State Agricultural Experiment Stations (SAESS) which were established under the direction of the college or university or agricultural departments of the college or university in each State in accordance with the act approved July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.); or such other substantially equivalent arrangements as any State shall determine. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply for funding provided that such arrangements are necessary to complete the project. Beneficiary Eligibility: Funds under the Hatch Act are allocated in accordance with the statutory formula stated in the Act to the State agricultural experiment stations of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Micronesia, and Northern Mariana Islands. These institutions have been identified and declared eligible by their respective State legislatures. Credentials/Documentation: No Credentials or documentation are required. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. Preapplication Coordination: All Formula Grant Opportunities (FGOS) are published on the Agencys website and Grants.gov. Applicants must complete the Grants.gov registration process. Please see the following Grants.gov link for more information: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Pre-award form submissions must be submitted to the Hatch as a new application on the www.grants.gov website. As noted previously, these application packages complement, rather than duplicate, the information collected via the Plan of Work (POW) system and the Current Research Information System (CRIS), and together satisfy all legislative and regulatory pre-award requirements. Section 202 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) amended the Smith-Lever Act and the Hatch Act to require approved plans of work for agricultural extension and research activities at 1862 Land-Grant Institutions in order to receive Federal funding. Therefore, each 1862 Land-Grant Institution must submit both a 5-Year Plan of Work Update (i.e., submitted each year as an update) and an Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results. Both reports were due by April 1. Specific project details and pertinent information should be entered in the Current Research Information System (CRIS) as in prior years. CRIS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's documentation and reporting system for ongoing agricultural, food and nutrition, and forestry research and education. CRIS contains over 30,000 descriptions of current, publicly-supported research and education activities. This work is sponsored or conducted by the USDA research agencies, the State agricultural experiment stations, the State Land-Grant Institutions and universities, State schools of forestry, cooperating schools of veterinary medicine, and USDA grant recipients. See Part VI.C. of the Formula Grant Opportunity (FGO) for specific CRIS requirements. An environmental impact statement is required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Application Procedures: OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. State Five (5) year plans of work must be submitted to and approved by NIFA before funds are released. Applications should be submitted as outlined in the FGO. Applications must follow the instructions provided per Grants.Gov. Applicants are required to submit applications in response to both an interim FGO and a final FGO. The final FGO reflects the final formula allocations for the current fiscal year (FY). Award Procedure: The Office of Planning and Accountability and CRIS Office will notify the OEP Financial Operations Branch regarding each institutions compliance with the Plan of Work reporting requirements [i.e., Five (5) Year Plan of Work Update and an Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results]. If all current program and administrative requirements have been met by the eligible institution, funding will continue to be released on a quarterly basis. The OEP Financial Operations Branch will notify the institutions when all requirements have been met or approved. Deadlines: Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 30 to 60 days. Section :094 - Deadlines: Dates for specific deadlines are announced in the FGO each fiscal year (FY). Appeals: Not Applicable. Renewals: Not applicable, each year of funding is awarded as a new grant. Statutory Formula: Title The Hatch Act of 1887, Public Law 084-352. 7 Formula: Payments to States for fiscal year (FY) 1955 was a fixed base and sums appropriated in excess of 1955 level use the following fund allocation statistical factors: (1) Twenty percent (20%) allotted equally to each State; (2) Not less than Fifty-two percent (52%) to States as follows: One-half (1/2) in an amount which bears the same ratio as the rural population of the State bears to the total rural population of all the States (and the source is the 1990 Decennial Census); and one-half (1/2) in an amount which bears the same ratio as the farm population of the State bears to the total farm population of all the States (and the source is the 1990 Decennial Census); and (3) At least Twenty-five percent (25%) to States for cooperative research in which two (2) or more State agricultural experiment stations are cooperating to solve problems of agriculture in more than one (1) State. Matching Requirements: Percent: 100.