Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Act of 1990
Introduction
S 2334 IS
101st CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2334
To expand the United
States Department of Agriculture's low input sustainable agriculture research
and education programs, and to provide biotechnology risk assessment research,
and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
STATES
March 26 (legislative day, JANUARY 23), 1990
Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Mr. DASCHLE,
Mr. HARKIN, and Mr. KOHL) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
A BILL to expand the United
States Department of Agriculture's low input sustainable agriculture research
and education programs, and to provide biotechnology risk assessment research,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE
This Act may be cited as the `Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Act of 1990'.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short Title.
Sec. 2. Table of Contents.
TITLE I--LOW-INPUT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM
Sec. 101. Findings and Purposes.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Sec. 103. Research and Extension Projects.
Sec. 104. Program Administration.
Sec. 105. Federal-State Matching Grant Program.
Sec. 106. Technical Guides for Low-Input Agricultural Production Systems.
Sec. 107. Reports.
Sec. 108. Authorization for Appropriations.
TITLE II--NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Sec. 201. Findings and Purposes.
Sec. 202. Definitions.
Sec. 203. Program Administration.
Sec. 204. National Training Centers.
Sec. 205. Competitive Grants.
Sec. 206. Training Program Participants.
Sec. 207. Authorization of Appropriations.
TITLE III--EXTENSION SERVICE PESTICIDE APPLICATION ADVICE
Sec. 301. Findings and Purposes.
Sec. 302. Definitions.
Sec. 303. Pesticide Use Recommendations.
Sec. 304. Conforming Amendment.
TITLE IV--BIOTECHNOLOGY RISK ASSESSMENT RESEARCH
Sec. 401. Findings and Purposes.
Sec. 402. Definitions.
Sec. 403. Grant Program.
Sec. 404. Authorization of Appropriations.
TITLE V--HERBICIDE RESISTANCE RESEARCH
Sec. 501. Findings and Purposes.
Sec. 502. Definitions.
Sec. 503. Prohibition of Assistance for Certain Research.
Sec. 504. Reallocation of Research Funding.
Sec. 505. Report.
TITLE I--LOW-INPUT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM
SEC. 101. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds that--
(1) the United States must
focus its research and education efforts on the development of sustainable
methods of farming that are productive and profitable, conserve natural
resources, and protect the environment and the health and safety of agricultural
workers and consumers;
(2) different methods of
agricultural production can contribute to the goal of achieving long-term
sustainability including alternative, regenerative, biological, organic,
ecological, and low-input sustainable agricultural production methods;
(3) many farmers and ranchers
are highly dependent on nonrenewable production inputs and natural resources
for agricultural production and are seeking information on sustainable
production systems;
(4) farmers and ranchers
have demonstrated interest in participating directly in research and extension
efforts and that participation can improve farming methods and benefit
research and extension programs; and
(5) expanded agricultural research and extension efforts are needed to assist farmers and ranchers
to--
(A) improve agricultural productivity, profitability and competitiveness;
(B) prevent water pollution and soil erosion and degradation;
(C) protect the health and safety of farmers, farmworkers, and consumers;
(D) implement soil, water, and energy conservation practices;
(E) reduce the use of nonrenewable production inputs, to the maximum extent feasible and practicable, and optimize the use of on-farm resources;
(F) explore alternative livestock production systems that lead to low-input livestock production; and
(G) stabilize and improve farm income through crop and enterprise diversification.
(b) PURPOSES- It is the purpose of this title to encourage research designed to increase our knowledge concerning agricultural production systems that--
(1) maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil;
(2) conserve soil, water,
energy, and natural resources, and improve fish and wildlife habitat conditions;
(3) prevent contamination
of surface and ground water;
(4) protect the health and
safety of farmers, farmworkers and consumers;
(5) promote the humane treatment
of animals;
(6) increase the number of
economically viable self-employment opportunities in agriculture.
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
(1) EXTENSION- The term `extension'
shall have the same meaning given to such term by section 1404(7) of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 3103(7)).
(2) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION-
The term `non-profit organization' means an organization, group, institute,
or institution that--
(A) has a demonstrated capacity
to conduct agricultural research or education programs;
(B) has experience in research,
demonstration, education, or extension in sustainable agricultural practices
and systems; and
(C) qualifies as a not-for-profit
organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954
(26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)).
