This report outlines a proposed metadata framework for resource discovery of agricultural resources, and in particular to describe information resources in agricultural sciences. The overall work is the result of a collaborative effort between a number of partners in the agricultural community and the Library and Documentation Systems Division of FAO. The endeavour is formally referred to as the "Agricultural Metadata Standards Initiative" (Agstandards). It is based upon the elements and qualifiers proposed by the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI).