Extension Opportunities in NIFA's AFRI Program

Rick Koelsch, Nebraska Extension, February 18, 2015

The 2015 Agricultural Food Research Initiative (AFRI) requests for proposals are beginning to be released.  Many of these RFA's include  Extension opportunities generally as a part of an Integrated Project.  A summary of early opportunities follows.

The AFRI "Food Security" RFA is available with the first deadlines coming on April 2. NIFA is soliciting applications under the following areas: (1) Agricultural Production Systems (2) Breeding and Genomics of Crops and Livestock (3) National Strategy for Sustainable Crop and Livestock Production in the United States.  The Agricultural Production Systems program will fund only Integrated projects (which can include Extension) in three broad areas of Crop Management, Animal Management, and Integrated Management.  This program funds Coordinated Agricultural Projects for up to $1 Million per year for up to 4 years. Stakeholder engagement, needs assessment, strategies to achieve and measure impacts, and knowledge dissemination and accessibility are specifically mentioned as project requirements. Other program areas are identified as Research/Education and Research focused programs.

The Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Science Education and Literacy Initiative was release before Christmas with deadlines already past.  However, a quick review of this program's RFA may give you ideas about opportunities for next year's program.  The goals of this RFA are to 1) promote research and extension experiential learning form undergraduates entering the agricultural workforce and 2) preparing the next generation of scientists for doctoral and post-doctoral experiences.  The Undergraduate Fellowship program targets both research and extension experiential learning opportunities.  West Central Research and Extension Center faculty have submitted a letter of intent for competing in this fellowship opportunity and may be a future resource from which we can learn.  The predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships are designed to encourage new professionals to enter research, education , and extension fields. Could these programs provide a unique opportunity to engage students in Extension programs such as participatory research (e.g. On-Farm Research or Soybean Field Days)?

Additional RFA's are anticipated for AFRI's Foundational program, Climate Change/Variability, Food Safety, Childhood Obesity, Water for Agriculture, and Sustainable BioEnergy. You can stay abreast of AFRI RFA releases at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/afri.html

2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Call for Proposals

by Rick Koelsch, UNL Extension, January 15, 2015


USDA NIFA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program awards grants to organizations implementing programs to train beginning farmers and ranchers, including workshops, educational teams, training, and technical assistance.  The 2015 request for proposals (RFA) is now available with proposal applications due on March 13, 2015.  

Here are a few Q&A's for your information...

Where do I find additional information about the program?    If you want a short overview of the program, review the USDA news release.  The 2015 Requests for Application is your bible for a successful application and should be the starting point for anyone contemplating an application.  A webinar is planned for Wednesday, February 11 from 2 to 4 pm Eastern Time.  But don't wait until the webinar to begin assembling your team and proposal.  A more detailed set of documents and resources are found on NIFA web page. 

What has this program supported in the past?   From 2009-2012, 145 awards were made for more than $71 million through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. Additional information about USDA support for new farmers and ranchers is available at www.usda.gov/newfarmers. Specific information about outcome and examples of successful projects from 2010 funded projects and 2011 funded projects area available. Abstracts of all funded projects are also available.

Who is eligible to participate? The proposal is available to a broad range of public and private entities, including Extension. Partnerships are highly valued.  Extension should consider partnerships with Federal, State or tribal agencies; a community-based and nongovernmental organization; college or university (including an institution awarding an associate’s degree) or foundation maintained by a college or university.  Because 10% of the funding is targeted towards projects that reach military veterans as well as social disadvantaged audiences, partnerships that lead to reaching these audiences will have an advantage.

What types of projects will be funded?  The RFA introduces two general categories for grants: 1) Standard projects and 2) Educational Enhancement Projects.  The long-term goals of the Standard BFRDP projects are to enhance the sustainability of beginning farmers and ranchers through education, training, mentoring and outreach programs that enhance self-employment in farming, ranching and forestry opportunities.  The long-term goals of the Educational Enhancement Team (EET) projects are to identify gaps in beginning farmer and rancher training by evaluating all existing programs, and to develop and conduct train-the-trainer projects to address these gaps.

Nebraska Corn Board Call for Proposals

Rick Koelsch, Nebraska Extension

Nebraska Corn Board is now accepting proposals through January 30, 2015 for 2015 projects. Although listed as a "research" program, the projects funded by the Corn Board include Extension and applied research programs targeting crop production, environmental management, youth development and nutrition/health issues.