(3) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary'
means the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture.
(4) STATE- The term `State'
means each of the fifty States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, American
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Trust Territory
of the Pacific Islands.
(5) STATE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT
STATIONS- The term `State agricultural experiment stations' shall have
the same meaning given to such term by section 1404(13) of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103(13)).
SEC. 103. RESEARCH AND EXTENSION
PROJECTS.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
shall conduct research and extension projects to obtain data, develop conclusions,
demonstrate technologies, and conduct educational programs that promote
the purposes of this title, including research and extension projects that--
(1) facilitate and increase
scientific investigation and education in order to--
(A) reduce, to the maximum
extent feasible and practicable, the use of toxic chemical pesticides and
fertilizers in agricultural production;
(B) improve low-input farm
management in order to enhance agricultural productivity, profitability,
and competitiveness;
(C) promote crop, livestock,
and enterprise diversification; and
(2) facilitate the conduct
of research and extension projects in order to--
(A) study, to the maximum
extent practicable, agricultural production systems that are located in
areas that possess various soil, climate, and physical characteristics;
(B) study farms that have
been, and will continue to be, managed using farm production practices
that rely on a low-input and other conservation practices;
(C) take advantage of the
experience and expertise of farmers and ranchers through their direct participation
and leadership in projects; and
(D) transfer practical, reliable
and timely information to farmers and ranchers concerning sustainable farming
practices and systems.
(b) AGREEMENTS- The Secretary
shall carry out this section through agreements entered into with land-grant
colleges or universities, other universities, State agricultural experiment
stations, the Cooperative State Extension Service, nonprofit organizations,
or Federal or State governmental entities.
(c) Selection of Projects-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
shall select research and extension projects under this section on the
basis of--
(A) the recommendations of
the National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council established in section
104 of this title;
(B) the relevance of the
project to the purposes of this title;
(C) the appropriatness of
the design of the project;
(D) the likelihood of obtaining
the objectives of the project; and
(E) the national or regional
applicability of the findings and outcomes of the proposed project.
(2) PRIORITY- The Secretary
shall give priority to projects that--
(A) are recommended by the
National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council;
(B) closely coordinate research
and extension activities;
(C) indicate how the findings
of the project will be made readily usable by farmers;
(D) maximize the involvement
and cooperation of farmers, including projects involving on-farm research
and demonstration;
(E) involve a multidiscriplinary
systems approach; and
(F) involve cooperation between
farms, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, and government
agencies.
(d) DIVERSIFICATION OF RESEARCH-
The Secretary shall conduct projects and studies under this section in
areas that are broadly representative of the diversity of United States
agricultural production, including production on small farms, mixed-crop
livestock farms and diary operations.
(e) ON-FARM RESEARCH- The
Secretary may conduct projects and activities that involve on-farm research
and demonstration in carrying out this section.
(f) IMPACT STUDIES- The Secretary
may approve study projects concerning the national and regional economic,
social and environmental implications of the adoption of sustainable agricultural
practices and systems.
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
may approve projects conducted under the title that have a duration of
more than one fiscal year.
(2) SEQUENCE PLANTING- In
the case of a research project conducted under this section that involves
the planting of a sequence of crops or crop rotations, the Secretary shall
approve such project for a term that is appropriate to the sequence or
rotation being studied.
(h) PUBLIC ACCESS- The Secretary
shall ensure that research projects are open for public observation at
specified times.
(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to
paragraph (2), the Secretary may indemnify the operator of a project conducted
under this section for damage incurred or undue losses sustained as a result
of rigid requirement of research or demonstration under such project that
is not experienced in normal farming operations.
(2) SUBJECT TO AGREEMENT-
An indemnity payment under paragraph (1) shall be subject to any agreement
between a project grantee and operator entered into prior to the initiation
of such project.
SEC. 104. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.
(a) DUTIES OF SECRETARY-
The Secretary shall--
(1) administer the programs
and projects under sections 103 and 105 through the Cooperative State Research
Service in close cooperation with the Extension Service and other appropriate
agencies;
(2) establish a National
Sustainable Advisory Council in accordance with paragraph (b);
(3) establish a minimum of
four Regional Administrative Councils in accordance with paragraph (c);
and
(4) in conjunction with such
Regional Administrative Councils, identify regional host institutions required
to carry out the provisions of such programs or projects.