%. (A) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Regular Research) (B) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Multistate Research) 100 percent. However, the state agricultural experiment stations in the District of Columbia and the insular areas shall provide non-Federal matching funds equal to not less than 50% of the formula funds distributed by the Secretary of Agriculture. This requirement may be waived by the Secretary. (B) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Multistate Research) Hatch funds are expected to be fully expended in the fiscal year (FY) of 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. Institutions are expected to submit an annual Program of Research, a listing of all approved Hatch projects for said institution. Institutions must submit a Form AD-416, Work Unit Description; Form AD-417, Project Classification; NIFA-2008, Assurance Form; and Project Proposal through the Current Research Information System prior to the initiation of each Hatch project. The project must undergo a review process and be approved before it is incorporated into the Program of Research. Each institution shall submit a CRIS Form AD-421, Accomplishments Report, annually for each eligible project. Reports from institutions reporting on a calendar year shall be submitted by April 1 for the preceding calendar year. Reports from institutions reporting on a fiscal year (FY) shall be submitted by February 1 for the preceding fiscal year (FY). An Accomplishments Report, CRIS Form AD-421, shall be submitted to NIFA for each completed or terminated project. Such reports shall be submitted at the same time as are progress reports on active projects and should include a brief summary of accomplishments for the entire life of the project. A CRIS Form AD-419, Funding and Staff Support Report, shall be submitted to NIFA annually for all projects. CRIS Form AD-419 reports are also required for expenditures on all State projects that are to be included in the non-Federal funds and matching funds computation. Reports shall be made on a fiscal year (FY) basis and are to be submitted by February 1. Section 202 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) amended the Smith-Lever Act and the Hatch Act to require approved plans of work for agricultural extension and research activities at 1862 Land-Grant Institutions in order to receive Federal funding. Therefore, each 1862 Land-Grant Institution must submit both a Five (5) Year Plan of Work Update (i.e., submitted each year as an update) and an Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results. Both reports were due by April 1. 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. Section 202 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) amended the Smith-Lever Act and the Hatch Act to require approved plans of work for agricultural extension and research activities at 1862 Land-Grant Institutions in order to receive Federal funding. Therefore, each 1862 Land-Grant Institution must submit both a Five (5) Year Plan of Work Update (i.e., submitted each year as an update) and an Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results. Both reports were due by April 1. Institutions are required to submit the SF-425, Federal Financial Report per Agency instructions. The office listed below provides agency oversight of these reports: Formula Grant Branch Awards Management Division Office of Grants and Financial Management (OGFM) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) STOP 2298 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-2298 Telephone: (202) 401-6520 Fax: (202) 690-3002 E-mail: formulagrantquestions@nifa.usda.gov. 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. Section 202 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) amended the Smith-Lever Act and the Hatch Act to require approved plans of work for agricultural extension and research activities at 1862 Land-Grant Institutions in order to receive Federal funding. Therefore, each 1862 Land-Grant Institution must submit both a Five (5) Year Plan of Work Update (i.e., submitted each year as an update) and an Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results. Both reports were due by April 1. 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. Audits will be conducted in accordance with guidelines established in the revised OMB Circular No. A-133 and implemented in 7 CFR 3052. 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: 12-1500-0-1-352. Obligations: (Formula Grants (Apportionments)) FY 11 $222,869,824; FY 12 est $222,570,462; and FY 13 est $221,780,357 - 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. Multi-state allocations represent 25% of all increases above the FY 1955 base year. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: If minimum or maximum amounts of funding are established, these will be announced in the Initial and/or Final Formula Grant Opportunity (FGO). See Appendix A of the Formula Grant Opportunity (FGO) for the specific allocation. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2011: A) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Regular Research): For the FY 2011 award cycle, $215,000,000 was appropriated for awards to the 51 1862 Land-grant universities and six land-grants in insular areas. There are 7649 active Hatch research projects currently reporting in the Current Research Information System (CRIS). Those projects are described as plans of work for a five-year period and roughly 20% of the total number of projects are new each year. Projects are reviewed internally at the host institution and again by national program staff at NIFA. Projects report progress in the CRIS system. Projects may span the spectrum of research affecting all aspects of agriculture, including soil and water conservation and use; plant and animal production, protection, and health; processing, distribution, safety, marketing, and utilization of food and agricultural products; forestry, including range management and range products; multiple use of forest rangelands, and urban forestry; aquaculture; home economics and family life; human nutrition; rural and community