NACD — National Association of Conservation Districts.
NACMCF — National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods.
NACO — National Association of Counties.
NAD — National Appeals Division.
NADA — New animal drug applications.
NAEGA — North American Export Grain Association.
NAFTA — North American Free Trade Agreement.
NAHMS — National Animal Health Monitoring System.
NAICS — North American Industry Classification System (replaces standard industrial classification (SIC).
NAL — National Agricultural Library.
NAP — Noninsured Assistance Payments.
NARC&DC — National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils.
NAS — National Academy of Sciences.
NASDA — National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
NASS — National Agricultural Statistics Service.
NASULGC — National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) — An institution created by Congress in 1863 to provide science-based advice to the government. The sister organizations associated with the Academy are the National Academy of Engineers, Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. The Academies and the Institute are honorary societies that elect new members to their ranks each year. The bulk of the institutions’ science-policy and technical work is conducted by the National Research Council (NRC), created expressly for that purpose. The NRC’s Board on Agriculture addresses issues confronting agriculture, food, and related environmental topics.
National Agricultural Library (NAL) — A national depository of scientific and popular agricultural information located at the Agricultural Research Service’s research center in Beltsville, Maryland. NAL’s administration was merged with ARS in 1994.
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act — Title XIV of Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 made USDA the leading federal agency for agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs. It also consolidated the funding for these programs.
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board — A 30-member board established by the FAIR Act of 1996 to replace three previous advisory committees. The Board advises USDA on national priorities and policies related to agricultural research, extension, and education.
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) — A USDA agency that collects and publishes statistics on the U.S. food and fiber system, with offices located in each state’s department of agriculture.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) — National standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency under authority of the Clean Air Act; NAAQS define the maximum allowable concentrations of specified air pollutants in outdoor (ambient) air. NAAQS have been set for carbon monoxide, particulate matter, sulfur oxides, nitrogen dioxide, lead, and ozone. "Primary" NAAQS protect human health, with a margin of safety; "secondary" NAAQS protect human welfare, which includes effects on soils, water, crops, vegetation, materials, etc.
National Appeals Division (NAD) — The National Appeals Division of USDA was established by the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (Title II of P.L. 103-354) to consolidate and improve the hearing procedures for USDA claims and disputes. The statute and regulations provide that certain sections of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), including the hearing requirements, do not apply to NAD proceedings. The NAD procedures govern informal and formal hearings covering appeals of decisions made by the rural development agencies, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Risk Management Agency, and the Farm Service Agency. The statute and regulations set forth the procedures for hearings, requirements for the presiding officers, requirements for communications between the decision-maker and persons interested in the matter, and other important issues. After a decision is made by a hearing officer, both the appellant and the agency have the right to a review by the NAD director, who then issues a final determination. The final determination of the NAD is reviewable and enforceable by the U.S. District Court in accordance with the judicial review provisions of the APA.
National Aquaculture Act of 1980 — P.L. 96-362 (September 26, 1980), as amended, is intended to promote and support the development of private aquaculture and to ensure coordination among the various federal agencies that have aquaculture programs and policies. It provided for a national aquaculture policy, including a formal National Aquaculture Development Plan; established a Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture on which officials of USDA, Commerce, Interior, and nine other federal agencies sit; designated USDA as the lead agency for coordination; and authorized the National Aquaculture Information Center within the National Agricultural Library.
National Bank for Cooperatives (CoBank) —An institution of the Farm Credit System that provides financial services to approximately 2,000 agricultural cooperatives, rural utility systems, Farm Credit System associations and other businesses serving rural America. CoBank also finances agricultural exports and provides international banking services primarily to U.S. agricultural cooperatives.
National Cheese Exchange (NCE) — A now defunct private non-profit corporation that operated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Every Friday morning for one-half hour, members of the NCE met to buy or sell cheddar cheese in 40-pound blocks and 500-pound barrels on the exchange. The closing prices were published and widely circulated throughout the dairy industry, and were used as the basis for buying and selling cheese throughout the food distribution system. Up until April 1997 the USDA used changes in the NCE price as a principal component in determining the basic formula price for all milk sold under federal milk marketing orders. Activity on the NCE was regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and the Wisconsin Attorney General.
