(2) the project involves a minor commodity, the project deals with scientifically important research, and the grant recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Regarding the Critical Issues and Regional Rural Development Centers (Section 2(c)(1)(B) of Public Law 89106, as amended), normally, competitive research projects will be supported for periods of up to three (3) years. However, for the other programs (under Section 406 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) (7 U.S.C. 7626): The term of competitive project grants and/or cooperative agreements under this program may not exceed five (5) years. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit. Reports: Grantees are to submit initial project information and annual summary reports to NIFAS electronic, Web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submissions of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects. The details of the reporting requirements are included in the award terms and conditions. NIFA uses the SF-425, Federal Financial Report to monitor cash. Grantees are to submit initial project information and annual summary reports to NIFAs electronic, Web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submissions of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects. The details of the reporting requirements are included in the award terms and conditions. A final Financial Status Report (SF-269) or Federal Financial Report (SF-425) is due within 90 days of the expiration date of the grant and should be submitted to the address listed below, in accordance with instructions contained in 2 CFR 3430.55 (also refer to Section 3015.82 of the Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations). Awards Management Division (AMD) Office of Grants and Financial Management (OGFM) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Department of Agriculture (USDA) STOP 2271 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-2271 Telephone: (202) 401-4986. Grantees are to submit initial project information and annual summary reports to NIFAS electronic, Web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submissions of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects. The details of the reporting requirements are included in the award terms and conditions. Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General. Records: In accordance with the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Non-profit Organizations [2 CFR 215, Subpart C, Section 215.53, (OMB Circular A-110)] grantees shall maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are used for authorized purposes. Grant-related records are subject to inspection during the life of the grant and must be retained at least three (3) years. Records must be retained beyond the three-year period if litigation is pending or audit findings have not been resolved. Account Identification: 12-1502-0-1-352. Obligations: (Project Grants) FY 11 $29,037,413; FY 12 est $14,699,323; and FY 13 est $32,387,853 - The difference between the appropriation and obligation numbers reflects legislative authorized set-asides deducted as appropriate, and in some cases the availability of obligational authority from prior years. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: If minimum or maximum amounts of funding per competitive project grant or cooperative agreement are established, these will be announced in the annual program announcement or Request for Application (RFA). PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2011: (A) Water Quality Funded a major youth-water-education initiative at the University of Wisconsin. Funded four projects that will develop smartphone/tablet applications aimed at improving water resource management in rural, agricultural, and urbanizing watersheds. Partnered with USDA-FSA to fund three projects that explore the effectiveness of constructed wetlands to mitigate nutrient losses from agricultural fields. (B) National Integrated Food Safety The NIFSI program received 112 proposals and awarded 17 grants. This program had a 15% success rate in 2011. (C) Integrated Pest Management Centers (Regional) For the FY 2011 award cycle, $2,848,144 was available for project grant awards after subtracting administrative costs. NIFA received a total of 4 applications requesting a total of $2,850,000 in the FY 2011 competition. In August 2011, a 5-member peer review panel evaluated these applications. The peer review panel included faculty and administrators from Land-Grant universities and a federal agency. Funds were available to support a total of 4 awards. The funding ratio for this program in FY 2011 was 100% Funded projects established a Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center in each of USDAs four geographic regions: North Central, Northeastern, Southern, and Western. The overarching goals of the Regional IPM Centers program are to improve the cost benefit analysis of adapting IPM practices and to reduce the environmental and human health risks associated managing pests. (D) Crops at Risk from FQPA Implementation This program has not been recently funded. (E) FQPA Risk Mitigation Program This program has not been recently funded. (F) Methyl bromide Transition Program Ten proposals were received and five were funded in FY 2011. For the FY 2011 award cycle, $ 1,894,222 was available for project grant awards after subtracting administrative costs. A total of 10 applications requesting a total of $2,156,409 were received in this years competition. In August 2011, a 5-member peer review panel evaluated these applications. The peer panel included faculty and administrators from land grant universities and USDA research and regulatory agencies. The funding ratio for this program in FY11 was 50%. Each funded project addressed at least one of the Critical Use Exemptions (CUES) approved for the United States including: food processing facilities, cured pork, strawberries, cucurbits, and tomatoes. (G) Organic Transition - Risk Assessment For the FY 2011 award cycle, $3,783,245 was available for project grant awards after subtracting administrative costs. A total of 19 applications requesting a total of $13,589,204 were received in this years competition. In August 2011, a 6-member peer review panel evaluated these applications. The peer panel included faculty from land grant universities and one researcher from USDA Agricultural Research Service. Funds were available to support a total of 5 new awards. The funding ratio for this program in FY11 was 23%. Funded projects seek to support the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices by studying and documenting environmental services provided by organic farming systems in the area of soil conservation and climate change mitigation, including greenhouse gases (GHG). All projects integrate research, education and extension activities. (H) Regional Rural Development Centers The Regional Rural Development Centers collaborate on national issues that span regionslike e-commerce, regional food systems, the changing interface between rural, suburban, and urban places, diversifying rural economies, and workforce quality and jobs creation. Each tailors programs to address particular needs in its region. Partnering with USDA-Rural Development and a core group of land-grant institutions to advance new strategies for regional innovation and economic development, the Centers have spread the Stronger Economies Together (SET) program to 19 states and 39 regions which are ready to implement long-term plans and strategically build on the economic and social assets of these locations. The Centers received $1.7 million from USDA Rural-Development for fiscal year 2011 to expand the SET program. The Centers are also paving the way toward the educational backbone needed for broadband technology to be adopted and used effectively across the nation as a complement to President Obamas broadband infrastructure investments. The National e-Commerce Extension Initiative has produced 15 comprehensive web-based educational programs that promote broadband and e-commerce adoption by local governments, small businesses, farmers, entrepreneurs, artisans, and others. Many of these educational materials are being employed by land-grant Cooperative Extension Services. Examples of other activities include the Consortium for Renewable Energy in the West (CREW); the Northeasts $5 million AFRI grant to study the food security of underserved populations and how food supply can be enhanced through sustainable regional food systems; the Souths partnership with the Kettering Foundation, Everyday Democracy, and the Farm Foundation to address persistent poverty via the nationally recognized Turning the Tide on Poverty program; and Triumph Over Tragedy and Ready Community Guide, two initiatives focused on disaster preparedness and support. Fiscal Year 2012: (A) Water Quality A total of 73 applications were received in three program areas. Anticipate funding a programmatic synthesis that will explore the effectiveness of projects funded throughout the 12-year history of the National Integrated Water Quality Program. Added a focus on consumer-based water resource management programs; projects will begin to develop tools that assist citizens to make improved water management decisions as consumers. (B) National Integrated Food Safety No Programs were funded in FY 2012. (C) Integrated Pest Management Centers (Regional) For the FY 2012 award cycle, $3,805,820 was available for project grant awards after subtracting administrative costs. NIFA received a total of 4 applications requesting a total of $3,805,520 in the FY 2012 competition. In August 2011, a 5-member peer review panel evaluated these applications. The peer review panel included faculty and administrators from Land-Grant universities and a federal agency. Funds were available to support a total of 4 awards. The funding ratio for this program in FY 2011 was 100% Funded projects established a Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center in each of USDAS four geographic regions: North Central, Northeastern, Southern, and Western. The overarching goals of the Regional IPM Centers program are to improve the cost benefit analysis of adapting IPM practices and to reduce the environmental and human health risks associated managing pests. (D) Crops at Risk from FQPA Implementation This program has not been recently funded. (E) FQPA Risk Mitigation Program This program has not been recently funded. (F) Methyl Bromide Transition Program For the FY 2012 award cycle, approximately $ 1,887,651 is available for project grant awards after subtracting administrative costs. A total of 12 applications requesting a total of $5,274,752 were received in this years competition and it is anticipated that five will be awarded. In August 2012, a 6-member peer review panel will evaluate these applications. The peer panel includes faculty and administrators from land grant universities and USDA research agencies. The funding ratio for this program in FY12 is anticipated to be 42%. (G) Organic Transition - Risk Assessment For the FY 2012 award cycle, $3,796,760 was available for project grant awards after subtracting administrative costs. A total of 16 applications, requesting a total of $10,678,804, were received in this years competition. In June 2012, a 6-member peer review panel evaluated these applications. The peer panel included faculty from land grant universities. Funds were available to support a total of 6 new awards. The funding ratio for this program in FY11 was 37%. Funded projects seek to support the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices by studying and documenting environmental