development; sustainable agriculture; molecular biology; and biotechnology. Research may be conducted on problems of local, State, regional, or national concern. (B) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Multistate Research Fund): The Hatch Act of 1887 provides Federal funding for agricultural research activities at the State Agricultural Experiment Stations in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Insular Areas. Not less than 25 percent of the total Hatch Act of 1887 funding is allotted to the States for cooperative research employing multidisciplinary approaches in which a State agricultural experiment station, working with another State agricultural experiment station, the Agricultural Research Service, or a college or university, cooperates to solve problems that concern more than one State. These funds are designated as the Multistate Research Fund, State Agricultural Experiment Stations. Funds are allocated on a prorata basis and allocations are adjusted to support national and regional projects. These projects and their associated budgets are reviewed and approved annually. A matching fund requirement exists for this Formula Grant Opportunity. For the FY 2011 Formula Grant Opportunity, $ 53,473,757 was available for project grant awards. NIFA received a total of 57 applications requesting a total of $53,473,757 in FY 2011. The funding ratio for this program in FY11 was 100%. Funded projects addressed multistate agricultural research projects. See Hatch Act research scope description in section 160. Fiscal Year 2012: (A) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Regular Research): For the FY 2011 award cycle, $239,334,000 was appropriated for awards to the 51 1862 Land-grant universities and six land-grants in insular areas. There are 7649 active Hatch research projects currently reporting in the Current Research Information System (CRIS). Those projects are described as plans of work for a five-year period and roughly 20% of the total number of projects are new each year. Projects are reviewed internally at the host institution and again by national program staff at NIFA. Projects report progress in the CRIS system. Projects may span the spectrum of research affecting all aspects of agriculture, including soil and water conservation and use; plant and animal production, protection, and health; processing, distribution, safety, marketing, and utilization of food and agricultural products; forestry, including range management and range products; multiple use of forest rangelands, and urban forestry; aquaculture; home economics and family life; human nutrition; rural and community development; sustainable agriculture; molecular biology; and biotechnology. Research may be conducted on problems of local, State, regional, or national concern. (B) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Multistate Research Fund): The Hatch Act of 1887 provides Federal funding for agricultural research activities at the State Agricultural Experiment Stations in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Insular Areas. Not less than 25 percent of the total Hatch Act of 1887 funding is allotted to the States for cooperative research employing multidisciplinary approaches in which a State agricultural experiment station, working with another State agricultural experiment station, the Agricultural Research Service, or a college or university, cooperates to solve problems that concern more than one State. These funds are designated as the Multistate Research Fund, State Agricultural Experiment Stations. Funds are allocated on a prorata basis and allocations are adjusted to support national and regional projects. These projects and their associated budgets are reviewed and approved annually. A matching fund requirement exists for this Formula Grant Opportunity. For the FY 2012 Formula Grant Opportunity, $53,416,756 was available for project grant awards. NIFA received a total of 57 applications requesting a total of $53,416,756 in FY 2011. The funding ratio for this program in FY12 was 100%. Funded projects addressed multistate agricultural research projects. See Hatch Specific details will be provided by Program Unit at a future date. (B) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Multistate Research Fund): The Hatch Act of 1887 provides Federal funding for agricultural research activities at the State Agricultural Experiment Stations in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Insular Areas. Not less than 25 percent of the total Hatch Act of 1887 funding is allotted to the States for cooperative research employing multidisciplinary approaches in which a State agricultural experiment station, working with another State agricultural experiment station, the Agricultural Research Service, or a college or university, cooperates to solve problems that concern more than one State. These funds are designated as the Multistate Research Fund, State Agricultural Experiment Stations. Funds are allocated on a prorata basis and allocations are adjusted to support national and regional projects. These projects and their associated budgets are reviewed and approved annually. A matching fund requirement exists for this Formula Grant Opportunity. For the FY 2013 Formula Grant Opportunity, NIFA expects a similar level of funding and similar number of Formula Grant Opportunity proposals. Funded projects should address multistate agricultural research projects. See Regional or Local Office: None. Headquarters Office: USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Food Production and http://www.nifa.usda.gov/ RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.200 Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants; 10.202 Cooperative Forestry Research; 10.205 Payments to 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Tuskegee University; 10.207 Animal Health and Disease Research; 10.219 Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research; 10.250 Agricultural and Rural Economic Research; 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service; 10.652 Forestry Research EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2011: (A) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Regular Research) Example 1. Enhancing dairy food safety by addressing bovine mastitis Objectives: 1) Characterize host mechanisms associated with mastitis susceptibility and resistance. 