National Early Warning System — A program run by the Centers for Disease Control to increase federal support to state health departments to detect food borne diseases by increasing the number of scientists available to investigate food borne outbreaks and by enhancing laboratory-based surveillance of important food borne pathogens.
National Environmental Policy Act of 1970 — P.L. 91-190 (January 1, 1970) made a declaration of national environmental policy and established a continuing responsibility of the federal government to reach a number of substantive goals that embody nationwide improvements in environmental quality. Federal policies, regulations, and laws must be administered in accordance with NEPA. To insure this is accomplished, all federal agencies must consider the environmental consequences of their actions through the preparation of environmental impact statements (EIS). Also, the law creates the Council on Environmental Quality in the Executive Office of the President.
National Estuary Program — A program established under the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1987 to develop and implement conservation and management plans for protecting estuaries and restoring and maintaining their chemical, physical, and biological integrity, as well as controlling point source and nonpoint source pollution sources.
National farm program acreage — The number of harvested acres of feed grains, wheat, and cotton needed nationally to meet domestic and export use and to accomplish any desired increase or decrease in carryover levels. The acreage base for an individual farm was calculated as the producer’s share of the national farm program acreage. The FAIR Act of 1996 eliminated the need to calculate a national program acreage.
National forest — Originally, forest reserves, established by Presidential proclamation mostly between 1891 and 1909. Today, the boundaries of the 155 national forests cannot be modified without congressional authorization, although many (especially eastern) national forests are combined for easier administration. The 117 administrative units, commonly referred to as national forests, are managed by the Forest Service for multiple use and sustained yield of renewable resources, as determined in forest plans.
National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 1976 — P.L. 94-588 (October 22, 1976) largely amended the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, which required a national, strategic planning process for renewable resources for the Forest Service, and comprehensive, interdisciplinary land and resource management plans for units of the National Forest System. The law was seen as necessary, because a lawsuit (commonly known as the Monongahela decision) had invalidated most timber practices in the national forests. NFMA substantially enacted detailed guidance for forest planning, particularly in regulating when, where, and how much timber could be harvested and in requiring public involvement in preparing and revising the plans. NFMA also established the Salvage Sale Fund and expanded other Forest Service trust funds and special accounts.
National Forest System (NFS) — The 192 million acres administered by the Forest Service for multiple use; comprised of 155 national forests (in 117 units) with 187 million acres, 20 national grasslands with 4 million acres, and 112 other units (e.g., purchase units, land utilization projects, research and experimental areas) with about 500,000 acres. While the NFS lands are concentrated in the West, the 25 million acres east of the 100th Meridian (the Great Plains) make the Forest Service the largest land manager in the East.
National grasslands — A type of unit designated by USDA and under Title II of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, permanently held by USDA as part of the National Forest System.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) — An agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at the Department of Commerce. NMFS administers programs that support the domestic and international conservation and management of living marine resources. NMFS provides services and products to support domestic and international fisheries management operations, fisheries development, trade and industry assistance activities, enforcement, protected species and habitat conservation operations, and the scientific and technical aspects of NOAA’s marine fisheries program. NMFS conducts voluntary seafood inspection on a fee-for-service basis, mainly as a marketing and quality program rather than as a food safety program.
National Milk Laboratory Certification Program — Under a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments, the Food and Drug Administration conducts a national certification program for state centralized laboratories which test dairy products for contaminants and residues. FDA maintains accreditation of milk laboratories and sample collection surveillance procedures by making triennial on-site evaluations of laboratory facilities and equipment and by testing annually the performance skills of analysts. The FDA also standardizes, evaluates, and certifies state and territorial milk laboratory evaluation officers and state sampling surveillance officers.
National Natural Resources Conservation Foundation (NNRCF) — A nonprofit private organization established by the FAIR Act of 1996 to promote and fund innovative solutions to conservation problems through effective partnerships. The Foundation can accept gifts and raise money. The NNRCF will conduct research, undertake educational activities, support demonstration projects, and make grants to state and local governments and nonprofit organizations. Appropriations are authorized at $1 million per year for 1997-99, but no appropriations have been provided and the Foundation is not yet operational. Similar foundations have been created for several other natural resource areas.
