Abridged Knowledge Area (KA) List
KNOWLEDGE AREA CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR RESEARCH, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION

Version 1.0 (with major edits eliminating most areas not related to animal agriculture)

USDA-Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service - July 2005

KNOWLEDGE AREAS

TOPIC I. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

FOREST AND RANGE RESOURCES

121. Management of Range Resources

125. Agroforestry

NATURAL RESOURCES, GENERAL

133. Pollution Prevention and Mitigation

AIR

TOPIC III. ANIMALS AND THEIR SYSTEMS

ANIMAL PRODUCTION

301. Reproductive Performance of Animals

302. Nutrient Utilization in Animals

303. Genetic Improvement of Animals

304. Animal Genome

305. Animal Physiological Processes

306. Environmental Stress in Animals

307. Animal Management Systems

308. Improved Animal Products (Before Harvest)

ANIMAL PROTECTION

311. Animal Diseases

312. External Parasites and Pests of Animals

313. Internal Parasites in Animals

314. Toxic Chemicals, Poisonous Plants, Naturally Occurring Toxins, and Other Hazards Affecting Animals

TOPIC IV. AGRICULTURAL, NATURAL RESOURCE AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING

401. Structures, Facilities, and General Purpose Farm Supplies

402. Engineering Systems and Equipment

403. Waste Disposal, Recycling, and Reuse

404. Instrumentation and Control Systems

TOPIC V. FOOD AND NON-FOOD PRODUCTS: DEVELOPMENT, PROCESSING, QUALITY, AND DELIVERY

NON-FOOD

511. New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes

TOPIC VI. ECONOMICS, MARKETS, AND POLICY

601. Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management

602. Business Management, Finance, and Taxation

603. Market Economics

604. Marketing and Distribution Practices

605. Natural Resource and Environmental Economics

606. International Trade and Development

TOPIC VII. HUMAN NUTRITION, FOOD SAFETY, AND HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

FOOD SAFETY

711. Ensure Food Products Free of Harmful Chemicals, Including Residues from Agricultural and Other Sources

712. Protect Food from Contamination by Pathogenic Microorganisms, Parasites, and Naturally Occurring Toxins

HUMAN HEALTH

722. Zoonotic Diseases and Parasites Affecting Humans

TOPIC VIII. FAMILIES, YOUTH, AND COMMUNITIES

TOPIC IX. PROGRAM AND PROJECT SUPPORT, ADMINISTRATION, AND COMMUNICATION

902. Administration of Projects and Programs

KNOWLEDGE AREA DESCRIPTION

TOPIC I. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

FOREST AND RANGE RESOURCES

KA 121. Management of Range Resources

This area includes work on biological processes and ecological relationships, improved range management techniques, and better appraisals of range conditions for production of livestock forage, water yield, and wildlife habitat.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Improvement of rangeland evaluation methods to reduce costs and increase the usefulness of information obtained, including aerial photography, geographic information systems (GIS), trend projections, and computers for data analysis • Appraisal to provide up-to-date information on the quality, quantity, and productivity of range resources

• Projecting future demand for range forage and other benefits normally related to the wise use of rangelands

• Physiology and ecology of rangeland plant communities

• Range characteristics, including identification, physiological requirements, and nutritive value of forage plants

• Understanding range ecosystems and their biotic and physical components

• Improvement through breeding and selection of browse plants for forage, protection, and aesthetic purposes

• Revegetation of deteriorated areas by seeding desirable species

• Systems for managing ranges including fertilization, mechanization, grazing pressure, and drainage to increase yields

• Management practices that harmonize grazing with timber growing, wildlife, recreation, and other land uses

• Riparian areas and wetlands associated with rangeland habitats and their importance to these ecosystems

• Forested range management

• Protection against insects and diseases

• Invasive/alien plant deterioration of rangelands.

Exclude:

• Work focused on improvement of wildlife habitat (use KA 135)

• Watershed systems and cumulative effects (use KA 112)

• Protection against fire (use KA 122)

• Agroforestry (use KA 125)

• Economic and policy issues of range management (use KA 605 or 610)

• Use of prescribed fire for maintenance of range ecosystems (use KA 122)

• Biological control of pests (use KA 215)

• Integration of pest control tactics into an integrated pest management (IPM) system (use KA 216).

KA 125. Agroforestry

Work in this area focuses on agroforestry practices that intentionally combine trees or shrubs with crop or livestock operations, or use trees at the agriculture/community interface to help create more integrated, diverse, and sustainable farms, non-industrial forests, ranches, and rural communities. Agroforestry practices are designed to incorporate the use of trees into agricultural settings to accomplish social, economic, and environmental objectives. The main types of agroforestry include alley cropping, riparian buffers, forest farming, windbreaks/shelterbelts, and silvopasture. Agroforestry practices often yield non-traditional tree and forest products such as mushrooms, boughs, medicinal plants, vines, and nuts.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Biological interactions created or altered by agroforestry plantings

• Ecological roles of agroforestry systems at the landscape level

• Techniques for establishment, management, and renovation of agroforestry practices

• Enhancing performance of agroforestry plantings for economic, social, and environmental services, and rural development

• Selection and breeding of plant materials for agroforestry

• Protection of trees and shrubs in agroforestry plantings from damage by animals, wildfire, floods, insects, diseases, or other harmful agents

• Identification of new and innovative woody plant species and arrangements to enhance economic returns from agroforestry practices (e.g., specialty crops: medicinal herbs, floral products, Christmas trees, wood products)

• Generating income-producing opportunities from land devoted to conservation oriented agroforestry

• Integrating agroforestry technologies and plant materials into appropriate conservation or production systems for farms, ranches, communities, and nonindustrial forests

• Identifying social and economic constraints to agroforestry adoption

• Land use planning tools to integrate agroforestry practices into watersheds

• Role of agroforestry systems (e.g., crop production, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration) to mitigate hypothesized negative impacts of climate change.