services provided by organic farming systems in the area of soil conservation and climate change mitigation, including greenhouse gases (GHG). All projects integrate research, education and extension activities. (H) Regional Rural Development Centers The regional rural development centers have continued their collaborations in Centers collaborated on a successful application to NIFAS Policy Research Centers Grant Program. Solo and partner initiatives of the individual centers are reported below, with particular emphasis given to service to underserved populations. North Center Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) While most rural areas in the North Central Region are experiencing population decline, the number of Hispanics is increasing. Hispanics in the Upper Midwest is a work group supported by the North Central Center that studies this rapidly expanding demographic to determine the best ways to incorporate the newcomers into communities. Cambio de Colores (Change of Colors) is an annual conference that, since 2002, brings together researchers, practitioners, decision-makers, and community members to discuss the issues that the Heartland states face as a result of the demographic changes reflected since the 2000 Census, which clearly showed large numbers of immigrantsmost of them Latino or Hispanic, but including significant numbers of migrants and refugees from Asia, Africa, and Europesettling in rural and urban areas of every state in the region. Cambio de Colores is a collaborative effort of the University of Missouri and Extension, other educational institutions in the North Central region, as well as government and private organizations. The NCRCRD offered a number of webinars to benefit rural poor, inority, and/or underserved populations: Banking Issues Among Entrepreneurs from Underserved Populations Great Lakes Land Grant Institutions Tribal Water Resources Summit The NCRCRD partnered with NIFA to organize a two day small farm and rural development research conference prior to the Regional Science Association International meetings, attracting 61 researchers. North East Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD) The NERCRD has created an online resource on the Center website titled: Demographic Dimensions of Diversity Relevant for Extension Educators: What To Look For, Why, and Where To Find the Data on The Web. The site includes a briefing room on Race and Ethnicity in Rural America; Resources for Dealing with Hate Groups; and, Mapping Census 2000the Geography of U.S. Diversity. NERCRD Director Stephan Goetz was invited to speak at the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors conference in Washington, DC on the Role of Small Business and Entrepreneurship during an Economic. He also served on the Panel Strengthening Entrepreneurship Opportunities in Urban and Rural Communities. Southern Regional Rural Development Center (SRRDC) SERA-37 is a Southern Extension Research Activity on The New Hispanic South. As its name implies, its goal is strengthening the capacity to land grant institutions to respond to the New Hispanic South. Core activities focus on mobilizing land-grant faculty to work collaboratively to better understand the challenges and opportunities associated with the current and future growth of Hispanics in the rural South; strengthen the research and Extension outreach work being undertaken by our region's land-grant university system that addresses the growth of Hispanics in the South; and advance the capacity of the land-grant system to lend support to those rural communities that seek to respond to the needs of their growing Hispanic population in a positive and strategic manner. Members of SERA-37, New Hispanic South, completed a domestic immersion Latino cultural competency program consisting of three phases: distance education, eight-day immersion experience in the North Carolina Latino community and an applied project in the home state. SERA-37 secretary Roberto Gallardo, SRDC research associate, reported individuals from 10 southern states, as well as 22 community partners, participated in this domestic immersion project. As a result of the immersion, preliminary project plans developed: Mississippi Extension agents will conduct a needs assessment of farm workers and farmers. Alabama Extension agents will offer a work readiness and health fair with Latino audiences. Georgia Extension agents are establishing community gardens with Latino families through connections with a local faith community. North Carolina Extension agents are involving Latino youth in 4-H, as well as engaging the Latino community as vendors and customers in the local farmers market through a multi-cultural day. They are also providing energy savings/personal budgeting classes for Latino families and are developing a safety and health promotion program. The SRDCS Turning the Tide on Poverty initiative engages residents to improve their communities. Thanks to this SRDC initiative, rural counties across the South have opened thel lines of communication, engaged residents who had not previously been involved, and achieved community and economic development goals. The Initiative was recognized by the National Association of Community Development Extension Professions for success in tackling poverty issues for economically-distressed rural communities and was honored with the Diversity Certificate by the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Western Regional Rural Development Center (WRDC) The WRDC hosted a Small Business Resources Workshop to provide a hands-on experience for Extension professionals seeking resources-tools, practices, and programs-to assist small business owners. Fiscal Year 2013: (A) Water Quality Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. (B) National Integrated Food Safety Funding is not anticipated for FY 2013.. (C) Integrated Pest Management Centers (Regional) Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. (D) Crops at Risk from FQPA Implementation This program has not been recently funded. (E) FQPA Risk Mitigation Program This program has not been recently funded. (F) Methyl bromide Transition Program It is unclear at this time whether funding will be available for this program in FY 2013. (G) Organic Transition - Risk Assessment Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. (H) Regional Rural Development Centers The Regional Rural Development Centers have been very successful leveraging their <$1 million shared award. This has allowed them to more than triple their programming budgets. Consequently, we anticipate the same level of programming in FY 2013. