ARS Peer Review Guidelines

 

The following information is provided to specifically meet the requirements of the Office of Management and Budget’s Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review, which was published in the Federal Register on January 14, 2005 (FR 70:2665-2677), http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda_fy2005_m05-03/ .

 

Two major categories of scientific information are disseminated by the Agricultural Research Service:  official USDA reports and non-USDA reports.  A research product (i.e., manuscript) submitted for publication to peer-reviewed journals is considered a non-USDA report of scientific information.  However to ensure the utmost rigor and transparency, official USDA reports of influential and highly influential research are reviewed by scientific experts within and outside of the federal government before dissemination to the public. 

 

ARS Peer Review Agenda and Plans Related to Influential/Highly Influential Scientific Information (updated quarterly)

 

Research conducted by ARS that could potentially fall under influential and highly influential designations include research that supports policy and regulations; research with public health implications; and research that might impact trade.  Peer review plans are scheduled to accommodate output from 18 ARS national research programs conducted throughout the United States. 

 

Contact

 

For information on the ARS peer review agenda and plans for influential and highly influential research, contact:

 

Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young

Associate Administrator

Office of National Programs

Room 4-2154

5601 Sunnyside Avenue

Beltsville, MD 20705

Phone: (301) 504-5084

Fax: (301) 504-7302

E-mail:  c.jacobsyoung@ars.usda.gov

 

USDA Resources

 

Additional information on information quality and peer review may be found:

 

• Information Quality Guidelines
• Scientific Research Guidelines
• Peer Review Definitions
• Peer Review Agendas