Richard G. Lugar, United States Senator for Richard G. Lugar, United States Senator for Indiana
Richard G. Lugar, United States Senator for Indiana
Home > Senator Lugar's Farm Bill > Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws

Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws

  R

Refers to a federally reimbursed meal (or snack) bought by a child who does not qualify for a free or reduced price meal. Also often referred to as a full-price lunch, or a Section 4 lunch. See Free lunch.xendx —
R-CALF USA — R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America. www.r-calfusa.com.
R&D — Research and development.
Range Betterment Funds — Money collected from livestock grazing on federal lands and used for rangeland improvements. The Bureau of Land Management calls these funds Range Improvement Funds and uses them solely for labor, materials, and final survey and design of projects to improve rangelands. The Forest Service calls these funds Range Betterment Funds and uses them for planning and building rangeland improvements.
Range Improvement Fund — See Range Betterment Fund.
Range Improvement Funds — Money collected from livestock grazing on federal lands and used for rangeland improvements. The Bureau of Land Management calls these funds Range Improvement Funds and uses them solely for labor, materials, and final survey and design of projects to improve rangelands. The Forest Service calls these funds Range Betterment Funds and uses them for planning and building rangeland improvements.
Rangeland — Land on which the natural potential (climax) plant cover is principally native grasses, grasslike plants, and shrubs. It includes natural grasslands, savannahs, certain shrub and grasslike lands, most deserts, tundra, alpine communities, coastal marshlands, and wet meadows. It also includes lands that are re-vegetated naturally or artificially and are managed like native vegetation. The United States has 406 million acres of rangeland on non-federal lands and about 257 million acres on federal lands. The non-federal rangelands are about 30% of all non-federal rural lands, according to the 1992 National Resources Inventory. The federal lands are managed by the BLM (approximately 167 million acres) and the Forest Service (approximately 95 million acres).
Rapeseed — Rapeseed is the third largest source of vegetable oil in the world, after soybean and palm oil. This status is almost entirely due to the plant breeding work initiated in Canada in the 1950s and 1960s that greatly reduced the levels of two anti-nutritional compounds, erucic acid in the oil and glucosinolates in the meal, creating a new, high-value oil and protein crop known as canola in Canada and the United States. The term industrial rapeseed does not have any regulatory basis but refers to any rapeseed with a high content of erucic acid in the oil. It is used to some extent in lubricants and hydraulic fluids, especially when, because it is biodegradable, there is a significant risk of oil leaking to water ways or to ground water.
RAS — Rural Adjustment Scheme.
Ratite — A family of large flightless birds that include ostriches, emus, and rheas, which U.S. farmers are beginning to domesticate and raise for food. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) began a voluntary, fee-for-service ratite inspection program in 1995 in order to help the fledgling industry improve the marketability of the meat. A provision in the FY2001 USDA appropriations act (P.L. 106-387) amended the Poultry Products Inspection Act to make federal inspection of ratite meat mandatory (and thus supported by taxpayer dollars) as of April 2001 (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.).
Raw agricultural product — The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act defines this term as "any food in its raw or natural state, including all fruits that are washed, colored, or otherwise treated in the unpeeled natural form prior to marketing." The nonregulatory definition generally means any agricultural commodity that has undergone little or no processing.
RBS, RBCS — Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/index.html.
RC — Regional conservationist.
RC&D — Resource Conservation and Development Program.
RCA — Soil and Water Resource Conservation Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-192; 7 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.).
RCAP — Rural Community Advancement Program.
RCD — Resource Conservation District.
RCRA — Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (P.L. 94-580; 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.).
RD — Rural development.
RD&D — Research, development and demonstration.
RDA — Recommended dietary allowance; Rural Development Administration.
rDNA — Recombinant DNA.
Rebating — A direct or indirect benefit provided to an agricultural producer that is contingent upon the purchase of crop insurance, that is not available to producers who do not purchase insurance, and that provides an inducement to purchase insurance from a particular person or entity. Rebating is prohibited in the federal crop insurance program. However, certain premium reductions are authorized by Congress under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (Act). As a general matter, the authority to control rebating is left to USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA). In some instances, state law is applicable and RMA coordinates with the States to discover whether violations of state law have occurred.
