As used in this part:

Agreement period. The total period of time approved by the Assistant Administrator for Cooperative Services for conducting the proposed project as outlined in an approved application. The time period is normally no more than 3 years, renewable for cause not to exceed a total of 4 fiscal years.

Agricultural products. Agricultural products include agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, and dairy products, livestock and poultry, bees, forest products, fish and shellfish, and any products thereof, including processed or manufactured products, and any and all products raised or produced on farms and any processed or manufactured product thereof.

Assistant Administrator for Cooperative Services. The Assistant Administrator for Cooperative Services, Rural Development Administration or its successor agency, USDA or any authorized delegate.

Awarding official. The Assistant Administrator for Cooperative Services or authorized delegate.

Cooperative agreement. A legal instrument reflecting a relationship between the United States Government and a State where:

(1) The principal purpose of the relationship is the transfer of money, property, services, or anything of value to the State agency to carry out research related to cooperatives; and

(2) Substantial involvement is anticipated between RDA or its successor agency, acting for the Federal Government, and the State or other recipient during performance of the research in the agreement.

Cooperator. The State agency designated in the cooperative agreement award document as the responsible legal entity to whom a cooperative agreement is awarded under this part.

Department. The U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Methodology. The research approach to be followed to carry out the project.

Principal investigator. A single individual who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the project, as designated by the cooperator in the cooperative agreement application and approved by the Assistant Administrator for Cooperative Services.

Project. The particular activity within the scope of one or more of the research program areas identified in the annual program solicitation that is supported by a cooperative agreement under this part.

State agencies. State agencies include, among others, State Agricultural Experiment Stations and State Departments of Agriculture in the 50 States, the Virgin Islands, and Guam, and other appropriate State agencies. Final determination of whether certain 1890 or 1862 Land Grant institutions qualify as state agencies will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), USDA.