A Plant Breeder’s Guide to CSREES, or
How to get credit and have effective input, and why it matters
Ann Marie Thro, 202 401 6702, athro@csrees.usda.gov
CSREES’s mission is to advance knowledge for the benefit of agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and
communities. CSREES supports research, education, and extension programs in the Land-Grant University System and other
partner organizations, via funding and leadership. Your informed involvement can strengthen your CSREES programs.
Get recognition:
How many plant breeding projects are there?
What are they doing? How much is invested in
public plant breeding through CSREES?
CRIS reports provide a database for answering
such questions. But an accurate computer
search for plant breeding is elusive!s
Why is it hard to find plant breeding?
Because -CRIS codes used in CSREES data bases indicate knowledge areas, not disciplines or methods (see Table 1). As a result, any search that includes plant breeding will also
include projects in, e.g., plant genomics, genetics, or genetic mechanisms; and/or microbial or insect genetics.
Suggested solution: Include KA 202 on plant breeding projects.
Rationale:
All plant breeding is a source of characterized genetic resources; consequently, all plant breeding has a KA 202 component.
In practice, using KA 202 with appropriate additional codes (e.g., KA 203, 204, 212, or etc.) is the best currently-available way to signal plant breeding projects in CSREES databases.
Use of KA 202 does still confound breeding with plant genetic resources research per se, but minimizes confounding with plant genomics or microbial or insect genetics.
Get credit:
Reporting accomplishments and outputs
How does plant breeding research rate?
Compared to other CSREES-funded work?
Compared to other federal-funded programs?
Answer: only “moderately effective” !?!
(see Table 2, last row, “Econ. Opportunities…”)
Is it our work? Or is it our reporting?
What are strategies for strong reporting ???
If you were buying your program, what would you pay for?
If you were Homeland Security, what would you look for?
Report all that adds value:
 First, new varieties. Also:
 New models, new methods;
 New experimental populations;
 New advanced populations, new elite lines;
New recombinations (crosses); . . . etc.
Date by specific year (e.g. avoid “recent”). Agency progress
reviews must ignore results not specific by year!
Get attention:
Stakeholder input on RFA’s
Some ways to provide effective input to
CSREES:
Contribute stakeholder input regularly on Requests
for Applications (RFAs)
Participate as a reviewer in proposal review panels
Know the federal regulations governing CSREES
programs
Get
integrated:
Bring together the
components of the
agricultural
knowledge system - research,
education, and
extension –
In integrated
projects to solve
problems and create
opportunities
All CSREES RFA’s, including NRI, contain a paragraph like
this: “CSREES requests stakeholder input from any
interested party for use in development of the next RFA for
this program. Comments will be used to meet the
requirements of section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7
U.S.C. 7613(c)(2)).
A new breed: CSREES
integrated projects.
A percentage of certain NRI and
other programs is authorized and
encouraged for projects that
integrate research, education,
and extension (REE).
Integrated projects are new, not yet
familiar to many stakeholders who
could develop outstanding
integrated projects and/or serve as
reviewers. Check out examples at
www.csrees.gov >Funding
opportunities >Integrated projects.
Learn more in SESSION 128,
Tues, 1 pm, La Louisianne
Reporting Impacts and Outcomes
Give CSREES credit, too!
Report: area planted, $, new products, market success, etc.
In a historically continuous program, report current impacts from
long-term research, e.g.
if a cross made by this program a decade ago saved
the crop this year, the rescue is an impact this year.
Report via popular-style impact statements:
Treat impact statements as “mini-PR” opportunities
Impact statements and non-tech summaries are quoted!
Style manual examples: airline magazines; USA Today
Tell the general reader why your work is in their interest
Use same popular style for non-tech summaries (also ‘mini-PR’)
Acknowledgement of CSREES funding is
critical for recognition of the public value of
these funding programs. In manuscripts,
presentations, displays, and press releases,
acknowledge CSREES support! Example:
“This project was supported by the
Cooperative State Research, Education and
Extension Service, USDA, [program--e.g.,
Hatch, NRI, other] , proj.#.”
Participate on review panels
To be considered as a potential reviewer, send a
message with your contact information and 4-5
expertise keywords to:
newreviewer@csrees.usda.gov.
Follow up with national program leaders! Name
and email of the NPL is listed in the RFA’s at
www..csrees.usda.gov >Funding Opportunities
Conclude:
Knowledge about CSREES allows more
effective action in support of:  maximum
visibility and recognition for your activities;
 a strong future for your CSREES programs;
and,  informed agency decisions regarding
limited funds.
 Get recognition and credit: Use codes and
reporting strategically for strong presentation of results
 Get attention: Have effective input :
•
Respond via stakeholder comments to RFAs
•
Participate on review panels
•
Know the authorizing legislation
 Integrate REE: research - education - extension
Know the regulations
Laws and regulations governing CSREES funding programs are
posted at:
www.csrees.usda.gov/offices/legis/legis_statutes.html and
www.csrees.usda.gov/about/pdfs/funding_mechanisms.pdf
Understanding the regulations helps target your comments to
areas where agency response is possible.
Avoids waste of effort on comments that go beyond what the
agency can do.
Table 1. Current Research Information System (CRIS)
reporting codes
CRIS Knowledge Area (KA) codes include (examples):
201 Plant genomics, genetics, and/or genetic mechanisms
202 Plant genetic resources: collection, preservation, characterization
203 Plant biological efficiency and abiotic stresses affecting plants
204 Plant product quality and utility (pre-harvest)
211 Insects, mites, and other arthropods affecting plants
212 Pathogens and nematodes affecting plants
213 Weeds affecting plants
214 Vertebrates, mollusks, and other pests affecting plants
215 Biological control of pests affecting plants
216 Integrated pest management systems
502 New and improved food products
511 New and improved non-food products and processes
701 Nutrient composition of food
903 Communication, education, information delivery
Bottom line: No code for plant breeding
Table 2. U.S. Office of Management and
Budget ratings for CSREES programs