REC — Rural electric cooperative.
Reclamation Act of 1902 — P.L. 57-161, as amended, appropriated the receipts from the sale and disposal of public lands and resources in 17 western states to the construction of irrigation works for the reclamation of arid lands. Amendments made by the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 gave the Department of the Interior, among other things, the authority to amend repayment contracts and to extend repayment for not more than 40 years. Amendments made by the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (P.L. 97-293) eliminated the residency requirement provisions of reclamation law, raised the acreage limitation on lands irrigated with water supplied by the Bureau of Reclamation, and established and required full-cost rates for land receiving water above the acreage limit.
Reclamation fund — A special fund established by Congress under the Reclamation Act of 1902, as amended, for receipts from the sale of public lands and timber, proceeds from the Mineral Leasing Act, and certain other revenues. Congress appropriates money from this fund for the investigation, construction, operation, and administration of Bureau of Reclamation projects. Collections from water users for payments made on the reimbursable costs of the federal projects are also returned to the fund.
Reclamation law — The body of law beginning with the Reclamation Act of 1902 that governs investigation, construction, and operation of Bureau of Reclamation projects.
Reclamation — The process of rehabilitating disturbed lands, or converting unproductive lands to productive uses. The term is also used for the process of recycling or reusing water or reestablishing lands disturbed during mining. In the context of the Reclamation Act and reclamation law, it means putting arid lands to use through irrigation.
Recombinant DNA (rDNA) — The technique of isolating molecules of genetic material (DNA) and inserting them into the DNA of another cell (recombinant DNA). Also known as genetic engineering.
Recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) — This term has been replaced by the term dietary reference intakes (DRIs). DRIs include: (1) Estimated Average Requirements; (2) Adequate Intakes; and (3) Tolerable Upper Intake Levels; and (4) the former RDAs. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) determines DRIs for essential nutrients on the basis of scientific knowledge, for the purpose of informing the public on what levels of essential nutrients meet the needs of most healthy persons.
Reconciliation instruction — A provision in a budget resolution directing one or more House or Senate committees to recommend legislation changing existing law so as to bring spending, revenues, or the debt limit into conformity with the annual budget resolution. The instructions specify which committees are affected, the dollar changes to be achieved (usually over a 1-, 5- or 10-year period), and the deadline by which the legislation is to be reported. When the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are given reconciliation instructions, they need to report legislation reducing projected spending on certain mandatory programs under their jurisdiction, which could affect spending for the farm commodity price and income support programs, federal crop insurance, and certain USDA food and nutrition, conservation, agricultural trade, and rural development programs.
Record of Decision System (RODS) — Justification for remedial action chosen for a superfund site by EPA under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980 (P.L. 96-510, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.).
Recourse loan program — Initially under the 1996 farm bill (P.L. 104-127, Sec. 137(a))and continuing under the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 101-171, Sec. 1209), recourse loans were made available to producers of high moisture corn and grain sorghum, and also for upland and ELS seed cotton. The commodity must be pledged as security, but in contrast to nonrecourse loans, the borrower must repay the loan with interest within a specified period. A honey recourse loan program and a mohair recourse loan program were authorized for 1998 production only.
Reduced price lunch or breakfast — This term refers to situations under which the federal government subsidizes meals and requires that the operating agency (e.g., a school or summer food service provider) provide the meal free of cost if the recipient child is from a household with an income within certain federal income standards (between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty guidelines).
Reduced price snack — This term refers to situations under which the federal government subsidizes snacks (supplements) offered to children in day-care or after-school settings, and the snacks are served free of direct charge to those from households with an income within certain federal income standards (between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty guidelines).
REE — Research, education and economics (a mission area within USDA).
Reentry interval — The period of time immediately following the application of a pesticide during which unprotected workers should not enter a field.
Reference (border) price — The import cif or export fob price of a commodity, used by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in the calculation of Producer and Consumer Subsidy Equivalents (PSE/CSE). An implicit reference (border) price may be calculated as the producer price in the foreign country less the unit market price support (MPS) and may differ slightly from the explicit reference (border) price. Sometimes termed border price.
