By Hilda Diaz-Soltero usda senior Invasive Species Coordinator
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USDA compiled and published a comprehensive document in 2005 with grant opportunities for work on research, technical assistance or management of invasives. The document is also available through www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov. The document was updated in 2006 to include two additional grant programs from NRCS; in 2007 to include 4 grant programs; and in 2008 to include two additional grant programs.The “2009 USDA Grant and Partnership Programs That Can Address Research, Technical Assistance Prevention and Control” is available to ISAC and the public at www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov The USDA 2010 Grant document will be available on January 2010.C. USDA Progress on ISAC recommendations from the October 2005 meeting 4. ISAC recommendation: That NISC policy liaisons provide guidance to ISAC Leadership and Coordination Subcommittee regarding issues the subcommittee should address. USDA would appreciate ISAC’s support to (a) promote strengthening Federal collections, identifications and systematics efforts and capabilities; (b) promote increasing support for research (knowledge and models) and increasing the awareness of decision makers about the economic impacts of invasive species; and (c) strengthening the research on invasive species and climate change. D. USDA Progress on ISAC recommendations from the September 2006 meeting 5. ISAC recommendation: That NISC support adequate and continuing funding and staffing for classical systematics research, education and operations – including the care and maintenance of systematics collections. Systematics clarifies the origins and movements of invasive pests, parasites and pathogens. Advances in biotechnology (including DNA sequencing, comparative genome analysis, distributed databases and high speed telecommunications) can substantially strengthen and accelerate governmental responses to these threats. Federal contributions to systematics are critical and significant. The FY 08 and FY 09 ARS systematics budgets were approximately $10.5 million per year. However, the ability to address the increasing number and impact of invasive species in the U.S. is being challenged by the continued introduction and establishment of invasive plant disease, weeds, insects, nematodes, etc., that threaten our agricultural and natural systems and by reductions in manpower as a result of relatively flat funding levels coupled with increasing operational costs. ARS labs are continuing to decline and many critical groups such as rust fungi, weevils, scale insects, and cyst nematodes remain without permanent curators. Consequently, there is a need for additional funding to expand the support for systematics and taxonomic collections, to incorporate the most up to date technologies applicable to systematics, and to train future systematists to follow the current experts in the field. A worldwide shortage of critical expertise in systematics was recognized and documented in a three-year analysis of the field. The situation report is available on the www.itap.gov Web site (for more information see the response under F. 10). This year the Systematics Subcommittee of the Federal Interagency Committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens (ITAP) will conduct a survey of Federal agencies to quantify the resources currently available and the anticipated need for ongoing support. This information will be valuable in formulating future budget requests. E. USDA Progress on ISAC recommendations from the October 2007 meeting 6. ISAC Action Item: Invite representatives from the Department of Energy (DOE) and USDA to give a joint presentation on the linkages between biofuels and invasive species, particularly as it relates to perceived risks; and existing policies and programs to minimize perceived risks. The joint ARS biofuels program and DOE presentation will be made in the future, when NISC invites and DOE agrees to become a member of NISC. The “USDA Energy Council Coordinating Committee” that meets regularly. USDA agencies representatives evaluate USDA agency actions, research and grants provided for energy projects, including biofuels. A specific response to ISAC’s August 2009 Biofuels recommendations has been requested and is in preparation.