Exclude:

• Management of forests (use KA 123)

• Biological control of pests (use KA 215)

• Integration of pest control tactics into an integrated pest management (IPM) system (use KA 216).

NATURAL RESOURCES, GENERAL

KA 133. Pollution Prevention and Mitigation

Work in this area is concerned with preventing, alleviating, and mitigating pollution initiated by agricultural and forestry practices and its detrimental effects on agricultural plants, animals, soil, air, water, and humans. Potential pollutants include: organic pesticides, radio-nuclides, fertilizer chemicals, growth regulating chemicals, animal and crop wastes, mulching materials, pathogenic microorganisms, heavy metals, salts used on roads for de-icing, and allergens. This work focuses on agricultural production, not on health hazards to humans, which are covered in KA 723, Hazards to Human Health and Safety.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Sources, character, intensity, and causes of pollution from agricultural and forestry practices and frequency of occurrence

• Behavior and fate of pesticides and other pollutants in soil and water

• Tolerance of plants, animals, humans, and insects to pollutants, including low levels of pollutants for prolonged periods of time

• Breeding and selection of forest and range plants resistant to pollution

• Public policy that would reduce pollution

• New or alternative agricultural and forestry practices and methods of reducing and controlling pollution to levels that are not harmful to natural resources, plants, animals, and humans, or methods that will prevent emission of the pollutant

• Role and use of living organisms in removing pollutants from the environment

• Minimum environmental quality standards for natural resource health and integrity

• Methodology and instrumentation for detection of pollutants and methods of analysis

• Methods of monitoring water, soil, and other media for pollutants and maintenance of networks that conduct this monitoring

• Methods and equipment for protecting plants and animals from pollutants

• Protection against radiation, noise, and other hazards

• Remediation of polluted areas

• Aquatic weeds as a pollutant

• Modeling pollutant load and delivery to soil and water resources.

Exclude:

• Trees to enhance urban and suburban environments (use KA 124)

• Protecting humans from harmful effects of microorganisms and naturally occurring

toxins (use KA 712)

• Collecting, moving, storing, recycling, or disposing of plant, animal, and radioactive or industrial wastes (use KA 403)

• Measurement, monitoring, and mitigation of airborne particulates, dust, ozone, odors, volatile organic compounds, gases, combustion products, smoke, and smog (use KA 141)

• Effects and remedial measures related to atmospheric deposition (use KA 141)

• Safe methods for disposing of pesticides or other agricultural chemicals (use KA 403 or 723)

• Methods and equipment to protect humans from pollutants (use KA 723)

• Protection of humans from non-food allergens and toxins, and poisonous plants (use KA 723)

• Protection of humans from radiation (use KA 723)

• Mitigation of odors, dust, and noise hazardous to humans (use KA 723).

AIR

KA 141. Air Resource Protection and Management

This knowledge area focuses on investigations that quantify emissions, fate and transport, and practices to mitigate emissions of particulate matter and gases from agriculture and forestry practices. Work includes emissions from animal feeding operations, controlled burning, and tillage, and volatilization/transport to the atmosphere of naturally occurring or anthropogenic chemical compounds.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Short and long-range transport of particulates and gases by wind through the atmosphere

• Procedures for measuring and monitoring of particulates, gases, and odors, as well as precursors to the formation of atmospheric particulates and ozone

• Effects and remedial measures related to atmospheric deposition

• Emissions to the atmosphere from land application of animal wastes, animal housing, and edge of field boundaries

• Inventories of emission factors to help agriculture and forestry comply with regulatory requirements

• Management practices that reduce or mitigate particulates, gases, and odors as well as greenhouse gases from agriculture and forestry production practices to the atmosphere.

Exclude:

• Mitigation of odors, dust, and noise hazardous to humans (use KA 723)

• Indoor air quality (use KA 804).

TOPIC III. ANIMALS AND THEIR SYSTEMS

ANIMAL PRODUCTION

KA 301. Reproductive Performance of Animals

Work to enhance reproductive performance of agriculturally important animals involves factors that control reproduction or provide methodologies to improve reproductive efficiency, including efforts to control puberty, ovarian function and cycles, gamete formation and maturation, fertilization, establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, placental function, fetal development and growth, and parturition.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Reducing the age of first breeding in females

• Improving libido and reducing physical and psychological barriers to mating

• Methods to control estrus and ovulation

• Semen metabolism and preservation, and artificial insemination techniques

• Effects of stress factors on reproductive performance

• Controlling sex of offspring through sperm separation and other means

• Increasing the fertilization and conception rate of available ova

• Increasing the number of potentially fertilizable ova

• Reducing prenatal, natal, and postnatal mortality

• Improving mothering ability

• Methods for early diagnosis of pregnancy

• Fundamental studies to determine molecular, cellular, and metabolic mechanisms regulating reproduction

• Development of reproductive technologies

• Methods to improve spawning efficiency in fish and shellfish

• Methods to enhance larval rearing in fish and shellfish.