(b) National Sustainable
Agriculture Advisory Council-
(1) MEMBERSHIP- The membership
of the National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council shall include
representatives of--
(A) the Agricultural Research
Service;
(B) the Cooperative State
Research Service;
(C) the Soil Conservation
Service;
(D) the Extension Service;
(E) State cooperative extension
services;
(F) State agricultural experiment
stations;
(G) the Economic Research
Service;
(H) the National Agricultural
Library;
(I) the Environmental Protection
Agency;
(J) the Board of Agriculture
of the National Academy of Sciences;
(K) private nonprofit organizations;
(L) farmers utilizing sustainable
agriculture systems and practices;
(M) the Geological Survey;
(O) other specialists in
agricultural research and technology transfer.
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES- The
National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council shall--
(A) make recommendations
to the Secretary concerning research and extension projects that should
receive funding under sections 103 and 105;
(B) promote the programs
established under this title at the national level;
(C) coordinate research and
extension activities funded by such programs;
(D) establish general procedures
for awarding and administering funds under this title;
(E) consider recommendations
for improving such program;
(F) facilitate cooperation
and integration between sustainable agriculture, national water quality,
integrated pest management, food safety, and other related programs; and
(G) prepare and submit an
annual report concerning its activities to the Secretary.
(c) Regional Administrative
Councils-
(1) MEMBERSHIP- The membership
of the Regional Administrative Councils shall include representatives of--
(A) the Cooperative State
Research Service;
(B) the Extension Service;
(C) State cooperative extension
services;
(D) State agricultural experiment
stations;
(E) the Soil Conservation
Service;
(F) State departments engaged
in promoting sustainable agriculture;
(G) nonprofit organizations;
(H) farmers utilizing sustainable
agriculture systems and practices;
(I) the Geological Survey;
and
(J) other persons knowledgeable
about sustainable agriculture and its impact on the environment and rural
communities.
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES- The
Regional Administrative Councils shall--
(A) make recommendations
to the National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council concerning research
and extension projects that should receive funding under sections 103 and
105;
(B) promote the programs
established under this title at the regional level;
(C) establish goals and criteria
for the selection of projects authorized under this title within the applicable
region;
(D) appoint a technical committee
to evaluate the proposals for projects to be considered under this title
by such council;
(E) review and act on the
recommendations of the technical committee, and coordinate its activities
with the regional host institution; and
(F) prepare and make available
an annual report concerning projects funded under sections 103 and 105,
together with an evaluation of the project activity.
(d) CONFLICT OF INTEREST-
Members of the council and the committees shall recuse themselves from
participation in discussions and recommendations of proposed projects if
members have or have had a professional or business interest in, including
the provision of consultancy services, the organization whose grant application
is under review.
SEC. 105. FEDERAL-STATE MATCHING
GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary
shall establish a Federal-State matching grant program to make grants to
States to encourage and assist in the creation or enhancement of State
sustainable agriculture research, extension, and education programs.
(b) ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS AND
ACTIVITIES- State programs eligible to receive a grant under this section
may conduct a variety of activities designed to carry out the purposes
of this title, including--
(1) activities that encourage
the incorporation and integration of sustainable agriculture concerns in
all State research, extension, and education projects;
(2) educational programs
for farmers, educators, and the public;
(3) activities that encourage
revisions to agricultural curricula to promote understanding of sustainable
agriculture at all levels;
(4) the establishment of
sustainable agriculture undergraduate and graduate degree programs;
(5) the development and funding
of innovative sustainable agriculture research, extension, and education
programs;
(6) the conduct of research
and demonstration projects;
(7) the provision of technical
assistance to farmers and ranchers;
(8) activities that encourage
farmer-to-farmer information exchanges; and
(9) such other activities
that are appropriate to the agricultural concerns of the State and are
consistent with the purposes of this title.
(1) IN GENERAL- States that
elect to apply for a grant under this section shall prepare and submit,
to the appropriate Regional Administrative Council established under section
104, a State plan and schedule for approval by such Council and the Secretary.