The 2015 Request for Proposals states that the research priorities are:

• Increase the demand and usage of corn and /or corn products;
• Research into the various aspects of life cycle analysis that affect corn and or corn ethanol, keeping in mind a systems approach,
• Examples (but not limited to) such as nitrous oxide emissions, irrigation efficiency and fuel use, model elasticity variables;
• Research that optimizes the environmental stewardship practices of present and future corn production systems,
• Livestock production systems vs. crop production systems;
• Research of federal policy that effect corn, livestock, trade and/or ethanol.

One need expressed by members of the Corn Board suggests projects that place the results of funded projects in the hands of Nebraska producers would be valued.  Proposals that build upon current research projects or partner with new proposals to expand the reach of the research presents an opportunity for Extension professionals to consider for submitting a proposal. Below is a listing of currently funded that may serve as a possible starting point for a future partnership or as an idea of the types of projects the Corn Board is funding:

Benchmarking productivity and efficiencies of irrigation water and nitrogen in corn-based cropping systems is led by Patricio Grassini.   The objective  is to analyze NRD producer-reported data to provide proof-of-concept for measuring irrigated corn systems efficiencies.

Corn-derived Resistant Starches to Improve Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome is led by Amanda Ramer-Tait & Jens Walter. Resistant starches (RS) derived from corn offer tremendous potential to support the health of our population, including improved insulin sensitivity, reduced weight gain, etc. Our research will provide important knowledge of how a corn-based ingredient can improve health.

Decide NOW is a project led by Robert Tigner, Jessica Johnson and Cory Walters to increase implementation of marketing strategies. Decide NOW will allow producers to step away from the classroom with the tools needed to implement and modify grain marketing plans. The main component of Decide NOW will be customizable electronic post‐harvest marketing plan with a built in reminder system.

Determining the Feeding Value of Distillers Grains in Cattle Diets (Matt Luebbe, Jim MacDonald, and Galen Erickson).  The majority of ethanol plants in Nebraska started removing a portion of the corn oil from the thin stillage stream resulting in a lower fat distillers grains (DGS) byproduct. With the support of the Corn Board, this project will evaluate deoiled distillers after they became available to producers.

Foliar Analysis in Nutrient Management for High Yield Corn is led by Charles Shapiro and our Extension soils specialists.  Corn has a high rate of nutrient uptake during the V4 to VT stage and demand may exceed the supply. Our hypothesis is that nutrient responsive fields or areas in fields can be identified and remediated through a combination of soil and plant analysis.

Innovative Youth Corn Challenge by Brandy VanDeWalle, Aaron Nygren & Amy Timmerman
The Annual Innovative Youth Corn Challenge will continue for 4-H and FFA members working in teams. Youth are challenged to produce the most economical, highest yielding corn in comparison to their typical production system. 

Managing Corn Stover Removal with Cover Crops to Optimize the Environmental Stewardship Practices of Corn Production (Humberto Blanco).  Harvesting or grazing corn stover addresses a major forage supply need in Nebraska but creates the potential for soil erosion and degradation of soil productivity. Cover crops may reduce adverse effects. This onfarm and research plot project is assessing the interactive effects of corn stover removal and cover crops on soil characteristics, erosion, and crop yields.

Nebraska On-Farm Research Network (Keith Glewen & Gary Zoubek).  Corn growers typically ask the question “does this new production practice or a specific input work to improve the corn yield on my farm and does it provide an economic payback”? On-farm research can help a grower answer those important questions.

Promoting Adoption of In-Season Canopy Sensor-Based Nitrogen Fertilization of Corn Through the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network (Richard Ferguson, Joe Luck & Keith Glewen).  The project will promote the adoption of in-season nitrogen fertilization for corn for increasing N use efficiency and reducing environmental impact on groundwater quality. It will also  increase grower’s familiarity with the use of crop canopy sensors to generate an economic optimum in-season nitrogen rate.

Sustainable Corn and Soybean Production (Roger Elmore & Humberto Blanco).  We propose exploring sustainable corn-soybean production systems that incorporate cover crops. Our objectives are to determine the feasibility of utilizing cover crops, in corn and soybean cropping systems. The field activities will be conducted in research plots at four Nebraska sites – both irrigated and rainfed.