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 7 CFR Part 3430, Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Grant Programs General Grant Administrative Provisions and Program-Specific Administrative Provisions; 7 CFR Part 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations; 7 CFR Part 3017, Government wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement); 7 CFR Part 3018, New Restrictions on Lobbying; 7 CFR Part 3019, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-profit Organizations; and 7 CFR Part 3021 USDA implementation of Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-free Workplace (Financial Assistance). Regional or Local Office: None. Headquarters Office: USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Bioenergy, Climate and Environment Division of Environmental Systems, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 2210, Washington, District of Columbia, 20250-2210, Telephone: (202) 720-5229, Fax: (202) 720-3945. ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader; Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Division of Food Safety 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 2225, Washington, DC 20250-2220; Telephone: (202) 401-1954; Fax: (202) 401-14888; USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Food Production and Sustainablity, Division of Animal Systems, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 2240, Washington, DC 20250-2220; Telephone: (202) 401-6134; fax: 202-401-1602; AND USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Youth, Family, and Community, Division of Family and Consumer Sciences 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 2250, Washington, DC 20250-2250; Telephone: (202) 720-4795; fax: 202-720-93662; , Washington, District of Columbia 20250-2210 Phone: (202) 720-5229 Fax: (202) 720-3945 Website Address: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/ RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.001 Agricultural Research_Basic and Applied Research; 10.200 Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants; 10.202 Cooperative Forestry Research; 10.203 Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations Under the Hatch Act; 10.205 Payments to 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Tuskegee University; 10.207 Animal Health and Disease Research; 10.212 Small Business Innovation Research; 10.219 Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research; 10.250 Agricultural and Rural Economic Research; 10.310 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) ; 10.311 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program; 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service; 10.652 Forestry Research EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2011: (A) Water Quality Fresh water supply shortages are increasingly common in the Southeast US. The growing population in this region has been suggested as a key component contributing to this water stress as well as climate variability and change. A 2010 report indicated that by 2050 much of Florida is projected to be at high to extreme risk of water shortage while water shortage in Georgia is projected to range from moderate to extreme (Spencer and Altman, 2010). Irrigation has been shown to be a substantial user of fresh water supplies in the Southeast both for agriculture and urban applications. Thus, irrigation provides one source of potential water savings if irrigation practices can be improved. With the growing price of fuel and potential restrictions on irrigation water, these apps will also be useful for increased sustainability by providing at-your-fingertips knowledge for improved irrigation (and water conservation) and potential financial savings through lower fuel costs (less pump time). We will develop models that require minimum input using real-time weather data to improve irrigation practices in citrus, cotton, strawberry, and urban lawn environments. These simple models will be converted into Smartphone apps to be used quickly and efficiently by stakeholders. The apps will include both real-time and forecasting components. Stakeholders will test the apps and further modifications will be made as needed to improve their performance before public release. We will also conduct train-the-trainer and train-the-stakeholder workshops to further disseminate these products. Our initial goal is to reach Florida and Georgia irrigators with future efforts expanding further into the Southeast region. All efforts will be coordinated through the Southeast Climate Consortium and linked with AgroClimate and the Florida Automated Weather Network. The "Water Equals National Education Campaign" builds on the "Mapping the Future" project in its strategy to implement and disseminate the Water Equals framework. The project is distinctive in its fundamental goal to shift young people's relationship with, and consciousness of, water. This goes beyond a focus on instruction to include engaging the hearts, minds, and bodies of youth in multidimensional ways. The project seeks to