2) Characterize and manipulate virulence factors of mastitis pathogens for enhancing host defense. 3) Assess and apply new technologies to advance mastitis control, milk quality and dairy food safety to improve animal well-being. Staphylococus aureus is a major cause of hospital-borne infections, food poisoning, skin abscesses and clinical mastitis. Increased antibiotic resistance has driven interest in new mechanisms to contain the pathogen. Studies have generated an in-vitro model for the study of immune evasion by intracellular S. aureus and that the immune response of the cow is different if the pathogen is outside the cell as opposed to intracellular infection. A previously unidentified vulnerability for immunotherapy during S. aureus infections was identified. The researchers found that bacterial antigens in bovine dendritic cells regulates immune memory response and can improve protection by vaccines. NSAID treatment during clinical mastitis may help improve animal well-being through pain mitigation and this is not currently a widely adopted protocol. Example 2. Diversity of soilborne micro-organisms. Objectives: 1) Examine various biocontrol agents as seed treatments, in-furrow treatments or potting mix amendments. 2) Examine cultural practices effect on soilborne pathogens and plant growth. 3) Examine genetic diversity in Rhizoctonia solani in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Rhizoctonia solani is a common soilborne pathogen of seedling vegetables and other plant species. Biological control agents can be effective in suppressing R. solani, but the specific conditions for efficacy have been elusive. Annual plant losses, especially transplants, due to soilborne plant pathogens such as Rhizoctonia, can be as high as 10%. Rhizoctonia has a wide host range and can survive in soil for long periods on organic matter without crop plants, and plant genetic resistance is lacking. This project is part of a multistate Hatch project that led to an invited book chapter. Various cover crops residues incorporated into soil significantly impacted plant growth, Rhizoctonia disease rating of broccoli, and population R. solani in soil. Fallow soil with no crop residue had the lowest pathogen levels, followed by hairy vetch. Crimson clover was a better treatment than mustards which are often considered to be biofumigants. Example 3: Organic and conventional pest control in western orchards 1) Enhance pheromones for mating disruption of key pests. 2) Improve the efficacy of artificial chemical signals delivery systems for orchard pests. 3) Speed the adoption and integration of new pesticides into comprehensive insect management programs for conventional and organic systems. 4) Optimizing natural enemies in and near orchards. 5) Development new monitoring methods and predictive models to reduce pesticide inputs in orchard systems. 6) Coordinate efforts with colleagues in the eastern U.S. 7) Develop educational programs to increase adoption of research discoveries. Studies addressed Plum Curculio, Obliquebanded Leafroller, internal Lepidopterans, and Apple Maggot. Insect damage levels at harvest were up to similar in the treatment with mating disruption as opposed to the standard grower treatments, but less the cost of one fewer full block sprays for Plum Curculio management as a result of the "trap tree" method in the Advanced IPM blocks, saving a substantial cost for pesticide. Example 4: Food safety compliance for retail self-service food bars Training grocery store employees in hot/cold self-serve bars for food safety is extremely important since no training is currently available except SuperSafeMark and ServeSafe. These training standards do not address hot/cold self-serve bars. These bars are popular with consumers and the trend is growing. Online training will be developed for the need. Objectives: 1) Assess the current state of food safety compliance and practices in self-serve hot/cold bars in grocery stores. 2) Develop training modules to improve food handling behavior and conduct onsite training for retail food managers. 3) Re-assess compliance following training and revise the training modules based on the assessment. 4) Develop online educational training materials specific for hot/cold self-serve bars and make this training available for all grocery stores and develop information for consumers, in the form of signs and pamphlets, which describe best practices for reducing risks at self-serve bars in grocery stores Researchers conducted a third-party audit of the prepared foods area for cleanliness of the facility, equipment and food storage, incoming product handling, employees knowledge Managers had a median score of 83.4% pre-training and 93.8% post training. Employees had a median score of 70.6% pre-training and 76.3% post-training. Scores of 74% or lower are not high enough to pass the SaveMark certification. Several questions were screened out as low performing. Despite improved knowledge, behavior did not improve. Behavioral changes were more closely related to the manager's knowledge and behavior. It also suggests that even though the knowledge was not being