USDA seeks suggestions for Farm Bill projects

WASHINGTON —The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is inviting stakeholders to submit suggestions for fiscal year (FY) 2013 projects to implement Section 10201 of the 2008 Farm Bill.

Submitted project suggestions should be organized around six Section 10201 goal areas: enhancing plant pest/disease analysis and survey; targeting domestic inspection activities at vulnerable points in the safeguarding continuum; enhancing and strengthening pest identification and technology; safeguarding nursery production; enhancing mitigation capabilities; and conducting outreach and education about these issues.

APHIS will accept suggestions for FY 2013 projects from Nov. 12 through Dec. 7. Detailed submission instructions and an explanation of the evaluation process are available on APHIS’ 10201 Web page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/section10201. Questions about the FY 2013 suggestions submittal and review process should be directed to PPQ.Section.Farmbill-10201@aphis.usda.gov.

Section 10201 of the 2008 Farm Bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make available Commodity Credit Corporation funds for early plant pest detection and surveillance, threat identification and mitigation of plant pests and diseases, and technical assistance in the development and implementation of audit-based certification systems and nursery plant pest risk management systems. The 5-year Farm Bill specifies that these funds be made available incrementally, starting with $12 million in FY 2009, $45 million in FY 2010, and $50 million in FY 2011 and thereafter.