Referendum — In agriculture, referendum generally refers to a vote by farmers on whether to approve or disapprove a farm program, such as mandatory production or marketing controls, assessments for generic commodity promotion, or marketing orders.
Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) — Reformulated gasoline is required by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (P.L. 101-549) in areas with severe or extreme ozone problems. Among other requirements, RFG must contain 2% oxygen by weight. This oxygen standard is typically met using MTBE or ethanol.
Regional railroad — A non-Class 1, line-haul freight railroad that operates at least 350 miles of road and/or has operating revenues of at least $40 million annually.
Regionalization — Countries generally have prohibited imports of a foreign agricultural product if it has been associated with an unwanted pest or disease in the exporting country. Until recently, importing countries would not permit any of that product from the exporting country, even if it came from a region that did not have the disease or pest. Regionalization is a fundamental principle in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary provisions of recent trade accords. It provides for the acceptance of such imports if the exporting country can demonstrate that they are from a disease-free or a pest-free area of the country.
Registrant — Any manufacturer or formulator of a pesticide who obtains registration for an active ingredient or product.
Registration — The EPA approval of a new pesticide for specific uses before it can be sold or distributed in the United States. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.), the EPA is responsible for registering (pre-market licensing) pesticides based on scientific evidence that the approved use will result in no unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment when applied according to approved label directions. The label on a registered pesticide specifies the legal obligations of the user in terms of uses, timing, and rates of application.
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) — P.L. 96-354 (September 19,1964) requires federal agencies to consider the special needs and concerns of small business entities whenever they engage in rulemaking subject to notice and comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act or other laws. In most cases, when an agency publishes a proposed rule in the Federal Register, it must prepare and publish a regulatory flexibility analysis describing the impact on small businesses.
Remote sensing — The act of detecting objects when the sensor is not in direct contact. This commonly refers to using aerial photographs to observe conditions on the Earth's surface. In agriculture, this technology can be used to determine what plants are being grown and their condition.
Renderer (rendering) — An enterprise (the process) that "cooks" animal processing waste, restaurant grease, and dead animals into ingredients for a wide range of industrial and consumer goods, such as animal feed, soaps, candles, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. U.S. regulatory actions to strengthen safeguards against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) portend significant changes in renderers' business practices, and the value of their products. Also, if inedible animal byproducts have fewer market outlets, the overall economic value of the animal to the producer can decline, and questions arise about how to safely dispose of the materials.
Renewable fuels — Broadly, renewable fuels are made from replenishing feedstocks (such as biomass, sunlight, wind, water, and waste products) in contrast to exhaustible (nonrenewable) feedstocks such as petroleum and coal. Renewable fuels are a subset of alternative fuels. The Renewable Fuels Association is the trade association that promotes ethanol (www.ethanolrfa.org). Unlimited
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) — A policy proposal whereby motor fuels in the United States would be required to contain a certain percentage or volume of renewable fuels.
Renewable resources — Natural resources, sometimes called flow resources, that replenish themselves within time limits that permit sustained use, in contrast to nonrenewable resources. Congress recognized the renewable nature of resources managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (including timber, livestock forage, recreation, water, and wildlife and fish) by requiring both agencies to follow the principles of multiple use and sustained yield.
Repayment contract — A contract between a water user's organization and the Bureau of Reclamation by which the organization obligates itself to repay a share of the reimbursable construction and other costs (not all construction costs are reimbursed by water users) of a Bureau project in installments determined in accordance with reclamation law in exchange for delivery of water.
Reregistration — The reevaluation and reapproval by the EPA of pesticides originally registered prior to 1984. The purpose of reregistration is to evaluate and approve the older formulations against modern scientific and regulatory standards. The process is scheduled to be completed on the older active ingredients by the end of 2006.
Reserve pool — A quantity provision in a fruit or vegetable marketing order that requires that some marketable supplies be withheld from the fresh market to be used instead in a so-called secondary market such as for frozen or processed forms, for a nonfood use, or stored for sale in a future marketing year.