Exclude:

• Nonfarm-raised fish and shellfish, game and fur-bearing animals, and other wildlife (use KA 135)

• Genetic studies to improve reproductive performance (use KA 303)

• Identification of genes that have an effect on reproduction and how they are controlled or regulated (use KA 304).

KA 302. Nutrient Utilization in Animals

Work in this area focuses on efforts to enhance the efficiency of nutrient utilization for improving animal productivity, including molecular and cellular biology of nutrient utilization, digestion, metabolic processes, and feed processing technology.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Digestion and metabolism

• Nutrients required for specific life processes and longevity

• Hormone and nutrient interactions for maintenance, growth, lactation, and other productivity functions

• Composition and biological availability of nutrients of animal feed

• Effects of processing and feeding system on nutritive values of animal feed

• Alternate sources of nutrients, including forages and agricultural byproducts.

Exclude:

• Reduction of waste carcass fat and proportion of low meat yield cuts (use KA 308).

KA 303. Genetic Improvement of Animals

Work in this area focuses on improving production efficiency of agriculturally important animal species through more effective genetic improvement programs utilizing the development and application of expanded genetic information and technology encompassing molecular, quantitative, and statistical genetics.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Estimation of genetic parameters (heritability, genetic variances and covariances, heterosis, breeding values, etc)

• Selection studies

• Breed evaluation studies

• Mating systems

• Development of breeding goals and strategies

• Identification of genetic defects

• Incorporation of molecular and genomic information into applied genetic improvement programs

• Acquisition and preservation of genetic resources

• Maintenance of genetic diversity.

Exclude:

• Reduction of waste carcass fat and proportion of low meat yield cuts (use KA 308)

• Gene mapping and fundamental molecular genetic and genomic information (use KA 304)

• Gene identification, regulation, and control (use KA 304)

• Natural resources biodiversity (use KA 136).

KA 304. Animal Genome

Work in this area involves the application of new developments in molecular biology to map and understand the genome of agriculturally important animal species.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Gene mapping, including linkage and physical mapping

• Gene identification, function repetition, and control

• Genetic engineering and gene manipulation

• DNA cloning and sequencing

• Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) identification and development of marker assisted selection procedures.

Exclude:

• Application of marker assisted selection in applied breeding programs (use KA 303).

KA 305. Animal Physiological Processes

This area includes work on the fundamental physiological processes within the animal at the organismal, organ system, cellular, and molecular level.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Chemical and structural organization of animal cells and their specialized properties and functions, including enzymatic machinery and biochemical conversions

• Organization, structure, and function of organ systems, including endocrine, circulatory/vascular, urinary, nervous, muscular, and skeletal systems, the sense organs, the common integument and its derivatives, and body fluids

• Physiology of vital life processes and mechanisms of function and control

• Neural, hormonal, or other chemical messengers that serve as regulators of physiologic processes and perform integrative functions in the animal

• Prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal development and growth of animals, including genetic control mechanisms and accretion, deposition, and degradation of proteins and fats in animal tissues

• Lactation physiology, including alveolar development and involution, milk synthesis, secretion and ejection, milk composition, and patterns of lactation.

Exclude:

• Physiology of reproduction and reproductive processes (use KA 301).

KA 306. Environmental Stress in Animals

Work in this area involves stresses from the effects of climate, handling, and other environmental factors that decrease productivity, including extremes in temperature, humidity, air movement, and noise that may lead to lower reproduction, reduced feed efficiency, anorexia, reduced disease resistance, and increased mortality.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Environmental factors that reduce productivity

• Facilities and equipment that reduce environmental stress

• Management techniques that enable animals to adapt to stress conditions.

Exclude:

• Stress factors that affect reproductive performance (use KA 301)

• Nonfarm-raised fish, shellfish, game and fur-bearing animals, and other wildlife (use KA 135)

• Genetic factors of animal response or adaptability to environmental stress (use KA 303)

• Physiological responses to environmental stress (use KA 305)

• Behavioral responses to environmental stress (use KA 315).

KA 307. Animal Management Systems

Work in this area focuses on the development and application of management systems, including computer technology/models and analytic methods, to improve management decisions and enhance animal production systems.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Animal-based studies that compare production systems or segments of production systems, including systems with emphasis on organic farming or small farms

• Animal-based studies that emphasize sustainable agriculture

• Computer simulation models of animal production systems that allow comparisons of various alternative management components and decisions.

Exclude:

• Nonfarm-raised fish, shellfish, game and fur-bearing animals, and other wildlife (use KA 135).

KA 308. Improved Animal Products (Before Harvest)

This area includes work to improve the composition and quality of animal products to reflect consumer preferences.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Physiology and biochemistry of fats, proteins, and flavor components of animal products

• Factors responsible for development of flavor and other components of product quality

• Reduction in undesired fat in animal products

• Improving wool, hides, and other non-food animal products

• Determination of consumer preferences and factors influencing product acceptability.

