientific staffs are responsible for promoting the excellence, relevance, and recognition of ARS research programs as part of the U.S. agricultural research community. This includes exercising leadership in developing a national research agenda, strengthening relationships with States and private partners, and effectively managing the agency's research infrastructure to enhance its core capacity for agricultural research.
Strategy 3.1—Develop Research Agenda
Identify ARS program priorities and core research capabilities and use them to provide leadership in development of the coordinated REE and national research agendas.
Program Activity
Develop the annual performance plan, as required by GPRA.
Performance Goal
The annual performance plan is delivered on time.
Program Activity
Recommend priorities for inclusion in the REE-coordinated research agenda.
Performance Goal
Meet REE deadlines for submission of material for inclusion in the coordinated research agenda.
Program Activity
Articulate approaches to addressing the Nation's most critical agricultural research needs.
Performance Goal
Annual conferences of public and private individuals are convened to discuss major researchable issues in agriculture and articulate approaches to addressing these problems.
Program Activity
Respond to urgent national problems that require reallocation of resources.
Performance Goal
Rapid responses to crises.
Strategy 3.2—Civil Rights
ARS is committed to the principal of civil rights and the implementation of the USDA Civil Rights Action Team Report. The ARS Civil Rights Staff (CRS) recognizes that systematic communication is important as a means of ensuring that its services meet the expectations and needs of its customers and stakeholders, including managers, supervisors, and employees.
Program Activity
CRS will develop a stakeholder input system to: (a) acquire specific baseline feedback and guidance directed at improving and modifying current processes and practices and (b) continually improve implementation of the agency's equal employment opportunity/civil rights program.
Performance Goal
Written policies and guidance to facilitate implementation of the civil rights program.
Program Activity
CRS will develop or revise the following written documents to provide appropriate guidance for ARS managers and supervisors:
- ARS Directive 401.5—EEO Program
- EEO Complaint Process Manual
- Informational brochures and fact sheets.
Performance Goal
Improve all aspects of the Title VII program, which includes EEO training, data collection, and monitoring and evaluation.
Program Activity
CRS will provide civil rights program training to ARS managers, supervisors, and employees; collect and maintain accurate employment information; and develop a system to monitor and evaluate ARS' effectiveness in its implementation of the civil rights program.
Performance Goal
Training provided and effectiveness measured by data collection and monitoring.
Strategy 3.3—Additional Funding
Encourage acquisition of additional funding to improve ARS programs and priorities.
Program Activity
Devise and implement methods to attract partners to jointly develop and disseminate technologies that fulfill the ARS mission.
Performance Goal
Partnerships are established.
Program Activity
Develop administrative and program procedures that will facilitate acquisition of outside funds.
Performance Goal
Procedures are implemented.
Program Activity
Encourage scientists to identify alternative sources for grants and similar programs, both public and private, and actively seek such support.
Performance Goal
Outside support increases.
Strategy 3.4—Customer Service
Improve customer service.
Program Activity
Develop and implement customer service plans and evaluate their effectiveness.
Performance Goal
Improved customer satisfaction.
Program Activity
Solicit customer input in improving ARS programs, products, and services.
Performance Goal
Customer needs are identified.
Strategy 3.5—Management of Facilities
Provide appropriately equipped Federal facilities required to support the research and information activities of ARS into the next century.
Program Activity
Develop criteria and priorities for the construction, consolidation, modernization, and closure of facilities.
Performance Goal
Criteria and priorities are identified.
Strategy 3.6—Maintenance of Core Research Capabilities
Develop and implement comprehensive human resource systems and policies to support and enhance ARS' core research capabilities while maintaining the flexibility to shift research and form interdisciplinary teams to address emerging problems.
Program Activity
Develop a comprehensive plan to assemble a core capability of scientific expertise to meet the needs of long-term research objectives and goals with the ability to respond quickly to emerging needs.
Provide training opportunities for graduate and postdoctoral students.
Performance Goals
Identify core capability requirements and develop a scientific staff to meet long-term research needs.
Establish a database of ARS experts by discipline and research areas of expertise.
Train 1,300 postdoctoral students, and competitively select 10 percent to fill full-time positions.
Strategy 3.7—Provide Administrative Support to REE
Serve as the lead agency in providing administrative and financial management services for Research, Education, and Economics.
Program Activity
Solicit customer input and develop strategic plan for administrative and financial management services.
Performance Goals
Customer participation in planning processes.
Strategic plan is developed and communicated to REE customers.
Strategy 3.8—Program Excellence and Relevance
Ensure excellence and relevance of ARS programs through a variety of comprehensive reviews.
Program Activity
Obtain broad-based peer review of all ARS research projects.
Performance Goal
Internal and external peer reviews are conducted on all research projects before implementation.
Program Activity
Periodically review the quality, quantity, and impact of the work of ARS scientists.
Performance Goal
Review of the productivity, quality, and impact of individual scientists is conducted as scheduled in the Research Position Evaluation System (RPES).
Program Activity
Solicit continuous input on the relevance and quality of ARS research programs from peer scientists and users, and evaluate and implement, where appropriate to the ARS mission.
Performance Goal
Program reviews are periodically conducted, and programs are sustained or redirected as appropriate.
The ARS Pledge to Customer Service
Our vision of customer service
To practice the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct
To dedicate ourselves to quality and excellence
To provide objective and factual information to our customers
To value and treat each customer courteously
To listen to our customers and strive to understand their needs
To appreciate the diversity of our customers and respect their contributions
To provide timely, complete, and understandable responses to customer requests
To treat our coworkers as customers
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