DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Funds

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary, [$45,555,000] $64,403,000, of which not to exceed [$5,051,000] $10,178,000 shall be available for the [immediate] Immediate Office of the Secretary, of which not to exceed [$250,000] $253,000 shall be available for the Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison, and of which not to exceed $5,000,000 shall be available for outreach services supporting new, beginning, and veteran farmers and ranchers; not to exceed [$502,000] $755,000 shall be available for the Office of Tribal Relations; not to exceed [$1,496,000] $1,592,000 shall be available for the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination; not to exceed [$1,209,000] $11,220,000 shall be available for the Office of Advocacy and Outreach; not to exceed [$25,928,000] $28,227,000 shall be available for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration, of which [$25,124,000] $27,420,000 shall be available for Departmental Administration to provide for necessary expenses for management support services to offices of the Department and for general administration, security, repairs and alterations, and other miscellaneous supplies and expenses not otherwise provided for and necessary for the practical and efficient work of the Department; not to exceed [$3,869,000] $3,919,000 shall be available for the Office of Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations to carry out the programs funded by this Act, including programs involving intergovernmental affairs and liaison within the executive branch; and not to exceed [$7,500,000] $8,512,000 shall be available for the Office of Communications: Provided, That the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to transfer funds appropriated for any office of the Office of the Secretary to any other office of the Office of the Secretary: Provided further, That no appropriation for any office shall be increased or decreased by more than 5 percent: Provided further, That not to exceed $11,000 of the amount made available under this paragraph for the [immediate] Immediate Office of the Secretary shall be available for official reception and representation expenses, not otherwise provided for, as determined by the Secretary: Provided further, That the amount made available under this heading for Departmental Administration shall be reimbursed from applicable appropriations in this Act for travel expenses incident to the holding of hearings as required by 5 U.S.C. 551–558: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading for the Immediate Office of the Secretary may be transferred to agencies of the Department of Agriculture for outreach activities supporting new, beginning, and veteran farmers and ranchers: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations may be transferred to agencies of the Department of Agriculture funded by this Act to maintain personnel at the agency level[: Provided further, That no funds made available under this heading for the Office of Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations may be obligated after 30 days from the date of enactment of this Act, unless the Secretary has notified the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on the allocation of these funds by USDA agency: Provided further, That within 180 days of the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress the report required in section 7 U.S.C. 6935(b)(3)].

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, [$898,000] $901,000.

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, [$893,000] $901,000.

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, [$893,000] $901,000.

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, [$816,000] $819,000.

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, [$898,000] $901,000.

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, [$898,000] $901,000.

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development, [$893,000] $896,000.

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, [$811,000] $814,000. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Office of the Secretary is responsible for the overall planning, coordination and administration of the Department's programs. This includes the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and their immediate staffs, who provide top policy guidance for the Department; maintain relationships with agricultural organizations and others in the development of farm programs; and provide liaison with the Executive Office of the President and Members of Congress on all matters pertaining to agricultural policy.

The 2017 Budget requests $22.7 million for the Office of the Secretary, of which $5 million is for a comprehensive outreach and technical assistance strategy targeted at new, beginning, and veteran farmers and ranchers.

The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination formulates emergency preparedness policies for USDA and directs and coordinates Department activities that support USDA emergency programs and liaison functions with Congress, the Department of Homeland Security, and other Federal agencies involving homeland security, natural disasters, agriculture-related international civil emergency planning and intelligence activities. The 2017 Budget requests $1.6 million.

The Office of Advocacy and Outreach improves access to USDA programs and enhances the viability and profitability of small farms and ranches, beginning farmers and ranchers, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The Department is committed to ensuring that all USDA constituents, including historically underserved groups, have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from the programs offered by the Department. The 2017 Budget requests $11.2 million.

Departmental Administration provides staff support to policy officials and overall direction and coordination of the Department. Activities include Department-wide programs for human resources management, occupational safety and health management, real and personal property management, acquisitions and contracting, motor vehicle and aircraft management, supply management, participation of small and disadvantaged businesses, veterans programs, and regulatory hearing and administrative proceedings. The 2017 Budget requests $27.4 million.

The Office of Communications provides leadership, expertise, and coordination to implement successful communication strategies and products that advance the mission of the USDA while serving the public in a fair, equal, transparent and accessible manner. The 2017 Budget requests $8.5 million.