National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 — P.L. 101-445 was enacted to establish a comprehensive, coordinated program for nutrition monitoring and related research to improve the assessment of the health and nutrition of the U.S. population. The Act required: a program to achieve coordination of federal nutrition monitoring efforts within 10 years and assist states and local governments in participating in a nutrition monitoring network; an interagency board to develop and implement the program; and, an advisory council to provide scientific and technical advice and evaluate program effectiveness. The Act also required that dietary guidelines be issued every five years, and that any dietary guidance issued by the federal government for the general public be reviewed by the Secretaries of both Agriculture, and Health and Human Services.
National Organic Program — A program authorized by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (Title 21 of the FACT Act of 1990) that would set national standards for organic products, and permit such products to be certified and labeled as "USDA Certified Organic." The Act authorized the program to begin in 1993. However, due to delays in developing the standards and to controversy over the proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register (December 16, 1997, Page 65849-65898) the program had not yet been implemented by mid-1999.
National Organic Standards Board — A board established by Title 21 of the FACT Act of 1990 to develop national standards for practices and substances to be used in implementing a National Organic Program. Producers meeting these standards can sell their products as "USDA Certified Organic." As of mid-1999 the standards had not been finalized.
National Partnership Office (NPO) — The NPO is responsible for implementing National Rural Development Partnership policies and activities. The NPO provides budgetary and financial technical assistance to State Rural Development Councils.
National Research Council (NRC) — See National Academy of Sciences.
National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRI) — Generally referred to as the NRI, this program makes grants to scientists at both public and private laboratories for basic and applied agricultural research in priority areas as designated in the research title of the FACT Act of 1990. Grants are awarded competitively through a peer-review process.
National Resources Inventory (NRI) — A periodic survey of status and changing conditions of the soil, water, and related resources on private land conducted by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The survey is conducted every 5 years, most recently in 1997. As of early 1999, the most recent published survey was for 1992.
National Rural Development Council (NRDC) — This is the federal component of the National Rural Development Partnership. The NRDC comprises representatives from various federal departments and national organizations whose activities or policies may affect rural areas. The NRDC provides guidance for the Partnership and works on behalf of State Rural Development Councils at the national level. It’s administrative office is housed in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
National Rural Development Partnership — A collaborative effort comprised of representatives of the federal, state, local, and tribal governments, the private sector, and the nonprofit sector to promote rural development across the nation. The principle component of the Partnership is the State Rural Development Councils.
National Rural Economic Development Institute (NREDI) — Helps develop the capacity of the National Rural Development Partnership and its constituent organizations (State Rural Development Councils and the National Rural Development Council) by providing economic development-related training and consulting services.
National School Lunch Act — P.L. 79-396 (June 4, 1946) authorized federal cash and commodity support for school lunch and milk programs, "...as a measure of national security..." in response to claims that many American men had been rejected for military service in World War II because of diet-related health problems. Beginning in the early 1930's federal support had been provided for school lunch programs through donations of surplus commodities, and when these dried up during the War, by grants provided under annual appropriations laws. The original National School Lunch Act established multi-year authority for the financing of school feeding programs. It since has been amended numerous times and now permanently authorizes the national school lunch program and the child and adult care food program. Federally guaranteed subsidies are provided for every lunch served, with higher amounts generally provided for lunches served to low-income children who meet income criteria set by the law. This Act also requires federal payments for meals and snacks served to children and elderly and disabled persons in day care facilities (the child and adult care food program) and children in summer programs operated in low-income areas (the summer food service program), and it requires a set value of commodity assistance for each lunch served under these programs. Other activities supported by this Act include meals supplements for children in after-school care, a homeless children nutrition program, meal service for Department of Defense overseas dependents schools , and an information clearinghouse.
National School Lunch Program — This child nutrition program provides cash and commodity assistance to public and private nonprofit elementary and secondary schools and residential child care institutions to support lunches served to all children in schools and institutions that choose to participate; snacks served in after-school programs also are federally subsidized. While all lunches and snacks are federally assisted, larger federal subsidies generally are provided for meals (or after-school snacks) served to children from lower-income families — i.e., free or reduced-price lunches and snacks, as opposed to paid lunches and snacks. Each meal or snack is subsidized at legislatively established rates that are annually indexed for food-price inflation. The program is permanently authorized under Sections 4 and 11 of the National School Lunch Act, administered by the Food and Nutrition Service, and funded as an entitlement by annual agriculture appropriations acts.
