Example: The criteria for selecting proposals are based upon the extent the project will contribute to needed services and training, capability of applicant to provide services and training, more effective utilization of personnel providing mental health services, and development of new methods or information.

Regional or Local Office -- This section lists the agency contact person, address and telephone number of the Federal Regional or Local Office(s) to be contacted for detailed information regarding a program such as: (1) current availability of funds and the likelihood of receiving assistance within a given period; (2) preapplication and application forms required; (3) whether a preapplication conference is recommended; (4) assistance available in preparation of applications; (5) whether funding decisions are made at the headquarters, regional or local level; (6) application renewal procedures (including continuations and supplementals) or appeal procedures for rejected applications; and (7) recently published program guidelines and material.

APPENDICES --The last section of the Catalog contains the following appendices: Programs Requiring Executive Order 12372 Review (Appendix I); Authorization Appendix (Appendix II); Budget Functional Code Appendix (Appendix III); Agency Regional and Local Office Addresses (Appendix IV); Sources of Additional Information (Appendix V); Developing and Writing Grants Proposals (Appendix VI); and in the December update to the Catalog, Historical Profile of Catalog Programs (Appendix VII).

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (10.001-10.999)

species that are reservoirs for zoonotic diseases, except for urban rodent control.

Departmental Management (10.443, 10.465) DM's mission is to provide management leadership to ensure that USDA administrative programs, policies, advice and counsel meet the needs of USDA program organizations, consistent with laws and mandates, and provide safe and efficient facilities and services to customers.

Economic Research Service (10.250, 10.253-10.256) The Economic Research Service produces economic and other social science information as a service to the general public and to help Congress and the administration develop, administer, and evaluate agricultural and rural policies and programs.

Through leadership and partnership with USDA agencies: ensure the provision of information, technical assistance, and training to all USDA customers with emphasis on under-served populations, to assure they have full access to all USDA programs and services. Maintains effective competition and fair trade practices in the marketing of livestock, poultry for the protection of livestock and poultry producers. Administers programs to make food assistance available to people who need it. These programs are operated in cooperation with State and local governments. Participates in a nationwide system of agricultural research program planning and coordination between the States and the Department of Agriculture to encourage and assist in the establishment and maintenance of cooperation within and among the States and between the States and their Federal research partners. The primary function is to administer the Acts of Congress that authorize Federal appropriations for agricultural research carried on by the State agricultural experiment stations of the 50 States, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, and Micronesia the Northern Marinas, approved schools of forestry, the 1890 land-grant institutions and Tuskegee University, colleges of veterinary medicine, and other eligible institutions. The Extension activities of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service coordinates and provides administrative, technical, and other services to a nationwide Cooperative Extension System, in partnership with State and local governments and the private sector. The primary function of this system is to take the research findings of the Department of Agriculture, the State Land-Grant Colleges and programs administered by the Department of Agriculture, and to develop and deliver informal, out-of-school educational programs. These programs communicate and demonstrate to people how they can apply research findings to identify and solve farm, home, and community problems. This work is carried out through extension offices in each State, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, and Micronesia, plus 16, 1890 land-grant universities and Tuskegee University as the State partner.

Farm Service Agency (10.051, 10.053-10.056, 10.069, 10.080, 10.085, 10.087-10.093, 10.095, 10.099, 10.102, 10.141, 10.404, 10.406-10.407, 10.421, 10.435, 10.437, 10.449, 10.451) Administers domestic commodity price and income support, farm loan, disaster assistance, and conservation cost-share programs for the Department of Agriculture.

Food Safety and Inspection Service (10.475, 10.477, 10.479) Assures that meat, poultry and egg products moving in interstate and foreign commerce are safe, wholesome, unadulterated and accurately labeled, as required by the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act. The Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Programs provide continuous in plant inspection of all domestic plants preparing meat, poultry, and egg products for sale or distribution in commerce. In addition, these acts include the review of inspection systems in foreign establishments that prepare meat, poultry, or egg products for export to the United States under inspection programs that are equivalent to the U.S. program. FSIS provides technical and financial assistance to States which maintain meat and poultry inspection programs equal to Federal inspection. FSIS also enters into Cooperative Agreements with Academic institutions; State, local and tribal government agencies; and non-profit organizations to improve Food Safety and Food Defense.

