Northeast Pasture Research and Extension Consortium Meeting March 21-22,
Morgantown, West Virginia

National Research Initiative
Competitive Program

•Animal Production

•Plant Physiology

•Ecosystem Management

•Farm Prosperity

Animal Production
Animal Growth & Nutrient Utilization Program (42.0)

"Determine the environmental impacts and profitability of alternative supplemental feeding strategies for animals on high-protein pastures"

ΨAnimal studies, either applied or basic, focusing on forage utilization by ruminants fall under the program priority area:

–“mechanisms controlling nutrient intake, digestion, absorption and availability to improve nutrient utilization and minimize excretion of endogenous nutrients as waste products”

Active NRI Awards Related to Forage Utilization - Animal Growth & Nutrient Utilization Program

1.         Effects of maternal undernutrition and high selenium during gestation on growth and vascularization of key nutrient transferring tissues.  2005.  J. Caton,  North Dakota State University

2.         Tethering for detailed study of grazing ruminants.  2004.  A.L. Goetsch, Langston University

3.         Incorporation of ruminal protein degradability into prediction models of endogenous nitrogen recycling in the forage-fed ruminant.  2003.  P.A. Ludden, University of Wyoming

•Impact of multiple dietary factors and interactions on the mass, composition, and ammonia emissions of manure from dairy cows.  2005.  W.P. Weiss, Ohio State University Effects of maternal undernutrition and high selenium during gestation on growth and vascularization of key nutrient transferring tissues.  2005.  J. Caton,  North Dakota State University

Plant Physiology
Study of Vernalization Genes May Lead to Better Timing of Flowering for Temperate Forage Grasses

•Research by Dr. Jorge Dubcovsky, University of California, Davis shows that Vrn1 and Vrn2 genes in wheat and barley control vernalization, the exposure to cold required for flowering

•In the Science 303:1640 (2004) article, Dr. Dubcovsky’s lab showed that loss of VRN2 function produces spring wheat varieties that flower without vernalization

Ecosystem Management

•Ecological Processes

–Cropping/Pasture        

–Forest

–Rangeland/Prairie

–Wetlands

 

Andrew Sharpley, USDA-ARS-PSWMRU
Phosphorus Feeding Programs for Dairy Cows: Impacts on Manure Composition, Phosphorus Runoff and Farm Sustainability

 

 

 

Agricultural Prosperity for Small and Mid-Sized Farms (66.0)

•Originates from 2002 Farm Bill on issues related to:

–Farm income;

–Rural economic and business and community development policy

–Environmental quality

 

•Goal is to foster interdisciplinary studies and improve our understanding of the interactions between the economic, social, biological and environmental components important to small farms and rural economic development.

 

 

 

FY 2004-2005 Funded Projects

 

Cornell - Mapping Local Food Systems Potential in New York State:  Spatial Modeling of an Emerging Opportunity for Small Farmers and Local Consumers

•          Develop a model for holistic understanding of regional food production potential relative to regional food needs in NY State.  Identify niche for small farms.  Uses GIS for mapping biophysical suitability and economic use-value of land.

 

Penn State, U Maine, Maryland-ES, Massachusetts, Cornell -

Enhancing the Prosperity of Small Farms and Rural Agricultural Communities:  The Role of Industry Clusters

•          Multistate, multidisciplinary effort.  Study the role of clusters around commodities.  Clusters in the interplay between farm level economic, biological, environmental and social factors.

 

 

 

Other CSREES Competitive Programs

•Integrated Organic Programs (ICGP)

•Small Business Integrated Research Programs (SBIR)

•Sustainable Agriculture, Research, and Education Program (SARE)

 

 

Legislative Authorizations

•Organic Transitions Program – Section 406 of  AREERA (ORG)

–Both Senate and House versions of 2004 appropriations have funding at $2.1 million

•Organic Research and Extension Initiative – mandatory program included in 2002 Farm Bill (ORIE)

–Funded at $3 million for 5 years

–No language in either appropriations bill that would preclude spending

 

 

OREI Program Priorities

•Facilitate the development of organic agriculture production, breeding, and processing methods.

•Evaluate the potential economic benefits to producers and processors who use organic methods.

•Explore international trade opportunities for organically grown and processed organic commodities.

Funded Project: The Transitioning Dairy: Identifying and Addressing Challenges and Opportunities in Milk Quality and Safety, 2004, Garrison-Tikofskey, Cornell University.

 

 

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PROGRAM 

·         Research for the development of a profit-making technology, product or service

·         Two Phase Program - feasibility and development

·         $80,000   /   $ 300,000

·         Small Businesses of 500 employees or less

·         Government-wide

·         2.5% setaside of USDA extramural funding          for research

·         $14.5 M available in FY 2003

 

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PROGRAM 

·         Forests and Related Resources

·         Plant Production and Protection

·         Animal Production and Protection

·         Air, Water and Soils

·         Food Science and Nutrition

·         Rural and Community Development

·         Aquaculture

·         Industrial Applications

·         Marketing and Trade

·         Wildlife

 

 

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE)

Funded Project: Improving Farm Profits by Developing a Niche Market for Green-Certified Senior Calf Beef,2000, Gillies, Cacapon Institute

 

 

NRI Competitive Programs Funding Sources

Program                                    NPL                  Contact

Animal Genomics          Peter Burfening              202-401-5823

Animal Growth/Nutrient Use Mark Mirando           202-401-4336

Animal Protection          Peter Johnson               202-401-1896

                                                Peter Brayton                202-401-5044

Animal Reproduction      Mark Mirando                202-401-4336

Development Processes

of Crop Plants                Liang-Shiou Lin              202-401-5042

Food Quality                  Hongda Chen                 202-401-6497

Human Nutrition Etta Saltos                    202-401-4178

Invasive Species            Michael Bowers             202-401-4510

Managed Ecosystem     Diana Jerkins                 202-401-6996

Small/Mid-size Farm

     Prosperity                Siva Sureshwaran          202-720-7536

                                                Diana Jerkins                 202-401-6996

 

 

 

 

           

 

Organic Competitive Programs Funding Sources

Program

ME

 

ORG/ORIE

 

SBIR

 

 

SARE

 

 

NPL                

Diana Jerkins               (202)401-6996

Tom Bewick

                        (202)401-3356

Charles Cleland

                        (202)401-4002

Jill Auburn      

                        (202)720-5384

 

Input Opportunities

•Serve as AD HOC Reviewer of Applications for Competitive Program Awards

•Serve as Panel Member for Competitive Programs

•Participate in USDA “ Listening Sessions” to Develop Competitive Programs, Advise Research Directions, and Devise Requests for Application

•Attend Grantsmanship workshops

 

 

*