Exclude:

• Bees and honey (use KA 211)

• Processing techniques for improvement or development of food and non-food products from animals (use KA 502 or 511)

• Nutrient composition of animal products (use KA 701).

ANIMAL PROTECTION

KA 311. Animal Diseases

This area includes work on animal diseases that represent a threat to the production of an adequate and wholesome supply of animal products from livestock, poultry, and fish.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Disease management for biosecurity purposes

• The nature of causative agents involved in animal diseases

• Mechanisms of disease resistance and immunity

• Interrelationships among environment, genetics, and infectious agents in the etiology of diseases

• Methods of diagnosis, prevention, treatment, control, and eradication of diseases, including development of equipment

• Methods for risk assessment, surveillance, and prevention of foreign animal disease threats

• Evaluation of alternative control methods

• Understanding mechanisms involved in transmission of diseases to animals, including the role of vectors such as insects, ticks, and mites

• Integrated control systems for animal diseases.

Exclude:

• Disorders due to improper nutrition (use KA 302)

• Disorders resulting from pollution (use KA 133)

• Bloat and disorders due to ingestion of toxic plants, etc. (use KA 314)

• Disorders due to environmental stress (use KA 306)

• Nonfarm-raised fish, shellfish, game and fur bearing animals, and other wildlife (use KA 135).

KA 312. External Parasites and Pests of Animals

This area includes work on pests and external parasites, including insects, ticks, mites, and other parasitic organisms that reduce animal productivity. This area also includes work on more cost effective methods of control.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Biology and life history of pests

• Biosystematics/taxonomy

• Use and development of irradiation, chemosterilants, attractants, repellents, and other non-insecticidal approaches to insect control

• Absorption, metabolism, and excretion of insecticides by insects feeding on or in animals

• Biological control of insects

• The nature of insect resistance to chemical controls

• Evaluation of alternative control methods

• Development of methods and equipment for applying or using control materials

• Integrated control systems for external parasites.

Exclude:

• The role of insects, mites, and other arthropods in disease transmission (use KA 311)

• Nonfarm-raised fish, shellfish, game and fur-bearing animals, and other wildlife (use KA 135).

KA 313. Internal Parasites in Animals

This area includes work on internal parasites such as various kinds of worms, flukes, and protozoa. Emphasis is on reducing losses, including those due to mortality, reduced yield and condemnation of meat, feed wastage, and cost of drugs.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Biotic relationships in parasitism

• Biosystematics/taxonomy

• Biocontrol and management practices that minimize reliance on chemicals

• Safe chemical means including systemics for combating parasites

• Effective means of diagnosing parasitic infestation

• Evaluation and development of control methods and equipment

• Study of heritable traits, breeding, and selection to improve resistance to parasites

• Integrated control systems for internal parasites.

Exclude:

• Nonfarm-raised fish, shellfish, game and fur-bearing animals, and other wildlife (use KA 135)

• Insects, ticks, leeches, and mites (use KA 312).

KA 314. Toxic Chemicals, Poisonous Plants, Naturally Occurring Toxins, and Other Hazards Affecting Animals

This area focuses on reduction of losses in productivity in livestock, poultry, and fish operations due to toxic chemicals, pesticides, poisonous plants, predators, ingestion of metal and other foreign bodies, and other hazards.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Determining the specific sites and mechanisms of poisoning, bloat, and other disorders to learn the bases of these phenomena

• Toxicology and safe levels of residues of pesticides and other chemicals, natural or synthetic, used directly on or ingested by livestock and poultry

• Methods of reducing ingestion of pesticides or other chemicals in or on animal feeds

• Reasons for inter-species differences in detoxification mechanisms and sensitivity to poisoning by pesticides and other chemicals

• Developing animal management practices that minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals that leave toxic residues or that reduce the level of residues

• Prevention or alleviation of "hardware disease," and effects of plants that cause bloat, poisoning, or deformities of livestock

• Developing methods for combating nuclear radiation hazards to livestock

• Methods for reducing animal losses from predators.

Exclude:

• Breeding and selection of feed crops for reduced content of toxic components (use KA 203)

• Pesticides and other toxic substances applied to or ingested by livestock and poultry when the emphasis is clearly on reduction of the toxic content of foods consumed by humans (use KA 711)

• Disorders resulting from pollution (use KA 133)

• Nonfarm-raised fish, shellfish, game and fur-bearing animals, and other wildlife (use KA 135).

KA 315. Animal Welfare/Well-Being and Protection

Work in this area focuses on developing effective animal care and use programs, and information related to and contributing to the welfare, well-being, and proper stewardship of food animals.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Fundamental studies related to the assessment of animal well-being, including measures of adaptation and adaptiveness, measures of social behavior and spacing, physiological measures, and measures of cognition and motivation

• Management/confinement production systems related to animal welfare/wellbeing

• Controlled environments and environmental factors, including temperature, relative humidity, ventilation, lighting, and sound related to animal welfare/wellbeing

• Housing and equipment design; pen/cage design and densities; feeding, watering, and bedding practices related to animal welfare/well-being

• Handling, restraint, transport, and husbandry practices, such as castration, tail docking, debeaking, and others related to animal welfare/well-being

• Humane slaughter, euthanasia, and analgesia related to animal welfare/wellbeing

• Behavior patterns related to animal welfare/well-being

• Disease prevention techniques and practices, including management practices, disease detection and surveillance, assessing disease risks, vaccine development, parasite control, and others specifically related to animal welfare/well-being.