transferred, the managers' behaviors were being imitated. (B) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Multistate Research Fund): 1) This project will integrate basic and applied strategies to develop and implement methods for control, elimination, and prevention of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRS) at the local, regional, and national level. Results on mechanisms of airborne transmission of respiratory pathogens, especially PRRS virus, resulted in a change in knowledge regarding methods and approaches for prevention of PRRS disease in susceptible pigs, and impact or probable impact of various meteorological variables on the likelihood of transmission. Because of the knowledge that was generated, end users, namely veterinarians and producers, have change behaviors and actions to implement new measures of biosecurity that include air filtration that are demonstrated to help prevent disease transmission. The demonstration that PRRS disease can be prevented without use of vaccines provides new hope to the swine industry for control of this dreaded disease. 2) This project characterized insect-soybean interactions and their impact on plant growth, grain quality, and yield. The project also developed and validated tactics for management of key soybean insects. The introduction of resistant varieties will reduce grower inputs by protecting yield and reducing outputs for insecticides. As a further result of reducing insecticide use, resistant varieties will lessen human exposure and non-target impacts, and eliminate or slow the formation of insecticide resistance. Management of soybean aphid through the use of aphid-resistant varieties may also manage plant viruses through changes in aphid behavior. Further, host plant resistance is highly compatible with biological, cultural and chemical control of pests, and as such is a key component of soybean integrated pest management (IPM) programs. 3) This project: develops and evaluates blight resistant chestnut trees for food and fiber through traditional and molecular techniques that incorporate knowledge of the chestnut genome; evaluates biological approaches for controlling chestnut blight from the ecological to the molecular level by utilizing knowledge of the fungal and hypovirus genomes to investigate the mechanisms that regulate virulence and hypovirulence in C. parasitica; and investigates chestnut reestablishment in orchard and forest settings with special consideration of the current and historical knowledge of the species and its interaction with other pests and pathogens. Expected program outcomes include new chestnut cultivars that may increase regional production and development of marketable chestnut products. 4) This project is to improve the sustainability of livestock and poultry production in the U.S. This project: develops preliminary models of each animal industry that describe its cumulative ecological risk, energy flows or ecological footprint as a dynamic, nonlinear function of the stocks, flows and transformations of matter and energy comprising confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) systems; continues the development and performance evaluation of process-level strategies and tactics to reduce environmental pollution at the process level from confined animal feeding operations. This work will include 1) management tools, strategies and systems for land application of animal manures and effluents that optimize efficient, environmentally friendly utilization of nutrients and are compatible with sustained land and water quality; 2) physical, chemical and biological treatment processes in engineered and natural systems for management of manures and other wastes; 3) methodology, technology, and management practices to reduce odors, gases, airborne microflora, particulate matter, and other airborne emissions from animal production systems; and 4) feeding systems for their potential to alter the excretion of environmentally-sensitive nutrients by livestock. 5) This project addresses the ecology and management of European Corn Borer and other lepidopteran pests of corn. The project investigates the relationship between transgenic maize and the agricultural environment; adapts integrated pest management (IPM) systems for the changing pest complexes in maize; and investigates ecology, evolution, genetics, and behavior of pest Lepidoptera. Fiscal Year 2012: (A) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Regular Research): Information is not yet available. The reporting period ends December 2012 reports are due within 90 days. (B) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Multistate Research Fund): 1) This project will: assess the extent and nature of injury caused brown marmorated stink bug; develop monitoring methods for brown marmorated stink bug; determine the potential for biological control of the brown marmorated stink bug; determine the toxicity and field efficacy of selected insecticides for brown marmorated stink bug control in field crops, fruit, nursery and vegetable; develop best management practices for the brown marmorated stink bug; and deliver research based IPM recommendations to growers. 2) This project deals with biological control of arthropod pests and weeds. The project addresses the general goals of improving biological control through: conservation of existing natural enemies; augmentation programs involving repeated rearing and release; introduction of new natural enemies against invasive pests (Classical Biological Control); and evaluation and education. 