7 U.S. Code § 7632 - Specialty crop research initiative

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Citrus disease subcommittee

The term “citrus disease subcommittee” means the subcommittee established under section 3123a(a)(2) of this title.

(2) Initiative

The term “Initiative” means the specialty crop research and extension initiative established by subsection (b).

(3) Specialty crop

The term “specialty crop” has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note; Public Law 108–465).

(4) Specialty crops committee

The term “specialty crops committee” means the committee established under section 3123a of this title.

(b) Establishment

There is established within the Department a specialty crop research and extension initiative to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry by developing and disseminating science-based tools to address needs of specific crops and their regions, including—

(1) research in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and other methods to improve crop characteristics, such as—

(A) product, taste, quality, and appearance;

(B) size-controlling rootstock systems for perennial crops;

(C) environmental responses and tolerances;

(D) nutrient management, including plant nutrient uptake efficiency;

(E) pest and disease management, including resistance to pests and diseases resulting in reduced application management strategies; and

(F) enhanced phytonutrient content;

(2) efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including—

(A) threats to specialty crop pollinators;

(B) emerging and invasive species; and

(C) a more effective understanding and utilization of existing natural enemy complexes;

(3) efforts—

(A) to improve production efficiency, handling and processing, productivity, and profitability over the long term (including specialty crop policy and marketing); and

(B) to achieve a better understanding of—

(i) the soil rhizosphere microbiome;

(ii) pesticide application systems and certified drift-reduction technologies; and

(iii) systems to improve and extend the storage life of specialty crops;

(4) new innovations and technology, including—

(A) mechanization and automation of labor-intensive tasks in production and processing;

(B) technologies that delay or inhibit ripening;

(C) decision support systems driven by phenology and environmental factors;

(D) improved monitoring systems for agricultural pests; and

(E) effective systems for preharvest and postharvest management of quarantine pests; and

(5) methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops, including fresh produce.

(c) Eligible entities

The Secretary may carry out this section through—

(1) Federal agencies;

(2) national laboratories;

(3) colleges and universities;

(4) research institutions and organizations;

(5) private organizations or corporations;

(6) State agricultural experiment stations;

(7) individuals; or

(8) groups consisting of 2 or more entities described in paragraphs (1) through (7).

(d) Review of proposals

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall award competitive grants on the basis of—

(1) a scientific peer review conducted by a panel of subject matter experts from Federal agencies, non-Federal entities, and the specialty crop industry; and

(2) a review and ranking for merit, relevance, and impact conducted by a panel of specialty crop industry representatives for the specific specialty crop.

(e) Consultation

Each fiscal year, before conducting the scientific peer review described in paragraph (1) of subsection (d) and the merit and relevancy review described in paragraph (2) of such subsection, the Secretary shall consult with the specialty crops committee regarding such reviews. The committee shall provide the Secretary—

(1) in the first fiscal year in which that consultation occurs, any recommendations for conducting such reviews in such fiscal year; and

(2) in any subsequent fiscal year in which such consultation occurs—

(A) an assessment of the procedures and objectives used by the Secretary for such reviews in the previous fiscal year;

(B) any recommendations for such reviews for the current fiscal year; and

(C) any comments on grants awarded under subsection (d) during the previous fiscal year.

(f) Report

The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on—

(1) the results of the consultations with the specialty crops committee (and subcommittees thereof) conducted under subsection (e) of this section and subsection (g) of section 3123a of this title;

(2) the specialty crops committee’s (and subcommittees thereof) recommendations, if any, provided to the Secretary during such consultations; and

(3) the specialty crops committee’s (and subcommittees thereof) review of the grants awarded under subsection (d) and (j), as applicable, in the previous fiscal year.

(g) Administration

(1) In general

With respect to grants awarded under this section, the Secretary shall seek and accept proposals for grants.

(2) Term

The term of a grant under this section may not exceed 10 years.

(3) Matching requirement

(A) In general

An entity receiving a grant under this section shall provide non-Federal matching funds (including funds from an agricultural commodity promotion, research, and information program) equal to not less than the amount of the grant.

(B) In-kind support

Non-Federal matching funds described in subparagraph (A) may include in-kind support.

(4) Other conditions

The Secretary may set such other conditions on the award of a grant under the Initiative as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(h) Priorities

In making grants under the Initiative, the Secretary shall provide a higher priority to projects that—

(1) are multistate, multi-institutional, or multidisciplinary; and

(2) include explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public.

