Russell L. Rustici Rangeland and Cattle Research Endowment funding is available to University of California personnel to support problem-solving research that will benefit California range cattle producers. The goal of this program is to promote collaboration and strengthen the network among research faculty, Cooperative Extension specialists, county-based Cooperative Extension advisors and range cattle producers, and to ultimately provide practical answers to critical issues and challenges facing the industry.

It is anticipated that three or four research proposals will be awarded with a total annual budget typically not exceeding $60,000 per year. Matching funds from other sources that provide leverage will be favorably considered. Funding will also be available to support outreach and extending knowledge activities with budgets not to exceed $10,000 per project.

Research grants run from Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2020 or 2021 (not to exceed two years).

Requests for outreach/extending knowledge activities are accepted year-round (not to exceed two years).

Research priorities are refined in regular consultation with representatives from the range cattle industry. Specific issues identified in a recent review are listed below. While the overall interest in the broader existing priority areas remains, cross-cutting proposals which target the specific needs below are also encouraged.

Research priorities for 2019 call (not in order of priority):

• Improving cattle health, genetics, productivity, and quality
• Managing rangelands for multiple ecosystem services
• Enhancing the productivity and profitability of rangeland cattle operations

Research proposals are due Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, to rusticiresearch@ucdavis.edu. For more information, visit http://rangelands.ucdavis.edu/rustici/research-endowment or email rusticiresearch@ucdavis.edu 

Hopland REC encompasses more than 5,300 acres of oak woodland, grasslands, and chaparral rangeland in southeastern Mendocino County. The facility provides research opportunities in animal science, range management, wildlife ecology, plant ecology, entomology and epidemiology, pest management, viticulture and natural resources management. Some unique features of interest include the capacity to study paired watershed affects, grazed and non-grazed vernal pools, diversity of species, including the discovery of a new species of wildflower and more.

New projects using the center's facilities and lands are encouraged and there may be opportunities to utilize existing research designs for new research questions. Please refer to our website for a complete description of Hopland REC resources: http://ucanr.org/sites/hopland.   Examples of Hopland REC's resources include an array of habitat types, almost 700 species of vascular plants including 11 species of oaks, a resident sheep flock and an array of mammal species including black-tailed deer, wild feral pigs and coyotes. Facilities include 12 acres of irrigated pasture and vineyard, all-season road access, lab space, high speed internet, a nationally acclaimed lysimeter, basic wet and dry lab facilities (currently being renovated), capacity to perform necropsies on site and a dormitory that can accommodate over 20 students. For even more detailed descriptions of the natural resources and related features of interest, please look at our interactive storybook at HREC Story map

The center provides outstanding staff with a diversity of skills to provide local labor, equipment, research facilities, and technical and management support to UC academics and to personnel from cooperating non-UC organizations. Hopland REC expects to award hours of center-provided labor at minimal cost to support approved projects during this coming program year. 

The Hopland Research and Extension Center assesses an annual research project fee and a per hour labor rate for staff assistance on all active projects. Both rates are subsidized for UC affiliates. Non-UC affiliates are charged the full costed rate.

To submit a proposal, please submit forms electronically, via the “Universal Review System” in the UC ANR Portal.  For immediate consideration by the Research Advisory Committee, please submit proposals by April 27, 2018.

To submit your proposal, go to the HREC website http://hrec.ucanr.edu. On the left-hand side under the RESEARCH tab, you will see the tab “Submit a proposal.” You will be asked for your ANR Portal Login. Once you are logged in, you will see a list of proposals for which you are either the PI or Co-PI. Only submit the proposals for which you are the PI, unless the PI has asked you to submit the proposal as a Co-PI.

If you have any questions or need help, please contact Megan Osbourn, HREC business officer at (530) 639-8800, Kimberly Rodrigues, HREC center director at (707) 744-1424 x 115, or John Bailey, HREC superintendent at (707) 744-1424 x 112.

Russell L. Rustici Rangeland and Cattle Research Endowment funding is available to University of California personnel to support problem-solving research that will benefit California range cattle producers. The goal of this program is to promote collaboration and strengthen the network among research faculty, Cooperative Extension specialists, county-based Cooperative Extension advisors and range cattle producers, and to ultimately provide practical answers to critical issues and challenges facing the industry.

It is anticipated that three or four research proposals will be awarded with a total annual budget typically not exceeding $60,000 per year. Matching funds from other sources that provide leverage will be favorably considered. Funding will also be available to support outreach and extending knowledge activities with budgets not to exceed $10,000 per project.

Funding opportunities:

• Collaborative research (annual call for proposals on priority research issues)
• Collaborative workshops, conferences, symposia (requests accepted year-round)

Time period:

• Research grants: January 1, 2018-December 31, xxxx (not to exceed two years)
• Outreach / extending knowledge activities: request accepted year-round (not to exceed two years)

Research priorities for 2018 call (not in order of priority):

• Managing Rangelands for Multiple Ecosystem Services
• Enhancing the Productivity and Profitability of Rangeland Cattle Operations
• Improving Cattle Health, Genetics, Productivity, and Quality 

The research priorities for this call were developed and refined in consultation with UC and representatives from the range cattle industry. Priorities will be reviewed and established on a regular basis to ensure that the most critical issues facing the industry continue to be addressed.

Proposals are due Oct. 20, 2017. For more information, visit  http://rangelands.ucdavis.edu/rustici-page-rfp.

The Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center (KARE) is requesting proposals for new research and demonstration projects for the period Nov. 1, 2017, through Oct. 31, 2018. Research rate for new projects will be approximately $30 per hour.

Located near Fresno in the San Joaquin Valley, Kearney has 330 acres suitable for many types of tree, vine, and row crops and environmental research.

Kearney has the most extensive specialized agricultural research facilities of any off-campus location within UC: modern greenhouse, postharvest facilities, sample handling (including cold storage and drying), sensory evaluation and associated research laboratory facilities. This year, a soil weighing lysimeter is available for plant water-use studies.

Substantial open ground, plantings of grapes, stone fruit, kiwi and alfalfa are becoming available.

Proposal forms are to be submitted electronically via the “Universal Review System” accessed through your UC ANR Portal by Oct. 2, 2017. Forms are located at http://recs.ucanr.edu/For_Researchers/Research_Proposal_Application_and_Forms.

To submit the required forms, follow these simple steps:

1. Log into your portal at https://my.ucanr.edu.
2. Click on “Login to Universal Review System”.
3. Under “Open Systems” select “Kearney REC CALL FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS 2017-2018”.
4. Fill out the “New Proposal” form, then submit it using the “Create Proposal” button at the bottom of the page.

If you have questions about field research management, contact Dale Pattigan at (559) 646-6022 or dpattigan@ucanr.edu. For questions about the facilities, contact Laura Van der Staay at (559) 646-6030 or ljvanderstaay@ucanr.edu.

Other questions may be directed to Jeff Dahlberg, KARE director, at (559) 646-6060 or jadahlberg@ucanr.edu. For assistance with submitting your proposal, contact Janie Duran at njduran@ucanr.edu or (559) 646-6010.

To learn more about Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, visit http://www.kare.ucanr.edu/