Residual supplier — A country that supplies the world market only after importers have met their initial needs from preferred suppliers. A residual supplier is not initially competitive because of higher prices or lower quality. The United States used to be considered a residual supplier of grains because its commodity support programs kept U.S. grain prices higher than those of competing exporters. Also, long term storage of grains under loan from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) or owned by CCC caused quality to deteriorate.
Residue Management (Crop) — Leaving any portion of a plant or crop in the field after harvest to protect or improve the soil and provide wildlife habitat. Conservation tillage is a common form of residue management.
Resistance, pesticide — The evolutionary capacity of pests exposed to a pesticide to develop resistance to that pesticide. Some genetically engineered crops now being marketed are accompanied by pest resistance management plans to prevent or retard the development of resistance.
Resource Conservation and Development Program (RC&D) — The RC&D program, initiated in 1962 under authority of Food and Agriculture Act of 1962 (P.L. 87-703), assists multi-county areas in enhancing conservation, water quality, wildlife habitat, recreation and rural development. Work in each area is coordinated by a council. At present, 368 areas have been approved encompassing more than 2,500 counties. www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/rcd.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) — This law (P.L. 94-580, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 6901et seq.) authorizes the EPA to regulate solid and hazardous wastes. The Act defines solid and hazardous waste, authorizes EPA to set standards for facilities that generate or manage hazardous waste, and establishes a permit program for hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. RCRA, enacted in 1976, made such comprehensive amendments to the Solid Waste Disposal Act (P.L. 89-272) that it became the name of reference. To date, production agriculture has not fallen under RCRA regulations or is explicitly exempted (i.e., solid or dissolved materials in irrigation water return flows).
Resource Management Plan (RMP) — A BLM planning document, prepared in accordance with Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (P.L. 94-579). The plan contains guidelines for making resource management decisions for specific areas managed by BLM, known as resource areas.
Resource Management System — Defined in the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 2001) as a system of conservation practices and management specified in the field office technical guide of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), that is designed to prevent resource degradation and permit sustained use of natural resources.
Resource of concern — Natural resources to be conserved under Conservation Security Program (CSP) contracts (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 2001).
Restitutions (or refunds) — The EU's word for export subsidies that are given to traders to cover the difference between the internal EU price of a commodity and its world market price. See also Export Enhancement Program (EEP). Export subsidies are subject to value and volume limits under the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture.
Restoration Cost-sharing Agreements — An enrollment option of less than 30 years under the Wetland Reserve Program. It is the shortest term enrollment option for this program, and pays participants the lowest amount per acre.
Restricted-use pesticides — A pesticide may be classified for restricted use if it requires special handling because of its toxicity. These may be applied only by trained, certified applicators or those under their direct supervision.
Retaliation — The suspension of concessions under a trade agreement, or the imposition of other barriers to trade, by a government in response to the violation of a trade agreement or the imposition of other unfair trade barriers by another government. Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-618), as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-418) and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (P.L. 103-465), provides the legal authority for the United States to impose retaliatory measures in response to trade agreement violations or other discriminatory foreign trade practices that burden or restrict U.S. commerce.
Return flow — Surface and subsurface water that leaves the field following application of irrigation water. While irrigation return flows are a point source, they are expressly exempted from permit requirements under the Clean Water Act (P.L. 92-500, as amended).
Revenue Assurance (RA) — A form of revenue insurance that protects a grower of an insurable crop whenever low prices, low yields, or a combination of both causes revenue to fall below a guaranteed level selected by the producer. It differs from other revenue insurance programs in that it allows a farmer to use the posted county price, rather than a national price, in determining a target level of revenue.
Revenue insurance — A generic term for any crop insurance program that provides coverage to producers against lost revenues (or incomes) caused by low prices, low yields, or a combination of low prices and low yields. An indemnity is paid to a producer when any combination of yield and price results in revenue that is less than a pre-specified revenue guarantee. The 1996 farm bill (P.L. 104-127) mandated a USDA pilot program for crop years 1997-2000 under which producers of feed grains, wheat, soybeans, and other crops in specified areas could elect to receive insurance against loss of revenue. Two initial pilot programs have since expanded to national scope. The two types are the Crop Revenue Coverage (CRC) program and the Income Protection (IP) program. The two programs are similar, except that the CRC allows farmers to insure their revenue at either planting-time prices or harvest prices, whichever is higher. The Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-224) requires USDA to subsidize revenue insurance programs at the same rate as the traditional crop insurance program.