ERS response: The use of exotic plants for biofuels use could result in some species currently classified as invasive species being reclassified as non-invasive, because the potential benefits for biofuels use could outweigh costs and adverse effects. USDA’s www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov Web site provides extensive linkages to information about the danger of invasive species when grown for biomass, including: news stories, and the Weed Science Society of America’s White Paper. The USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Program is currently conducing biofuel studies on switchgrass, big bluestem, and Indian grass. In some studies, Centers are using Giant Miscanthus and Reed Canary grass as a control-check species. NRCS has no intention of growing invasive species for biofuels. Also, the NRCS Invasive Species Policy prohibits the planting of invasive species. U.S Forest Service policy prohibits the planting of invasive species. This policy would prohibit the use (planting) of invasive plants as biofuels in national forests or national grasslands. See the policy’s language at http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/nativeplantmaterials/documents/FSM_2070.pdf NIFA reports that a recent CAST article entitled “ Biofuel Feedstocks: The Risk of Future Invasions” was co-authored by professors from our Land Grant Partners including University of California-Davis, Cornell University, and University of Florida-Gainesville. Citation: The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). 2007. Biofuel Feedstocks: The Risk of Future Invasions. CAST Commentary QTA 2007-1. CAST, Ames, Iowa. APHIS receives permit applications for GE biofuel crops such as grass, oil seed, and, short rotation woody crops that have regulated status. APHIS assesses the potential for invasiveness in the defined area of release under the stated permit conditions. Permits are issued based on the assessment that the conditions are sufficient to confine the biofuel crop. Permittees are required to follow safeguards used to prevent the escape and dissemination of the regulated materials from the field site which includes monitoring and destroying of "volunteer" plants. Sites are inspected by APHIS for compliance with permit conditions. ARS follows the policy established in the Invasive Species Executive Order. F. USDA Progress on ISAC recommendations from the May 2008 meeting 8. ISAC Recommendation: NISC members should consider actions and research into impacts of global scale processes, such as climate change on invasive species. In addition, ISAC recommends that NISC members consider the effects of global scale processes and utilize the multi-disciplinary expertise available within their departments and elsewhere when making invasive species decisions. Endemic and exotic pests, weeds and diseases are becoming an increasing concern for agriculture, with widely seen consequences for productivity and ecosystem health. This was addressed in the ARS Stakeholder Workshop to identify research priorities for National Program 212 - Climate Change, Soils and Emissions Research held May 2008. To address these problems, ARS included in the NP 212 Action plan for 2010-2015 basic and applied research on the interacting effects of climate change on endemic and exotic pests, weeds and diseases. Resistance to management actions designed to control these types of species will be addressed. In addition, technologies will be developed to predict changes in the locations and severity of invasive agricultural pests, weeds, and diseases with current and projected changes in CO2, temperature, and water availability are needed. Four ARS scientists and the USDA Senior Invasive Species Coordinator prepared a scientific paper (submitted to Climate Change for publication on December 2008) that reviewed the known or potential impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity and food security. The document provides a scientific basis for research needed for agronomists and land managers can formulate mitigation and adaptation options regarding invasive species and climate change as a means to maintain food security. 9. ISAC Recommendation: NISC members should assess currently available research, training and/or species identification capacities, identify strategic gaps and provide targeted support for systematics activities pertaining to invasive species. In addition, ISAC recommends that NISC members enhance inter-departmental integration and coordination of the U.S. scientific systematic invasive species infrastructure. ITAP SSC response: The Federal interagency coordinating committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens (ITAP) has a Systematics Subcommittee (SSC). It has designed and is implementing a major effort to resolve the Federal crisis in systematics (the science that identifies living organisms), a cornerstone for biosecurity and management of invasives. The crisis includes the retirement of systematic scientists, the need to modernize buildings/facilities that house biological collections to ensure their integrity and provide room for expansion, the need to expand and update bioinformatics; and the lack of university programs to train future systematists. Furthermore, presently there are few permanent jobs for systematists in the Federal sector, states, university, industry or non-governmental organizations in the U.S. The SSC published a report on the Federal government’s systematic crisis: “Protecting America's Economy, Environment, Health, and Security Against Invasive Species Requires a Strong Federal Program in Systematic Biology” (Sept. 2008). The SSC is currently conducting a Systematics Survey for Federal Agencies to determine existing programs and needs. The result of the Systematics Survey in Federal Agencies will inform a 10-year Plan delineating actions for consideration by Agency and Congressional decision makers to strengthen systematics resources for Federal agencies to predict, prevent and manage invasives. ISAC can and should have a role in supporting this Plan, when published. Information about the systematics biology situation and ongoing efforts is posted on the www.itap.gov Web site. G. USDA Progress on ISAC recommendations from the May 2009 meeting
USDA agencies use the Invasive Species Executive Order as guidance for their work on invasives, including work on biofuels issues. NRCS has the “Biomass Crop Assistance program” is authorized by Section 9001 of the 2008 Farm Bill to assist agricultural and forest land owners and operators with the collection, harvest, storage, and transportation of eligible material for use in a biomass conversion facility and to support the establishment and production of eligible crops for conversion to bioenergy in selected project areas. Please see more information at http://farmenergy.org/news/bcap-funding-for-2009-announced.
NRCS has no intention of encouraging the growing of invasive species as biofuels.
Such a determination is a requirement of the National Environmental Policy Act and the requisite Environmental Impact Statements to applicable federal projects, actions and/or funding.
Research is being conducted by a number of NRCS Plant Materials Centers using switchgrass, big bluestem, and Indian grass. In some studies, Centers are using Giant Miscanthus and Reed Canary grass as a control-check species.
