Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 5.djvu/413

 PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 104 STAT. 3735 (B) study farms that have been, and will continue to be, managed using farm production practices that rely on lowinput and conservation practices; (C) take advantage of the experience and expertise of farmers and ranchers through their direct participation and leadership in projects; (D) transfer practical, reliable and timely information to farmers and ranchers concerning low-input sustainable farming practices and systems; and (E) promote a partnership between farmers, nonprofit organizations, agribusiness, and public and private research and extension institutions. (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 State cooperative extension services, nonprofit organizations with demonstrable expertise, or Federal or State governmental entities. (c) SELECTION OF PROJECTS. — (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall select research and extension projects to be conducted under this section on the basis of— (A) the recommendations of the Advisory Council; (B) the relevance of the project to the purposes of this chapter; (C) the appropriateness 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.—In conducting projects under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that— (A) are recommended by the Advisory Council; (B) closely coordinate research and extension activities; (C) indicate the manner in which 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 multidisciplinary 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 family farms, mixed-crop livestock farms and dairy operations. (e) ON-FARM RESEARCH.— The Secretary may conduct projects and activities that involve on-farm research and demonstration in carry- ing out this section. (f) IMPACT STUDIES.—The Secretary may approve study projects concerning the national and regional economic, global competitiveness, social and environmental implications of the adoption of lowinput sustainable agricultural practices and systems. (g) PROJECT DURATION. — C!olleges and universities. Nonprofit organizations. Intergovernmental relations.

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