2014 Research and Education and Graduate Student competitive grant programs

SARE_NorthCentral_CMYKNCR-SARE is pleased to announce the projects recommended for funding for the 2014 Research and Education and Graduate Student competitive grant programs. More than 25 projects were awarded a total of more than $1.7 million through these two NCR-SARE grant programs, which offer competitive grants for researchers, graduate students, organizations, and others who are exploring sustainable agriculture in America’s Midwest.

For the 2014 Research and Education program, NCR-SARE awarded more than $1.6 million to nine projects ranging from $103,675 to $199,866. The Research and Education Program is a competitive grant program for researchers and educators involved in projects that explore and promote environmentally sound, profitable, and socially responsible food and/or fiber systems.

  • Dave Carter at the National Bison Association was awarded $103,675 for the project, “The Bison Advantage Outreach and Education Program.”
  • Julie Dawson at the University of Wisconsin – Madison was awarded $199,866 for the project, “Tomato Variety Trials for Flavor, Quality and Agronomic Performance, to Increase High-value Direct Marketing Opportunities for Farmers and On-farm Trialing Capacity.”
  • Ruth Genger at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was awarded $199,106 for the project, “Building Resilience and Flexibility into Midwest Organic Potato Production:  Participatory Breeding and Seed Potato Production.”
  • Kevin Gibson at Purdue University was awarded $194,732 for the project, “Evaluating the Impact of Biochar on Soil Fertility and Crop Productivity through Farmer Participatory Research and a Student Internship Program.”
  • Julie Grossman at the University of Minnesota was awarded $114,497 for the project, “Bringing the Benefits of Legume Cover Cropping to Northern Midwest Climates.”
  • Jan Joannides at Renewing the Countryside II was awarded $199,634 for the project, “Reweaving the Economic Fabric to Support Sustainable Farms and Ag-based Businesses.”
  • Douglas Landis at Michigan State University was awarded $199,887 for the project, “Insectary Plants to Enhance Beneficial Insects: Expanding the Palette to Increase Options for Sustainable Crop Production in the NC Region.”
  • Ajay Nair at Iowa State University was awarded $198,353 for the project, “Cover Crops and Strip Tillage to Promote Soil Quality, Environmental Sustainability, Food Safety, and Profitability in Cucurbit Cropping Systems.”
  • Tumen Wuliji at Lincoln University was awarded $199,000 for the project, “Detection and Prevention of Footrot Outbreak in Sheep and Goats.”

For the 2014 Graduate Student program, NCR-SARE awarded more than $150,000 to 16 projects ranging from $6,382 to $10,000.  The Graduate Student Program is a competitive grant program to fund graduate student projects that address sustainable agriculture issues.

  • Elizabeth Byrd at Purdue University, along with Nicole Olynk Widmar was awarded $9,538.00 for the project, “Economic Based Decision Support for Sustainable Horse Drawn Farming Enterprises.”
  • Kimberly Cash at Lincoln University, along with James Caldwell was awarded $9,995.00 for the project, “The Use of Grape Products as a Natural Anthelmintic in Goats.”
  • Kurt Chowanski at South Dakota State University, along with Roger Gates was awarded $9,978.00 for the project, “Developing Guidelines for Sustainable Livestock Grazing in South Dakota Ponderosa Pine Forests: Balancing Economically Important Ecosystem Goods with Ecological Integrity.”
  • Jennifer Frederick at Kansas State University, along with Bhadriraju Subramanyam was awarded $10,000.00 for the project, “The Influence of Elevated Temperatures on a Residual Insecticide and Inert Dust to Disinfest Empty Bins Prior to On-farm Grain Storage.”
  • Peyton Ginakes at the University of Minnesota, along with Julie Grossman was awarded $9,995.00 for the project, “Improving Soil Health and Microbial Activity through Zone Tillage and Innovative Cover Cropping Strategies.”
  • Sean Griffin at Rutgers University, along with Rachael Winfree was awarded $9,869.00 for the project, “Maximizing Pollination of Commodity Canola Crops for Higher Yield in North Dakota.”
  • Dana Jokela at Iowa State University, along with Ajay Nair was awarded $9,946.00 for the project, “No-till and Strip-till Systems for Enhanced Soil Health and Profitability in Organic Broccoli and Pepper Production.”
  • Devin Mangus at Kansas State University, along with Ajay Sharda was awarded $10,000.00 for the project, “Developing a Thermal Imaging System for On-demand Corn Temperature Profiles for Variable Rate Irrigation.”
  • Eric Obeng at Kansas State University, along with Augustine Obour was awarded $10,000.00 for the project, “Evaluating Camelina Sativa as a Fallow Replacement Crop in Wheat Production Systems.”
  • Brendan O’Neill at Michigan State University, along with G. Philip Robertson was awarded $6,853.00 for the project, “Linking Soil Testing with Farmer Decision Making – An Interdisciplinary Approach.”
  • William Osterholz at Iowa State University, along with Matt Liebman was awarded $9,144.00 for the project, “Diversification of Corn-Soybean Rotations with Cereal Rye/Red Clover: Impacts on Nitrogen Availability in Corn.”
  • Nicole Quinn at Michigan State University, along with Zsofia Szendrei was awarded $9,989.00 for the project, “Integrating Flowering Windbreaks for Insect Management in Cucumbers..”a
  • Maggi Sliwinski at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, along with Mark Burbach was awarded $9,996.00 for the project, “Collaborative Conservation in the Great Plains: Opportunities and Barriers for Cross-Property Private-lands Management.”
  • Christine Sprunger at Michigan State University/Kellogg Biological Station, along with G. Philip Robertson was awarded $6,382.00 for the project, “Biodiversity Effects on Soil carbon Gain in Annual vs. Perennial Cropping Systems.”
  • Melanie Stock at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Department of Soil Science, along with Francisco Arriaga was awarded $9,992.00 for the project, “Linking Nutrient Transport to Soil Physical Processes During Freeze/Thaw Events to Promote Wintertime Manure Management, Nutrient Use Efficiency, and Surface Water Quality.”
  • Ross Wagstaff at the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign, along with Sam Wortman was awarded $9,994.00 for the project, “Farming in the City: How Does the Altered Urban Environment Influence Cropping System Productivity, Ecology, and Profitability?”

NCR-SARE administers these grant programs, and each has specific priorities, audiences, and timelines. The focus for the NCR-SARE grant programs is on research and education. Funding considerations are made based on the relevance and potential of the project to increase the sustainability of agriculture in the region, as well as how well the applicant articulates the research and education components of their sustainable agriculture grant proposals. For more information about these and other funded projects, go here.

NCR-SARE’s Administrative Council (AC) members decide which projects will receive SARE funds. The AC includes a diverse mix of agricultural stakeholders in the region. Council members hail from regional farms and ranches, the Cooperative Extension Service, universities, and nonprofit organizations. In addition, regional representatives of the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and NCR agribusinesses, state agencies, and foundations sit at the table to distribute grant money.


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