[Federal Register: December 2, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 231)]
[Notices]
[Page 72286-72287]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02de05-15]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. TM-06-02]
Notice of Program Continuation
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice Inviting Proposals for fiscal year (FY) 2006 grant funds
under the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given for proposals for FY 2006 grant funds
under the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP). FSMIP
anticipates that approximately $1.3 million will be available for
support of this program in FY 2006. States interested in obtaining
funds under the program are invited to submit proposals. While only
State Departments of Agriculture or other appropriate State Agencies
are eligible to apply for funds, State Agencies are encouraged to
involve industry groups, academia, and community-based organizations in
the development of proposals and the conduct of projects.
DATES: Funds will be allocated on the basis of one round of
consideration. Proposals will be accepted through February 10, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Proposals may be sent to: FSMIP, Transportation and
Marketing Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4009
South Building, Washington, DC 20250.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janise Zygmont, FSMIP Staff Officer,
(202) 720-8043.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSMIP is authorized under Section 204(b) of
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.). FSMIP
provides matching grants on a competitive basis to assist State
Departments of Agriculture or other appropriate State agencies in
conducting studies or developing innovative approaches related to the
marketing of U.S. food and agricultural products. Other organizations
interested in participating in this program should contact their State
Department of Agriculture's Marketing Division to discuss their
proposal.
[[Page 72287]]
Proposals are submitted by the State Agency and must be accompanied
by completed Standard Forms (SF) 424 and 424A. AMS will not approve the
use of FSMIP funds for advertising or, with limited exceptions, for the
purchase of equipment. Detailed program guidelines may be obtained from
your State Department of Agriculture, the above AMS contact, or the
FSMIP Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm.
FSMIP funds a wide range of applied research projects that address
barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transportation,
and distribution of U.S. food and agricultural products domestically
and internationally.
Eligible agricultural categories include livestock, livestock
products, food and feed crops, fish and shellfish, horticulture,
viticulture, apiary, and forest products and processed or manufactured
products derived from such commodities. Reflecting the growing
diversity of U.S. agriculture, in recent years, FSMIP has funded
projects dealing with nutraceuticals, bioenergy, compost, and products
made from agricultural residues.
Proposals may deal with barriers, challenges, or opportunities
manifesting at any stage of the marketing chain including direct,
wholesale, and retail. Proposals may involve small, medium, or large
scale agricultural entities but should potentially benefit multiple
producers or agribusinesses. Proprietary proposals that benefit one
business or individual will not be considered.
Proposals that address issues of importance at the State, regional
or national level are appropriate for FSMIP. FSMIP also seeks unique
proposals on a smaller scale that may serve as pilot projects or case
studies useful as a model for others. Of particular interest are
proposals that reflect a collaborative approach among the States,
academia, the farm sector and other appropriate entities and
stakeholders.
FSMIP's enabling legislation authorizes projects to:
--Determine the best methods for processing, preparing for market,
packing, handling, transporting, storing, distributing, and marketing
agricultural products.
--Determine the costs of marketing agricultural products in their
various forms and through various channels.
--Assist in the development of more efficient marketing methods,
practices, and facilities to bring about more efficient and orderly
marketing, and reduce the price spread between the producer and the
consumer.
--Develop and improve standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade,
and packaging in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in
commercial practices.
--Eliminate artificial barriers to the free movement of agricultural
products in commercial channels.
--Foster new/expanded domestic/foreign markets and new/expanded uses of
agricultural products.
--Collect and disseminate marketing information to anticipate and meet
consumer requirements, maintain farm income, and balance production and
utilization.
Applicants have the option of submitting FSMIP applications
electronically through the central Federal grants web site, http://www.grants.gov
instead of mailing hard copy documents. Applicants
considering the electronic application option are strongly urged to
familiarize themselves with the Federal grants web site well before the
application deadline and to begin the application process before the
deadline. Additional details about the FSMIP application process for
all applicants are available at the FSMIP Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm
.
FSMIP is listed in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance''
under number 10.156 and subject agencies must adhere to Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination in all Federally
assisted programs.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: November 28, 2005.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E5-6787 Filed 12-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P