3) This project addresses animal genome research. The project works to create shared genomic tools and reagents and sequence information to enhance the understanding and discovery of genetic mechanisms affecting traits of interest; facilitate the development and sharing of animal populations and the collection and analysis of new, unique and interesting phenotypes; and develop, integrate and implement bioinformatics resources to support the discovery of genetic mechanisms that underlie traits of interest. The project investigates the ecology and management of European Corn Borer and other lepidopteran pests of corn; investigates the relationship between transgenic maize and the agricultural environment; adapts IPM systems for the changing pest complexes in maize; investigates ecology, evolution, genetics, and behavior of pest Lepidoptera; and employs electronic delivery methods to disseminate information related to sustainable management of Lepidopteran pests. 5) This project covers sustainable solutions to problems affecting bee health. The project is: developing and recommending to beekeepers "best practices" for varroa mite control based on currently available methods and strategies for mite management; evaluating the role and causative mechanisms of parasitic mites and pathogens such as viruses, protozoa and bacteria in honey bee colony deaths; determining the effects of pesticides and other environmental chemicals on honey bee colony health; determining how environmental factors, including nutrition and management practices affect honey bee colony health; determining the effects of interactions among various factors affecting honey bee colony health; coordinating research and extension efforts related to bee colony health; facilitating, through research and extension activities, the development of industry-based honey bee stock selection, maintenance and production programs that demonstrably incorporate traits that confer resistance to pests, parasites and pathogens; and focusing on non-Apis bees, their conservation, pathology, susceptibility to pesticides, and their contribution to crop pollination including economic value. Fiscal Year 2013: (A) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Regular Research) Specific details will be provided by Program Unit at a future date. (B) The Hatch Act of 1887 (Multistate Research Fund): 1) This project will research flies impacting livestock, poultry, and food safety. The research will: characterize dispersal and population biology of stable flies and house flies, and develop monitoring methods for use in indoor and outdoor environments; establish extent of fly-borne dispersal of human and animal pathogens; and improve management tactics for stable flies and house flies. 2) This project addresses the adaptation, quality, and management of sustainable cellulosic biofuel. The research will: compare cropping systems such as annual, perennial, cool-season, and warm-season cellulosic crops and combinations with oil seed crops for biofuel potential in representative environments of the western region; measure biomass feedstock production, energy conservation, and economics with various management treatments at diverse locations in the region; determine production and economic sustainability and carbon sequestration of dedicated biofuel feedstocks; develop regional based bioenergy and transitional grants to expand resources; and explore regional private-public partnerships with the emerging biorefinery industry. 3) This project focuses on integrated management of Russian wheat aphid and other cereal arthropod pests. The project will: develop integrated management strategies for cereal aphid and other arthropod pests in small grains to improve economic viability of small-grain cropping systems while maintaining environmental quality and facilitate research into improved integrated pest management approaches at the field and landscape level to manage cereal arthropod pests. 4) This project researches reproductive performance in domestic ruminants. The project will discover and translate molecular, metabolic, genomic, endocrine, and immunologic mechanisms that influence testicular and ovarian function, reproductive behavior, conception rate, embryo and fetal development, attainment of puberty, and effects of climate/season on reproductive patterns of domestic ruminants. 5) This project addresses the assessment of the carbon sequestration potential of common agricultural systems on benchmark soils. The project will: evaluate the effects of land use, crop rotation, tillage practice, soil texture, and ecosystem age/rotation duration on soil carbon concentration, content, and sequestration and related soil physical and chemical properties; quantify and understand the physical and chemical processes that relate to and control soil carbon sequestration; and investigate spatial variability issues associated with soil carbon content and sequestration. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Within guidelines established for the program as described in the Formula 10.205 PAYMENTS TO 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES AND TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY Evans-Allen Research and/or Agricultural Research at 1890 Land-Grant National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Section 1445 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching OBJECTIVES: To support continuing agricultural research at colleges eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 417-419), as amended; 7 U.S.C. 321-326 and 328), including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University. Its purpose is to promote efficient production, marketing, distribution and utilization of products of the farm as essential to the health and welfare of people and to promote a sounds prosperous agriculture and rural life. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: FORMULA GRANTS USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: |