Exclude:

• Etiology of disease, disease agents, internal and external parasites, and toxic hazards (use KA 311-314)

• Genetics of disease resistance (use KA 303 or 304)

• Production management systems as related to production efficiency and economic viability (use KA 307)

• Nonfarm-raised fish, shellfish, game and fur-bearing animals, and other wildlife (use KA 135).

TOPIC IV. AGRICULTURAL, NATURAL RESOURCE, AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING

KA 401. Structures, Facilities, and General Purpose Farm Supplies

Work includes the design, construction, and cost of facilities for animals, agricultural products, agricultural inputs, equipment, and other materials. The properties and behavior of animals, products, equipment, and materials while in various facilities and during transport or processing is a part of this work.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Engineering aspects of design and construction of structures and facilities

• Physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the production of fertilizers, pesticides, feeds, and hormones

• Engineering aspects of materials handling, transport, land use, and storage of crop, forest, and range products

• Biological, chemical, and physical properties of materials

• Behavior of chemical and biological materials in storage systems

• Determining costs and benefits of construction or engineered systems

• Determining maintenance needs and costs of agricultural systems

• Facilities for handling, processing, and storing new food and fiber products, animal feeds, forage, and bedding

• Structures and facilities for housing and handling animals

• Facilities for handling and storing fuel, fertilizers, pesticides, and other farm supplies

• Environmental control of structures for animals, plants, or agricultural products

• Energy conservation relative to structures and facilities.

Exclude:

• Safe handling and use of materials and equipment (use KA 723)

• Facilities that reduce environmental stress in animals (use KA 306).

KA 402. Engineering Systems and Equipment

This work includes mechanization to increase efficiency and decrease labor requirements in agricultural and forestry production such as: grain, fruit and vegetable crops, timber, livestock, poultry, fish, and other animals. This includes machinery and power units for the pre- and post-harvest of various animal and plant products.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Tillage, planting, chemical application, and harvesting systems for agricultural and range systems

• Harvesting systems for forestry, including roads, transportation, and access for in-woods processing

• Systems for establishment and regeneration of crop, forest, and range systems

• Handling methods for animals and animal products

• Design and evaluation of equipment used in production of agricultural, forest, and range systems

• Application of sensors and robotics

• Application of pesticides and crop nutrients

• Energy conservation relative to systems and equipment.

Exclude:

• Structures and facilities (use KA 401)

• Irrigation and drainage systems (use KA 405)

• Safety of humans (use KA 723)

• Equipment that reduces environmental stress in animals (use KA 306)

• Food bioengineering and food process engineering (use KA 501).

KA 403. Waste Disposal, Recycling, and Reuse

Work in this area includes all aspects of collecting, storing, transporting, treating, recycling, and utilizing waste products from agriculture, forestry, and other origins. The development of value-added or alternative products from waste products is included.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Methods of collecting, storing, moving, treating, and disposing of animal, plant, food processing, municipal, and industrial wastes

• Development of products from waste materials, including biofuels

• Engineering and analysis of projected and existing waste disposal systems and pesticide containers

• Recycling pre- and post-consumer wastes

• Improved methods for mitigating environmental impacts and biosecurity risks from agricultural, forestry, municipal, and industrial wastes.

Exclude:

• Pollution prevention and mitigation of soil and water resources (use KA 133)

• Pollution prevention and mitigation of air resources (use KA 141)

• First use of under-utilized co-products (use KA 502 or 511).

KA 404. Instrumentation and Control Systems

This work includes instrumentation and information systems that are important elements in all aspects of pre- and post-production agriculture. Sensors for detecting, monitoring, and processing of collected data and those that can provide improved control of the production and processing of biological materials, non-biological materials, and biohazards are included in this area.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Development of instruments, technologies, and procedures that enhance agricultural efforts

• Determining accurate and precise standards of measurement

• Development of sensors, image processing techniques, automation, decision support systems, controls, and models

• Development of global imaging systems and global positioning systems (GPS) to enhance agricultural efforts.

Exclude:

• Experimental design and statistics (use KA 901).

KA 405. Drainage and Irrigation Systems and Facilities

Water management, to include surface and subsurface drainage and all irrigation systems, is part of this work. Equipment, system design, theory, modeling, installation, operation, and maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems for more efficient use of land, water, and capital resources are included.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Theory of water flow for more efficient water management system design

• Methods of automating water management systems to reduce labor and increase efficiency

• New concepts and improved design of drainage systems for more efficient production and environmental improvement

• New materials, systems, equipment, and installation techniques to reduce construction and maintenance costs of drainage and irrigation systems

• Use of solar energy and air turbulence to speed drying of poorly drained soils

• Methods for combining irrigation, drainage, and tailwater return flow systems to increase efficiency of water and system use

• Improved design of water management systems to reduce planning and construction costs and assure public safety

• Methods for determining irrigation water requirements giving consideration to water use by plants, effective rainfall, and water losses during and following application

• Equipment for uniform distribution of irrigation water with particular emphases on overhead and subsurface systems

• Improved technology to measure and control losses of agrochemicals from irrigated lands.

