The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. at the Quality Hotel, Arlington, Virginia, by David Ruark, NBIC Chair. The following Committee members were in attendence.

David Ruark, Chair	Washington Barley Commission
Patrick M. Hayes, Vice Chair	Oregon State University
Michael P. Davis, Executive Secretary	Malting Barley Industry
Leroy Backman	Minnesota Barley Council
Dale Clark	Northwest Region
Ken Hart	Oregon Grains Commission
Richard D. Horsley	North Central Region
Lee F. Jackson	Southwest Region
Jerry W. Johnson	Winter Barley Region
Doyle Lentz	North Dakota Barley Council
C.T. Liu	Northwest Region
Donald C. Rasmusson	North Central Region
Stan Riggers	Idaho Barley Commission
Brian J. Steffenson	North Central Region
S. Richard Tolman	Balrey Marketing
Judy Vermulm	Montana Wheat and Barley Committee

 
 
 
 
 

Also in attendance were Scott E. Heisel, American Malting Barley Association, Inc.; Joe Schmick, Washington Barley Commission; and Paul B. Schwarz, North Dakota State University.
 
 

Dave Ruark indicated that terms for current NBIC officers expire following this meeting and that he appointed a committee chaired by Brian Steffenson to nominate officers. The Nominating Committee proposed that the following slate be elected as officers for three year terms.

Patrick M. Hayes Chair

Oregon State University

Doyle D. Lentz Vice Chair

North Dakota Barley Council

Michael P. Davis Executive Secretary

American Malting Barley Assn.

With no additional nominations from the floor, the candidates were elected as NBIC officers, with terms running through the 1999 meeting.

Dave Ruark indicated that terms for Darrell Wesenberg and Steve Ullrich expired December 31, 1995 and that the Executive Committee recommends that they both be reappointed to five year terms. The Executive Committee also recommends that Steve Ullrich serve as Chair through the International Barley Genetics Symposium, to be held in August at the University of Saskatchewan, and that Darrell Wesenberg take over duties as Chair following that meeting. The NBIC confirmed these recommendations (current membership roster - Attachment 1).

Mike Davis reviewed highlights of the last Barley Crop Germplasm Committee, held October 29, 1995 in St. Louis Missouri (see BCGC minutes).

Pat Hayes, NABGMP Coordinator, presented a brief update on the NABGMP and reviewed a status report previously distributed to the NBIC.

Dave Ruark pointed out that the NBIC is responsible for electing NABGMP Steering Committee members and that terms for Pat Hayes, Don Rasmusson, and Brian Steffenson expire following this meeting. The NBIC reelected all three to new two year terms. The current membership roster of the NABGMP Steering Committee is as follows:

ELECTED MEMBERTERMS END, MARCH

Patrick Hayes, Coordinator 1998

Oregon State University

Michael Davis, Executive Secretary Interdeterminate

American Malting Barley Associateion

Andris Kleinhofs 1997

Washington State University

Donald Rasmusson 1998

University of Minnesota

Brian Steffenson 1998

North Dakota State University

Steven Ullrich 1997

Washington State University

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS (appointed by NABGMP Steering Committee)

Gary Hanning Brewing Industry

Anheuser-Busch, Inc.

Jan Bowman Barley Feed Industry

Montana State University

Diane Mather Canadian Gene Mapping Project

Prior to the annual meeting the NBIC voted on carryover goals from FY96 and potential new goals suggested by NBIC members. Position papers were prepared on goals receiving majority support and were included in the Congressional Information Packet (Cover letter of packet is in Attachment 2). The NBIC reviewed these FY97 goals and established strategy for USDA and Congressional visits.

Status reports and updates on the following organizations were presented.

U.S. FEED GRAINS COUNCIL - Rich Tolman

NATIONAL BARLEY GROWERS ASSOCIATION - Mike Davis & NBIC Growers Reps.

AMERICAN MALTING BARLEY ASSOCIATION - Mike Davis

IDAHO BARLEY COMMISSION - Stan Riggers

MINNESOTA BARLEY RESEARCH & PROMOTION COUNCIL - Leroy Backman

MONTANA WHEAT & BARLEY COMMITTEE - Judy Vermulm

NORTH DAKOTA BARLEY COUNCIL - Doyle Lentz

OREGON GRAINS COMMISSION - Ken Hart

WASHINGTON BARLEY COMMISSION - Joe Schmick

The meeting was adjourned at 3 p.m.

