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land grant and non-land grant colleges and universities and practitioners from the food and agricultural sciences community.

Funds were available to support a total of 4 awards.

The funding ratio for this program in FY11 was 66 %.

Funded projects should address research to develop canola as a viable supplemental and alternative crop in the United States; involve stakeholders in priority setting, project development and implementation; include multi-state cooperation; and complement research being conducted by the U. S. Department of Agricultures Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Extension, education, and communication activities related to the research must be addressed.

(J) Policy Research Centers (aka Agriculture and Rural Policy Research)

Available funds: $3,840,000

Total funds requested: $23,998,415

Total number of applications: 32
Number of awards: 5

Funding ration: 16%

For the FY 2012 award cycle, $ 3,840,000 was available for project grant awards after subtracting administrative costs.

A total of 32 applications requesting a total of $23,998,415 were received in this years competition. In February 2012, a 8-member peer review panel and panel evaluated these applications. The peer panel included faculty from land grant and colleges and universities, individuals from federal agencies and a practitioner from the agricultural policy community.

Funds were available to support a total of 5 awards for Policy Research Centers.

Purpose of centers:

Centers will include the development or enhancement of existing capacity to perform public policy analysis. Funds will support development of theoretical and empirical research methods and models to evaluate and quantify the economic impact of existing or proposed alternative policies and regulations on the agricultural sector, consumers, the environment and taxpayers, (as appropriate). Approaches may include econometric or large-scale simulation models which provide baseline and outlook projections of near- and long-term economic activity and policy impacts. Funding may also be used to collect, analyze, and disseminate data for policy makers, analysts, and individuals. Finally, centers should include training opportunities for developing public policy analytical skills for new analysts.

The funding ratio for this program in FY12 was 16%.

(K) Rangeland Research Program (aka Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration)

For the FY 2012 funding cycle, approximately $897,000 was available from NIFA.

We had a FY 2012 budget cut of $50,000 in the Rangeland Research Program. A total of two awards of approximately $440,000 each are anticipated for FY 2012. The RFA is currently open with a proposal due date of July 30, 2012. A competitive review panel composed of 5 panelists from land grant institutions and federal laboratories across the U.S. Once the panel has met (scheduled for mid-August 2012), awards will be processed and funded in FY2012. No other data or information is available. Fiscal Year 2013: A) Expert IPM Decision Support System:

Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(B) GlobalGlobal Change, UV-B Monitoring

Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(C) Integrated Pest Management & Biological Control

Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(D) Interregional Research Project # 4 - Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4) Program

If funding is similar to 2011 it is anticipated that 5 applications will be received and 5 awards will be granted in fiscal year 2013.

(E) Pest Management Alternatives

Expectations are 35 to 45 applications with six to eight funded if the funds available are similar to FY 2011.

(F) Other (Potato Breeding Research in FY 2011)

Pertinent information to be provided by Program at a future date.

(G) Critical Agricultural Materials

FY 2013 Critical Agricultural Materials program is contingent upon the re-authorization of the Farm Bill.

(H) Aquaculture Centers

Continued regional aquaculture research, demonstration and extension education projects based on regional industry priorities and needs. It is anticipated that 80 pre-proposals will be received and 10 proposals will be funded in FY 2013.

(I) Supplemental and Alternative Crops (aka Canola Research) Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(J) Policy Research Centers (aka Agriculture and Rural Policy Research) Funding for program is not anticipated for FY 2013.

(K) Rangeland Research Program (aka Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration)

Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.
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 Food Production and Sustainablity, Division of Plant Systems-Protection, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 2240, Telephone: (202) 401-4939, Fax: (202) 1782.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT:

USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment, Division of Bioenergy, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP

2210, Washington, District of Columbia, 20250-2210, Telephone: (202) 401-5244, Fax: (202) 401-2653.