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)

Employment Summary

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

Trust Funds

Special and Trust Fund Receipts (in millions of dollars)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Secretary is authorized to accept and administer gifts and bequests of real and personal property to facilitate the work of the Department. Property and the proceeds thereof are used in accordance with the terms of the gift or bequest (7 U.S.C. 2269).

Federal Funds

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Economist, [$17,777,000] $17,592,000, of which $4,000,000 shall be for grants or cooperative agreements for policy research under 7 U.S.C. 3155[, and of which $1,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2017, shall be for the purpose set forth under this heading in the explanatory statement described in section 4 (in the matter preceding division A of the consolidated Act)]. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Office of the Chief Economist advises the Secretary of Agriculture on the economic implications of Department policies, programs and proposed legislation. The Office is a focal point for USDA's economic intelligence and analysis; projections related to agricultural commodity markets; risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis related to domestic and international food and agriculture; policy direction for renewable energy development; coordination, analysis and advice on climate change and environmental market activities; and coordination and review of all commodity and aggregate agricultural and food-related data used to develop outlook and situation material within the Department. The 2017 Budget requests $17.6 million for the office.

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)

Employment Summary

For necessary expenses of the National Appeals Division, [$13,317,000] $13,481,000. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The National Appeals Division (NAD) is responsible for listening to farmers and other rural program participants concerning their disputes with certain agencies within the Department of Agriculture through fair and impartial administrative hearings and appeals. The 2017 Budget requests $13.5 million.

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)

Employment Summary

For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and Program Analysis, [$9,392,000] $9,525,000. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA) coordinates the preparation of Departmental budget estimates, regulations, and legislative reports; administers systems for the allotment and apportionment of funds; provides analysis of USDA program issues, draft regulations, and budget proposals; participates in strategic planning; and provides assistance to USDA policy makers in the development and execution of desired policies and programs. The 2017 Budget requests $9.5 million.

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Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Common Computing Environment provides the shared information technology platform for the three Service Center Agencies (the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Rural Development agencies). All remaining balances were rescinded by Section 736 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016.

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

This fund finances, by advances or reimbursements, certain central services in the Department of Agriculture, including duplicating and other visual information services; broadcast media services; supply services; centralized financial management systems; centralized automated data processing systems for payroll, personnel, and related services; voucher payments services; telecommunications services; and information technology systems.

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Employment Summary

Federal Funds

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Information Officer, [$44,538,000] $65,716,000, of which not less than [$28,000,000] $38,000,000 is for cybersecurity requirements of the Department. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 required the establishment of a Chief Information Officer (CIO) for all major Federal agencies. The Act requires USDA to maximize the value of information technology acquisitions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of USDA programs. To meet the intent of the law and to provide a Departmental focus for information resources management issues, Secretary's Memorandum 1030–30, dated August 8, 1996, established the Office of the Chief Information Office (OCIO). The CIO serves as the primary advisor to the Secretary on Information Technology (IT) issues. OCIO provides leadership for the Department's information and IT management activities in support of USDA program delivery. The 2017 Budget requests $65.7 million.

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Employment Summary

Federal Funds

For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, [$6,028,000] $9,119,000. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) was established in 1995 under authority provided in Reorganization Plan Number 2 of 1953 (7 U.S.C. 2201) to comply with the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990. The OCFO focuses on the Department's financial management activities to improve program delivery and assure maximum contribution to the Secretary's Strategic Goals. The 2017 Budget requests $9.1 million.

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)

Employment Summary

Federal Funds

For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, [$24,070,000] $24,750,000. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Office of Civil Rights provides overall leadership for all Department-wide civil rights activities, including employment opportunity and program non-discrimination policy development, analysis, coordination, and compliance. The Office provides leadership to implement best practices that will create an environment where a diverse workforce is valued as a source of strength. The Office monitors program activities to ensure that all USDA programs are delivered in a non-discriminatory manner. The 2017 Budget requests $24.8 million.

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)

Employment Summary

Federal Funds

For necessary expenses of the Department of Agriculture, to comply with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.), [$3,618,000] $3,633,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That appropriations and funds available herein to the Department for Hazardous Materials Management may be transferred to any agency of the Department for its use in meeting all requirements pursuant to the above Acts on Federal and non-Federal lands. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Department must meet the same standards for environmental cleanup and regulatory compliance regarding hazardous wastes and hazardous substances as private businesses. With substantial commitments under these Acts, the Hazardous Materials Management account was established as a central fund so the Department's agencies may be reimbursed for their cleanup efforts. The Department determines what projects to fund by using objective criteria to identify what sites pose the greatest threats to public health, safety, and the environment. The 2017 Budget requests $3.6 million.