Revenue ton-mile — The movement of a ton of freight one mile for revenue.
Revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) — Revisions to the universal soil loss equation implemented in the mid 1990s to more accurately predict soil erosion caused by water. It includes the same factors as the earlier formula; climate, soils, topographic conditions, and the degree to which the use and management of the soil reduces erosion. But it takes advantage of new knowledge about these relationships and the capabilities of computer technology. The comparison between predicted erosion and T-value is important in making and carrying out conservation plans and achieving conservation compliance.
Revolving loan program — A program that uses the repayments of existing loans to make additional loans to qualified borrowers. Initial capitalization of a revolving loan fund may be derived from federal appropriations or contributions from other sources.
RFA — Regulatory Flexibility Act (P.L. 96-354; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
RFA — Renewable Fuels Association www.ethanolfra.org.
RFF — Resources for the Future. www.rff.org.
RFID — Radio frequency identification. See Animal identification (ID) and traceback.
RHS — Rural Housing Service. www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/index.html.
RIA — Regulatory impact analysis/assessment.
Rice — Rice is one of the so-called covered commodities and loan commodities eligible for support under provisions of the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 101-171, Title I). In addition, rice exports routinely receive government assistance via U.S. food-aid programs such as P.L. 480 or from export credit guarantee programs. Rice an edible, starchy cereal grain grown throughout the world. In the United States rice is referred to by length of grain--indica rice is long-grained while japonica refers to the shorter grains. About 3 million acres are planted annually to rice in the United States where six states account for nearly 100% of U.S. production--Arkansas (48%), Louisiana (13%), Mississippi (8%), Texas (6%), and Missouri (5%) produce mostly long-grain rice; California (19%) produces the bulk of U.S. medium- and short-grain rice (from 2003 production data). All U.S. program provisions are on a rough rice basis; whereas USDA's PSD database records international supply and use data on a milled basis. Rough or paddy rice includes the hull, the bran (the coarse outer covering of a rice kernel), and the white endosperm. Most rice is marketed in some processed form. Depending on the extent of milling, several different products can be produced from rough rice--hulls, bran, whole-kernel brown rice, whole-kernel milled rice, and broken-kernel milled rice. Some rough rice is parboiled prior to being milled. The first stage of milling removes the outer hull leaving an intermediate product called brown rice. The final stage of milling removes the bran, leaving milled white rice. Some kernels are broken during the milling process. Milling yield refers to the amount of polished white rice obtained from rough rice. Rice milling rates for polished white rice vary by crop variety and quality, but tend to average about 72% of rough rice weight in the United States. Byproducts from rice milling include rice hulls (about 20% of rough rice weight) and bran, polish, and germ (about 8%). Moisture content plays a key role in grain storage and processing. Excess moisture content will cause rice kernels to spoil quickly limiting its storability. Overly dry kernels will crack or split easily during milling thus lowering the value of the end product; this is critical for rice where the percent of whole grains is highly valued.
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act — See School Lunch Act.
Right-to-farm laws — Right to farm laws (sometimes called nuisance laws) deny nuisance suits against farmers who use accepted and standard farming practices, even if these practices harm or bother adjacent property owners or the general public. Agricultural nuisances may include noise, odors, visual clutter and dangerous structures. Every state has some form of a right-to-farm law.
Rill erosion — One of three types of water erosion. In this erosion process, numerous small channels, typically a few inches deep, are formed. It occurs mainly on recently cultivated soils or on recent cuts and fills.
Riparian buffer — A strip of vegetation along the bank of a body of water which slows the rate of flow of runoff from adjoining uplands, causing sediment and other materials to fall out onto the land before the runoff enters and pollutes the body of water.
