- adverse decision
means an administrative decision made by an officer, employee, or committee of an agency that is adverse to a participant.
- Advisory Board
means the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board established under section 1408 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123).
- affected party
means—
- agency
means any agency of the Department designated by the Secretary or a successor agency of the Department, except that the term shall include the following (and any successor to the following):
- agriculture and food defense
means any action to prevent, protect against, mitigate the effects of, respond to, or recover from a naturally occurring, unintentional, or intentional threat to the agriculture and food system.
- appellant
means a participant who appeals an adverse decision in accordance with this subchapter.
- applied research
means research that includes expansion of the findings of fundamental research to uncover practical ways in which new knowledge can be advanced to benefit individuals and society.
- beginning farmer or rancher
has the meaning given such term in section 2279(a) of this title.
- capacity and infrastructure program
means each of the following agricultural research, extension, education, and related programs for which the Secretary has administrative or other authority as of the day before the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008:
- case record
means all the materials maintained by the Secretary related to an adverse decision.
- community development financial institution
has the meaning given the term in section 4702 of title 12.
- competitive program
means each of the following agricultural research, extension, education, and related programs for which the Secretary has administrative or other authority as of the day before the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008:
- Department
means the Department of Agriculture.
- Director
means the Director of the Division.
- Division
means the National Appeals Division established by this chapter.
- Farm Service Agency
includes any other office, agency, or administrative unit of the Department assigned the functions authorized for the Farm Service Agency under this section.
- function
means an administrative, financial, or regulatory activity of an agency, office, officer, or employee of the Department.
- fundamental research
means research that—
- hearing officer
means an individual employed by the Division who hears and determines appeals of adverse decisions by any agency.
- implement
refers to those actions necessary to effectuate fully and promptly a final determination of the Division not later than 30 calendar days after the effective date of the final determination.
- Indian tribe
has the meaning given the term in section 5304 of title 25.
- Initiative
means the Healthy Food Financing Initiative established under subsection (c)(1).
- Institute
means the National Institute of Food and Agriculture established by paragraph (2)(A).
- National Appeals Division
means the National Appeals Division of the Department established under section 6992 of this title.
- National Coordinator
means the National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator established under subsection (b)(1).
- national fund manager
means a community development financial institution that is—
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
includes any other office, agency, or administrative unit of the Department assigned the functions authorized for the Natural Resources Conservation Service under section 6936(b) of this title.
- Office
means the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement established under this section.
- partnership
means a regional, State, or local public-private partnership that—
- perishable food
means a staple food that is fresh, refrigerated, or frozen.
- political appointee
means an individual occupying—
- quality job
means a job that provides wages and other benefits comparable to, or better than, similar positions in existing businesses of similar size in similar local economies.
- relevant committees of Congress
means—
- Secretary
means the Secretary of Agriculture.
- socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher
has the meaning given the term in section 2279(e) 1 of this title.
- staple food
includes—
- State coordinator
means a State beginning farmer and rancher coordinator designated under subsection (c)(1)(A).
- State office
means—
- tribal organization
has the meaning given the term in section 5304 of title 25.