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)

Employment Summary

Federal Funds

For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to Public Law 92–313, including authorities pursuant to the 1984 delegation of authority from the Administrator of General Services to the Department of Agriculture under 40 U.S.C. 121, for programs and activities of the Department which are included in this Act, and for alterations and other actions needed for the Department and its agencies to consolidate unneeded space into configurations suitable for release to the Administrator of General Services, and for the operation, maintenance, improvement, and repair of Agriculture buildings and facilities, and for related costs, [$64,189,000] $84,365,000, to remain available until expended, for buildings operations and maintenance expenses[: Provided, That the Secretary may use unobligated prior year balances of an agency or office that are no longer available for new obligation to cover shortfalls incurred in prior or current year rental payments for such agency or office]. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

This account finances the operations, repair, improvement and maintenance activities of two headquarters buildings in Washington, DC and the George Washington Carver Center in Beltsville, MD. The 2017 Budget requests $84.4 million, which includes $64.4 million for operations and maintenance and $20 million for building modernization of the headquarters complex.

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Employment Summary

Federal Funds

For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General, including employment pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, [$95,738,000] $100,998,000, including such sums as may be necessary for contracting and other arrangements with public agencies and private persons pursuant to section 6(a)(9) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, and including not to exceed $125,000 for certain confidential operational expenses, including the payment of informants, to be expended under the direction of the Inspector General pursuant to Public Law 95–452 and section 1337 of Public Law 97–98. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Office of Inspector General provides the Secretary and Congress with information or intelligence about fraud, other serious problems, mismanagement, and deficiencies in Department programs and operations, recommends corrective action, and reports on the progress made in correcting the problems. The Office reviews existing and proposed legislation and regulations and makes recommendations to the Secretary and Congress regarding the impact these laws have on the Department's programs and the prevention and detection of fraud and mismanagement in such programs. The Office provides policy direction and conducts, supervises, and coordinates all audits and investigations. The Office supervises and coordinates other activities in the Department and between the Department and other Federal, State and local government agencies whose purposes are to: (a) promote economy and efficiency; (b) prevent and detect fraud and mismanagement; and (c) identify and prosecute people involved in fraud or mismanagement.

OIG's $101 million request includes an increase of $1.1 million to support OIG audit oversight of high risk IT investments across the Department and $1.6 million to create an Audit Center of Excellence to reduce improper payments.

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)

Employment Summary

Federal Funds

For necessary expenses of the Office of the General Counsel, [$44,383,000] $49,599,000. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

For necessary expenses of the Office of Ethics, [$3,654,000] $4,617,000. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture provides legal advice, counsel, and services to the Secretary and to all agencies, offices, and corporations of the Department on all aspects of their operations. It represents the Department in administrative proceedings; non-litigation debt collection proceedings; State water rights adjudications; proceedings before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeal, the Merit System Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the USDA Office of Administrative Law Judges, and other Federal agencies; and, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, in judicial proceedings and litigation in the Federal and State courts. All attorneys and support personnel devoted to those efforts are supervised by the General Counsel. The 2017 Budget requests $49.6 million, including an increase of $5.2 million for 24 FTEs to handle an increased workload, to support current staff, and maintain OGC's current information technology and telecommunications infrastructure in OGC field locations.

The Office of Ethics provides ethics advice, counsel and training to all USDA officials and employees, and conducts annual financial disclosure reviews. The work of the Office of Ethics promotes employee compliance with the Federal conflict of interest laws and regulations. The 2017 Budget requests $4.6 million, including an increase of $0.9 million and 4 FTEs to support the increased demand for ethics services related to the upcoming Administration transition, 2016 Presidential Election, and implementation of the new financial disclosure reporting system.

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Employment Summary

Federal Funds

For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service, [$85,373,000] $91,278,000. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Economic Research Service provides economic and other social science research and analysis to inform public and private decision making on food, agriculture, natural resources, and rural America. The Agency's mission is to anticipate issues that are on the horizon, and to conduct sound, peer-reviewed economic research. ERS is also the primary source of statistical indicators that, among other things, gauge the health of the farm sector (including farm income estimates and projections), assess the current and expected performance of the agricultural sector (including trade), and provide measures of food security here and abroad. Most of the Agency's research is conducted by a highly trained staff of economists and social scientists through an intramural program of research, market outlook, and analysis.