(2) CONTENTS OF STATE PLAN-
State plans prepared under paragraph (1) shall provide details of the proposed
program to be implemented using funds provided under this section for fiscal
years 1991 through 1995, or any five-year period thereafter, and shall
identify the sources of matching State funds for the same fiscal years.
(3) PARTICIPATION- To be
eligible for approval, State plans submitted under this subsection shall
demonstrate that there will be extensive and direct participation of farmers
in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the program.
(1) AMOUNT OF GRANT- Subject
to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide grants to eligible States
in an amount not to exceed 50 per centum of the cost of the establishment
or enhancement of a State sustainable agriculture program under a plan
approved by the Secretary under subsection (c) for a period of not to exceed
five years.
(2) STATE PARTICIPATION-
To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall agree
to pay, from State appropriated funds, other State revenue, or from private
contributions received by the State, not less than 50 per centum of the
cost of the establishment or enhancement of the sustainable agriculture
program under an approved plan under subsection (c).
SEC. 106. TECHNICAL GUIDES FOR
LOW-INPUT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary
shall, not later than three hundred and sixty-five days after the date
of enactment of this Act, with full public notice and comment, and in consultation
with the National Sustainable Advisory Council established under section
104, develop technical guides describing farm production systems that foster
low-input sustainable agricultural production systems, mitigate public
health risks, protect environmental quality, conserve soil, water, and
energy, and otherwise carry out the purposes of this title.
(b) COORDINATION OF EFFORT-
To the extent possible, the Secretary shall coordinate the ongoing technical
guide work of the Soil Conservation Service and the Extension Service in
order to avoid duplication of effort and to provide farmers and other agriculture
professionals with a comprehensive technical guide that addresses a broad
array of technical concerns.
(c) Content of Technical
Guides-
(1) IN GENERAL- The technical
guides developed under this section shall include detailed information
on selection of crops and crop-plant varieties, rotation practices, tillage
systems, nutrient management systems, soil building practices, pest, weed,
and disease management, soil, water, and energy conservation, livestock
management, and other practices useful in carrying out the purposes of
this title.
(2) STANDARDS AND INSTRUCTIONS-
Such guides shall provide standards and practical instructions, based on
existing scientific and technical knowledge, to ensure nondegradation of
farmland soils, protection of water supplies from depletion and contamination,
and reductions in the use of nonrenewable resources and purchased production
inputs to the lowest practical levels.
(3) INFORMATION COLLECTION-
To assist in the development of such guides, the Secretary shall--
(A) survey existing data
bases containing information on sustainable agricultural systems, including
those created by the Soil Conservation Service and the National Agricultural
Library and the Appropriate Technology Transfer in Rural Areas program
established under section 2(b)(7) of the Act entitled `An Act to facilitate
the work of the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes', approved
August 4, 1965 (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(7));
(B) inventory and classify
by subject matter studies, reports, and other material developed by any
person or governmental agency with the participation or financial assistance
of the Secretary, that could be used to promote the purposes of this title;
(C) identify, assess, and
classify existing information and research reports and projects that will
further the purposes of this title, including information and research
relating to--
(i) the development of environmentally
sound cropping, livestock, tillage, nutrient management, pest management,
water quality and conservation, and alternative energy systems;
(ii) the social, economic,
and environmental effects of alternative production systems and technologies;
and
(iii) the role of public
policies and programs in fostering or hindering the purposes of this subtitle;
and
(D) determine which of such
reports and projects provide useful information and make such useful reports
available to farmers and ranchers.
(d) GRANT PROGRAM- The Secretary,
in consultation with the National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council
established in section 104, may establish a grant program to assist in
the development and periodic revision of technical guides under this section.
(e) DISTRIBUTION OF GUIDES-
The Secretary shall ensure that the technical guides developed under this
section are made available to the public.
SEC. 107. REPORTS.
The Secretary shall, not
later than April 1, 1991, and each April 1 thereafter, prepare and submit,
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and the National
Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council--
(1) a report describing the
results of the programs carried out under sections 103 and 105; and
(2) a report describing the
progress of projects conducted under this title, including--
(A) a summary and analysis
of data collected under such projects;
(B) recommendations based
on such data for new basic or applied research; and
(C) the number, length, and
type of projects proposed, funded and carried out, by region.