do this through a campaign, i.e., a connected series of operations designed to bring about a desired result. The first strategy is to attract young people's attention through means that are relevant and engaging to them, and to catalyze their thinking about water in creative, emotive, analytic, systemic, and interdisciplinary ways. The second is to provide fun and challenging educational experiences and resources for them to learn and engage in new ways related to water. The third strategy is to provide easy to use, high-quality activity guides and other resources to a range of adults engaged in youth water education-from parents to museum directors. The fourth is to bring those interested in youth water education together around a shared message and to disseminate the Water Equals framework in ways that are relevant to multiple stakeholders. Lastly, to employ continuous, robust evaluation to measure and understand the impact of this approach, as well as inform employment of the Water Equals framework. The proposed approach involves the creation and implementation of a multi-faceted educational campaign that seeks to reach young people in the real and virtual places they inhabit. These places, as best identified by the youth participants in "Mapping the Future," include their homes, their communities, and popular culture (including social media). The desired outcome of greater knowing, caring, and engagement is greater stewardship, which includes conservation and protection behaviors. Success will be measured in part by the degree to which young people demonstrate new or improved water stewardship. For more information on the "Mapping the Future" project, also see: www.waterequals.org. (B) National Integrated Food Safety Cost-Effective Pathogen Reduction Strategies and Food Safety Training for Small and Very Small Meat Processors; Foodborne Pathogens Detection and Education to Support Sustainable Agriculture for Small Scale Producers (C) Integrated Pest Management Centers (Regional) Example 1. Objectives: 1) Establish new and maintain existing information networks; 2) continue to build partnerships to address IPM challenges and opportunities; 3) develop signature global food security programs and foster their sustainability; 4) review and evaluate impacts of IPM implementation and communicate successes; and 5) manage funding resources effectively. The IPM Center will serve as a catalyst for promoting and reporting IPM accomplishments achieved by our broad-based clientele to increase accountability. Our Center will actively respond to the goals of the National Roadmap for IPM the Global Food Security priority to ensure coordination of efforts and resources to enhance IPM development and adoption for production agriculture, natural resources and recreational environments, and residential and public areas in cooperation with the Federal IPM Coordinating Committee comprised of agency representatives from the Department of Agriculture (ARS, NIFA, NRCS, NASS, ERS, APHIS and the U.S. Forest Service), Department of Interior (National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and Fish and Wildlife Service), Department of State (Agency for International Development), Department of Health and Human Services (CDC), Department of Housing and Urban Development (Office of Health Homes), Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency and the General Services Administration. Signature programs include Tribal IPM programs, IPM education and outreach, IPM impact assessment, IPM issue-focused working groups and pest management strategic plans. These programs will engage broad representation of our regions stakeholders including our 1994 and 1890 sister institutions, as well as other underserved audiences. Example 2. To foster IPM development and adoption, the IPM Center will build on successes and launch new projects. With broad-based stakeholder participation, we will prioritize issues, create a strategic plan, facilitate collaboration across states, disciplines, and regions, and continue our information networks (including a state-of-the-art website, robust listservs, and a grants database). We will build capacity with eXtension and share Pest Alerts and success stories. Our IPM Partnership Grants Program will focus on working groups and critical pests, encouraging project directors to address underserved audiences, food availability, and food accessibility. We will foster sustainability of regional food supplies by strengthening support for small farms and by joining with federal and private partners to sponsor a conference on "IPM, Organic, and Sustainable Ag to Bolster Food Security." We will lead outreach to the region on the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, working with scientists to share new knowledge via the StopBMSB website, curricula, and displays. We will strengthen underserved communities by leading and participating in IPM trainings and workshops for public housing authorities and tribal housing, enhancing the StopPests website, and offering our new "Guide to IPM in Public Housing" in print and online. We will network internationally by attending the OECD workshop and the International IPM Symposium. Overall, our Center will increase coordination of IPM research, education, and extension, and will enhance responsiveness to global food security challenges. Example 3. Our mission is to foster development and adoption of IPM, a science-based approach to managing pests in ways that generate economic, environmental and human health benefits. The Advisory Council (AC) comprising diverse stakeholders from across the region will provide guidance and the Steering Committee (SC) will set policy. We will utilize the strategic plan developed in the previous funding cycle. We will maintain a revised version of the Regulatory Information Network to proactively address