Dear Colleagues,

The Research Committees of the California Pear Advisory Board and Pear Pest Management Research Fund are accepting 2021 applications.

Those interested in applying must submit a standard UC Project Plan/Research Grant Proposal form (attached, or similar form), signed by the appropriate Department Chair or ANR supervisor(s). 

Please mail completed applications to Bob McClain at 1521"I" Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 and Rachel Elkins, UC Cooperative Extension, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, CA95453. Applicants should also submit a copy of the proposal (no signatures necessary) via email to both bob@calpear.com and rbelkins@ucanr.edu and copy Shauna LaBrash, slabrash@ucanr.edu. For the email submission, please include “2021 pear research proposal” in the subject line. UC ANR Advisors must upload their proposals onto the ANR Grant Tracking System for approval; add Rachel Elkins to the list of reviewers.

For questions, please contact Rachel Elkins at rbelkins@ucanr.edu.

Applications are due by December 4, 2020.

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)

Dear Colleagues,

The California Prune Board (CPB) requests new and renewal research applications with a deadline of December 3, 2020.

For ongoing renewal projects, in addition to a roughly 20-25 minute report focused on 2020 results, please prepare a short (5-10 minute) presentation on future plans to follow the report on previous research.  For new proposals, principal investigators should contact Luke Milliron [lkmilliron@ucanr.edu; (530) 828-9666] to arrange a time on the Work Group meeting agenda for a short (5-10 minute) presentation describing their planned work. 

For this application cycle, applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that specify intent to seek co-funding (e.g. Agricultural Research Institute, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, California Specialty Crop Block Grant, other commodity or research boards, et al) and will receive additional consideration by the Board.

Proposals should be prepared on the new Project Proposal form (2018 0410 Grant template attached). It is my understanding that the proposal portion of this form is confined to Attachment 1 (page 11 of the form) and rest of the form will be completed if the proposal is funded by CPB. UC ANR academics are invited to use the online Grant Tracking system (https://ucanr.org/gts/) to streamline the movement of the proposal within UC ANR.  Instructions regarding additional information you must add to your proposal are attached along with a copy of the latest CPB Research Goals. Please also send the original proposal to Franz Niederholzer, 142A Garden Hwy, Yuba City, CA 95991.

For questions, please contact Franz Niederholzer at fjniederholzer@ucanr.edu.

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)

Dear Colleagues,

The University of California, Russell L. Rustici Rangeland and Cattle Research Endowment has announced the 2021 Request for Proposals with a deadline of December 1, 2020.

The program supports University of California personnel in conducting problem-solving research that will benefit California range cattle producers and provide practical answers to critical issues and challenges facing the industry. One goal is to promote collaboration and strengthen the network among research faculty, Cooperative Extension specialists and advisors, and range cattle producers.

Funding opportunities are available for collaborative research, workshops, conferences, and symposia. Three to four research proposals will be awarded with annual budgets not exceeding $60,000 per year.

For additional information, please review the application requirements at the following link: http://rangelands.ucdavis.edu/rustici/research-endowment/

You may also contact the program with questions by emailing rusticiresearch@ucdavis.edu.

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)

Dear Colleagues,

USDA NIFA is accepting applications to the Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities AgrAbility Program due January 13, 2021.

The AgrAbility program works to increase the likelihood that farmers, farm workers and farm family members with disabilities, including veterans with disabilities, and their families who engage in farming, farm-related occupations, or are pursuing new farming opportunities, will experience success in agricultural production.

The FY21 RFA is soliciting applications for new SRAPs and a new National AgrAbility Project. NIFA anticipates that approximately $540,000 will be available for support of new State and Regional AgrAbility Projects (SRAPs) and approximately $531,000 will be available for support of a new National AgrAbility Project (NAP). The remainder of funds will be used to support 17 previously awarded SRAP awards eligible for continuation.

Applicants may propose projects with budgets not to exceed $180,000 per year for a maximum project duration of four years. The project period should begin approximately July 30, 2021.

For additional information and application requirements, please review the FY21 RFA: https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/rfa/FY-2021-AgrAbility-Mod-RFA-508.pdf

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)