SEC. 108. AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be
appropriated $40,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out this title.
Of any amount that is appropriated to carry out the programs established
under this title, no less than $15,000,000, or no less than two thirds
of any appropriation, whichever is greater, shall be used to carry out
sections 103 and 104.
TITLE II--NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
SEC. 201. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) The Congress finds that--
(1) there is a great need
for research-based practical knowledge that will assist farmers and nonfarmers
adopt sustainable agriculture technologies, practices, and systems on their
farms, in their businesses and in their homes;
(2) farmers rely upon the
Extension Service as a primary source for the dissemination of research-based
practical knowledge concerning farming methods; and
(3) Extension Service as
well as other agricultural leaders need training a new sustainable agriculture
technologies and practices in order to provide the information farmers
and nonfarmers demand.
(b) PURPOSE- It is the purpose
of this title to establish a training program in sustainable aagriculture
for Extension Service agents and other leaders in agricultural education
in order to facilitate the extension of knowledge of sustainable agriculture.
SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.
(1) EXTENSION SERVICE- The
term `Extension Service' shall include employees of the Federal Extension
Service, and the State and county Cooperative Extension Services.
(2) SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE-
The term `sustainable agriculture' means a variety of farming systems,
ranging from organic systems that use no synthetic chemical inputs to those
involving the prudent use of pesticides or antibiotics, and which result
in--
(A) thorough incorporation
of natural processes such as nutrient cycles, nitrogen fixation, and pest-predator
relationships into the agricultural production process;
(B) reduction in the use
of off-farm inputs with potential to harm the environment or the health
of farmers and consumers;
(C) greater productive use
of the biological and genetic potential of plant and animal species;
(D) improvement of the match
between cropping patterns and the productive potential and physical limitations
of agricultural lands to ensure long-term sustainability of current production
levels; and
(E) profitable and efficient
agricultural production, with emphasis on improved farm management and
conservation of soil, water, energy, and biological resources.
SEC. 203. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
shall establish a National Training Program in Sustainable Agriculture
to provide education and training for Extension Agents and other professionals
involved in education and transfer of technical information concerning
sustainable agriculture in order to develop understanding, competence,
and ability to teach and communicate the concepts of sustainable agriculture
to Extension Agents and to farmers and urban residents needing information
on sustainable agriculture systems.
(b) ADMINISTRATION- The training
program shall be organized and administered jointly by the Centers established
in section 204 and the Extension Service and shall include onsite education
at the Centers as well as education at other locations including land-grant
universities, experiment stations, and demonstration farms.
SEC. 204. NATIONAL TRAINING CENTERS.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
shall designate not less than two national training centers to coordinate
and administer education in sustainable agriculture as provided for in
section 203.
(b) TRAINING PROGRAM- The
Centers shall offer intensive instruction programs and involving classroom
and field training work for extension specialists and other individuals
who are required to transmit technical information.
(c) PROHIBITION ON CONSTRUCTION-
The Centers established in paragraph (a) shall be located at existing facilities.
No funds appropriated under this title shall be used for facility construction.
(d) ADMINISTRATION- Centers
should be administered by organizations that--
(1) have a specific mandate
relating to sustainable agriculture;
(2) have a base of programming
that includes both research and education related to sustainable agriculture,
with an emphasis on the application of an overall production systems approach
which studies environmental interactions, farming methods, and resource
efficiency; and
(3) have cooperative relationships
with other agencies such as the Agricultural Research Service, the Cooperative
Extension Service, land grant universities and non-profit organizations.
(e) COORDINATION OF RESOURCES-
The Centers shall make use of information generated by the United States
Department of Agriculture and the State agriculture experiment stations,
and the practical experience of farmers, especially those cooperating in
on-farm demonstrations and research projects.
(f) LOCATION- The Secretary
should consider utilizing existing organizations with expertise in sustainable
agriculture to assist in the design and implementation of the training
program.
SEC. 205. COMPETITIVE GRANTS.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
shall establish a competitive grant program to award grants to organizations,
including land grant universities, in order to carry out sustainable training
for county agents and other individuals needing basic information on sustainable
agriculture practices.
