(a) Title V of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-419) hereafter referred to as “Title V” is the Research and Education component of the Rural Development Act of 1972. Title V provides the opportunity to utilize and build upon the research, extension, and community service capability of public and private institutions of higher education in each State to expand scientific inquiry and education backup for rural development. The higher educational and research institutions in each State, including the Land Grant Institutions of 1890, are authorized to assist in developing and disseminating through the most appropriate manner, scientific information, technical assistance, and feasibility studies required to improve the rural development capability of local citizens, agencies, and governments. Programs authorized under title V shall be organized and conducted by one or more colleges or universities in each State to provide a coordinated program in each State which will have the greatest impact on accomplishing the objectives of rural development in both the short and longer term and the use of these studies to support the State's comprehensive program to be supported under title V.

(b) Title V operations will be consonant with the purpose that all Federal rural development activities be coordinated with other federally assisted rural development activities and with the State's ongoing rural development program. To effectuate such purpose, the Assistant Secretary for Conservation, Research and Education will implement title V plans and activities in close coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Rural Development.

(a) Title V will be administered by the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in cooperation with the chief administrative officer of the State Land Grant University who will administer the program within his respective State. To assure national and State coordination with programs under the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 and the Hatch Act (as amended), August 11, 1955, the administration of the programs shall be in association with the programs conducted under the Smith-Lever Act and the Hatch Act as required by section 504(b) of the Act.

(b) Programs authorized under title V shall be conducted as mutually agreed upon by the Secretary and the chief administrative officer of the State Land Grant University responsible for administering said programs in a memorandum of understanding which shall provide for the coordination of the programs, coordination of these programs with other rural development programs of Federal, State, and local government, and such other matters as the Secretary shall determine.

The chief administrative officer of the administratively responsible State Land Grant University will designate an official who will be responsible for the overall coordination of the authorized programs for the State. The designated official will be responsible for the overall coordination of planning, organizing, funding, conducting and evaluating programs in association with the person responsible for the administration of research programs, the person responsible for the administration of the extension programs, and the administrative head of agriculture of the University (chairman of the State Rural Development Advisory Council).

(a) The chief administrative officer of the administratively responsible State Land Grant University will appoint a State Rural Development Advisory Council with membership as set forth in section 504(e) of title V. The function of the Council shall be to review and approve annual program plans conducted under title V. The Council will also advise the chief administrative officer on all matters pertaining to the authorized programs.

(b) The Chairman of the State Rural Development Advisory Council will insure that programs proposed under title V including regional programs applicable within the State are not inconsistent with and are, to a maximum extent practicable, in consonance with other rural development programs and activities approved in that State.

(c) Those elements of the research and extension plan which would impact directly on rural development activities being developed or pursued by States will be considered jointly by the State Rural Development Advisory Council and appropriate State agencies to assure a constructive reinforcement of those State activities.

Funds available under title V for extension and research programs shall be allocated to, and following approval of a State Annual Plan of Work, paid to the official of the State Land Grant University designated to receive funds under the Smith-Lever and Hatch Acts respectively. Funds will be available for State programs for expenditures authorized by section 503(c) of title V, in the fiscal year for which the funds were appropriated and the next fiscal year.

(a) A State Annual Plan of Work for carrying out the programs authorized under title V shall be prepared. The Plan of Work should include:

(1) Identification of major problems and needs which can be met by each related extension and research program in the geographic or problem area.

(2) The relationship of this program to ongoing planning and development efforts.

(3) The organizational structure for planning, conducting, and evaluating each pilot program, including the names and title of the members of the Rural Development Advisory Council and the composition of major committees and work groups.

(4) A separate concise statement describing specific extension projects to be funded under each program. The statement should contain the following elements: Title, objectives, organization and operational procedures, probable duration, personnel, institutions involved, and relation to the research effort. In addition, a brief description of each regular or special extension project which is complementary and supports the title V pilot program, but which is funded from other sources shall be included.

(5) A separate concise statement describing specific research projects to be funded under each program. The statement should contain the following elements: Title, objectives, organization, and operational procedures, probable duration, personnel, institutions involved, and relation to the extension effort. In addition, a brief description of each regular or special research project which is complementary and supports the title V program, but which is funded from other sources, shall be included.

(6) A plan for evaluating the impact of each program on the development of the area, including the effectiveness of the extension and research program techniques, and organizational structure for planning and conducting each program. Appraisals by community leaders in the area should be included in the evaluation.

(7) Provisions for making an annual progress report to the Assistant Secretary for Conservation, Research, and Education which will document achievements pertaining to the goals and objectives as stated in the Plan of Work.

(8) A budget statement for each program to be submitted on forms provided by the Assistant Secretary for Conservation, Research, and Education.

(b) The Plan of Work shall include plans for all programs to be conducted with funds authorized under section 503(b)(3) and (4) of title V. The Plan of Work shall include plans for the programs to be conducted by each cooperating and participating university or college and such other information as included in these guidelines. Each State program must include research and extension activities directed toward identification of programs which are likely to have the greatest impact upon accomplishing the objectives of rural development in both the short and longer terms and the use of these studies to support the State's comprehensive program to be supported under section 505(b) of title V. In addition, all other rural development extension and research efforts funded from other sources that contribute directly to the proposed programs shall be described in the Plan of Work.

(c) Since the appropriation authorization for title V is limited to a three-year period the Plan of Work should be developed to demonstrate extension and research program techniques and organizational structures for providing essential knowledge to assist and support rural development efforts within that time.

(1) In accordance with the above criteria, the Plan of Work should:

(i) Concentrate on limited geographic or problem areas where title V efforts would be expected to have high impact within the three-year authorization.

(ii) Give emphasis to rural areas, including towns and cities with populations of less than 50,000.

(iii) Involve the administratively responsible Land Grant University and other public or private colleges and universities, as appropriate, in meeting with high priority extension and research needs of the area(s).

(iv) Give priority to education and research assistance leading to increasing job and income opportunities, improving quality of life, improving essential community services and facilities, improving housing and home improvements, and enhancing those social processes necessary to achieve these goals.

(v) Be consistent with Statewide comprehensive planning and development efforts and objectives. Procedures set forth under § 23.4(c) are designed to achieve attainment of this requirement.

(d) Four copies of the Plan of Work approved by the State Rural Development Advisory Council shall be submitted by the person responsible for the overall coordination of the title V programs in the State to the Assistant Secretary for Conservation, Research and Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, within 60 days after enactment of the annual Appropriation Act for the Department of Agriculture.

(e) Plans of Work not meeting the above criteria will not be approved by the Assistant Secretary for Conservation, Research and Education.