, Washington, District of Columbia 20250-2240 Phone: (202) 401-4939 Website Address:

http://www.nifa.usda.gov/

RELATED PROGRAMS:

10.001 Agricultural Research_Basic and Applied Research; 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; 10.215 Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education; 10.219 Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research; 10.250 Agricultural and Rural Economic Research; 10.303 Integrated Programs; 10.652 Forestry Research

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Fiscal Year 2011: A) Expert IPM Decision Support System:
Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(B) GlobalGlobal Change, UV-B Monitoring

Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(C) Integrated Pest Management & Biological Control Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(D) Interregional Research Project # 4 - Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4) Program

IR-4 Minor Crop Pest Management

(E) Pest Management Alternatives

Alternatives to organophosphate and organocarbamate insecticides in the Management of Thrips and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus in Peanut by Srinivasan

(F) Other (Potato Breeding Research in FY 2011)

Potato breeding and regional evaluation trials with seven states. From the trials, breeding stocks and advanced selections are shared with more than a dozen other states. Goals are developed based on stakeholder input. New cultivars and clonal selections are released or co-released with other institutions. These make up substantial and increasing portions of the regional potato acreage, important contributors to the economies of the states.

Regional potato breeding, genetics, and cultivar development, both collaborative and multidisciplinary. Multi-site evaluation conducted by teams of potato breeders and geneticists, agronomists, plant pathologists, entomologists, and biochemists from land grant universities and USDA/ARS. Focus is on market- limiting traits, e.g. in the processing sector, high specific gravity, low sugar content, long-term storability, bruise resistance, light color, tuber shape, and sugar-end resistance, combined with traits that provide durable host plant resistance to regionally important pathogens, insect pests, and environmental stresses, and provide enhanced plant

physiological efficiencies resulting in improved nutritional attributes and more sustainable environmental quality, as prioritized by stakeholders. The project uses mainly traditional hybridizing techniques, but also includes

marker-assisted selection and early generation screening techniques to enhance selection biotic and abiotic stresses.

(G) Critical Agricultural Materials

DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION OF A LOW VOC POLYURETHANE COATING SYSTEM USING BIOPOLYOLS DERIVED FROM CRUDE GLYCEROL $418,965

This proposed project aims to develop and demonstrate an innovative low VOC waterborne polyurethane (WPU) coating technology using biopolyols derived from crude glycerol, a low value byproduct of the biodiesel industry. The project goals and objectives will be fulfilled by the collaborative effort among The Ohio State University, Ohio Soybean Council, Ford Motor Company,

Sherwin-Williams, Kennedy Space Center, and PolyGreen Technologies LLC. The proposed technology provides a novel and environmentally preferable alternative to petroleum-based PU coating processes. The technology also contributes to the long term sustainability of US agriculture and biodiesel industries via value-added conversion of an agriculture-based low value biodiesel byproduct, i.e., crude glycerol, to commercially important products. UV-CURABLE BIOBASED WOOD FLOORING COATINGS $300,419

This project leverages prior work in developing bio-based UV-cure coatings to demonstrate and validate a new UV-curable coating formulation for the wood flooring market having at least 30% bio-based content and 0-to-low volatile organic content (VOC). The project team will custom-formulate a novel, bio-based building block for use in wood flooring coatings and validate formulas in the lab against an industry-accepted battery of tests. At the successful completion of the program, the new bio-based, UV-curable coating will have been made to scale, applied on a commercial coating line, and validated against requirements accepted by the wood flooring industry.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COATING AND ADHESIVE SYSTEMS DERIVED FROM NOVEL PLANT OIL-BASED POLYMERS Plant oils are important renewable raw materials for the chemical industry. Chemicals derived from plant oils have been used to produce surfactants, components for cosmetics, lubricants, polymers, coatings, and flooring materials. The proposal team recently developed a break-through technology involving the synthesis of novel plant oil-based vinyl ether monomers and the subsequent controlled polymerization of the monomers to produce high molecular weight polymers. The primary objective of the proposed project is to utilize copolymerization to tailor properties with primary emphasis being the enhancement of mechanical and thermomechanical properties to enable the replacement of a much larger fraction of petrochemical-based polymers and oligomers than can be accomplished with current plant oil-based technology. A Life Cycle Analysis will be conducted to demonstrate the environmental advantages of the most promising copolymer composition over a commercially available petrochemical analog.