regulatory issues, respond to queries from EPA and other regulatory agencies, and update at least 12 high-priority Crop Profiles. Stakeholders and partner institutions will be engaged to identify needs and establish priorities through the AC and SC structure, collaboration with regional technical committees, the Small Farms IPM Working Group to engage previously underserved groups, and support of existing working groups including the School IPM Working Group. Global Food Security Programs include the Regulatory Information Network, the Critical and Emerging Issues Grant Program; the Small Farms Working Group; continued financial management and support of ipmPIPE projects; collaboration with eXtension; and our IPM Impacts evaluation Initiative. The Impacts Evaluation Initiative will evaluate IPM projects from across the region to develop and distribute success stories that resonate with the general public. Our communications and outreach will continue the successful methods we have used to date including social networking techniques. We will also continue the Friends of IPM Program to highlight successful IPM professionals and promote IPM. Example 4. The Center will advance the National Institute of Food and Agricultures (NIFA) Global Food Security priority area. Center activities and programs will advance Global 2) to establish and maintain multistate information networks, 4) to review and evaluate outcomes and impacts of IPM implementation and individuals, institutions, and regions. By offering competitive grants, supporting communication networks, obtaining ongoing stakeholder input about IPM needs, and fostering collaborations and partnerships, the Center will provide a centralized regional platform for addressing critical IPM needs and integrating IPM research, extension, and education in the West. This approach also ensures the Center will be responding to food security challenges on a global scale. The leadership and funding opportunities provided by the Center will bring together the institutional and individual expertise needed to successfully address high-priority pest management issues confronting farmers, pest managers, the non-agricultural public, and others in the West (D) Crops at Risk from FQPA Implementation This program has not been recently funded. (E) FQPA Risk Mitigation Program This program has not been recently funded. (F) Methyl bromide Transition Program Phosphine fumigation will be conducted to determine the parameters that are effective at controlling mite infestations in simulated ham aging houses and implemented at individual, dry cured pork processing plants within the Southeastern United States. In addition, integrated pest management programs will be developed using Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HAACP) Principles applied to mite, insect and environmental monitoring, and it will be determined if food grade ingredients such as oils and propylene glycol can be used to prevent mite and beetle infestations without affecting the sensory quality of the hams. In addition, economic analyses will be conducted to determine if phosphine, integrated pest management, and other potential alternatives are economically feasible and cost effective when compared to methyl bromide and in light of the ban on methyl bromide. Over the years we have assembled an inter-disciplinary and inter-state response and vision team of key private and public sector stakeholders that seeks to implement chemical and biological-based alternatives to methyl bromide. Significant progress has been achieved in vegetable and strawberry production issues. This proposal focuses on advancing strawberry production systems by developing and extending readily adaptable fumigant and biologically-based approaches. Three strategic levels of research and extension are identified to address critical use nominations for the strawberry fruit industry in the Southeast USA: 1) Tactic substitution - addressing short term needs of growers who seek non-ozone depleting fumigant alternatives. The primary component includes fine-tuning the use of novel mulches and technologies to enhance efficacy and/or mitigate emerging regulatory issues; 2) Tactic Diversification focuses on advancing current research efforts to incorporate novel and registered fungicides, nematicides and herbicides using pest-driven combinations for targeted and efficacious management of these soilborne pests; 3) Tactic Development - focuses on readily adaptable and biologically-based systems including use of best management systems with cover crops and compost, anaerobic soil disinfestation, mustard seed meal applications and biased soil profiles that favor beneficial microbial communities. Finally, we will focus on extending outcomes through multi-tactic mechanisms including participatory on-farm-research, web-based information, extension agent training, field days, presentations at most fruit and vegetable meetings in the SE and along the eastern seaboard, scientific presentations at professional meetings, peer reviewed publications, and writings in extension articles and industry driven newsletters. Combined efforts are expected to result in technically and economical feasible assessments and implementation of alternatives, exploration of viable diversification and development of integrated pest management tactics, and a region-wide advanced understanding of the biology, ecology and management of key soilborne pests. (G) Organic Transition - Risk Assessment Profitable and environmentally sustainable re-integration of livestock into diversified organic dryland farming systems. An interdisciplinary team is developing a holistic sheep/organic crop production system that uses targeted sheep grazing to reduce tillage intensity, nitrogen leaching, greenhouse gas emission and improve soil fertility and soil carbon sequestration, while taking |