The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced $11 million in available funding through the Minor Crop Pest Management Program (also known as Interregional Research Project or IR-4).
"The IR-4 funding allows NIFA to aid and ensure that new, robust crop protection products are created," said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. "These investments will lead to improved practices and profits for specialty crop producers."
The IR-4 program supports the creation of safe, effective, and economical pest management solutions for specialty crops and minor agricultural uses on other crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops (including floriculture).
The deadline for applications is May 1, 2017.
See the request for applications for details.
Past projects include a University of Wisconsin project to combat the soybean cyst nematode, one of the most damaging soybean crop pests in the United States. A Rutgers University project supports the first ornamental research center in the Northeastern United States.
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NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education, and extension and promotes transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges. NIFA's integrated research, education and extension programs support the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel whose work results in user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries that combat childhood obesity, improve and sustain rural economic growth, address water availability issues, increase food production, find new sources of energy, mitigate climate variability, and ensure food safety. To learn more about NIFA's impact on agricultural science, visit http://www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts, sign up for email updates or follow us on Twitter @USDA_NIFA, #NIFAimpacts.
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