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

Patrick M. Hayes, Chair Oregon State University
Doyle D. Lentz, Vice Chair North Dakota Barley Council
Michael P. Davis, Executive Secretary Malting Barley Industry
Leroy Backman Minnesota Barley Council
Dale R. Clark Northwest Region
Carl A. Griffey Winter Barley Region
Ken Hart Oregon Grains Commission
Richard D. Horsley North Central Region
Lee F. Jackson Southwest Region
C.T. Liu Northwest Region
Donald C. Rasmusson North Central Region
Stan Riggers Idaho Barley Commission
Joe Schmick Washington Barley Commission
Leonard Schock Montana Wheat and Barley Committee
Brian J. Steffenson North Central Region

Also in attendance were Scott E. Heisel, American Malting Barley Association, Inc.; Jennifer Morrill, U.S. Feed Grains Council; Jack Pettus, National Barley Growers Association; and David Ruark, Washington Barley Commission.
 

Mike Davis pointed out that the NBIC appoints members to the Barley Crop Germplasm Committee (BCGC) for five year terms and that the BCGC advises the USDA Agricultural Research Service on matters regarding the U.S. barley collection. He then reviewed highlights of the last Barley Crop Germplasm Committee meeting, held August 2, 1996 in Saskatoon, Canada (see BCGC minutes).

Pat Hayes indicated that Brian Steffenson's term expired December 31, 1996 and that after consulting with Darrell Wesenberg, BCGC Chair, the NBIC Executive Committee recommends that he be reappointed to a five year term. The NBIC confirmed this recommendation (current membership roster - Attachment 1).

Pat Hayes stated that the NBIC is responsible for electing NABGMP Steering Committee members and that terms for Andy Kleinhofs and Steve Ullrich expire following this meeting. The NBIC Executive Committee proposed a slate of candidates and the floor was opened to additional nominations. After some discussion, it was decided to delay the election to allow time for all NBIC members to fully consider potential nominees and to have the Executive Secretary conduct the election by mail.

The following five candidates were nominated by NBIC members to serve on the NABGMP Steering Committee.

Lynn Dahleen, USDA-ARS, Fargo, North Dakota
Andris Kleinhofs, Washington State University
Nora Lapitan, Colorado State University
Saghia Maroof, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Steve Ullrich, Washington State University

The election was completed on June 6, 1997. Andy Kleinhofs and Steve Ullrich were reelected.

The current membership roster of the NABGMP Steering Committee is as follows:

ELECTED MEMBERS TERM ENDS, MARCH

Patrick Hayes, Coordinator 1998, Oregon State University,
Michael Davis, Executive Secretary Indeterminate, American Malting Barley Association, Inc.
Andris Kleinhofs 1999, Washington State University
Donald Rasmusson 1998, University of Minnesota
Brian Steffenson 1998, North Dakota State University
Steven Ullrich 1999, 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
McGill University

Mike Davis indicated that the Research & Extension Title of the Farm Bill was up for reauthorization by Congress and that the NBIC should be prepared to provide input regarding its position. After discussing the issue, the NBIC adopted the following general positions regarding the U.S. Agricultural Research System.

* There is room for improvement, but the system does not need a major overhaul.

* Meeting the nation's agricultural research needs requires a balance of basic and applied research, and competitive (e.g. National Research Initiative) and directed research programs (e.g. ARS programs, CSREES Special Grants).

* The system should foster partnerships between USDA, state land grant universities, growers, and industry.

* There is significant benefit and synergy gained from having ARS locations at land grant universities rather than at stand alone locations. The ARS does not have too many locations and cannot meet its mission if it is down sized further.

Prior to the annual meeting the NBIC voted on carryover goals from FY97 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 (Attachment 2). The NBIC reviewed these FY98 goals and established strategy for USDA and Congressional visits.

Status reports and updates on the following organizations were presented:

U.S. FEED GRAINS COUNCIL - Jennifer Morrill
NATIONAL BARLEY GROWERS ASSOCIATION - Jack Pettus
AMERICAN MALTING BARLEY ASSOCIATION - Mike Davis
IDAHO BARLEY COMMISSION - Stan Riggers
MINNESOTA BARLEY RESEARCH & PROMOTION COUNCIL - Leroy Backman
MONTANA WHEAT & BARLEY COMMITTEE - Leonard Schock
NORTH DAKOTA BARLEY COUNCIL - Doyle Lentz
OREGON GRAINS COMMISSION - Ken Hart
WASHINGTON BARLEY COMMISSION - Joe Schmick

The meeting was adjourned at 3 p.m.

On the morning of March 10, 1997, the NBIC met with Edward B. Knipling, Acting ARS Administrator; Robert M. Faust, ARS National Program Leader, Field & Horticultural Entomology; Roy E. Gingery, ARS National Program Leader, Plant Health; and Charles F. Murphy, ARS National Program Leader, Grain Crops.

Dr. Knipling provided the NBIC with a handout on ARS leadership, FY98 budget proposals, and the new structure of ARS National Program Staff and National Programs. He reviewed this information, budget prospects, agency priorities and organizational considerations.

The NBIC reviewed its FY98 Congressional goals and discussed other agricultural research issues with the ARS administrators.
 

Visits were made to 74 Congressional offices on March 10 - 12, 1997 by four NBIC teams. The teams reviewed NBIC goals and solicited support for NBIC objectives.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael P. Davis
Executive Secretary