To Access Statements, Other Documents
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ADVOCACY
• 2014 Agricultural Act, Strengthened Research Title:
– FFAR Authorized, $200 Million in Mandatory Funding
– FFAR in Business, Founding Board in Charge, $200 Million
Transferred to FFAR Account
– AFRI Reauthorized at $700 Million
– Mandatory Funding for Specialty Crops, Organic Retained
• FY15 Appropriations:
– AFRI Funded at $325 Million
– Funding for other REE Programs Sustained

HILL SEMINARS-Education With A Purpose
• 94 Seminars in 10 Years
• Over 6,000 Attendees-Overwhelmingly Hill Staff
– 12 Seminars in 2014-618 Attendees
– Senate Briefings When Appropriate
– Positive Feedback From Hill, Agency Staff
• Diversity of Disciplines, Timely Topics

Support increased funding for ALL parts of USDA’s REE mission, both intramural and extramural
• Strengthening Research Title—Support for FFAR Implementation
• Support actions to fund the Agriculture and Food Research
Initiative (AFRI) at the fully authorized level as soon as practicable.
– Funding at the authorized level of $700 million ($325 MM FY2015) is necessary to ensure the achievement of the scientific underpinnings necessary to achieve multiple goals and objectives, and (train future
scientists and technicians for ag and industry (capacity).
– Opposed to taking funds from other REE programs in USDA to fund AFRI.
– AFRI should enable USDA to continue leveraging.
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• Participate in FB Implementation & Budget/Approps Process
– Testimony to House and Senate Ag Approps, Senate Approps
– Signed Group Letters
• Meetings with Woteki, Ramaswamy
• Collaborate with Allied Groups
– APLU, BAA; AFRI Coalition; SoAR; Agree
Go to http://ncfar.org/what.asp
for Archive of Actions
• Other-Hosted Special Dialogue on Future of Cooperative Extension
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• Objective: Broaden Support in Health Community for Food and Ag
Science Funding.
• April 7, 2014 Summit
• Position Statement: “ We improve global health—from all perspectives—by identifying and advocating for agricultural research that strengthens the connection between agriculture and health, leading policy makers and health influencers to
take action to meet global challenges.”
• Strategy to Move Forward
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Through education and outreach efforts, sustain and enhance federal funding for food and agricultural research, extension and education to help bring
about research outcomes that provide a range of major public benefits.
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Nonpartisan, consensus-based and
CUSTOMER-LED (stakeholders who need and
benefit from research outcomes) coalition that brings food, agriculture, nutrition, conservation and natural resource organizations together with the REE community—providing a forum and a unified voice for enhanced public investment in food
& agricultural REE.
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Focus limited resources on what we do well:
• Education & outreach to hill & agency officials through (1) hill seminars, and (2)
Healthy Ag-People Initiative.
• Targeted advocacy role through (1) support for budget & appropriations, and (2) FFAR and farm bill implementation.
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• 2014 Balanced Budget
• 10 Months’ Operating Reserves
• Strong Member-Sponsor Support
⁻Members: 60 Organizations, 12 Individuals
⁻27 Sponsors (Number of sponsors also
members)
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