(b) SHORT COURSES- The purpose
of the grants shall be to establish in the regions, training programs that
consist of workshops and short courses designed to familiarize participants
with the concepts and importance of sustainable agriculture.
SEC. 206. TRAINING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
should attempt to train all Extension Service personnel and other individuals
who advise farmers in sustainable agricultural production methods.
(b) EXTENSION SERVICE- The
Secretary shall require that not less than 20 per centum of Federal Extension
Service staff participate in the intensive instruction at the Centers by
September 30, 1995. In addition, the Secretary shall ensure that--
(1) each State Cooperative
Extension Service designates not less than 50 per centum of such State's
specialists and agents to attend the intensive instruction program offered
at the Centers by September 30, 1995; and
(2) each State Cooperative
Extension Service designates not less than 20 per centum of such State's
nonspecialists to attend the short courses established through competitive
grants by September 30, 1995.
SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are to be authorized
to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out the provisions
of this title.
TITLE III--EXTENSION SERVICE PESTICIDE APPLICATION ADVICE
SEC. 301. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDING- The Congress
finds that, in many cases, Extension Service agents would like to provide
information to farmers concerning lower, effective rates of pesticide application
than that specified on the label of the pesticide, in order to guide farmers
toward low-input sustainable agriculture systems.
(b) PURPOSE- The purpose
of this title is to authorize Extension Service agents to provide information
to farmers on reduced pesticide application rates when and if such information
is available.
SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS.
(1) EXTENSION SERVICE- The
term `Extension Service' shall include employees of the Federal Extension
Service, and the State and county Cooperative Extension Services.
(2) PESTICIDE- The term `pesticide'
means any sustance which alone, in chemical combination, or in any formulation
with one or more substances, is defined as a pesticide in the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.).
SEC. 303. PESTICIDE USE RECOMMENDATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, Extension Service agents may advise farmers
to apply any pesticide at a dosage, concentration, or frequency that is
less than that specified on the label for such pesticide if the Extension
Service agent has reason to believe that use of the pesticide at the lower
dosage, concentration, or frequency would be efficacious.
(b) PUBLICATIONS- Extension
Service agents may include advice to farmers concerning such lower usage
of specific pesticides in publications issued by the Extension Service
if--
(1) such publication also
states the rates of application specified on the label of such pesticide;
and
(2) such publication discusses
the efficacy of the pesticide when applied at such lower rate.
(c) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION-
Any Extension Service publication that contains directions for the use
of specific pesticides only at the dosage, concentration, or frequency
specified on the label shall also include the statement `Information may
be available from your Extension Service regarding the efficacy of using
lower pesticide rates.'.
SEC. 304. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
Subsection (ee) of section
2 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C.
136) is amended by striking `unless the labeling specifically prohibits
deviation from the specified dosage, concentration or frequency'.
TITLE IV--BIOTECHNOLOGY RISK ASSESSMENT RESEARCH
SEC. 401. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds
that--
(1) rapid advances in the
application of biotechnology to agriculture have and will continue to result
in the development of products whose research, evaluation, and commercial
use require introduction into the environment; and
(2) more scientific information
about the effects of the introduction of genetically engineered organisms
into the environment, and the development of methods to contain and monitor
such introduction are needed to--
(A) help researchers make
sound judgments about the overall environmental impacts of genetically
engineered organisms they develop, and to design projects that minimize
any risks associated with the introduction of such genetically engineered
organisms; and
(B) help regulators make
scientifically sound and timely decisions regarding the introduction of
genetically engineered organisms.
(b) PURPOSES- It is the purpose
of this title to--
(1) authorize and support
environmental assessment research to the extent necessary to help address
general concerns about environmental effects of biotechnology; and
(2) authorize research to
help regulators develop policies, as soon as is practicable, concerning
the introduction into the environment of such technology.
SEC. 402. DEFINITIONS.
(1) ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
RESEARCH- The term `environmental assessment research' is research aimed
at understanding the potential impacts on agricultural ecosystems, natural
ecosystems, and human health of genetically engineered organisms introduced
into the environment.
(2) GENETICALLY ENGINEERED
ORGANISM- The term `genetically engineered organism' is a living organism,
including a virus, that is genetically modified using techniques of modern
biotechnology, including recombinant DNA, chemical and electrical poration,
and microinjection.