Five principles characterize ERS' core program: (1) Research that builds on unique or confidential data sources at the Federal level and is inherent in the role of a Federal Statistical Agency, including the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) and associated farm and farm household finance estimates, consumer data and related research on food consumption, and development of USDA's commodity market outlook; (2) Research that provides coordination for a national perspective or framework, setting a single standard; (3) Research that requires a sustained investment and large teams; (4) Research that directly services the U.S. Government or USDA's long-term national goals such as the cost to the economy of sickness and premature death due to foodborne illnesses for FSIS, rural definition analysis for Rural development, and conservation program options for FSA and NCRS; and (5) Research that addresses questions with short-run payoff or has immediate policy implications.

The 2017 budget request of $91.3 million continues to fund ERS' highest priority core programs, including research, data, and market outlook on the following: How investments in rural people, businesses, and communities affect the capacity of rural economies to prosper in a changing global marketplace; economic issues related to developing natural resource policies and programs that respond to the need to protect the environment and the challenges of climate change while enhancing agricultural competitiveness; production agriculture, domestic and international markets, trade, and Federal farm policies, to understand the U.S. food and agriculture sector's performance in the context of increasingly globalized markets; the Nation's food and nutrition assistance programs, to study the relationships among factors that influence food choices and health outcomes, including obesity and to enhance methodologies for valuing societal benefits associated with reducing food safety risks. In addition to continuing ERS' core program of research, funding is requested to conduct a second round of the USDA's National Household Food Purchase and Acquisition Survey (FoodAPS), a nationally representative survey of American households to collect unique and comprehensive data about household food purchases and acquisitions. ERS also requests funds to support ongoing research in economic and policy drivers of drought resilience. ERS will expand the analysis to examine interactions with groundwater resources, as well as to provide more regionally specific results accounting for local variation in conditions and the institutions that govern farmers' access to water. Finally, ERS will dedicate funds to an ongoing initiative to analyze barriers to entry for beginning farmers and ranchers. ERS will expand the analysis to examine differences in demographic characteristics of new farmers and ranchers, including socially disadvantaged, women, and veterans.

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)

Employment Summary

Federal Funds

For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, [$168,443,000] $176,639,000, of which up to $42,177,000 shall be available until expended for the Census of Agriculture: Provided, That amounts made available for the Census of Agriculture may be used to conduct Current Industrial Report surveys subject to 7 U.S.C. 2204g(d) and (f). (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) provides the official National and State estimates of acreage, yield, and production of crops, stocks, value and expenditures associated with farm commodities, and inventory, values, and expenditures of livestock items. Data on approximately 120 crops and 45 livestock products are covered in over 400 reports issued each year. In addition, the Census of Agriculture, which is conducted every five years for years ending in 2 and 7, takes a snapshot of America's agriculture and provides comprehensive data on the Nation's agricultural industry down to the county level. NASS' responsibilities are authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C 1621–1627) and the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997, Public Law 105–113 (7 U.S.C. 2204 g(d)(f)).

Agricultural Estimates.—The Agricultural Estimates program is vital for producers, agricultural commodity markets in the U.S. and the world, policy makers in government, and people involved in making planning, investment, price discovery mechanisms, and marketing decisions. Billions of dollars could be put at risk without these essential Agricultural Estimates statistical reports. The work under this activity is conducted through 12 Regional offices and 34 State offices serving all 50 States. Cooperative arrangements with State agencies provide additional State and county data. In order to support Administration priorities and improve efficiency, NASS has carefully completed a comprehensive review of existing programs to determine which programs are most critical to serving agency goals, with evaluations based on the following prioritites: 1) Federal Principal Economic Indicator data; 2) data which directly impact commodity markets; 3) data necessary to implement the USDA programs which provide payments to farmers and are used to administer the farm safety net for producers; and 4) data for which there are no other publicly available sources of information. In 2015, NASS achieved several accomplishments: 1) published the regular schedule of Agricultural Estimates Federal Principal Economic Indicators; 2) began collecting quarterly data on honey bee colony loss from operators with five or more colonies; and 3) issued six Final Estimates bulletins covering five years of data for Field Crops; Noncitrus Fruits & Nuts; Rice Stocks; Stocks of Grains, Oilseeds, Hay; Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes; and Crop Values.