Exclude:

• Drainage related to controlling salinity (use KA 103).

TOPIC V. FOOD AND NON-FOOD PRODUCTS: DEVELOPMENT, PROCESSING, QUALITY, AND DELIVERY

NON-FOOD

KA 511. New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes

Work in this area includes agricultural commodities used in consumer products such as paper, textiles, biofuels, adhesives, paints, and other biobased products. This area also includes work on animal byproducts as raw materials for the textile, leather, soap, feed, pharmaceutical, and other industries. Work also includes alternate, non-food uses for agricultural commodities and timber products to expand markets for these products, yielding new, improved, or less expensive consumer products and providing additional sources of income to producers, processors, and marketers.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Developing new non-food products from agricultural and forest resources

• Developing ethanol and biofuels from agricultural materials

• Identifying, characterizing, and measuring chemical, physical, and sensory properties of non-food products

• Determining the relationships among the chemistry, structure, and quality parameters of raw materials and their functionality and end use properties in non-food products

• Development or improvement of applications for non-food products to enhance utilization, including structural wood engineering, performance evaluations, and environmental impacts

• Development or improvement of methods, techniques, or processes to produce or manufacture non-food products

• Efficiency in converting agricultural and forest commodities to new and improved non-food products (i.e., management of energy, water, wastes)

• New non-food products from underutilized co-products from process streams

• New non-food uses for agricultural products.

Exclude:

• Improvements in products through production practices or breeding (use KA 204 or 308)

• Evaluation and utilization of textiles and textile products (use KA 804)

• Utilization of waste materials (use KA 403).

• Development of foreign markets (use KA 606).

TOPIC VI. ECONOMICS, MARKETS, AND POLICY

KA 601. Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management

This work focuses on economic choices farmers and ranchers make to access and allocate resources for the production of commodities, services, and products. These resources help farmers and ranchers to minimize production risk and optimize farm income.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Farm production economics

• Farm management

• Sustainable agriculture

• Farm and firm growth, including economies of size and scale

• Agricultural profitability.

Exclude:

• Production and management studies not related to economics (use appropriate KA)

• Real estate, and land values and prices (use KA 602)

• Farm financial management (use KA 602)

• Economics of environmental risk and impacts (use KA 605)

• Financial risk (use KA 602)

• Regional production and markets (use KA 608).

KA 602. Business Management, Finance, and Taxation

This work focuses on the management and administrative techniques applied to farming, agricultural business, and other businesses and enterprises to enhance planning, decision making, and resource use. These techniques help businesses make effective financial decisions, stay in the marketplace over the long term, and increase profitability.  It includes the analysis of effects of taxation on profitability.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Business administration

• Business skills for entrepreneurs

• Managerial economics

• Capital and investment markets

• Household assets as business capital

• Decision analysis, including expert systems

• Financial risk management

• Insurance

• Human resource management

• Business transfer and succession planning

• Economics of financial markets, financial management, and lending institutions

• Real estate values and prices

• Taxation.

Exclude:

• Estate planning (use KA 801)

• Economics of production (use KA 601)

• Production risk management (use KA 601)

• Markets and marketing (use KA 603 or 604)

• Policy (use KA 610 or 611)

• Farm family financial management (use KA 801)

• Personal and family finance (use KA 801).

KA 603. Market Economics

This work focuses on activities that foster understanding of markets, productivity, agricultural competitiveness, and interregional trade, and give insight to the role and function of markets and their regulation primarily from the macroeconomic (industry) perspective.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Market performance

• Productivity analysis

• Economics of processing, storage, and transportation

• Economics of regulation and protection of markets, including firm- and processor level impacts

• Local, regional, and national trade patterns

• Economics of marketing and pricing systems, and institutions

• Regulation of markets

• Economics of supply and demand

• Economics of grades and standards.

Exclude:

• International trade and development, including foreign market development (use KA 606)

• Economics of food assistance, welfare, and poverty (use KA 607)

• Economics of consumer level food and production regulation and protection (use KA 607)

• Regional economics, except trade patterns (use KA 608)

• Policy (use KA 610 or 611).

KA 604. Marketing and Distribution Practices

This work concerns the distribution of products, goods, and services, the practices of buying and selling, and the development and improvement of markets primarily from the microeconomic (firm) perspective.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Economic studies to determine and measure quality characteristics desired by processors

• Effectiveness of group action

• Institutional devices for bargaining and negotiation

• Effectiveness of marketing structures, including cooperatives

• Improvements in the marketing and distribution of products, goods, and services

• Marketing orders

• Futures and options markets, cash and forward contracts, and other marketing and pricing arrangements

• Development of domestic markets

• Direct marketing, alternative markets, and niche marketing

• Electronic commerce options for producers

• Local marketing of local produce.

Exclude:

• Economics of markets (use KA 603)

• Economics of supply and demand (use KA 603)

• Economics of pricing systems (use KA 603)

• Commodity analysis and projections (use KA 603)

• Foreign market development (use KA 606 or 611)

• Policy (use KA 610 or 611).

KA 605. Natural Resource and Environmental Economics

This work focuses on understanding economic relationships, decisions, and impacts relating to the management and use of public and private natural resources, and the environment. Work in this area also focuses on the economics of improving the efficiency of agricultural, forest, and rangeland use while minimizing negative impacts on the environment.