(H) Aquaculture Centers

Development of baitfish, goldfish and ornamental fish hatchery methods; Economic forecasting and policy analysis models for catfish and trout; Improving reproductive efficiency of cultured finfish;

Use of global information systems for improved siting of commercial shellfish farms and shellfish farm management;

Global analysis of eelgrass standing stock and yield;

Cost-effective alternative protein for rainbow trout that supports growth, health and product quality;

Optimizing dietary protein and energy utilization to improve production efficiency of tilapia;

Economic analysis of aquaponic systems;

Mitigating diseases of freshwater cultured fish species.

(I) Supplemental and Alternative Crops (aka Canola Research) Identify high-yielding canola cultivars to increase supply and production of nutritious seed oil, renewable feedstock for bioenergy and quality animal feed; promote outreach through on-farm demonstration plots and extension materials on aspects of canola farming including planting, cultivation, harvest, and processing from seed to oil; and cultivate partnership between farmers and industries to sustain and support expansion of canola production.

Develop agronomic practices that will enhance canola production, develop better strategies for managing canola diseases, and develop canola varieties with higher oil content and yield.

(J) Policy Research Centers (aka Agriculture and Rural Policy Research) No projects were funded in FY 2011.

(K) Rangeland Research Program (aka Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration)

Using new knowledge on grazing behavior to control medusahead and promote rangeland restoration

Medusahead is an invasive weed, which impacts whole ecosystems, reducing habitat and biodiversity, commercial and recreational value. Grazing represents a sustainable, efficient, and low-cost alternative for its control. However, results about its applicability are not encouraging. Grazing approaches have not considered new knowledge on foraging behavior like the importance of positive experiences early in

life with the biochemical context (provided by the plant community or
supplements) on preference for target feeds. Project Directors (PDs) are
investigating a supplementation and fertilization program, to provide the
appropriate nutritional context to enhance use of medusahead by sheep
(Objective 1a), and favor soil

conditions necessary to increase the competitive ability of perennials in the
community (Objective 2a). Using this information, they plan to implement a
supplementation and fertilization program to increase medusahead use by sheep
(Objective 1b) and explore its impact on soils and on the plant community
(Objective 2b). PDs are also testing the effects of an appropriate nutritional
context experienced early in

life with mother on use of medusahead later in life by sheep (Objective 1c). They will determine how social, cultural, economic, and/or institutional factors influence prospects for the control of medusahead infestations (Objective 3). Research is planned to be integrated with outreach (web, print, and presentations) to restore medusahead-infested rangeland (Objective 4). This research, designed with stakeholder input, is aimed at enhancing the restoration and sustainable integrity of rangelands providing stakeholders with new knowledge about medusahead. This NIFA-funded project addresses the priority area Rangeland Restoration for the FY2011 Rangeland Research Program.

A systems approach to seedling establishment on degraded rangeland:
Managing

ecological processes driving recruitment bottlenecks to improve rangeland restoration

Altered disturbance regimes are systematically destroying healthy rangeland and directly threatening U.S. agriculture, food security, and sustainability. While every major stakeholder group in the West has recognized that restoration is critical to stem the massive and continuous loss of rangeland, establishment of functional plant communities on arid rangeland following disturbance is difficult and failure rates are high. Although ecologists and managers have been aggressively working towards improving our ability to establish plant communities, work to date has largely been pursued as a series of unlinked, site-specific studies. Researchers lack a systems framework for developing general principles, identifying key knowledge gaps and directing future research and management. The broad goal of this project is to develop, validate and deploy a systems approach for improving seedling establishment in Wyoming big sagebrush ecosystems. The core of this projects framework uses life-cycle population models to link plant population dynamics to management. To address their goal they are: 1) Conducting demographic and 2) sensitivity analysis to determine which life stage transitions most limit seedling recruitment along major ecological gradients; 3) Identifying key ecological processes limiting demographic transitions; 4) Developing tools to manage ecological processes limiting these transitions; and 5) Integrating the findings into education and economic assessment programs aimed at enhancing adoption of ecologically-based restoration. Restoring functional plant communities on arid rangeland following disturbance is a long-standing, serious and complex problem. Developing and adopting a systems approach that can organize and direct seedling establishment research is essential if rangeland professionals are to make continuous and measured advancements in management. Fiscal Year 2012: A) Expert IPM Decision Support System:

Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(B) GlobalGlobal Change, UV-B Monitoring

Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(C) Integrated Pest Management & Biological Control Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(D) Interregional Research Project # 4 - Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4) Program

Inter-Regional Research Project No. 4: Minor Crop Pest Management for the North Central Region

(E) Pest Management Alternatives

An Integrated Multi-tactic Approach for Managing Native Weevil Pests of Multiple U.S. Fruit Crops by Cesar Rodriguez-Saona

(F) Other (Potato Breeding Research in FY 2011)

Potato breeding and variety development for specific high-value specialty areas. Collaborative multi-site selection, evaluation, and variety development work among states and with USDA-ARS. The overall goal is to develop an array of attractive, highly productive, disease- and insect-resistant potato varieties that can be employed by small and large potato producers to enhance marketing opportunities, farm sustainability and grower profits. The project focuses on classical breeding techniques, but also includes marker-assisted selection for resistance to internal defects, diseases, and insect pests. A coordinated, team approach for helping to solve current and future problems encountered by the U.S. potato industry.

Release and commercialization of new potato varieties that will directly benefit all segments of the potato industry and all US producing regions. The strategy is to identify traits, make crosses, and apply selection pressures that will increase the probability of developing varieties that can be produced and utilized more efficiently than existing varieties. Goals include high yield, improved processing quality, genetic resistance to major pests and diseases, higher levels of resistance to stresses, increased nutrient use efficiency, improved human nutritional value, and high tuber quality, and reduced use of pesticides, water, and fertilizers. This is accompanied by myriad minor objectives involving germplasm enhancement, germplasm production, selection procedures, disease and stress screening, variety trial design and conduct, seed increases, management studies, and commercial evaluations.

(G) Critical Agricultural Materials

Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date

(H) Aquaculture Centers

At this time regional planning processes are underway to identify and recommend funding for new specific regional projects from FY 2012 funding. Numerous projects are funded for multiple fiscal years as well. Funded regional projects are anticipated to advance commercial aquaculture development by solving critical problems and bottlenecks for successful enterprises with new science-based knowledge, improved practices and tools and new technologies for a wide diversity of aquaculture species, production systems, marketing outlets, and aquatic environments in the Nation.

Few projects have been funded yet. A few examples involve environmental and endogenous factors affecting the egg quality and caviar yield in farmed sturgeon and genetic marker-assisted selection of Northeastern hard clams for critical disease resistance;

(I) Supplemental and Alternative Crops (aka Canola Research)

Identify superior cultivars; develop ensiling systems; investigate planting dates, potassium fertilizer, and residue decomposition; investigate spring canola systems for increasing interest and production; study ecology and environmental aspects/trade-offs while finding best management practices for growers; provide information for new canola growers; investigate and

investigate harvest efficiencies.

Address five clearly-identified barriers to continue expansion of canola acres including pest

management (insects and diseases), no-till management, rotational systems, and extension resources.

Multidiscipline research on breeding, agronomics, herbicide management, and disease management. Increase diversity in cropping systems to reduce pests and disease carryover.