Agricultural Marketing Service (10.153, 10.155-10.156, 10.162-10.165, 10.167-10.168, 10.170-10.171) Administers standardization, grading, voluntary inspection, market news, marketing orders, regulatory, and related programs.

Agricultural Research Service (10.001, 10.700) Conducts research to develop new knowledge and technology to ensure an abundance of high quality agricultural commodities and products at reasonable prices to meet the increasing needs of an expanding economy and to provide for the continued improvement in the standard of living of all Americans. It conducts basic, applied, and developmental research on animal and plant production use and improvement of soil, water, and air processing, storage, distribution, food safety, consumer services and human nutrition research, and food and agriculture sciences. The National Agricultural Library of ARS disseminates useful information about agricultural and other related sciences to scientists and researchers, administrators and managers, farmers, and to the general public provides library services, such as bibliographies, reference services and document delivery.

Food and Nutrition Service (10.551, 10.553, 10.555-10.561, 10.565-10.569, 10.572, 10.574-10.580, 10.582-10.589) The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the USDA food assistance programs. These programs, which serve one in six Americans, represent our Nation's commitment to the principle that no one in this country should fear hunger or experience want. They provide a Federal safety net to people in need. The goals of the programs are to provide needy persons with access to a more nutritious diet, to improve the eating habits of the Nation's children, and to help America's farmers by providing an outlet for distributing foods purchased under farmer assistance authorities. The Service works in partnership with the States in all its programs. State and local agencies determine most administrative details regarding distribution of food benefits and eligibility of participants and FNS provides commodities and funding for additional food and to cover administrative costs.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (10.025, 10.028, 10.030) Conducts regulatory and control programs to protect and improve animal and plant health for the benefit of man and the environment and to control or reduce damage caused by nuisance mammals and birds and those mammal and bird

Foreign Agricultural Service (10.600-10.606, 10.608-10.610, 10.612-10.614, 10.777, 10.960-10.962)

farmers for products, prices paid for commodities and services for living and production, and related indexes; farm employment and wage rates; cold storage supplies; agricultural chemical use; aquaculture; and other relevant aspects of the agricultural economy. Estimates for about 120 crops and 45 livestock items are published in about 400 Federal and 9,000 State-Federal reports each year. Beginning in 1997, NASS is responsible for the Census of Agriculture, previously conducted by the Bureau of the Census, Commerce Department. The Census of Agriculture is taken every 5 years and provides comprehensive data down to the county level on all aspects of the agricultural economy for the U.S., as well as selected data for American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. All information is made available to the news media and the public at scheduled release times and is available for free on the Internet. Statistical research and service is directed toward improving crop and livestock estimating techniques. Considerable emphasis is placed on improving survey sample designs as well as testing new forecasting and estimating techniques, such as using satellite data.