(i) Buildings and facilities

Funds made available under this section shall not be used for the construction of a new building or facility or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing building or facility (including site grading and improvement, and architect fees).

(j) Emergency citrus disease research and extension program

(1) Establishment and purpose

The Secretary shall establish a competitive research and extension grant program to combat diseases of citrus under which the Secretary awards competitive grants to eligible entities—

(A) to conduct scientific research and extension activities, technical assistance, and development activities to combat citrus diseases and pests, both domestic and invasive, which pose imminent harm to the United States citrus production and threaten the future viability of the citrus industry, including huanglongbing and the Asian Citrus Psyllid; and

(B) to provide support for the dissemination and commercialization of relevant information, techniques, and technologies discovered pursuant to research and extension activities funded through—

(i) the emergency citrus disease research and extension program; or

(ii) other research and extension projects intended to solve problems caused by citrus production diseases and invasive pests.

(2) Priority

In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to grants that address the research and extension priorities established pursuant to subsection (g)(4) of section 3123a of this title.

(3) Coordination

When developing the proposed research and extension agenda and budget under subsection (g)(2) of section 3123a of this title for the funds made available under this subsection for a fiscal year, the citrus disease subcommittee shall—

(A) seek input from Federal and State agencies and other entities involved in citrus disease response; and

(B) take into account other public and private citrus-related research and extension projects and the funding for such projects.

(4) Nonduplication

The Secretary shall ensure that funds made available to carry out the emergency citrus disease research and extension activities under this subsection shall be in addition to and not supplant funds made available to carry out other citrus disease activities carried out by the Department of Agriculture in consultation with State agencies.

(5) Authorization of appropriations

In addition to the amounts reserved under subsection (k)(1)(C), there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.

(6) Definitions

In this subsection:

(A) Citrus

The term “citrus” means edible fruit of the family Rutaceae, including any hybrid of such fruits and products of such hybrids that are produced for commercial purposes in the United States.

(B) Citrus producer

The term “citrus producer” means any person that is engaged in the domestic production and commercial sale of citrus in the United States.

(C) Emergency citrus disease research and extension program

The term “emergency citrus disease research and extension program” means the emergency citrus research and extension grant program established under this subsection.

(k) Funding

(1) Mandatory funding

(A) Fiscal years 2008 through 2012

Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out this section $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012, from which activities under each of paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (b) shall be allocated not less than 10 percent.

(B) Subsequent funding

Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out this section $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each fiscal year thereafter.

(C) Reservation

For each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018, the Secretary shall reserve not less than $25,000,000 of the funds made available under subparagraph (B) to carry out the program established under subsection (j).

(D) Availability of funds

Funds reserved under subparagraph (C) shall remain available and reserved for the purpose described in such subparagraph until expended.

(2) Authorization of appropriations for fiscal years 2014 through 2023

In addition to funds made available under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.

(3) Fiscal year 2013

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.

(4) Transfer

Of the funds made available to the Secretary under paragraph (1) for fiscal year 2008 and authorized for use for payment of administrative expenses under section 3315(a)(3) of this title, the Secretary shall transfer, upon the date of enactment of this section, $200,000 to the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances of the Environmental Protection Agency for use in conducting a meta-analysis relating to methyl bromide.

(5) Availability

Funds made available pursuant to this subsection for a fiscal year shall remain available until expended to pay for obligations incurred in that fiscal year.

(Pub. L. 105–185, title IV, § 412, as added Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7311(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1243, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7311(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2004; amended Pub. L. 112–240, title VII, § 701(e)(2), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2364; Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, §§ 7128(b)(3)(B), 7306, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 879, 888; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, §§ 7305, 7614(b)(3)(B), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4815, 4836.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (k)(4), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–246, which was approved June 18, 2008.

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (b)(1)(B) to (F). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7305(a)(1), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpars. (B) to (E) as (C) to (F), respectively.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7305(a)(2), substituted “including—” and subpars. (A) to (C) for “including threats to specialty crop pollinators;”.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7305(a)(3), substituted “efforts—” for “efforts”, inserted subpar. (A) designation before “to improve”, and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7305(a)(4), substituted “including—” and subpars. (A) to (E) for “including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening; and”.

Subsec. (g)(3), (4). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7614(b)(3)(B), added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (4).

Subsec. (k)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7305(b), substituted “2023” for “2018” in heading and text.

2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(1), added pars. (1) and (4) and redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as (2) and (3), respectively.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(2)(A), substituted “genomics, and other methods” for “and genomics” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(2)(B), inserted “handling and processing,” after “production efficiency,”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(3), substituted “this section” for “the Initiative” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(4), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis.”