Riparian rights — The system of water allocation used in most eastern states. Under a purely riparian system, water may be used only by riparian land and it is recognized that all users will share shortages periodically. Few states have a purely riparian system; most states require a permit for at least large-scale uses. In contrast with the prior appropriations system used in the arid West, the right to use water is not acquired by actually putting the water to use, and access to it cannot be lost by lack of use.
Riparian — Pertaining to or situated on or along the bank of a stream or other body of water. Often referred to in the context of cattle grazing and protection of streams for fish and wildlife habitat, and water quality purposes. Riparian rights refers to the entitlement of a land owner to certain uses of water on or bordering the property, including the right to prevent diversion or misuse of upstream waters (generally a matter of state law).
Risk assessment — The qualitative and quantitative evaluation of risks posed to health or the environment that arise from an activity, chemical use, or technology. The process includes describing potential adverse effects, evaluating the magnitude of each risk (e.g., the toxicity of a chemical), estimating potential exposure to the chemical or other hazard, estimating the range of likely effects given the likely exposures, and describing uncertainties.
Risk management — The process of deciding whether and how to manage risks. Public risk management requires consideration of legal, economic, and behavioral factors, as well as environmental and human health effects of each management alternative. Management may involve regulatory and non-regulatory responses. For example, characterizing the risk to farm workers of entering a field after application of a particular pesticide is risk assessment; promulgating reentry standards is risk management. The federal government has played an active role over the years in helping farmers manage risk. Two major risks faced by agricultural producers are production risks and price risks, and the USDA has assisted with federal crop insurance and commodity programs. The Risk Management Agency is now helping farmers utilize other risk management tools.
Risk Management Agency — An independent office within USDA that is responsible for: the supervision of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation; the administration and oversight of the federal crop insurance program and any pilot or other programs involving revenue insurance; the use of the futures contracts to manage farm risk and support income. www.act.fcic.usda.gov.
Risk-benefit analysis — Comparison of the short- and long-term risks to the overall societal benefits of an activity, chemical use, or technology. When risks and benefits are expressed in monetary terms, this is effectively cost-benefit analysis. Both the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.) and the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) direct the EPA to base regulatory decisions on a risk-benefit or cost-benefit basis.
RMA — Risk Management Agency. www.act.fcic.usda.gov.
RMP — Resource Management Plan.
Rodenticide — A pesticide used to destroy, control, or deter mice and rats or other rodent pests from damaging food, crops, etc.
RODS — Record of Decision System (EPA).
Rotational grazing — Pasturing system that allows short periods of heavy use (intensive grazing), followed by a recovery period. It allows the forage to be used more fully and effectively.
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (PIC Convention)xbgnx --The United States participated in negotiating this treaty under the auspices of the UN. It requires exporting countries to provide prior notification to potential importing nations of substances that are banned or severely restricted in the exporting country. Although the United States signed the treaty in 1998, prior to U.S. ratification, the Senate must give its advice and consent, and Congress must enact enabling (also known as "implementing") legislation. Legislation is needed to resolve inconsistencies between provisions of the treaty and existing U.S. laws, specifically the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). www.pic.int.xendx —
Roundup Ready soybeans (RR soybeans) — Genetically engineered glyphosate-tolerant soybeans. Roundup is the trade name for glyphosate, a broad-spectrum herbicide. Farmers planting RR soybeans pay more for the seed, and must agree to use certain herbicide application practices as part of a pesticide resistance management plan. In addition, under patent law farmers may not save a portion of their harvest of RR soybeans to use for planting the next year's crop. The benefits of herbicide-tolerant crops include potential savings in both chemical and labor costs.
RPA Assessment / Program — As required by the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, (P.L. 93-378; 16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.) the Forest Service makes a periodic (every 10 years) national assessment of renewable resource supplies, demands, and trends, to identify potential problems and opportunities. In response to the problems and opportunities identified in the Assessment, the Forest Service prepares a periodic (every 5 years) national strategic program plan.
RPA — Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-378; 16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.).
RPAR — Rebuttable presumption against registration.
RRA — Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (P.L. 97-293; 43 U.S.C. 390aa et seq.).
RSTAC — Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council.