Areas of work include but are not limited to the economics of:

• Water resources

• Forestry

• Recreation, leisure, and tourism

• Land resources, use, and management

• Wildlife and fisheries

• Agrochemical management

• Waste management, including animal wastes

• Mineral resources and energy

• Environment

• Weather and climate change

• Market and non-market value of natural resources.

Exclude:

• Financial aspects of real estate (use KA 602)

• Land use planning or zoning (use KA 608)

• Policy (use KA 610 or 611)

• Conflict resolution (use KA 803).

KA 606. International Trade and Development

This work focuses on the economic components of international trade and development, trade performance of sectors of the U.S. economy and that of other countries, globalization, barriers to trade, and trade and development impacts, especially as it relates to policy decisions. There is a strong focus on the global market economy, specifically the interaction between domestic and international market economies.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Economics of international trade and development programs

• Global and international commodity analysis and projections

• Country, regional, and sector analysis

• International economic growth and development

• Foreign market development.

Exclude:

• Domestic commodity analysis and projections (use KA 603)

• U.S. economic growth and development, including community development (use KA 608)

• Policy (use KA 610 or 611).

KA 610. Domestic Policy Analysis

This work focuses on the economic and social impacts of domestic programs and policies, including the effect of government actions on the U.S. The work in this area analyzes the long term effects of government actions, which influences how the U.S. develops and implements policies.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Agricultural production, price, and income policy, including commodity programs

• Natural resource, agri-environmental policy

• Antitrust and market policy

• Rural development policy

• Science, research, and education policy

• Consumer policy

• Public policy

• Impacts and implications of macroeconomic policies

• Public policy education, including methodology

• Evaluation of policy effectiveness, impacts, and outcomes.

Exclude:

• Risk management (use KA 601 or 602)

• Taxation (use KA 602)

• Conflict resolution (use KA 803)

• Food security related to nutrition and hunger (use KA 704)

• Family policy (use KA 802)

• Youth policy (use KA 806).

TOPIC VII. HUMAN NUTRITION, FOOD SAFETY, AND HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

HUMAN NUTRITION

FOOD SAFETY

KA 711. Ensure Food Products Free of Harmful Chemicals, Including Residues from Agricultural and Other Sources

Work on toxic residues of agricultural origin is conducted to determine the levels and circumstances under which chemicals may be safely used in production of plant and animal food products. There is widespread public concern over the potential hazards created by the use or introduction of chemicals in the production of farm products. The

focus of work under this KA is on human health.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Safe or acceptable levels of residues and environmental contaminants on or in farm products for human consumption

• Behavior and fate of pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, and other applied chemicals and environmental contaminants, on or in food plants and animals and their products

• Methods to remove or mitigate the effects of chemicals harmful to human health

• Rapid, accurate methods for monitoring pesticide residue, antibiotic, environmental, or other contaminants on or in food plants and animals and their products

• Assessing risk to human health from harmful chemicals in food plants and animals and their products

• Determining consumer attitudes and developing techniques to communicate relative risks of harmful chemicals in food plants and animals and their products

• Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP).

Exclude:

• Work focusing on food plant or animal productivity or economics, animal health, or fates and effects of chemicals on the environment (use appropriate KA under PLANTS AND THEIR SYSTEMS or ANIMALS AND THEIR SYSTEMS)

• Economics of food safety (use KA 603, 604, or 607).

KA 712. Protect Food from Contamination by Pathogenic Microorganisms, Parasites, and Naturally Occurring Toxins

This area includes work on pathogenic foodborne microorganisms and parasites in raw, minimally processed, or inadequately processed and preserved foods. Work on mycotoxins and natural and induced toxicants in foods--including allergens and seafood toxins--is also included. The focus of work under this KA is on human health.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Production of food animals and crops free of microorganisms, parasites, natural toxins, or other biological agents harmful to humans

• Prevention of transmission of pathogenic microorganisms and parasites from human carriers to livestock and food systems

• Maintenance of food security in handling, processing, packaging, and distributing food products

• Improved methods of food handling, processing, storage, and preparation for greater food security

• Methods for preventing or eliminating mycotoxins in peanuts and other field crops

• Methods for preventing, removing, or controlling naturally occurring and induced toxins and allergens in agricultural products

• Assessing risk to human health from pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins in food animals and crops and their products

• Determining consumer attitudes and developing techniques to communicate relative risks of pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins

• Basic work on growth and mechanisms of pathogenesis of foodborne microbial pathogens

• Education on safe food handling.

Exclude:

• Work focusing on animal health (use KA 311 or 314)

• Prevention of transmission of non-foodborne parasites to humans through food animals (use KA 722)

• Control of pests in food plants that is not focused on safeguarding human health (use appropriate KA under PLANTS AND THEIR SYSTEMS)

• Economics of food safety (use KA 603, 604, or 607).

HUMAN HEALTH

KA 722. Zoonotic Diseases and Parasites Affecting Humans

Work in this area concerns animal diseases and parasites such as anthrax, encephalitis, leptospirosis, and rabies that pose potential threats to human health. Included are studies on epidemiology, risk assessment, biosecurity, and evaluation of efficacy of control programs for disease vectors.