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(6), added subsec. (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (g).

Subsec. (e)(3), (4). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7128(b)(3)(B), redesignated par. (4) as (3) and struck out former par. (3). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary shall require the recipient of a grant under this section to provide funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources in an amount that is at least equal to the amount provided by the Federal Government.”

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(6), added subsec. (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (h).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(5), redesignated subsec. (e) as (g). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (i).

Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(7)(A), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “With respect to grants awarded under subsection (d), the Secretary shall—

“(A) seek and accept proposals for grants;

“(B) determine the relevance and merit of proposals through a system of peer and merit review in accordance with section 7613 of this title; and

“(C) award grants on the basis of merit, quality, and relevance.”

Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(7)(B), substituted “the Initiative” for “this section”.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(8), substituted “the Initiative” for “this section” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(5), redesignated subsec. (f) as (h). Former subsec. (h) redesignated (k).

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(5), redesignated subsec. (g) as (i).

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(10), added subsec. (j).

Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(5), redesignated subsec. (h) as (k).

Subsec. (k)(1). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(9)(A), struck out “for fiscal years 2008 through 2012” after “funding” in par. heading, designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted subpar. heading, and added subpars. (B) to (D).

Subsec. (k)(2). Pub. L. 113–79, § 7306(9)(B), substituted “2014 through 2018” for “2008 through 2012” in heading and text.

2013—Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 112–240, § 701(e)(2)(A), substituted “Mandatory funding for fiscal years 2008 through 2012” for “In general” in heading.

Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 112–240, § 701(e)(2)(B), inserted “for fiscal years 2008 through 2012” after “appropriations” in heading.

Subsec. (h)(3) to (5). Pub. L. 112–240, § 701(e)(2)(C), (D), added par. (3) and redesignated former pars. (3) and (4) as (4) and (5), respectively.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by section 7614(b)(3)(B) of Pub. L. 115–334 applicable to grants, cooperative agreements, or other awards made after Dec. 20, 2018, with matching funds requirement in effect on Dec. 20, 2018, to continue to apply to such grant, cooperative agreement, or other award, see section 7614(c) of Pub. L. 115–334, set out as a note under section 3151 of this title.

Effective Date of 2013 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 112–240 effective Sept. 30, 2012, see section 701(j) of Pub. L. 112–240, set out in a 1-Year Extension of Agricultural Programs note under section 8701 of this title.

Effective Date

Enactment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.

Mechanization and Automation for Specialty Crops

Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7610, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4830, provided that:

“(a) In General.—

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2018], the Secretary [of Agriculture] shall conduct a review of the programs of the Department of Agriculture that affect the production or processing of specialty crops.

“(b) Requirements.—

The review under subsection (a) shall identify—

“(1) programs that currently are, or previously have been, effectively used to accelerate the development and use of automation or mechanization in the production or processing of specialty crops; and

“(2) programs that may be more effectively used to accelerate the development and use of automation or mechanization in the production or processing of specialty crops.

“(c) Strategy.—

With respect to programs identified under subsection (b), the Secretary shall develop and implement a strategy to accelerate the development and use of automation and mechanization in the production or processing of specialty crops.”

Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund

Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12605, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 5006, as amended by Pub. L. 118–22, div. B, title I, § 102(d)(8)(D), Nov. 17, 2023, 137 Stat. 118, provided that:

“(a) Definition of Citrus.—

In this section, the term ‘citrus’ means edible fruit of the family Rutaceae, including any hybrid of that fruit and any product of that hybrid that is produced for commercial purposes in the United States.

“(b) Establishment of Trust Fund.—

There is established in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund, to be known as the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund (referred to in this section as the ‘Citrus Trust Fund’), consisting of such amounts as shall be transferred to the Citrus Trust Fund pursuant to subsection (d).

“(c) Use of Fund.—

From amounts in the Citrus Trust Fund, the Secretary shall, beginning in fiscal year 2019, carry out the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program in section 412(j) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632(j)).

“(d) Funding.—

Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall transfer to the Citrus Trust Fund $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2024, to remain available until expended.”

Coordination of Projects and Activities

Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7311(b), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1245, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7311(b), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2006, provided that:

“In carrying out the amendment made by this section [enacting this section], the Secretary [of Agriculture] shall ensure that the Division Chief of the applicable Research, Education, and Extension Office established under section 251 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971) coordinates projects and activities under this section to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that unnecessary duplication of effort is eliminated or minimized.”

[Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical provisions. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.]