RTB — Rural Telephone Bank.
RUAP — Rural Utilities Assistance Program.
Rules of Origin — Rules that determine the country of origin of an imported product. Section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930 as amended (19 U.S.C.1304) requires most imports, including many food items, to bear labels informing the ultimate purchaser of their country of origin. Meats, produce, and several other raw agricultural products generally were exempt. The 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 10816), however, contains a requirement that many retail establishments provide, starting on September 30, 2004, country-of-origin information on fresh fruits and vegetables, red meats, seafood, and peanuts. However, the consolidated FY2004 appropriation (P.L. 108-199) signed January 23, 2004, delays this requirement for two years except for seafood.
Ruminant — An animal with a stomach that has four compartments and a more complex digestive system than other mammals, which permit it to digest grass and forages. Ruminants include cattle, sheep, goats, deer, bison, elk, and camels. Swine, dogs, and humans are examples of nonruminants.
Runoff, direct — Water that flows over the ground surface or through the ground directly into streams, rivers, and lakes. Runoff is the cause of sheet, rill, and gully erosion and a source of nonpoint pollution.
RUP — Restricted use pesticide.
Rural — According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, rural areas comprise open country and settlements with fewer than 2,500 residents. Territory outside of urbanized areas is designated rural and can have population densities as high as 999 per square mile or as low as 1 person per square mile. Rural areas consist of all territory outside of Census Bureau-defined urbanized areas and urban clusters. Urbanized areas have an urban nucleus of 50,000 or more people. They may or may not contain individual cities with 50,000 or more. In general, they must have a core with a population density generally exceeding 1,000 persons per square mile and may contain adjoining territory with at least 500 persons per square mile. The same computerized procedures and population density criteria are used to identify urban clusters of at least 2,500 but less than 50,000 persons. This delineation of built-up territory and small towns and cities was new for the 2000 census. Metro and non-metro areas are defined by OMB's Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Micropolitan Statistical Areas and are collectively referred to as Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs). Metro areas consist of (1) central counties with one or more urbanized areas and (2) outlying counties that are economically tied to the core counties as measured by worker commuting data. Outlying counties are included if 25% of workers living there commute to the core counties, or if 25% of the employment in the county consists of workers coming from the central counties. Non-metro counties are outside the boundaries of metro areas and are further subdivided into micropolitan areas centered on urban clusters of 10,000-50,000 residents, and all remaining non-core counties. Various programs administered by USDA's Office of Rural Development may define rural by various population thresholds. The 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 6020) defined rural and rural area as any area other than (1) a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants, and (2) the urbanized areas contiguous and adjacent to such a city or town. The rural-urban continuum codes, urban influence codes, and rural county typology codes developed by USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) allow researchers to break out the standard metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas into smaller residential groups.
Rural Adjustment Scheme (RAS) — An Australian program that seeks to promote an efficient and competitive rural sector by providing assistance and services to help farmers in Australia adjust to technical, economic, and institutional changes. Assistance is provided mainly by concessional loans and interest subsidies on commercial debt. Other payments are for retraining for nonfarm jobs and for withdrawal of key agricultural assets (such as environmentally sensitive land). The RAS was terminated and replaced by the Farm Business Improvement Program (FARMBIS). FARMBIS provides financial assistance to primary producers and land managers to undertake business and natural resource management training and education activities.
Rural Business Investment Program — A new program established by the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 6029). Program guarantees the funds raised by companies that make equity investment in rural businesses, with an emphasis on smaller businesses. Program is modeled after the SBA Small Business Investment Program. (7 U.S.C. 2009cc).
Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) — One of three USDA agencies charged with implementing rural development policies and programs. RBS program objectives are to expand and retain stable employment in rural areas by providing loans, guarantees, technical assistance, and grants to rural businesses and cooperatives. See Rural Housing Service (RHS) and Rural Utilities Service (RUS). www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs.
Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) — A program established by the 1996 farm bill (P.L. 104-127, Sec. 761) under which USDA is authorized to provide state rural development block grants, direct and guaranteed loans, and other assistance to meet rural development needs across the country. Program funding is allocated to three accounts: (1) community facilities, (2) rural utilities, and (3) rural business and cooperative development. See Rural Development Trust Fund. (7 U.S.C. 2009).