National Water Quality Program RFA

Rick Koelsch, UNL Extension, May 15, 2014 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has released a request for proposals for the National Water Quality Program (NIWQP). The goal of NIWQP is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of surface water and groundwater resources through research, education, and extension activities. The 2014 RFA targets two types of projects. Farm, Landscape, and Watershed scale projects Projects that develop the science behind the most appropriate drought triggers and provide an understanding of the connection between trigger levels and drought management responses or decisions.  Projects that provide estimates of the economic value of water across different uses.  Economic valuation depends not only on quantity but other competing demands such as quality, location, reliability of access, and time of availability.  Applicants should identify how values of water affect water use decision-making and what are the implications for water availability from those decisions.  Projects should focus on biophysical, social, economic, and behavioral practices needed to improve both the adoption and maintenance of practices intended to improve water availability for agriculture. Total project budgets  may not exceed $660,000 for up to three year and total available funding is $3,250,000. Synthesis Project   Applications are being solicited for a project that will synthesize the scientific understanding and accomplishments made through NIFA’s portfolio of funded water projects over the last one and a half decades. The proposal should propose possible strategies moving forward for a program that is effective in solving water issues, including identification of key priority water topics for NIFA. Total project budgets  must not exceed $750,000 for up to three year and total available funding is $750,000. Additional Facts: Solicitation Date (Opening) May 2, 2014 Due Date (Closing) July 3, 2014 Estimated Total Program Funding $4,000,000.00 Percent of Applications Funded Last Fiscal Year 20% Cost Sharing Requirements If commodity-specific benefits, dollar-for-dollar match required. See RFA for details. For More Information Contact James P Dobrowolski

Additional Information can be found at: Request for Application (RFA) NIWQP Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ s

Call for Proposals - Extension Response to Disasters

Rick Koelsch, UNL Extension, May 8 2014

USDA NIFA has released a call for proposals targeting Extension planning for and response to weather and disaster related events through a Smith-Lever Special Needs Program. Projects can range from $30,000 to $120,000.  Fifty-seven percent of 2013 applications were funded (an unusually HIGH success rate).

Once a disaster has occurred, the local extension outreach includes: 1) Communicating practical science-based risk information, 2) Developing relevant educational experiences and programs, 3) Working with individuals and communities to open new communication channels, and 4) Mitigating losses and facilitating recovery. NIFA will fund Special Needs projects to implement applied scientific programs that serve public needs in preparation for, during and after local or regional emergency situations. Fundable projects should support extension activities through at least one (1) of the following strategies:

1.      Enhance regional/national networks that add value to official information by delivering it:

• In an audience and situation appropriate format
• In a timely fashion and
• Coupled with appropriate and existing research based information.

2.      Provide regional/national education and communications leadership to develop or add value to current educational materials regarding disaster issues, utilizing the proper distribution mix of the EDEN website, eXtension, related social media, and/or other outlets.  This strategy could include materials targeted to underserved or non-traditional audiences (such as people who speak English as a second language, low literacy individuals, and/or international opportunities).  Any international aspects of the proposal must support EDEN or domestic work. 

3.      Improve regional/national stakeholder partnerships (which might include the public, governments at all levels, non-profit and/or volunteer organizations, academia, and/or industry) across traditional boundaries to decrease the impact of disasters through extension education.

4.      Deliver extension education to affected citizens and communities, in one or more states, to decrease the impact of a major declared disaster that occurred no more than 12 months prior to the application due date of this RFA.

Request for Application (RFA) | Apply: Electronic | Abstracts of Funded Projects

Solicitation Date (Opening) May 2, 2014 Letter of Intent Due Date None Due Date (Closing) June 2, 2014 Estimated Total Program Funding $462,000.00 Range of Awards $30,000.00 to $120,000.00 Percent of Applications Funded Last Fiscal Year 57% Cost Sharing Requirements Dollar for dollar match required. See RFA for details. For More Information Contact Beverly Samuel Funding Opportunity Number USDA-NIFA-SLBCD-004528 CFDA Number 10.500 Contact for Electronic Access Problems webcomments@nifa.usda.gov

Reference:  USDA NIFA web page, http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/smithleverspecialneeds.cfm