USDA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE (ARS): On the morning of March 11, 1996, the NBIC met with Floyd P. Horn, ARS Administrator; Edward B. Knipling, ARS Deputy Administrator; Roy Gingery, ARS National Program Leader, Plant Health; Charles F. Murphy, ARS National Program Leader, Grain Crops; and Lewis W. Smith, ARS National Program Leader, Animal Nutrition and Aquaculture.

Dr. Horn introduced himself to the NBIC as new ARS administrator since the NBIC's last visit, and reviewed budget prospects, agency priorities and organizational considerations. The NBIC reviewed its FY97 Congressional goals and discussed other agricultural research issues with the ARS administrators.

USDA RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS: Dave Ruark and Mike Davis met with Dr. Karl N. Stauber, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics on Wednesday, March 13, 1996 to discuss agricultural research issues.

Visits were made to 66 Congressional offices on March 11 - 13, 1996 by four NBIC teams. The teams reviewed NBIC goals and solicited support for NBIC objectives.

Respectfully submitted,
 
 

Michael P. Davis

Executive Secretary

March 11, 1996

Honorable XX

Office Building

Washington, D.C.

Dear Senator or Representative X:

The National Barley Improvement Committee (NBIC), which represents the entire U.S. barley industry: growers, users, and researchers, is pleased to have this opportunity to meet with you and/or your agricultural specialist to discuss federal funding of barley research programs.

Barley production and the manufacture and sale of value-added barley products (malt, beer, food) have a significant impact on the U.S. economy, supporting millions of jobs and generating billions of dollars in excise and income tax revenue for the U.S. government. There is potential for tremendous growth in the export market for barley and its value-added product, which if realized, will generate substantial new employment and federal revenue.

Continued investment by the federal government in strong barley research programs is needed to keep the U.S. at the forefront in the development and implementation of new technologies to improve barley productivity and quality. The payback from modest federal investments in barley research exceeds by many times the cost of the expenditures.

The private sector alone cannot do the job. Barley, unlike hybrid corn, is a self-pollinated crop. Growers save seed from year to year without having to purchase new seed. This makes it very difficult to make a profit on barley. Therefore, major seed companies do not develop barley varieties. State land-grant universities and federal research facilities, with support from the malting and brewing industry and growers, conduct barley research and develop varieties. This public-private partnership has been very successful and needs to be continued.

We are requesting the assistance and support of your office to help meet the following objectives.

(1) CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE USDA-CSREES REGIONAL BARLEY GENE MAPPING PROJECT SPECIAL RESEARCH GRANT. Continued investment in this agricultural technology is needed to improve U.S. barley productivity and quality so that serious disease and other production restraints facing growers can be addressed and to enable U.S. barley to effectively compete in world markets.

(2) APPROPRIATION OF $300,000 IN PERMANENT FUNDING STARTING IN FY97 TO CREATE A SMALL GRAINS PLANT PATHOLOGIST POSITION AT THE USDA-ARS CEREAL RUST LABORATORY, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. This federal facility is facing a funding crisis and is understaffed. Funding of this item will help make the federal government a full partner with state and private sector efforts directed at meeting the threats posed by rust and Fusarium head blight (scab) diseases. This request is also supported by the National Oat Improvement Committee and the National Wheat Improvement Committee.

(3) APPROPRIATION OF $150,000 IN PERMANENT SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING STARTING IN FY97 FOR THE USDA-ARS SMALL GRAINS PLANT PATHOLOGIST POSITION (R.F. LINE) AT WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, PULLMAN. This position is currently underfunded. The appropriation will enable the scientist to effectively conduct is important research on barley strip rust and the ARS to refill the position when he retires.

(4) CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE USDA-CSREES BARLEY FEED FOR RANGELAND CATTLE SPECIAL RESEARCH GRANT. This project will provide valuable information on the feed quality of barley that can be utilized to identify optimal beef cattle feeding strategies and develop barley varieties with improved processing and feeding characteristics.

Additional information on barley and these topics are included in this folder. Your consideration and assistance in meeting these objectives will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
 
 
 
 
 
 

David Ruark Patrick M. Hayes Michael P. Davis

Chair Vice Chair Executive Secretary