Research Rates

The Intermountain Research & Extension Center (Intermountain REC) is soliciting proposals for new research and extension projects for the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. Intermountain REC will continue to accept off-cycle proposals throughout the 2022-2023 year as long as resources are available to meet the needs of the project.

Four miles from the Oregon border, in Tulelake, California, the Intermountain REC sits on 140 acres of rich, reclaimed lake-bottom soil with >5% organic matter content. The Tulebasin mucky silty clay loam soil is well suited for growing potatoes, onions, cereal grains, alfalfa, peppermint and forage grasses, all of which you will find growing on the Center. Intermountain REC supports and facilitates University of California research in field and vegetable crops grown in northeast California, and supports conservation of natural resources in the Klamath Basin.

Our weather is classified as being in the high mountain interior valley climate zone. The annual summer maximum mean is 73 degrees F, and the winter minimum mean is 29.1 degrees F. The area is characterized by a short growing season with warm days and cool nights. Frost is possible any day of the season.

The annual mean precipitation is 12.88" per year, making summer irrigation a necessity for crop production.

Facilities at Intermountain REC include a 700-square-foot greenhouse and headhouse area, potato-storage research facility, an electronic potato grading line, a peppermint oil mini still, seed cleaning and handling room, covered equipment storage, mechanic's shop, pesticide storage and wet & dry labs.

Center researchers have access to field equipment including small tractors, row-crop implements, a research cereal combine and grain drill, and equipment needed to plant and harvest multiple vegetable crops.

Custom-made research chemigation and irrigation equipment, small-plot pesticide application equipment, and commercial farm implements are also available.  For forage research, a small-plot forage harvester and forage drying facility are available.

Projects led by UC academics receive funding directly from UC ANR and Intermountain REC to reduce the actual cost of research and extension at the Center. Proposals from non-UC organizations will be considered, if resources (space and labor) are available, but the full cost rate is charged plus an indirect cost % (NUD).

Research Full Cost Recharge Rates for Intermountain REC for the 2022-23 year have been approved; Intermountain REC is able to offer funding to UC Researchers, Non-UC research is charged full cost plus a Non-University fee of 33.7% of the full cost rate.

PER ACRE:

                    FULL COST PER ACRE = $10,242.07

                    UC-LED RESEARCH COST PER ACRE = $3,653.13

IRRIGATION WATER PER ACRE INCH:

                      FULL COST PER ACRE INCH = $66.15

PER LABOR HOUR:

                      FULL COST PER HOUR = $58.68

                      UC-LED RESEARCH COST PER LABOR HOUR = $32.11

Proposals may be submitted into the REC Manage System via the Intermountain REC Website (http://irec.ucanr.edu/Research/Submitting_a_Proposal/).

The Center's Research Advisory Committee will evaluate the proposed research and extension for scientific merit, regional appropriateness and  ability of Intermountain REC to provide the requested service. Researchers will receive by email a letter of acceptance if the project is approved for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Projects not approved will receive a detailed explanation of the reason for denial from the Center Director.

For questions about the research proposal process/research opportunities at Intermountain REC: Rob Wilson, Center Director rgwilson@ucanr.edu or Darrin Culp, Center Superintendent daculp@ucanr.edu