Overview of ARS National Programs
Steven Kappes
Deputy Administrator
Animal Production & Protection
National Program Staff
Agricultural Research Service
Agricultural Research Service• ARS is the
intramural research arm of USDA
• CSREES funds extramural research
http://www.ars.usda.gov/
Profile of ARS• 8,000+ employees• 2,200+ scientists• 100+ laboratory
locations• $1.1+ billion annual
budget • Partnerships with
universities and industry
• Intramural Research• Farm-to-table
research scope• 21 (19) National
Programs• 1,100+ research
projects• Information &
technology transfer
ARS Locations
ARS Is a National OrganizationARS Is a National Organization
ARS Organization (Matrix Management)
ARS is a Mission-Driven Organization
Our mission is to conduct research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and provide information access and dissemination to:
• Ensure high quality, safe food and other products
• Assess the nutritional needs of Americans
• Sustain a competitive agricultural economy
• Enhance the natural resource base and the environment
• Provide economic opportunities to rural citizens and society as a whole
Through National Programs!Through National Programs!
• A National Program is a set of research projects directed toward common goals to solve agricultural problems of high National priority.
• National Programs are outcome driven, e.g., a safer food supply.
How Do We Meet Our Mission?How Do We Meet Our Mission?
New Uses, Quality & Marketability of Plant & Animal Products
Human Nutrition
Food Safety
Plant, Microbial & Insect Germplasm Conservation & Development
Plant Biological & Molecular Processes
Plant Diseases
Crop Protection & Quarantine
Crop Production
Methyl Bromide Alternatives
National Programs
Animal Prod/ProtAnimal Prod/Prot Natural ResourcesNatural Resources Crop Prod/ProtCrop Prod/Prot
Water Availability & Management
Soil and Air Resource Management
Pasture, Forages and Rangeland Systems
Ag. Waste & Byproduct Utilization
Agricultural System Competitiveness & Sustainability
Bioenergy
Food Animal Production
Animal Health
Veterinary, Medical and Urban Entomology
Aquaculture
Nutrition, Food Nutrition, Food Quality and SafetyQuality and Safety
Provide Program Leadership
Receive input on ‘high priority’ research needs (relevance) and develop Action Plan
Develop research objectives for each research project with scientists
Identifies opportunities to leverage ARS research activities
Develop budget initiatives
National Program Champion
Technical expert – advises ARS Administrator, USDA Secretary, President and Congress
NPS FunctionNPS Function
How ARS Plans and Sets Research Priorities
Executive Branch(Department, other Federal agencies)
Agency Scientists
& Managers
Customers, Partners, &
Stakeholders
Scientific Communities
ARS Program
& Budgeting Priorities
How does ARS address new research problems?
• Redirection
• Collaborations
• New budget initiatives
• Does ARS have the expertise and capacity?
• Can the research be done by universities or industry?
• Fundamental (Basic) vs Applied Research
RelevanceRelevance
QualityQuality(Prospective)(Prospective)
QualityQuality(Retrospective)(Retrospective)
Program Planning & Priority Setting
Scientific Merit Peer Review
Program Assessment
ARS National Program Cycle
2003 – 2008 (current 5 year cycle)
PerformancePerformance
Project Implementation
Program Coordination
Quality (retrospective)
• External panels of scientific experts and stakeholders
• Did the program component achieve the goals of the action plan?
• Was the work of high quality?
• Each component scored for impact
• Program evaluation; not project evaluation
RelevanceRelevance
QualityQuality(Prospective)(Prospective)
QualityQuality(Retrospective)(Retrospective)
Program Planning & Priority Setting
Scientific Merit Peer Review
Program Assessment
ARS National Program Cycle (new 5 year cycle)ARS National Program Cycle (new 5 year cycle)
PerformancePerformance
Project Implementation
Program Coordination
Workshop
Relevance
• Each National Program conducts a national planning workshop– Stakeholder input
• Develops action plan (NPS and scientists)– 5 year plan – Defines program objectives and directions– Set the outcomes for the retrospective
reviews
Program Direction and Resource Allocation Memos
(PDRAM’s)• NPL assigns research objectives and expected
outcomes for each project• Specify the level of SY effort and funding to be
allocated to research project• If applicable, a SY recruitment or assignment
action and the scientific discipline required may also be specified
RelevanceRelevance
QualityQuality(Prospective)(Prospective)
QualityQuality(Retrospective)(Retrospective)
Program Planning & Priority Setting
Scientific Merit Peer Review
Program Assessment
ARS National Program CycleARS National Program Cycle
PerformancePerformance
Project Implementation
Program Coordination
RelevanceRelevance
QualityQuality(Prospective)(Prospective)
QualityQuality(Retrospective)(Retrospective)
Program Planning & Priority Setting
Scientific Merit Peer Review
Program Assessment
ARS National Program CycleARS National Program Cycle
PerformancePerformance
Project Implementation
Program Coordination
Performance(individual scientist)
• Annual performance ratings
• Annual reports including milestones met
• RPES evaluation
Workshop Outcomes
What we need from our Customers and Stakeholders-
• High priority research problems (prioritized)• We need to understand the problem
• Long term needs• Balanced research portfolio (basic and applied)
• ARS will develop an Action Plan• ARS will email customers and stakeholders our
Annual Reports