National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) — A program under which the federal Food and Drug Administration works cooperatively with the states, the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference, and industry to assure the safety of molluscan shellfish (clams, oysters, mussels). Among other things, all such products entering interstate commerce must be handled by state-certified dealers, properly tagged, tracked by appropriate records, and be processed in plants that meet sanitation requirements. The FDA continually reviews state shellfish control programs for effectiveness.
National Wetland Inventory — An ongoing national survey of wetlands conducted by the Fish and Wildlife Service, primarily for scientific purposes. The data and maps it produces were used to track gains and losses of wetlands for more than two decades. The wetland tracking function will be now be done by the Natural Resources Inventory, most recently conducted in 1997.
National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) — Consists of all of the National Wildlife Refuges, the Waterfowl Production Areas, and certain other small tracts managed by states under cooperative agreements with the Fish and Wildlife Service. In general, these areas are managed primarily for conservation of wild plants and animals (particularly waterfowl). Other uses, such as recreation, grazing, energy development, etc., are permitted to the extent they are compatible with the conservation purpose. Some refuges have additional purposes defined in law.
National Wool Act of 1954 — Title VII of Agricultural Act of 1954 was designated the National Wool Act and provided for a new and permanent price support program for wool and mohair to encourage increased domestic production through incentive payments. Wool and mohair commodity programs were in effect through marketing year 1995, at which time it was terminated under the explicit mandate of P.L. 103-130 (November 1, 1993).
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) —
A USDA agency responsible for developing and
carrying out national soil and water programs in cooperation with landowners,
operators, and others. It was created in 1994 reorganization legislation
by merging the Soil Conservation Service and many of the conservation cost-sharing
programs of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. The
NRCS is responsible for developing and carrying out national soil and water
conservation programs in cooperation with landowners, farm operators, and
others. More than 70% of the approximately 12,000 employees work at the
field level.
NAWD — National Association of WIC Directors.
NAWG — National Association of Wheat Growers.
NAWGA — National-American Wholesale Grocers Association.
NBC — National Broiler Council (in 1998 the organization changed its name to the National Chicken Council).
NCA — National crop acreage.
NCAMP — National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides.
NCBA — National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
NCBA — National Cooperative Business Association.
NCC — National Chicken Council (formerly the National Broiler Council).
NCC — National Cotton Council.
NCE — National Cheese Exchange.
NCFAP — National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy.
NCFC — National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
NCGA — National Corn Growers Association.
NCFH — National Center for Farmworker Health.
NCIMS — National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments.
NDC — National Dairy Council.
NE — Northern Europe cotton price.
NEC — The White House National Economic Council, which in 1998 began examining some aspects of mergers in various U.S. industries; agricultural interests in 1998 and early 1999 were seeking to include agriculture as one of the industries.
NEPA — National Environmental Policy Act of 1970.
NEPA analysis — Analyses conducted during the preparation of documents required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970, particularly environmental assessments and environmental impact statements.
Net cash income — A farm’s actual cash receipts and expenses in a given year, regardless of the year the goods sold were produced. In general, it serves as an indicator of the short-term financial condition of agricultural producers and their ability to pay household expenses, farm operating expenses, loan payments, and to purchase capital assets such as machinery. It consists of cash receipts from farm marketings of crop and livestock products, other cash income from such farm-related sources as machine hire, custom work and farm recreational activities, and direct government payments, less production expenses paid in cash. It excludes the non-monetary components of gross farm income and net farm income.
Net farm income — The return (both monetary and non-monetary) to farm operators for their labor, management and capital, after all production expenses have been paid (that is, gross farm income minus production expenses). It includes net income from farm production as well as net income attributed to the rental value of farm dwellings, the value of commodities consumed on the farm, depreciation, and inventory changes.
Net income (food stamps) — As relates to the food stamp program, net monthly income is an amount calculated for each food stamp household that, together with its size, effectively determines its food stamp benefit. It is calculated by reducing the household’s total cash monthly income by a series of deductions. The lower a household’s net income, the larger its food stamp benefit.