NRCS response: Such considerations will be voiced to the Farm Services Agency for inclusion in their rule to implement the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. 15. ISAC Recommendation: Develop Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) plans and rapid response funds in order to eliminate abandoned or unwanted populations of biofuel crops or to prevent establishment and spread of escaped invasive populations. Implement EDRR plans that cover multiple years. A flexible funding source should be established to support EDRR efforts. The USFS does not have written EDRR plans to eliminate abandoned or unwanted bio-fuel crops. The USFS Forest Health Protection Program does have an EDRR program focusing on detecting early introductions of forest insects, specifically bark beetles. Additionally, the USFS conducts surveys to detect and delineate known invasive species so that further action may be taken if warranted. The USFS Forest Health Protection Program does financially support EDRR for detection activities and limited response on a case by case basis. NRCS is a member of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program workgroup, and has raised appropriate concerns with the Farm Services Agency as they develop their rule to implement the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, as authorized by Section 9001 of the 2008 Farm Bill, to assist agricultural and forest land owners and operators with the collection, harvest, storage, and transportation of eligible material for use in a biomass conversion facility and to support the establishment and production of eligible crops for conversion to bioenergy in selected project areas. More information can be found at http://farmenergy.org/news/bcap-funding-for-2009-announced. On June 16 and 17, 2009, APHIS hosted a workshop to discuss the environmental impacts of genetically engineered (GE) bioenergy crops. The meeting was attended by a diverse audience of 65 participants including government officials (USDA, DOE, EPA, and others), university researchers, industry, and NGOs. This was not a meeting to reach consensus, but to bring together a diverse audience to gather many perspectives regarding the environmental issues, impacts, and interactions that might be expected from the wide scale deployment of GE bioenergy crops. Topics discussed included climate change, land use, water quality, water availability, soil quality, invasiveness, biodiversity, and gene flow. 1  6. ISAC Recommendation: Establish effective cooperation and communication among stakeholders. Identify and employ networks (e.g., working groups and councils) and communication forums through which the Federal agencies can work with state agencies, tribes, the private sector, and other stakeholders to reduce the risk of biological invasion via the biofuels pathway.
NRCS response: This coordination role is a good one for the National Invasive Species Council staff. 17. ISAC Recommendation: Interagency coordination of research. Insofar as possible without compromising their individual research programs on invasive species, agencies should find ways to increase coordination of their efforts and support for research. Interagency coordination is essential because reacting appropriately to invasive species involves a range of understanding across disciplines in natural and social science. Coordination could also promote research on interactions between climate change, land use, and invasive species. Moreover, the NISC Management Plan recommends that its agencies should work together to form a collaborative research priorities plan, and a structured framework for research investments seems even more important given declining budgets and the breadth of the invasive species problem. The ARS bioenergy program is not working with ‘popular’ but problematic energy crops such as Arundo donax or miscanthus, although groups have asked the agency to help them with these materials. The agency would be happy to assess the invasiveness of these materials and identify methods to minimize and manage the risk of their invasiveness, but it needs additional funding to do such work. One of ARS scientists, Adam Davis, is working with a DOE-funded university consortium focused on miscanthus, to remind the team of the potential invasiveness of this plant (ARS asked DOE to let him join the team). He gets funds only to take him to the team meetings. H ere is a summary of the current ARS research program:
ARS Role in Bioenergy The ARS Bioenergy Program is a flexible, holistic, long-term research effort involving coordinated thrusts in feedstock development (FD), sustainable feedstock production systems (SFPS), and biorefining (B). The holistic nature of ARS bioenergy research ensures that bioenergy production is integrated into existing agriculture in ways that…
Given the ARS mission and the breadth of ARS’ research capabilities…
ARS has a unique ability to implement this integrated approach and enable the Nation to optimize bioenergy production as soon as possible. For more information, please visit www.ars.usda.gov/bioenergy   
Please refer to the power point presentation attached as an appendix to this USDA report to ISAC. Current ARS Research in Bioenergy FY 2009
Lead researcher is listed for each item The on-line directory for ARS personnel is at www.ars.usda.gov/pandp/people.htm The ARS Bioenergy website is at www.ars.usda.gov/bioenergy Bioenergy National Program Leader: Bob Fireovid (Robert.Fireovid@ars.usda.gov; 301-504-4774) 1. FEEDSTOCK DEVELOPMENT (Kay Simmons, Team Leader) Biological and Molecular Basis of Feedstock Traits
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