SEC. 403. GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
shall establish a grant program within the Cooperative State Research Service
and the Agricultural Research Service to provide the necessary funding
for environmental assessment research concerning the introduction of genetically
engineered organisms into the environment.
(b) AREAS OF RESEARCH- Areas
of research eligible for funding shall include--
(1) the development of methods
of physically and biologically contain genetically engineered fish, plants,
and microorganisms once they are introduced into the environment;
(2) the development of methods
to monitor the dispersal of genetically engineered fish, plants, and microorganisms;
(3) research designed to
further existing knowledge with respect to the rates and methods of gene
transfer that may occur between genetically engineered organisms and related
wild and agricultural organisms; and
(4) other areas of research
designed to further the purposes of this title.
(c) REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS-
The Secretary shall consult with the Administrator of the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service, any existing Office of Agricultural Biotechnology,
and any existing Agricultural Biotechnology Research Advisory Committee
regarding any specific areas of research considered for funding under this
section.
(d) PROGRAM COORDINATION-
The Secretary shall coordinate research authorized under this title with
the Office of Research and Development of the Environmental Protection
Agency and shall seek to avoid duplication of research activities.
(e) OPEN COMPETITION- Grants
shall be made on the basis of quality of the proposed research project
and shall not be restricted to land grant colleges and colleges of agriculture.
SEC. 404. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be
appropriated for each fiscal year such sums as are necessary to carry out
this title.
TITLE V--HERBICIDE RESISTANCE RESEARCH
SEC. 501. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds
that--
(1) private and public sector
researchers are currently engaged in considerable research to genetically
modify plants to increase the herbicide resistance of such plants;
(2) the use of chemical herbicides
may contribute to environmental pollution;
(3) our scarce public resources
must, to the extent possible, be dedicated to research aimed at lessening
the use of chemical pesticides; and
(4) the private sector will
continue to develop herbicide resistant plants.
(b) PURPOSE- It is the purpose
of this title to transfer federal financial assistance now being used to
assist individuals or entities in applied research designed to develop
herbicide resistant plants to other weed management control options, including
plant genome research.
SEC 502. DEFINITIONS.
(1) HERBICIDE RESISTANT PLANTS-
The term `herbicide resistant plants' means plants that are modified using
recombinant methods or any other methods to improve the metabolic capabilities
of plants to resist a particular synthetic chemical herbicide.
(2) PESTICIDE- The term `pesticide'
means any substance which alone, in chemical combination, or in any formulation
with one or more substances, is defined as a pesticide in the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.).
(3) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary'
means the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture.
SEC. 503. PROHIBITION OF ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN RESEARCH.
(a) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not allow any funds provided
under the National Agricultural, Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977, the Food Security Act of 1985, or any other Act to be provided
to any individual or entity for the purpose of conducting applied research
designed to develop herbicide resistant plants.
(b) EXEMPTION- Subsection
(a) shall not apply to risk assessment and monitoring research authorized
under title IV of this Act.
(1) COMPLETION OF RESEARCH
PROJECTS UNDERWAY- Except as provided in paragraph (2) the Secretary may
permit completion of applied research projects designed to develop herbicide
resistant plants if such projects are significantly underway and are near
completion at the time of enactment of this Act.
(2) TERMINATION OF FUNDING-
No funding for any projects under paragraph (1) shall be provided after
September 30, 1992.
SEC. 504. REALLOCATION OF RESEARCH FUNDING.
To the extent practicable,
the Secreary shall allocate Federal funding equal to the amount of Federal
funds previously dedicated to research on the development of herbicide
resistant plants prior to enactment of this Act for research on plant genomes
that is directed at the development of plants adapted to week control management
systems with reduced reliance on chemical herbicides, including row crop
varieties better adapted to mechanical weed control, cover crops, and rotational
crops which enhance weed control, and pest resistant plants.
SEC. 505. REPORT.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
of Agriculture shall conduct a survey of land-grant universities and colleges,
1890 institutions, and the Tuskegee Institute to determine the extent to
which the private sector is supporting applied research at such institutions
designated to develop herbicide resistant plants.
(b) REPORT- Not later than
September 30, 1991, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee
on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report containing
the findings of the survey conducted under subsection (a).