USDA Agencies Spotlight Services to Small Farms

Twenty-two representatives of USDA agencies that have small farm programs or have information beneficial to small farmers met in Washington March 13 to discuss collaboration and cooperation in serving the small farm community. Among the topics discussed were an "official" definition of "small farm"; Socially Disadvantaged Farmer outreach efforts by the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service; the 1997 Census of Agriculture; funding opportunities for small farmers via Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education; and the benefits of the Women, Infants and Children Program to the small farm community. The group decided to meet monthly to address small farm issues and concerns, especially the goal of helping small farmers maintain economic viability.

The Proceedings of the September 1996 National Small Farm Conference are now available for distribution. For additional information, contact DENIS EBODAGHE, National Program Leader, Small Farms, CSREES, at 202/401-4385 (telephone); 202/401-5179 (fax); or debodaghe@reeusda.gov (e-mail).

Fund for Rural America Web Site and E-Mail List Established

Two new access points for information about USDA's Fund For Rural America have been established. The Fund for Rural America Web Site (http://www.reeusda.gov/fra) contains current information about the Fund, including application guidelines for competitive grant programs. The second access point, an e-mail list, notifies subscribers electronically of new information such as guidelines, application packages, and abstracts of funded projects. Persons wishing to be included on the e-mail list are asked to send an electronic mail message to majordomo@reeusda.gov and to type the following, one-line-only message in the "message" space:

subscribe fund

For additional information, contact CATHY BRIDWELL, Distance Education Specialist, CSREES, at 202/720-6084 (telephone) or cbridwell@reeusda.gov (e-mail).

Tribal Colleges Extension Funds Available

Funds for extension activities at the 1994 land-grant institutions are available under CSREES' FY 1997 Tribal Colleges Extension Program. The new program, which will be conducted via cooperative agreements between the 1994 and the 1862 land-grant institutions, is designed to address targeted needs in the areas of agriculture; community resource and economic development; family development and resource management; 4-H and youth development; leadership and volunteer development; natural resources and environmental management; and nutrition, diet and health. Funds totaling $1,920,000 are available in FY 1997. The program announcement and application guidelines were mailed March 27 to presidents of 1994 land-grant institutions and to 1862 land-grant university extension directors in states that have 1994 institutions. Proposals must be received by CSREES by June 30, 1997. The announcement, which soon will be accessible on the CSREES Home Page, may be ordered from CSREES' Proposal Services Unit at 202/401-5048 (telephone) or psb@reeusda.gov (e-mail). For further information, contact JOAN F. GILL, National Program Coordinator, Partnerships, CSREES, at 202/720-6487 (telephone) or jgill@reeusda.gov (e-mail).

Biotechnology Risk Assessment Funds Offered

The CSREES/ARS FY 1997 Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program announcement appears in the April 4 Federal Register. Under this competitive awards program, funds totaling $1.54 million are available to support research on the safety of introducing genetically modified organisms (e.g., plants, micro- organisms, fungi, bacteria, viruses, arthropods, fish, birds, mammals, and other animals) into the environment. Proposals may be submitted by any U.S. public or private research or educational institution or organization and must be postmarked by May 16, 1997. (Hand-delivered proposals, including those submitted by express mail or a courier service, must be received by May 16). Copies of the announcement, the administrative provision for the program, and the application kit may be obtained from CSREES' Proposal Services Unit at 202/401-5048 (telephone) or psb@reeusda.gov (e-mail). The 1997 announcement is accessible on CSREES' Home Page at http://www.reeusda.gov/crgam/biotechrisk/biotech.htm. For additional information about the program, contact ED KALEIKAU, CSREES, at 202/401-1901 (telephone) or ekaleikau@reeusda.gov (e- mail), or ROBERT M. FAUST, Agricultural Research Service, at 301/504-6918 (telephone) or rmf@ars.usda.gov (e-mail).