Census of Agriculture.—The Census of Agriculture provides the only source of comparable and consistent detailed data about agriculture and helps to measure trends and new development in the agricultural sector of our Nation's economy. The Census of Agriculture is critical because it provides comprehensive data on the agriculture economy, land use, production expenses, value of land and buildings, farm size and characteristics of farm operators, market value of agricultural production sold, acreage of major crops, inventory of livestock and poultry, and farm irrigation practices. In 2015, NASS achieved several accomplishments: 1) released results of the 2014 Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land (TOTAL) Survey covering land ownership and the outlook for land transition; 2) published four Current Agricultural Industrial Reports previously published by the Department of Commerce; and 3) released the 2014 Organics Production Survey for certified and non-certified growers.

The 2017 total request is $176.6 million for NASS, including $134.4 million for Agricultural Estimates to: 1) conduct the essential Federal Principal Economic Indicator surveys; 2) conduct other Core Integrated Surveys and Estimates to support USDA programs; 3) expand the Geo-Spatial program to leverage administrative use of satellite imagery to estimate crop acreage and yields; 4) address antimicrobial resistance by collecting data for Cattle on Feed, Hogs and Pigs, and Poultry; 5) collect new data for New and Beginning Farmers and publish key statistics at regional level; and 6) conduct a Farm Structure Study to explore ways to improve data collection and information reporting on today's complex farm business structures and farmer characteristics.

The 2017 NASS request includes $42.2 million for the Census of Agriculture. NASS will: 1) continue planning and preparations for the FY 2017 Census of Agriculture; 2) continue finalizing the census mail list by mailing the National Agricultural Classifications Survey (NACS) to 400,000 potential operations to determine if they meet the farm definition; and and 3) conduct the Agricultural Coverage Evaluation Survey (ACES) to better identify minority and socially disadvantaged farmers to ensure they are properly represented in the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

Miscellaneous funds received from local organizations, commodity groups, and others are available for dissemination of reports and for survey work conducted under cooperative agreements (7 U.S.C. 450b, 450h, 3318b). NASS also provides technical consultation, support, and assistance for international programs under participating agency service agreements.

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)

Employment Summary

Federal Funds

For necessary expenses of the Agricultural Research Service and for acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100, and for land exchanges where the lands exchanged shall be of equal value or shall be equalized by a payment of money to the grantor which shall not exceed 25 percent of the total value of the land or interests transferred out of Federal ownership, [$1,143,825,000] $1,161,340,000: Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall be available for the operation and maintenance of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed one for replacement only: Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for the construction, alteration, and repair of buildings and improvements, but unless otherwise provided, the cost of constructing any one building shall not exceed [$375,000] $500,000, except for headhouses or greenhouses which shall each be limited to [$1,200,000] $1,800,000, [and] except for 10 buildings to be constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed [$750,000] $1,100,000 each, and except for two buildings to be constructed at a cost not to exceed $3,000,000 each, and the cost of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value of the building or [$375,000] $500,000, whichever is greater: Provided further, That the limitations on alterations contained in this Act shall not apply to modernization or replacement of existing facilities at Beltsville, Maryland: Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be available for granting easements at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center: Provided further, That the foregoing limitations shall not apply to replacement of buildings needed to carry out the Act of April 24, 1948 (21 U.S.C. 113a): Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be available for granting easements at any Agricultural Research Service location for the construction of a research facility by a non-Federal entity for use by, and acceptable to, the Agricultural Research Service and a condition of the easements shall be that upon completion the facility shall be accepted by the Secretary, subject to the availability of funds herein, if the Secretary finds that acceptance of the facility is in the interest of the United States: Provided further, That funds may be received from any State, other political subdivision, organization, or individual for the purpose of establishing or operating any research facility or research project of the Agricultural Research Service, as authorized by law[: Provided further, That of the appropriations hereunder, $57,192,000 may not be obligated until 30 days after the Secretary of Agriculture certifies in writing to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress that the Agricultural Research Service has updated its animal care policies and that all Agricultural Research Service research facilities at which animal research is conducted have a fully functioning Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, including all appropriate and necessary record keeping: Provided further, That such certification shall set forth in detail the factual basis for the certification and the Department's plan for ensuring these changes are maintained in the future: Provided further, That such certification shall be subject to prior consultation with the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress]. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the principal in-house research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). ARS conducts scientific research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and to provide information access and dissemination to: ensure high-quality, safe food, and other agricultural products; assess the nutritional needs of Americans; sustain a competitive agricultural economy; enhance the natural resource base and the environment; and provide economic opportunities for rural citizens, communities, and society as a whole. This mission is carried out through ARS' major research program areas and other activities listed below (in italics).

