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Missouri Fertilizer and Ag Lime Law
Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station (MOAES)


2012-2013 Request for Research Proposals (RFP)
2010, 2011, 2012 Progress Reports

Objectives of RFP

This RFP is a call for proposals aimed at providing information to improve the precision, accuracy and economics of fertilizer and agricultural lime use in Missouri. Collaborative proposals that will lead to improvements in the University of Missouri's fertilizer and lime recommendations are especially encouraged. Proposals should be carried out within Missouri to provide maximum benefit to fine tuning soil test recommendation. Laboratory testing facilities located within the state should be utilized whenever available to evaluate sampled materials. Proposals should explain how projected outcomes will contribute to environmental quality and economic benefit to producers. The deadline for receipt of proposals is December 10, 2012, for progress reports is December 17, 2012, with grants starting February 28, 2013. The date of the Advisory Board meeting will be January 31, 2013.

Funded proposals and progress reports are currently displayed at http://aes.missouri.edu/pfcs/research.

The Missouri Fertilizer Law and Ag Liming Materials Law and Rules were revised in 1999 to provide for an annual permit fee to sell commercial fertilizer and ag liming materials in Missouri. Permit fees collected in excess of the administrative costs of distributor registration were defined and designated in the rules to fund fertilizer and ag liming materials research related proposals. This is the thirteenth RFP. This year it is anticipated funding will be available of up to $143,000.00 for new proposals.

Eligibility

University of Missouri, CAFNR faculty, Lincoln University extension and University of Missouri extension personnel are eligible to submit proposals. No investigator may be PI on more than two submitted proposals per year.

Duration

Grants will be awarded for up to three years, with the possibility for further multi-year extensions. Funding for subsequent years on multi-year projects will be contingent on having an approved progress report and funding being available.

Proposal Format

Proposals must follow the format shown below:

  1. Title
  2. Investigator(s)
  3. Objectives, including relevance of project to Missouri fertilizer/lime use
  4. Procedures
  5. Current status/importance of research area
  6. Expected economic impact of the project
  7. Timetable for proposed research
  8. Strategy for application/transfer of knowledge
  9. Proposed budget by years and by category: salaries/operating/equipment/other

Proposals are limited to three pages in 12 pt. font, exclusive of budget and 2-3 page resumes of each investigator attached to each proposal. Please make submission as both a PDF file and a word processor document.

Progress Report Format

State accomplishments for first year
State objectives for year two
Provide proposed budget for year two

Failure to submit progress reports in a timely manner will negatively impact future proposal reviews and requested funding.

Proposal Review Process

Proposals and progress reports will be reviewed for technical soundness by an ad hoc committee appointed by the Director of the MOAES. External reviewers will be included to evaluate scientific merit. The review process evaluation criteria will be as follows:

  • 20% Technical Soundness
  • 20% Scientific Merit
  • 20% Relevance to Missouri Agriculture (note topics of interest below)
  • 20% Economic Impact of Expected Result
  • 20% Capabilities of Investigator and Collaborators

Proposals and technical reviews will be forwarded to the Fertilizer and Lime Advisory Council, which will review proposals for relevance to Missouri agriculture, and make funding recommendations. A 15 minute presentation by the PI for each proposed new project will be made to the Fertilizer and Ag Lime Advisory Council. Proposals and recommendations of Fertilizer and Ag Lime Advisory Council will then be sent to the Director of the MOAES for funding approval. PI's who have concluded funded projects should prepare final reports for distribution to the Fertilizer/Ag Lime Advisory Council and inclusion in the Missouri Soil Fertility Research Update Bulletin.

Stakeholder Topics of Interest

  1. New Topics:
    1. Effects of starter (pop-up fertilizer) on corn, cotton and soybean, varying products and placement studying yield increases and quality.
    2. Long term study on Variable Rate Technology on corn and cotton.
    3. Work on the various micronutrient packages that are being offered from companies such as: Stoller, Helena, United Suppliers, Rosens, AgXplore and Mosaic.

    Then the old topics still worth consideration.

    Application and Use of Ag Lime and Fertilizer
    Cost benefit of Ag Lime vs. pelletized Lime

    1. Nitrogen timing for fescue seed production
    2. Fall forage fertilization
    3. Sulfur supplying capability of low organic matter soils (<1%) on high yielding corn varieties.
    4. Creating various blended liming materials from manufactured by-products.
    5. Evaluation of coarser materials ag liming materials for soil pH neutralization

    Nitrogen Management
    New Forms of N (is a pound of N a pound of N, verification of claims?)

    1. Use of CAFO & Biosolids as Fertilizer (Economic analysis of long term manure use compared to synthetic fertilizer on cropping systems, Sanborn Field data analyzed)
    2. Application methods: side dress, variable rate, etc.
    3. Rates and crop utilization of new hybrids
    4. Replacements for ammonium nitrate in pasture utilization
    5. Comparison trials of N-enhancement products i.e. Agrotain, Nutrisphere, polymers, etc.

    Mechanical Research/Improvement of Blending Capabilities
    Bulk capabilities vs. bagged capabilities?

    1. Spreading / application technologies
    2. Evaluation of quality differences in fertilizer materials and the impact of the differences on crop production due to spreading variability.
    3. Better methods for producing ag liming materials

    P & K Fertilizers
    Development

    1. Assessments
    2. Cost benefits

    Cutting Edge Technologies
    Fertilization assessments

    1. Crop assessments
    2. Cost benefits

Distribution of RFP

University of Missouri CAFNR faculty list serve
CAFNR Associate Deans, Division Directors
Lincoln University Extension
Regional Extension Directors
Regional Specialists
Superintendents of Farms and Centers
MOAES website: http://aes.missouri.edu/pfcs/research

Submission

Proposals are due by 5:00 PM, Monday, December 10, 2012, Progress Reports are due by December 17, 2012 and are to be sent to Marc Linit, MOAES, 2-44 Agriculture Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211. They may be submitted electronically to linitm@missouri.edu.

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