Rural Development Administration (RDA) — A USDA agency established by the 1990 farm bill (P.L. 101-624, Sec. 2302), amending the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.), to administer FmHA community and business programs and other USDA rural development programs. These programs help fund the establishment of new businesses and industries and the construction of water and waste disposal systems and other infrastructure in rural communities. RDA was superseded by the Office of Rural Development following the 1994 reorganization of USDA authorized by P.L. 103-354. www.rurdev.usda.gov.
Rural Development Trust Fund — Authorized under the 1996 farm bill (P.L. 104-127) the trust fund is used to distribute Rural Community Assistance Program funds. Funds are allocated among states based on such factors as rural population, income, and unemployment.
Rural Electric Cooperatives — There are 874 electric distribution cooperatives and 60 generation and transmission cooperatives in the United States that provide electric service to some 30 million people in 46 States. Reflecting their rural location, these cooperatives account for 7.4% of the kilowatt hours sold, but they maintain nearly half of the nation's electric distribution lines. Rural electric cooperatives have access to insured and guaranteed loans from the Rural Utilities Service. Insured loans primarily finance the construction of facilities for the distribution of electric power in rural areas. Guaranteed loans primarily finance generation and bulk transmission facilities for power supply borrowers.
Rural Electrification Administration (REA) — The predecessor USDA agency to the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) charged with administering certain telephone and rural electric cooperative loan programs. The reorganization of REA into RUS was authorized by the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (P.L.103-354).
Rural home loans — Section 502 single-family loans are available through the Rural Housing Service (RHS) to low- and moderate-income rural households to purchase and repair single-family homes.
Rural home repair loans and grants — Section 504 loans and grants are available through the Rural Housing Service (RHS) to lower income rural homeowners for making repairs.
Rural housing preservation grants — Section 533 grants are available through the Rural Housing Service (RHS) for repairing and rehabilitating rural housing for low- and very low-income families.
Rural Housing Service (RHS) — The USDA agency responsible for administering the housing programs including direct loans, loan guarantees, rental assistance payments, and grants for low income families residing in rural areas. USDA's Rural Housing Service (RHS) administers various housing programs intended to aid in the development of rural America. Rural housing programs are divided into three categories: community facilities, single family housing, and multi-family housing. The agency also administers the community facility loan and grant programs under the Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP). These programs were formerly operated by the Rural Development Administration and the Farmers Home Administration. www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs.
Rural multifamily housing loans — Section 515 loans are available through the Rural Housing Service (RHS) for construction of rental housing for low- and moderate-income families in rural areas, and for congregate housing for the elderly and handicapped.
Rural rental assistance — Section 521 rental assistance available through the Rural Housing Service (RHS) reduces out-of-pocket cash that very-low-income and low-income families pay for rent, including utilities.
Rural Strategic Investment Program — A new program established by the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 6030) to fund regional investment boards. The Strategic Investment Program provides grants totaling up to $100 million for rural regional planning and plan implementation. Eligible communities are non-metropolitan counties with a population of 50,000 or less. Certain exceptions to the population threshold are allowed if the community is immediately adjacent to an eligible area. (7 U.S.C. 2009dd).
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) — An agency within USDA charged with administering activities that support rural telecommunications, distance learning and telemedicine, electrical, and water and waste disposal activities. RUS assistance can be provided in the form of direct and guaranteed loans, and grants. www.usda.gov/rus.
Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs) — Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) represent a relatively new categorization of rural areas based on research at the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the USDA and the University of Washington. RUCAs are a Census tract-based classification scheme that use the standard Bureau of Census urban area definitions in combination with commuting information to characterize all of the Nation's Census tracts regarding their rural and urban status. The RUCAs are based on measures of urbanization, population density, and daily commuting. Census tracts are used to establish RUCAs because they are the smallest geographic building block for which reliable commuting data are available.
RUS — Rural Utilities Service. www.usda.gov/rus/home/home.htm.
RUSLE — Revised universal soil loss equation.