BIOAg projects for 2012

The most important function of CSANR is to catalyze and incentivize new scientific activity in support of improving the sustainability of farm and food systems. In recent years, the most crucial tool we have had to do this is the BIOAg Grants Program (Biologically Intensive and Organic Agriculture). Over the past decade, CSANR has provided more than 100 seed and project grants to scientists conducting research or education to benefit agricultural sustainability. Our grants database catalogs funded projects with summaries and project reports. To date, our investments have leveraged more than a dozen fold return on investment in extramural funding to develop solutions to problems facing Washington agriculture.

The 2012 BIOAg solicitation is complete and 13 new BIOAg Projects were funded. As with past rounds, the creative and innovative project ideas that were funded represent a breadth of issues, production systems, and disciplines.  Follow the links below to read project summaries.

BIOAg Project Grants

Kevin Murphy	Developing   adapted varieties and optimal management practices for quinoa in diverse   environments across Washington State
Doug Young	Evaluating yields   and profitability of small-scale organic and biointensive vegetable   production in Washington
Bill Snyder	Effects of   Nematode Genetic Diversity on Management of Potato Pests
Shyam Sablani & Karen Killinger	Sustainable   Sanitation Technique for Postharvest Quality and Safety of Organic Fruits
Carol Miles	Evaluating Apple   Varieties for Hard Cider Production
Scot Hulbert	Development of   winter pea lines for intercropping purposes
Craig Cogger, et.al.	Choosing and   managing cover crops to improve weed management in reduced tillage organic   vegetable production
Stewart Higgins & Claudio Stockle	The effect of   tillage on oxidation of soil organic carbon in organically-managed soil
Sanja Roje & Lynne Carpenter-Boggs	Lentil Selection   and Management to Reduce Dietary Intake of Arsenic
Doug Call	Harnessing   microcins for control of scours in neonatal calves
Ian Burke	Interrow cultivation and intercropping for organic transition in   dryland crop production systems
Mike Brady & Troy Peters	The potential for   data-based irrigation management adoption to improve the sustainability of   water and nitrogen resources.
Don Llewellyn	Developing   research and production information to evaluate camelina and canola in a   sustainable cropping, bio-fuel processing and livestock feeding system

In addition to the Project Grants, 3 Planning Grants and 4 Extension Grants have also been funded to date.

Planning Grants

Manuel Garcia-Perez	Use of   Oxidized biochar to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and attenuate transport   of E coli in soils
Chris Benedict	Developing   Improved Management Practices to Overcome Soil Health Issues in Red   Raspberries
Carol Miles & Drew Betz	Increasing   local dry bean production and markets through on-farm variety trials and   nutrition education

Extension Grants

David Granatstein & Andy McGuire	Combined   Soil Quality Workshops for Irrigated Ag
Debra Hansen	Assessing   Production Issues for Direct Marketing of Beef in Northeast Washington
Carol Miles	Workshops:   Tomato Grafting Techniques for Soil-Borne Disease Resistance
Karen Killinger	Enhancing   Grower Knowledge and Implementation of On-Farm Food Safety Practices

2012 Planning Grant and Extension Grant proposals are still being accepted until funds are exhausted. The next Request for Proposals for 2013 BIOAg Projects is expected to be released in early fall of 2012.