I am pleased to present the working version of the Agricultural Research Service's Strategic Plan 1997–2002. This document is a supplement to the official version of the ARS Strategic Plan, which was submitted to Congress in October 1997 as part of the USDA Strategic Plan. Understandable limits on length precluded ARS from including most of the explanatory information that is helpful in applying this strategic framework to the agency's research activities. The complete USDA plan is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov/: Open "About USDA" and click on "Strategic Plan," then scroll down the table to "Research, Education, and Economics Mission Area." The ARS Strategic Plan immediately follows the mission area plan.

The working version of the ARS Strategic Plan 1997–2002 is also available on the ARS web site. ARS will also make the annual performance plans and the annual performance reports, which record progress towards meeting the goals and objectives of the strategic plan, available on the ARS web site. The FY 1999 and 2000 annual performance plans and FY 1998 annual performance report are already available at the above web address.

ARS has developed and used a series of strategic and implementation plans over the last 15 to 20 years to guide its research program. The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 asks Federal agencies to strengthen their strategic planning efforts by focusing on the longer term outcomes of their work. GPRA also reinforced ARS' strong commitment to customer service. The means ARS used to secure meaningful input from our customers, stakeholders, and partners are described in the background material included in this working version of the plan.

ARS has a long and distinguished history of service to American agriculture. As our world becomes more interdependent, the benefits of ARS research will directly affect producers and consumers in all corners of the globe. This new strategic plan will help us guide our scientific activities and the accompanying transfer of our research products to end users, action and regulatory agencies, the private sector, and all other customers.

With the continued support of the American people, the Congress, USDA, and our dedicated workforce committed to scientific excellence and public service, we will meet the challenges and opportunities presented in the strategic plan.

I would like to thank the members of the ARS Strategic Planning Team (SPT) who worked over 2½ years to draft, revise, and finalize this plan. The members were James H. Bradley, Dale A. Bucks, Ruth Coy, James Elgin (retired), David A. Farrell, Roger J. Gerrits (retired), Wesley L. Harris (retired), Stephen Heller, Roger Lawson (retired), Ray Leaman, John W. Radin, Michael D. Ruff, Keith Russell, Lewis Smith, and Ruxton Villet. The SPT activities were coordinated by David A. Rust, and Nancy Gatdula provided all of the secretarial and support services required. This important planning process could not have been successfully completed without the conscientious efforts of the entire team.

Floyd P. Horn
Administrator