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Notices Federal Register

76684

Vol. 69, No. 245

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

[Doc. # TM–04–12] 

Notice of Program Continuation

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA.

ACTION: Notice Inviting Proposals for 

fiscal year (FY) 2005 grant funds under 

the Federal-State Marketing 

Improvement Program. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given for 

proposals for FY 2005 grant funds under 

the Federal-State Marketing 

Improvement Program (FSMIP). FSMIP 

anticipates that approximately $1.3 

million will be available for support of 

this program in FY 2005. States 

interested in obtaining funds under the 

program are invited to submit proposals. 

While only State Departments of 

Agriculture or other appropriate State 

Agencies are eligible to apply for funds, 

State Agencies are encouraged to 

involve industry groups, academia, and 

community-based organizations in the 

development of proposals and the 

conduct of projects.

DATES: Funds will be allocated on the 

basis of one round of consideration. 

Proposals will be accepted through 

February 11, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Proposals may be sent to: 

FSMIP, Transportation and Marketing 

Programs, Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS), U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, SW., Room 4009 South 

Building, Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Janise Zygmont, FSMIP Staff Officer, 

(202) 720–2704.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSMIP is 

authorized under Section 204(b) of the 

Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 

U.S.C. 1621 et seq.). FSMIP provides 

matching grants on a competitive basis 

to assist State Departments of 

Agriculture or other appropriate State 

agencies in conducting studies or 

developing innovative approaches 

related to the marketing of U.S. food and 

agricultural products. Other 

organizations interested in participating 

in this program should contact their 

State Department of Agriculture’s 

Marketing Division to discuss their 

proposal. 

Proposals are submitted by the State 

Agency and must be accompanied by 

completed Standard Forms (SF) 424 and 

424A. AMS will not approve the use of 

FSMIP funds for advertising or, with 

limited exceptions, for the purchase of 

equipment. Detailed program guidelines 

may be obtained from your State 

Department of Agriculture, the above 

AMS contact, or the FSMIP Web site: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/

fsmip.htm.

FSMIP funds can be requested for a 

wide range of marketing research and 

marketing service activities, including 

projects aimed at: 

(1) Developing and testing new or 

more efficient methods of processing, 

packaging, handling, storing, 

transporting, and distributing food and 

other agricultural products; 

(2) Assessing customer response to 

new or alternative agricultural products 

or marketing services and evaluating 

potential opportunities for U.S. 

producers, processors and other 

agribusinesses, in both domestic and 

international markets; and, 

(3) Identifying problems and 

impediments in existing channels of 

trade between producers and consumers 

of agricultural products and devising 

improved marketing practices, facilities, 

or systems to address such problems. 

While all proposals which fall within 

the FSMIP guidelines will be 

considered, States are encouraged to 

submit proposals that have regional or 

national significance and that foster 

innovation in the following areas: 

(1) Market analysis—collecting and 

analyzing unique and relevant economic 

data and transportation and marketing 

statistics relating to targeted domestic 

and international markets. 

(2) Transportation and distribution—

finding ways to improve efficiency and 

reduce barriers in local, regional, 

national, and international 

transportation and distribution systems 

to promote free movement of U.S. food 

and agricultural products. 

(3) Competitiveness and new 

markets—identifying new opportunities 

for traditional and non-traditional 

products and by-products of agricultural 

production and processing in domestic 

and international markets. Assessing 

consumer preferences and consumer 

response to marketing and labeling 

claims. 

(4) Quality and variety—enhancing 

the value of food and agricultural 

products through improvements in 

product quality and traceability. Using 

technology to address marketing 

challenges and opportunities such as 

developing new products and 

innovative packaging, or improving 

handling and storage methods. 

Applicants have the option of 

submitting FSMIP applications 

electronically through the central 

Federal grants Web site, http://

www.grants.gov instead of mailing hard 

copy documents. Applicants 

considering the electronic application 

option are strongly urged to familiarize 

themselves with the Federal grants Web 

site well before the application deadline 

and to begin the application process 

before the deadline. Additional details 

about the FSMIP application process for 

all applicants are available at the FSMIP 

Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/

tmd/fsmip.htm.

FSMIP is listed in the ‘‘Catalog of 

Federal Domestic Assistance’’ under 

number 10.156 and subject agencies 

must adhere to Title VI of the Civil 

Rights Act of 1964, which bars 

discrimination in all Federally assisted 

programs.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627.

Dated: December 14, 2004. 

A.J. Yates, 

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing 

Service.

[FR Doc. 04–27932 Filed 12–21–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation 

Domestic Sugar Program—2005–Crop 

Sugar Marketing Allotments and 

Company Allocations

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, 

USDA.

ACTION: Notice.