Net pen culture — A type of aquaculture where fish remain captive throughout their lives in marine pens built from nets, used by the salmon industry.
NET — Nutrition Education and Training Program.
New Zealand Dairy Board (NZDB) — The New Zealand Dairy Board is a quasi- government corporation that was explicitly created by New Zealand statute to purchase all New Zealand dairy products that are manufactured for export. (New Zealand accounts for about 1 to 2% of world milk production, but has an export share of about 25% of the market.) The Board is governed by 13 Board members, 11 of whom are directors of New Zealand’s dairy cooperatives, and 2 are appointed by the government. It operates through a global network of marketing subsidiaries, based in the countries where New Zealand dairy products are sold. Through its purchasing activities and its system of premiums and penalties, it can encourage the production of dairy products that are in high demand and discourage those that are in surplus.
NFI — National Fisheries Institute.
NFMA — National Forest Management Act of 1976.
NFO — National Farmers Organization.
NFPA — National Food Processors Association.
NFS — National Forest System.
NFSMI — National Food Service Management Institute.
NFU — National Farmers Union.
NGA — National Governors Association.
NGA — National Grocers Association.
NGFA — National Grain and Feed Association.
NGTC — National Grain Trade Council.
NHCP — National Handbook of Conservation Practices.
Nitrate — The nitrogen ion, NO3-, is derived from nitric acid and is an important source of nitrogen in fertilizers. Nitrate pollution of drinking water, shallow wells being particularly vulnerable, is of concern because infants are especially sensitive. A nitrate drinking water standard has been set under the Safe Drinking Water Act. An Environmental Protection Agency national survey of drinking water wells conducted from 1988 to 1990 indicated that 2.4% of rural domestic wells contained nitrate at or above the 10 mg/L standard. Higher rates of contamination have been found in areas of high vulnerability; for example, surveys along the upper Des Moines river indicate that 20 to 30% of wells exceed the standard.
Nitrogen — An element found in the air and in all plant and animal tissues. For many crops, nitrogen fertilizer is essential for economic yields. However, nitrogen can also be a pollutant when nitrogen compounds are mobilized in the environment (e.g., leach from fertilized or manured fields), are discharged from septic tanks or feedlots, volatilize to the air, or are emitted from combustion engines. As pollutants, nitrogen compounds can have adverse health effects (see nitrate and air pollution) and contribute to degradation of waters (see eutrophication).
NLEA — Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1991.
NMA — National Meat Association.
NMFS — National Marine Fisheries Service.
NMPF — National Milk Producers Federation.
No net cost — A provision requiring that a price support program be operated at no cost to the federal government. The No-Net-Cost Tobacco Act of 1982 required the participants in the 1982 and subsequent year tobacco programs to pay an assessment to cover potential losses in operating the tobacco price support program. The Food Security Act of 1985 required that USDA operate the sugar program at no cost. This provision applied through the 1996 crop year for the sugar crops, and was repealed by the FAIR Act of 1996. The 1996 changes to the peanut program are designed to ensure that it also operates at no cost.
No Net Cost Tobacco Act of 1982 — P.L. 97-218 (July 20, 1982) required that the tobacco price support program operate at no net cost to taxpayers, other than for the administrative expenses common to all price support programs. To satisfy this mandate, sellers and buyers (including importers) of tobacco are assessed equally to build a capital account that is drawn upon to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for any losses of principal and interest resulting from nonrecourse loans. Other provisions of this law provided for reducing the level of support for tobacco and made various modifications to the marketing quota and acreage allotment programs.
No net loss wetlands policy — An overall policy goal for wetland protection first adopted by the Bush Administration, and more recently by the Clinton Administration. The goal is to halt the decline in the overall number of wetland acres in the country. It refers only to acres and does not compare the functions and values of wetlands gained and lost. Also, this goal does not address the question of whether it is acceptable to destroy some wetlands if at least the same number of acres are created or restored at another site. Currently there are about 100 million wetland acres, compared to about 200 million when the country was first settled.
No observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) — From long-term toxicological studies of agricultural chemical active ingredients, levels which indicate a safe, lifetime exposure level. Used in setting pesticide residue tolerances.
