Funding-USDA Makes $1.85 Million Available to Improve Alfalfa and Forage Crop Research, Best Practices; April 13, 2016
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Media Contact: Amanda Hils,
(202) 720-3359 View this release online. USDA Makes $1.85 Million Available to Improve Alfalfa and Forage Crop
Research, Best Practices WASHIGNTON, Feb. 12, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today
announced the availability of $1.85 million in funding for the Alfalfa Forage
and Research Program (AFRP). This program, administered through USDA’s
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) funds research and
extension programs that improve alfalfa forage and seed yield and trains
producers to apply best practices. “Research into critical agricultural science areas like this reach their full potential when coupled with extension
activities. Applicants for these grants should keep in mind the importance of
reaching out to producers and farmers to share information and apply research
findings,” said NIFA Director Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy. “Integrating these two
important functions is how agricultural solutions move from the lab to the
farm and vice versa.” Alfalfa and other forage crops are essential to sustainable agricultural
systems and are economic engines for rural communities. These crops are
valued for their soil conservation, nitrogen fixation, energy savings, crop
rotation and wildlife habitat attributes.. However,
to provide these societal benefits, the production of forage crops must be
profitable to farmers so they will be willing to maintain or expand base
acreage. The Alfalfa
and Forage Research Program (AFRP) supports integrated,
collaborative research and technology transfer to improve the efficiency and
sustainability of conventional and organic forage production systems. The
program encourages projects that establish multi-disciplinary networks to
address priority national or regional science needs of the alfalfa industry.
By bringing together expertise from multiple organizations and states, these
projects will have greater impact and enhance the effectiveness of limited
state, federal and industry resources. The goals of AFRP are to improve alfalfa forage yield and seed yield
through better nutrient, water, and/or pest management; improve persistence
of alfalfa stance by lessening biotic or abiotic stresses; improve alfalfa
forage and seed harvesting and storage systems to optimize economic returns; improve
estimate of alfalfa forage quality as an animal feed to increase forage usage
in animal feeds; and use breeding to address biotic and abiotic stresses that
impact alfalfa forage yield and persistence and the production of seed for
propagation. Applications are due April 13. Please see the request
for applications for specific program requirements. Past projects include University of California research into ensuring the
sustainability of Western U.S. alfalfa production by characterizing deficient
irrigation strategies, developing the capability for Subsurface Drip
Irrigation (SDI), and evaluating current and developing future alfalfa
varieties and germplasm which are compatible with drought and SDI. A recent
project from Mississippi State University will build on recent successes in
promoting alfalfa use on farms, as well as evaluating microbial technologies
that can improve alfalfa-grass baleage that will
benefit farmers producing this forage. Since 2009, NIFA has invested in and advanced innovative and
transformative initiatives to solve societal challenges and ensure the
long-term viability of agriculture. NIFA’s integrated research, education,
and extension programs, supporting the best and brightest scientists and
extension personnel, have resulted in user-inspired, groundbreaking
discoveries that are combating childhood obesity, improving and sustaining
rural economic growth, addressing water availability issues, increasing food
production, finding new sources of energy, mitigating climate variability,
and ensuring food safety. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on
agricultural science, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts,
sign up for email
updates, or follow us on Twitter @usda_NIFA, #NIFAimpacts. # USDA is an equal opportunity
provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA,
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC
20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339
(TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish
Federal-relay).
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