The major research programs in ARS address and support the Department's priorities and are: New Products/Product Quality/Value Added; Environmental Stewardship; Livestock/Crop Production; Livestock/Crop Protection; Food Safety; and Human Nutrition.

The 2017 Salaries and Expenses budget for ARS requests $1.16 billion which includes increases for new and expanded research initiatives related to Avian Influenza and foreign animal diseases; combatting antimicrobial resistance; addressing water issue challenges in the agricultural sector; and climate change resilience. The proposed increases are partially offset by reductions and redirections of ongoing research. These offsets will help provide funding necessary for the critical research priorities proposed by the agency for 2017.

New Products/Product Quality/Value Added.—ARS has active research programs directed toward improving the efficiency and reducing the cost for the conversion of agricultural products into biobased products and biofuels; developing new and improved products for domestic and foreign markets; and providing higher quality, healthy foods that satisfy consumer needs in the United States and abroad.

Environmental Stewardship.— The emphasis of ARS' environmental stewardship research programs is on developing technologies and systems that support sustainable production and enhance the Nation's vast renewable natural resource base. ARS is currently developing the scientific knowledge and technologies needed to meet the challenges and opportunities facing U.S. agriculture in managing water resource quality and quantity under different climatic regimes, production systems, and environmental conditions. ARS' research also focuses on developing measurement, prediction, and control technologies for emissions of greenhouse gases, particulate matter, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and volatile organic compounds affecting air quality and land surface climate interactions. The agency is a leader in developing measurement and modeling techniques for characterizing gaseous and particulate matter emissions from agriculture. In addition, ARS is evaluating strategies for enhancing the health and productivity of soils, including developing predictive tools to assess the sustainability of alternative land management practices. Finding mechanisms to aid agriculture in adapting to changes in atmospheric composition and climatic variations is also an important component of this program. ARS' range and grazing land research objectives include the conservation and restoration of the Nation's range land and pasture ecosystems and agroecosystems through improved management of fire, invasive weeds, grazing, global change, and other agents of ecological change. The agency is currently developing improved grass and forage legume germplasm for livestock, conservation, bioenergy, and bioproduct systems as well as grazing-based livestock systems that reduce risk and increase profitability. In addition, ARS is developing whole system management strategies to reduce production costs and risks.

Livestock Production.—ARS' livestock production program is directed toward fostering an abundant, safe, nutritionally wholesome, and competitively priced supply of animal products produced in a viable, competitive, and sustainable animal agriculture sector of the economy by: safeguarding and utilizing animal genetic resources, associated genetic and genomic databases, and bioinformatic tools; developing a basic understanding of food animal physiology to address priority issues related to animal production, animal well-being, and product quality and healthfulness; and developing information, best management practices, novel and innovative tools, and technologies that improve animal production systems, enhance human health, and ensure domestic food security.

Crop Production.—ARS' crop production program focuses on developing and improving ways to reduce crop losses while protecting and ensuring a safe and affordable food supply. The research program concentrates on production strategies that are environmentally friendly, safe to consumers, and compatible with sustainable and profitable crop production systems. Research activities are directed at safeguarding and utilizing plant genetic resources and their associated genetic, genomic, and bioinformatic databases that facilitate selection of varieties and/or germplasm with significantly improved traits. Research activities attempt to minimize the impacts of crop pests while maintaining healthy crops and safe commodities that can be sold in markets throughout the world. ARS is conducting research to discover and exploit naturally occurring and engineered genetic mechanisms for plant pest control, develop agronomic germplasm with durable defensive traits, and transfer genetic resources for commercial use. ARS provides taxonomic information on invasive species that strengthens prevention techniques, aids in detection/identification of invasive pests, and increases control through management tactics that restore habitats and biological diversity.