(J) Policy Research Centers (aka Agriculture and Rural Policy Research) This was a new competitive grants program. Funded projects included: Food Policy Research Center

National Agricultural and Rural Development Policy Center

A Policy Research Center Proposal: The Center for Agricultural and Rural Development

Center for Agricultural and Food Industrial Organization - Policy Research Group

OSU-UC Davis Partnership For Agricultural and Resource Policy Research

An example of a funded project is:

One Agricultural and Resource Policy Research

The design of socially responsible public policy requires a comprehensive, rigorous, and timely assessment of its economic, environmental and social impacts. This project will address this need by establishing a Partnership for Agricultural and Resource Policy Research. The mission of the Partnership will be to provide the highest quality, objective economic analysis of critical public policy issues on agriculture, natural resources, environment, food systems, nutrition, and technology. The Partnership represents an institutional innovation towards productive regional collaborations between Land Grant institutions.

The overarching goals are: to help policymakers and stakeholders understand how policies affect the economy, natural resources, the environment, and society; and to provide innovate research focusing on specialty crops, conservation and consumer issues, with an emphasis on the Western United States. The Partnership will cover the four emphasis areas specified in the NIFA

request. Our primary approach will be to conduct multi-disciplinary research rooted in economic theory and quantitative methods, capitalizing on the policy experience and expertise of faculty at the two institutions. In the first year, the team will use existing modeling capability to address current policy analysis; in the second year, models will be integrated into a more unified framework for policy analysis. An innovative, comprehensive education and dissemination program complements the policy research. Building on strong institutional support, this Partnership represents a long-term commitment to policy research and education. The Partnership will provide value to society by supporting informed decision making and reducing the uncertainties associated with future policies.

(K) Rangeland Research Program (aka Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration)

Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date. Fiscal Year 2013: A) Expert IPM Decision Support System:

Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(B) GlobalGlobal Change, UV-B Monitoring Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(C) Integrated Pest Management & Biological Control Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(D) Interregional Research Project # 4 - Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4) Program

Southern Region Program to Clear Pest Control Agents for Minor Uses

(E) Pest Management Alternatives

If funding is similar to FY 2011 it is anticipated that 35 to 45 applications will be received and 6 to 8 projects would be funded. The funded projects can focus on a wide variety of issues including pest management in plants, livestock and human health. Quite often pest problems in specialty/minor crops are the basis of many proposals.

(F) Other (Potato Breeding Research in FY 2011) Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.

(G) Critical Agricultural Materials

FY 2013 Critical Agricultural Materials program is contingent upon the re-authorization of the Farm Bill.

(H) Aquaculture Centers

Continued regional aquaculture research, demonstration and extension education projects based on regional industry priorities and needs. Funded regional projects are anticipated to advance commercial aquaculture development by solving critical problems and bottlenecks for successful enterprises with new science-based knowledge, improved practices and tools, and new technologies for a wide diversity of aquaculture species, production systems, marketing outlets, and aquatic environments in the Nation.

(I) Supplemental and Alternative Crops (aka Canola Research) Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date

(J) Policy Research Centers (aka Agriculture and Rural Policy Research) Funding is not anticipated for FY 2013.

(K) Rangeland Research Program (aka Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration)

Pertinent details to be provided by Program at a future date.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Within guidelines established for the program as described in the Request for
Application (RFA).

10.202 COOPERATIVE FORESTRY RESEARCH
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Act (M/S) Program
FEDERAL AGENCY:

National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture
AUTHORIZATION:

Executive Order Public Law 87-778 (76 Stat. 806, 16 U.S.C. 582a, et seq.) signed into law on October 10, 1962 is also known as the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Act.

OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of this funding is to increase forestry research in the production, utilization, and protection of forestland; to train future forestry scientists; and to involve other disciplines in forestry research. Funding should also address the high priority issues described in the current M/S Strategic Plan: Sustaining Healthy and Productive Forests: An Investment in Americas Competitive Position in the Global Marketplace: (1) science of integration; (2) forest ecosystem services; (3) human attitudes and behaviors; (4) conflict, uncertainty, and decision-making; (5) technological advancements, productivity, and forest applications; and (6) urban ecosystems. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

FORMULA GRANTS

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Act (M/S) grant is used to assist all states in carrying out a program of state forestry research at state forestry schools and colleges and developing a trained pool of forest scientists capable of conducting needed forestry research, which should include: (1) ecological restoration;

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