No-till farming — A method of planting crops that involves no seed bed preparation other than opening the soil to place individual seeds in holes or small slits; usually no cultivation during crop production; chemical weed control is normally used. May also be referred to as slot tillage or zero cultivation. See, for comparison, conservation tillage and minimum tillage.
NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NOAEL — No observable adverse effect level.
Nonbasic commodities — Commodities other than basic commodities for which USDA is authorized to provide price support in permanent law. This includes soybeans and other oilseeds, milk, sugar beets, and sugarcane.
Noncompetitive imports — A term used by the Economic Research Service in its reporting of agricultural trade statistics to refer to imports of commodities not produced in the United States. Commodities such as tea, bananas, or coffee are considered noncompetitive imports. In contrast, imported commodities that are also produced in the United States are referred to as competitive imports.
Non-indigenous species — See invasive species.
Noninsured Assistance Program (NAP) — Producers who grow a crop that is currently not eligible for crop insurance may be eligible for a direct payment under the Farm Service Agency’s noninsured assistance program (NAP). NAP has permanent authority under the Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994 and was designed to replace ad-hoc farm disaster legislation that was enacted nearly every year between 1988 and 1993. For a producer of an noninsured crop to become eligible for a payment, area-wide losses for that crop must be at least 35% of normal yields. Once the 35% area-wide threshold is reached, an individual producer must then experience a minimum crop loss of 50%. A noninsured producer then receives a payment comparable to an insured producer under catastrophic crop insurance coverage — 60% of the market price on losses in excess of 50%. A producer of a noninsured crop is subject to a payment limit of $100,000 per person and is ineligible for a payment if the producer’s qualifying gross revenues exceed $2 million.
Nonmoney income — A statistical allowance used in farm income compilations to credit farmers with income for the value of farm products used on the farm (instead of being sold for cash) and the rental value of farm dwellings. It assumes farmers otherwise live rent-free on their farm business premises.
Non-native species — See invasive species.
Nonpoint source pollution — Pollutants that are not discharged or emitted from a specific "point" source, such as a pipe or smokestack. Nonpoint water pollutants are often carried from dispersed, diverse sources into water channels by rain-induced runoff. Runoff from streets, open pit and strip mines, and agricultural fields are prominent examples (see agricultural pollution). Nonpoint source air pollutants (often called fugitive emissions) include small dispersed sources, e.g., fireplace smoke, and uncontained emissions, like dust blown from fields and unpaved roads.
Non-program crops — Any agricultural commodity not covered by federal commodity programs. Program crops are wheat, corn, barley, grain sorghum, oats, upland cotton, and rice.
Nonrecourse loans — Farmers or processors participating in government commodity programs may pledge certain stored commodities as collateral and obtain a loan from the CCC at a commodity-specific, per-unit loan rate. The borrower may repay the loan, with interest, within a specified period and regain control of the commodity. Alternatively, the commodity can be forfeited to the CCC at the end of the term with no penalty. The government takes no recourse beyond accepting the commodity as full settlement of the loan. The loans provide operating capital to producers of wheat, feed grains, cotton, peanuts, tobacco, rice, and oilseeds. Dairy processors (until 2000) and sugar processors (when imports are equal to or greater than 1.5 million short tons) are also eligible for nonrecourse loans. In the past, loan rates sometimes exceeded market prices. The CCC then became an alternative purchaser to the market, thereby supporting prices. For those commodities eligible for marketing assistance loan benefits, producers may repay the loan at the world price (rice and upland cotton) or posted county price (wheat, feed grains, and oilseeds).
Nonrenewable resources — Nonrenewable resources, in contrast to renewable resources, do not naturally replenish themselves within time limits that permit sustained yield (i.e., minerals and hydrocarbons, such as phosphate rock, limestone, petroleum). Nonrenewable resources may be called stock resources because of their fixed supply. Some resources, such as soil and water, can be termed either nonrenewable or renewable depending on circumstances. For example, some underground reservoirs replenish so slowly they are effectively nonrenewable, such as the Ogalala Aquifer. Soil that is eroding faster than its T value faces eventual depletion.
Non-road emissions — Pollutants emitted by non-road engines and non-road vehicles, e.g., farm and construction equipment, gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment, and power boats and outboard motors. The Clean Air Act, §213, provides that the Environmental Protection Agency can issue regulations to limit emissions from these sources.
