Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

1. Private-sector Consortium members requested Congress to restore $500,000 in the FY2005 federal budget for "sustainable forage livestock systems research and research on nutrient management to protect water quality carried out at the ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Station, University Park, PA," that originated as a Congressional add-on in FY2001. This stakeholder advocacy effort was successful and nearly $500,000 was restored by the Congress, effective October 1, 2004. 2. Developed a competitive grant proposal to USDA-National Research Initiative for funding to determine the effects of pasture-based livestock products on human nutrition and health (DSouza and Rayburn, West Virginia University; Karsten and Archibald, Penn State; Baer, USDA-ARS-Beltsville; and others). 3. Developed a grant proposal to USDA-CSREES for funding to maintain and enhance Consortium website -- $2000 awarded to the University of Maine in FY2004. 4. Continued support and advocacy for private and public grant proposals that align with the six Consortium stakeholder pasture priority needs. 5. Secured information on Johnes disease management requested by producers and made it available on the Consortium website. 6. Approved a new private-sector Stakeholder Action Committee. The Committee will be responsible for organizing and making stakeholder contacts with Congressional members and staff concerning legislative and appropriation requests approved as Consortium action items. 7. Approved 15 action agenda items for CY2005. These are listed in the Consortium annual meeting minutes. 8. Placed the proceedings of the 2005 annual meeting including power point slides and handouts on the Consortium website for post-meeting access.

There are no publications to report under this multistate activity.