77 



Research Progress 



II. ARS 1991 Status— Planning Base 



For research planning and resource allocation purposes the ARS program is 

 divided into six areas, termed objectives:' 



Objective I — Soil, water, and air 



Objective 2 — Plant productivity 



Objective 3 — Animal productivity 



Objective 4 — Commodity conversion and delivery 



Objective 5 — Human nutrition 



Objective 6 — Integration of systems 



The objectives are further divided into scientific approaches, then into approach elements. 



Fulfillment of 

 Previous 

 Implementation 

 Strategies 



Selected examples in appendix D show ARS progress in implementing the previously 

 planned strategies, which were: 



Adhere to mission-oriented research. 



Address technical problems determined to be most critical to the U.S. agricultural 

 sector. 



Allocate resources to solve specific high-priority national problems. 



Increase use of interdisciplinary teams in problem solving. 



Institute and expand integrative systems research. 



Augment research to increase the efficiency of production and marketing. 



Develop communication networks and data-management systems to support research 

 and facilitate technology transfer. 



' Agricultural Research Service Program Plan. U.S. Depanmenl of Agriculture. Agricultural 

 Research Service. Miscellaneous Publication 1429. 198.1. (Out of print.) 



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