Areas include but are not limited to:

• Understanding mechanisms involved in transmission of diseases to humans, including the role of insects, ticks, and mites

• Developing control programs to reduce animal reservoirs of zoonotic agents

• Developing means of preventing transmission of zoonotic diseases and parasites from animals to humans.

Exclude:

• Animal diseases and parasites where the concern is the protection of the animal itself (use KA 311, 312, or 313)

• Transmission of parasites and pathogenic microorganisms in animal food products consumed by humans (use KA 712).

KA 723. Hazards to Human Health and Safety

Work in this area is concerned with reducing hazards to the health, safety, and biosecurity of people involved in the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural and forest products. This area includes safety aspects of agricultural injuries and illnesses and methods for effective intervention. The emphasis is on immediate hazards to humans.

Areas include but are not limited to:

• Developing worker safety procedures for people handling agricultural products, supplies, and livestock

• Developing methods for safe handling of agricultural chemicals, fuels, and other products

• Determining health impact of pesticides on farm workers

• Determining need for and developing protective devices and procedures for safe usage and transportation of farm and forest machinery and equipment

• Determining nature, frequency, and causes of agricultural injury and occupational illness

• Developing methods to reduce fire risks and improve fire control measures for storage facilities, barns, and other farm structures or equipment

• Characterizing, measuring, or mitigating potentially harmful compounds derived from agricultural products such as tobacco that have pharmacologic actions

• Protection of humans against non-food allergens and toxins, and poisonous plants

• Mitigation of pollutants such as pesticides, radio-nuclides, heavy metals, excess fertilizer chemicals, growth regulating chemicals, airborne particulates, dust, ozone, odors, volatile compounds, combustion products, and smog

• Measuring and mitigating exposure to noise, vibration, sun, ergonomic, and other occupational hazards in agriculture

• Equipment and techniques for fire-fighter safety and survival.

Exclude:

• Agricultural and forestry practices to achieve safe levels of pollutants (use KA 133 or 141)

• Disposal of pesticide rinsate and surplus pesticides (use KA 403)

• Toxic residues on or in food products (use KA 711)

• Pathogenic microorganisms and naturally occurring toxins, including allergens, in food (use KA 712)

• Transmission of parasites and zoonotic diseases to humans (use KA 722)

• Development and evaluation of textiles and textile products for their protective properties (use KA 804)

• Methods to reduce fire risks and to improve fire control measures for range and forests (use KA 122).

TOPIC VIII. FAMILIES, YOUTH, AND COMMUNITIES

KA 806. Youth Development

Work in this area includes programs and activities that promote positive youth development, including 4-H. These activities extend knowledge to youth and convey a sense of belonging, teach life skills, and provide opportunities for mastery, competence, and independence. This work also includes a focus on the social and emotional development of program participants.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Literacy, communication, problem solving, and other life skills

• Self confidence and self esteem

• Interaction and relationships with adults and peer groups

• Civic engagement (connecting youth to government and institutions)

• Leadership development and leadership opportunities for youth

• Sense of belonging/sense of safety

• Youth initiatives in non-formal science, engineering, and technology

• Volunteerism and community service for youth

• Youth policy.

Exclude:

• Policy analysis (use KA 610)

• Entrepreneurship (use KA 608)

• Development of financial management skills (use KA 801)

• Human development activities that focus on families (use KA 802)

• Early childhood development (use KA 802)

• Cultural awareness and respect for diversity (use KA 803).

TOPIC IX. PROGRAM AND PROJECT SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION

KA 902. Administration of Projects and Programs

This work is focused on efficiency and effectiveness of research, education, and extension methods and proposals. Included in this is work on maximizing researcher, educator, and facility productivity, and on coordinating teaching, research, and extension efforts among scientists and educators throughout the nation.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Promotion of teaching, research, and extension creativity and productivity

• Developing and maintaining the proficiency of educators and researchers

• Relationships among teaching, research, and extension

• Communication among researchers and educators, and dissemination of research results

• Roles of cooperation and competition among scientists, educators, and organizations.

Exclude:

• Development of instrumentation (use KA 404 or 903)

• Experimental design and statistics (use KA 901)

• Evaluation and assessment (use KA 901).

KA 903. Communication, Education, and Information Delivery

This area of work focuses on educational processes, needs, and methods to achieve educational goals. Work includes development, use, and assessment of communication, information delivery, and technology transfer methods and systems. List topic-or discipline-specific education under the appropriate KA.

Areas of work include but are not limited to:

• Techniques, procedures, and processes of education

• The science of teaching, learning, and cognition

• Curriculum design and educational instrumentation (applications of technology and media in teaching and learning)

• Teacher preparation and improvement

• Communication and information systems and delivery, including electronic networks and distance education

• Technology transfer

• Educational psychology and human motivation.

Exclude:

• Education policy (use KA 610)

• Public policy education, including methodology (use KA 610)

• Communication, education, information delivery related to human nutrition (use KA 701, 702, 703, or 704)

• Education on safe food handling (use KA 712)

• Education or information dissemination pertaining to healthy lifestyles (use KA 724)

• Character/ethics education (use KA 802)

• Educational factors affecting poverty (use KA 803)

• Conflict resolution (use KA 803)

• Public services (use KA 805)

• Education and training related to youth development activities (use KA 806)

Modified September 24, 2006