Nontariff barriers (NTB’s) — Any restriction, charge, or policy other than a tariff, that limits access of imported goods. Examples of nontariff barriers include quantitative restrictions, mainly import quotas and embargoes; import licenses; exchange controls; state trading enterprises; bilateral agreements; and certain rules and regulations on health, safety, and sanitation. The Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture requires conversion of NTBs to bound tariffs and tariff-rate quotas, and that sanitary and phytosanitary measures be based on sound science.
NOP — National Organic Program.
Normal crop acreage — The acreage on a farm normally devoted to a group of designated crops. When a set-aside program is in effect, a participating farm’s total planted acreage of such designated crops plus set-aside acreage cannot exceed the normal crop acreage. The authority for set-asides was eliminated by the FAIR Act of 1996.
Normal flex acreage — A provision of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 requiring a mandatory 15% reduction in payment acreage. Under this provision, producers were ineligible to receive deficiency payments on 15% of their crop acreage base (not including any acreage removed from production under any production adjustment program). Producers, however, were allowed to plant any crop on this acreage, except fruits, vegetables, and other prohibited crops. Normal flex acreage no longer exists under the FAIR Act of 1996.
Normal yield — The average historic yield established for a particular farm or area. Can also describe average yields. Normal production would be the normal crop acreage planted multiplied by the normal yield. These measures, required by previous commodity programs to calculate benefits, are not required for production flexibility contracts under the FAIR Act of 1996.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) — A multilateral agreement negotiated by the United States, Canada and Mexico that sets forth agreements to lower and/or eliminate unfair trade barriers that affect the trade of goods and services between the three countries. NAFTA entered into force on January 1, 1994. The agriculture portion of NAFTA effectively is three bilateral agreements; U.S./Mexico, Mexico/Canada, and U.S./Canada. The U.S.-Canada agricultural agreement in NAFTA was negotiated previously as part of the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement.
North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act — P.L. 103-182 (December 8, 1993) approved and implemented the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA pertains to cross-border trade between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. NAFTA substantially eliminated all nontariff barriers to agricultural trade between the United States and Mexico, generally through their conversion to tariff-rate quotas or ordinary tariffs, and maintained the provisions of the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement on agricultural trade. With respect to Mexico, the law eliminated tariffs on a broad range of agricultural products and provided for a phase-out over up to 15 years for tariffs on other products. A special safeguard provision will apply to certain products, with a designated quantity of imports allowed at a NAFTA preferential tariff rate. NAFTA increases incentives for buying within the NAFTA region.
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) — Standard industrial classification codes have been replaced in the 1997 Census of Agriculture by the new North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). NAICS is a unique, all-new system for classifying business establishments. It is the first economic classification system to be constructed based on a single economic concept. Economic units that use like processes to produce goods or services are grouped together. In the case of the Census of Agriculture, the shift from SIC codes to NAICS codes involves few changes. Farms are grouped into crop or livestock production and then into the subcategory which accounts for 50% or more of the total value of sales of agricultural products (i.e., cotton, tobacco, dairy).
North American Waterfowl Management Plan — An international program in cooperation with Mexico and Canada to protect, restore, enhance, and manage wetland ecosystems for migratory birds and other wildlife and fish. It was authorized by the North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989. This program is administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, and USDA agencies participate as appropriate.
North American Wetlands Conservation Act — P.L. 101-233 (December 13, 1989), and amended in 1990 and 1994, authorizes a wetlands habitat program; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The law authorized annual appropriations of up to $20 million to fund a grant program to protect and manage wetland habitats for migratory birds and other wetland wildlife in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. A nine-member council meets periodically to decide which projects to fund. The program encourages private-public cost-sharing projects. It must allocate between 50% and 70% of all funds to projects in Mexico and Canada, and no more than 50% of the U.S. share for projects in these countries can come from federal funds. Agricultural wetlands are not specifically identified in the law, and agricultural interests are not expressly represented on the council.
Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact — An agreement among the six New England States to support the farm price of milk used for fluid consumption at a higher level than under current federally mandated minimum prices in the region. Current law allows membership in the compact to expand to New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, if the prospective state is contiguous to a member state, and if the compact is approved by the state legislature of the prospective state and the U.S. Congress. Under law, the compact must terminate when reforms to federal milk marketing orders are implemented by USDA, which has a statutory deadline of October 1, 1999.
Northern Europe (NE) cotton price — An average of the five lowest prices of several internationally-traded cottons (including cost, insurance, and freight) quoted for delivery in Northern Europe. The NE price is used by USDA in its formula for calculating the adjusted world price, used in administering marketing assistance loan and step 2 payment benefits under the cotton price support program.
NOSB — National Organic Standards Board.
Noxious weeds — Undesirable plants that infest either land or water resources and cause physical and economic damage. Under the Federal Noxious Weeds Act of 1974, (P.L. 93-629, January 3, 1975), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service works to prevent noxious weeds from entering the country, and conducts cooperative control/eradication programs with the states. Local governments frequently impose taxes on landowners to carry out noxious weed control programs.
NPE — Nutrition Program for the Elderly.
NPHAP — National Pesticide Hazard Assessment Program.
NPPC — National Pork Producers Council.
NPR — National Performance Review.
NPS — Non-point source.
NRA — National Renderers Association.
NRA — National Restaurant Association.
NRC — National Research Council (see National Academy of Sciences).
NRCS — Natural Resources Conservation Service.
NRECA — National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
NRI — National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program; National Resources Inventory.
NRSP-7 — National Research Support Project 7, also know as the Minor Use Animal Drug Program, is the counterpart for animals of the IR-4 plant program. The program targets development of therapeutic drugs for minor species, such as small ruminants and aquatic species, plus support for drugs for minor use within major species. It is carried out in partnership with the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.
NSLA — National School Lunch Act.
NSLP — National School Lunch Program.
NSSC — National Soil Survey Center.
NSSP — National Shellfish Sanitation Program.
NTB’s — Nontariff barriers.
NTF — National Turkey Federation.
NTP — National Toxicology Program.
Nutrient pollution — Contamination by excessive inputs of nutrient: a primary cause of eutrophication of surface waters, in which excess nutrients, usually nitrogen or phosphorus, stimulate algal growth. Sources of nutrient pollution include runoff from fields and pastures, discharges from septic tanks and feedlots, and emissions from combustion.
Nutrition Assistance Programs — Federal programs in Puerto Rico and American Samoa that provide food assistance through block grant funds in lieu of food stamps, and to the Northern Marianas under a covenant governing U.S. relations with that jurisdiction.
Nutrition Education and Training (NET) Program — Authorizes grants to states for a nutrition education program targeting school children, teachers, parents, and food service workers. The program is authorized under the Child Nutrition Act through FY2003 at an annual funding level of about $10 million.
Nutrition guidelines — Federal guidelines established for meals served in child nutrition meal service programs governing the types of foods and nutrient content required in order to be eligible for reimbursement.
Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1991 (NLEA) — P.L. 101-535 (November 8, 1990) mandated for the first time that most foods regulated by the Food and Drug Administration must be sold with nutrition labeling. The Act changed the list of nutrients that must appear on nutrition labels to focus on those of primary public health concern, adding saturated fat, cholesterol, total and subgroups of carbohydrates, and dietary fiber. Nutrition information was required on packaged and bulk foods, with few exceptions. A voluntary program was established for produce and seafood. Although NLEA did not directly affect the labeling of meat and poultry which is under the jurisdiction of USDA, comparable changes were made in the USDA labeling program for meat and poultry products in order to provide consistent nutrition labeling information on all food products for consumers.
Nutrition Program for the Elderly (NPE) — This program, authorized under Title III of the Older Americans Act, provides (1) basic grants to operate nutrition programs for the elderly, such as "meals-on-wheels" and congregate dining programs, and (2) additional cash payments or commodity assistance for each meal served. The basic grants are funded under annual appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services and distributed by formula. The additional per-meal cash or commodity assistance is funded under annual appropriations to the Food and Nutrition Service. While states may opt for either cash or commodity assistance, most choose per-meal cash payments.
NWF — National Wildlife Federation.
NWR — National Wildlife Refuge.
NWRS — National Wildlife Refuge System.
NWS — National Weather Service.