Livestock Protection.—ARS' research on livestock protection is directed at protecting and ensuring the safety of the Nation's agriculture and food supply through improved disease detection, prevention, control, and treatment. Basic and applied research approaches are used to solve animal health problems of high national priority. Emphasis is given to methods and procedures to control animal diseases through the discovery and development of diagnostics, vaccines, biotherapeutics, animal genomics applications, disease management systems, animal disease models, and farm biosecurity measures. The research program has the following strategic objectives: establish ARS laboratories into a fluid, highly effective research network to maximize use of core competencies and resources; ensure access to specialized high containment facilities to study zoonotic and emerging diseases; develop an integrated animal and microbial genomics research program; establish core competencies in bovine, swine, ovine, and avian immunology; launch a biotherapeutic discovery program providing alternatives to animal drugs; build a technology-driven vaccine and diagnostic discovery research program; develop core competencies in field epidemiology and predictive biology; establish a best-in-class training center for our Nation's veterinarians and scientists; and develop a model technology transfer program to achieve the full impact of ARS research discoveries.

Crop Protection.—ARS' research on crop protection protects crops from insects and diseases through research to understand pest and disease transmission mechanisms, and to identify and apply new technologies that increase understanding of virulence factors and host defense mechanisms. ARS research priorities include identification of: genes that convey virulence traits in pathogens and pests; factors that modulate infectivity, gene functions, and mechanisms; genetic profiles that provide specified levels of disease and insect resistance under field conditions; and mechanisms that reduce the spread of pests and infectious diseases. ARS is developing new knowledge and integrated pest management approaches to control pest and disease outbreaks as they occur. Its research will improve the knowledge and understanding of the ecology, physiology, epidemiology, and molecular biology of emerging diseases and pests. This knowledge will be incorporated into pest risk assessments and management strategies to minimize chemical inputs and increase production. Strategies and approaches will be available to producers to control emerging crop diseases and pest outbreaks and to address quarantine issues.

Food Safety.— ARS' food safety research program is designed to yield science-based knowledge on the safe production, storage, processing, and handling of plant and animal products, and on the detection and control of toxin producing and/or pathogenic bacteria and fungi, parasites, chemical contaminants, and plant toxins. All of ARS' research activities involve a high degree of cooperation and collaboration with USDA's Research, Education, and Economics agencies, as well as with the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ARS also collaborates in international research programs to address and resolve global food safety issues. Specific research efforts are directed toward developing new technologies that assist ARS stakeholders and customers, including regulatory agencies, industry, and commodity and consumer organizations, in detecting, identifying, and controlling foodborne diseases that affect human health.

Human Nutrition.—Maintenance of health throughout the lifespan along with prevention of obesity and chronic diseases via food-based recommendations are the major emphases of ARS' human nutrition research program. These health-related goals are based on the knowledge that deficiency diseases are no longer primary public health concerns in the U.S. Excessive consumption has become the primary nutrition problem in the American population. This is reflected by increased emphasis on prevention of obesity from basic science through intervention studies to assessments of large populations. ARS' research program also actively studies bioactive components of foods that have no known requirement but have health promoting qualities. Four specific areas of research are emphasized: nutrition monitoring; the scientific basis for dietary recommendations; prevention of obesity and related diseases; and life stage nutrition and metabolism, in order to better define the role of nutrition in pregnancy and growth of children, and for healthier aging.

Library and Information Services.—The National Agricultural Library (NAL) is the largest and most accessible agricultural research library in the world. It provides services directly to the staff of USDA and to the public, primarily via the NAL web site, http://www.nal.usda.gov. NAL was created with the USDA in 1862 and was named a national library in 1962, as the primary agricultural information resource of the United States. NAL is the premier library for collecting, managing, and disseminating agricultural knowledge. The Library is the repository of our Nation's agricultural heritage, the provider of world class information, and a wellspring for generating new fundamental knowledge and advancing scientific discovery. It is a priceless national resource that, through its services, programs, information products, and web-based tools and technologies, serves anyone who needs agricultural information. The Library's vision is "advancing access to global information for agriculture."

Repair and Maintenance of Facilities.—Funds are used to restore, upgrade, and maintain ARS' facilities to meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration and EPA requirements, provide suitable workspace for in-house research programs, and to retrofit existing structures for better energy utilization.

Reimbursements.—ARS performs research activities and services for other USDA, Federal, and non-Federal agencies. These activities and services are paid for on a reimbursable basis.

Object Classification (in millions of dollars)

Employment Summary

For the acquisition of land, construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities as necessary to carry out the agricultural research programs of the Department of Agriculture, where not otherwise provided, [$212,101,000] $94,500,000, to remain available until expended. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016.)

Program and Financing (in millions of dollars)