The export promotion and service agency for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Stimulates overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products. FAS fulfills its role as the promotional agency for the world's largest agricultural export business through its network of agricultural counselors, attaches, and trade officers stationed overseas and its backup team of analysts, marketing specialists, negotiators, and related specialists. FAS maintains a worldwide agricultural intelligence and reporting system through its attached service. FAS also has a continuing market development program to develop, service, and expand commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products. By virtue of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, FAS received authority to open at least 6 and not more than 25 agricultural trade offices overseas to develop, maintain and expand international markets for U.S. agricultural commodities. Ten of these offices have been established and are located in such key markets as West Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Mexico City. To improve access for U.S. farm products abroad, FAS international trade policy specialists coordinate and direct USDA's responsibilities in international trade agreement programs and negotiations. FAS also manages the Public Law 480 Program, Titles I and III (Food for Peace Program), and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Export Credit Guarantee Programs. Public Law 480 is aimed at long-range improvement in the economies of developing countries. Commercial programs promote commercial agricultural exports by providing credit guarantees to exporters which are used to obtain additional U.S. exports. Title I, the concession sales section of Public Law 480, provides for low-interest, long-term credit to recipients of U.S. farm commodities. The Title II program authorizes the donation of agricultural commodities to foreign governments, voluntary relief agencies, or intergovernmental organizations. Title III permits multiyear programming and forgiveness of dollar payments, provided the recipient country undertakes specific agricultural and economic development projects for commodities delivered under Title I agreements. FAS focuses on sharing knowledge of agriculture through development assistance and cooperation with other countries. Primary activities are providing technical assistance and training in agriculture to other countries, particularly the developing world; working with international food and agricultural organizations to solve world food problems; and sponsoring scientific exchanges and research that will help farmers both at home and aboard.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (10.200, 10.202-10.203, 10.205-10.207, 10.210, 10.212, 10.215-10.217, 10.219-10.223, 10.225-10.228, 10.303-10.320, 10.322, 10.324-10.327) The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), part of the executive branch of the Federal Government. Congress created NIFA through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. NIFA replaced the former Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), which had been in existence since 1994. NIFA's unique mission is to advance knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs in the Land-Grant University System and other partner organizations. NIFA doesn't perform actual research, education, and extension but rather helps fund it at the state and local level and provides program leadership in these areas.

Forest Service (10.652, 10.664-10.666, 10.672, 10.674-10.676, 10.678-10.691, 10.693-10.694) Cares for the land and serves people. Promotes the sustainability of ecosystems by ensuring their health, diversity, and productivity, which is coupled with this service ethic: work collaboratively and use appropriate scientific information in caring for the land and serving people. Provides financial, technical and scientific assistance to outside organizations in order to achieve these goals when authorized by statute. These land and service ethics are applied by the Forest Service through ecosystem management. Ecosystem management is the integration of ecological, economic, and social factors in order to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment to meet current and future needs. The four strategic goals of the Forest Service are to: (1) protect ecosystems, (2) restore deteriorated ecosystems, (3) provide multiple benefits for people within the capabilities of ecosystems, and (4) ensure organizational effectiveness. The Forest Service Natural Resource Agenda identifies four key areas of national focus. They are: watershed, health and restoration; sustainable forest ecosystem management; forest roads management; and recreation enhancement. Implementation of the agenda will help bring people together and help them find ways to live within the limits of the land. This in turn will ensure that future generations will forever be endowed with the rich natural bounty of our Nation.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (10.072, 10.901-10.905, 10.907, 10.912-10.914, 10.916-10.917, 10.920-10.926) Develops and carries out a national soil and water conservation program in cooperation with landowners, operators and other land users and developers, community planning agencies and regional resource groups, Federal, State, and local government agencies; also assists in agricultural pollution control, environmental improvement, and rural community development. Preserves, protects, and restores valued wetlands, and improves wildlife and migratory bird habitat. Supports the objectives of the Nation's commitment to the 1973 International Boundary and Water Commission Agreement concerning the quality of water in the Colorado River delivered downstream to users in the United States and the Republic of Mexico. Conserves water; preserves, maintains, and improves migratory waterfowl habitat and other wildlife resources. Encourages good forestry management through the development, management, and protection of non-industrial private forest lands, to increase the production of timber and enhance other forest resources.

National Agricultural Statistics Service (10.950) Agricultural estimates involve collecting, analyzing, and publishing agricultural production and marketing data, including: number of farms and acreage in farms; crop acreage, yields, production, stocks, value, and utilization; inventories and production of livestock, poultry, eggs, and dairy products; prices received by

Risk Management Agency (10.450, 10.456, 10.458-10.460) The Risk Management Agency (RMA) is part of USDA. RMA's role is to help producers manage their business risks through effective, market-based risk management solutions. RMA's mission is to promote, support, and regulate sound risk management solutions to preserve and strengthen the economic stability of America's agricultural producers. As part of this mission, RMA operates and manages the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). RMA was created in 1996; the FCIC was founded in 1938. RMA, via the FCIC, provides crop insurance to American producers. Private-sector insurance companies sell and service the policies. RMA develops and/or approves the