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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24714-24715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09934]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-12-0053; TM-12-03]

Notice of Funds Availability Inviting Applications for the 
Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP)

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the 
availability of approximately $1 million for competitive grant funds 
for fiscal year (FY) 2013, which would enable States to explore new 
market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products and to 
encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and 
performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible applicants include 
State departments of agriculture, State agricultural experiment 
stations, and other appropriate State Agencies. Applicants are 
encouraged to involve industry groups, academia, community-based 
organizations, and other stakeholders in developing proposals and 
conducting projects. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, the information collection requirements have been previously 
approved by OMB under 0581-0240, Federal-State Marketing Improvement 
Program (FSMIP).

DATES: Proposals will be accepted through May 28, 2013.

ADDRESSES: FSMIP Staff Officer, Transportation and Marketing Programs, 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 4945-South, Washington, DC 20250; 
telephone (202) 720-5024; email janise.zygmont@ams.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janise Zygmont, FSMIP Staff Officer; 
telephone (202) 720-5024; fax (202) 690-1144; or email 
janise.zygmont@ams.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSMIP is authorized under Section 204(b) of 
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627). FSMIP 
provides

[[Page 24715]]

matching grants on a competitive basis to enable States to explore new 
market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products and to 
encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and 
performance of the U.S. marketing system. Eligible applicants include 
State departments of agriculture, State agricultural experiment 
stations, and other appropriate State Agencies. Other organizations 
interested in participating in this program should contact their State 
Department of Agriculture's Marketing Division. State agencies 
specifically named under the authorizing legislation should assume the 
lead role in FSMIP projects, and use cooperative or contractual 
agreements with other agencies, universities, institutions, and 
producer, industry or community-based organizations as appropriate. 
Multi-State projects are encouraged. In such projects, one State agency 
assumes the coordinating role, using appropriate cooperative 
arrangements with the other State agencies and entities involved in the 
project.
    Proposals must be accompanied by completed Standard Forms (SF) 424 
and 424B. 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 the contact listed above, and 
are available at the FSMIP Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/FSMIP.

Background

    FSMIP funds a wide range of applied research projects that address 
barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transportation, 
and distribution of U.S. food and agricultural products domestically 
and internationally.
    Eligible agricultural categories include livestock, livestock 
products, food and feed crops, fish and shellfish, horticulture, 
viticulture, apiary, and forest products and processed or manufactured 
products derived from such commodities. Reflecting the growing 
diversity of U.S. agriculture, in recent years, FSMIP accepts proposals 
dealing with nutraceuticals, bioenergy, compost, agroforestry products, 
and products made from agricultural residue.
    Proposals may deal with barriers, challenges, or opportunities 
manifesting at any stage of the marketing chain including direct, 
wholesale, and retail. Proposals may involve small, medium, or large 
scale agricultural entities but should potentially benefit multiple 
producers or agribusinesses. Proprietary proposals that benefit one 
business or individual will not be considered.
    Proposals that address issues of importance at the State, Multi-
State or national level are appropriate for FSMIP. FSMIP also seeks 
unique proposals on a smaller scale that may serve as pilot projects or 
case studies useful as a model for other States. Of particular interest 
are proposals that reflect a collaborative approach among the States, 
academia, the farm sector and other appropriate entities and 
stakeholders. FSMIP's enabling legislation authorizes projects to:
     Determine the best methods for processing, preparing for 
market, packing, handling, transporting, storing, distributing, and 
marketing agricultural products.
     Determine the costs of marketing agricultural products in 
their various forms and through various channels.
     Assist in the development of more efficient marketing 
methods, practices, and facilities to bring about more efficient and 
orderly marketing, and reduce the price spread between the producer and 
the consumer.
     Develop and improve standards of quality, condition, 
quantity, grade, and packaging in order to encourage uniformity and 
consistency in commercial practices.
     Eliminate artificial barriers to the free movement of 
agricultural products in commercial channels.
     Foster new/expanded domestic/foreign markets and new/
expanded uses of agricultural products.
     Collect and disseminate marketing information to 
anticipate and meet consumer requirements, maintain farm income, and 
balance production and utilization.
    All proposals which fall within the FSMIP guidelines will be 
considered. FSMIP encourages States to submit proposals that address 
the following objectives:
     Creating wealth in rural communities through the 
development of local and regional food systems and value-added 
agriculture.
     Developing direct marketing opportunities for producers, 
or producer groups.
     Assessing challenges and developing methods or practices 
that could assist local and regional producers in marketing 
agricultural products that meet the mandates of the Food and Drug 
Administration's new Food Safety Modernization Act.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the FSMIP 
information collection requirements were previously approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and were assigned OMB control 
number 0581-0240.
    AMS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act (GPEA), which requires Government agencies in general 
to provide the public with the option of submitted information or 
transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible.

How To Submit Proposals and Applications

    Applications must be submitted electronically through the Federal 
grants Web site, http://www.grants.gov. Hard copy and emailed 
applications will not be accepted. Applicants 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.
    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: April 23, 2013.
David R. Shipman,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-09934 Filed 4-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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