NCSRP Research Priorities

The NCSRP Board funds research projects that address the program’s mission of maximizing producer returns by coordinating research efforts, minimizing regional duplication and assuring regional projects are targeted at soybean production problems of the North Central producer.

The Board's current priorities are:

• Disease research

– Limit yield loss from all economically important diseases
– Develop repeatable high throughput screening techniques

• Reduce yield loss from insects & nematodes
• Producer education
• Facilitation & coordination of research

All pre-proposals must be for coordinated, multi-state research. Priority will be given to university research programs within the twelve North Central states.

Priority will also be given to pre-proposals that demonstrate:

• Evidence of a plan to assess the project’s impact with measurable project outcomes
• Academic excellence and originality of the proposed research strategy
• An interdisciplinary team-focused approach
• That infrastructure and equipment is available for carrying out the project
• A reasonable and cost-efficient budget
• Success from previously checkoff-funded grants
  

NCSRP Policies

It is the policy of the North Central Soybean Research Program to not pay student tuition or institutional overhead. Institutional overhead includes, but is not limited to, rent of office or laboratory space, utilities, telephone, cellular telephone, and Internet expenses.

The North Central Soybean Research Program discourages the use of checkoff funds for the purchase of equipment as part of any research project. The purchase of equipment critical to the success of a project must be submitted as a separate proposal.

Subcontracts – The NCSRP Board requests a detailed budget for each subcontract to ensure that research conducted at all participating universities is performed in accordance with the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act and the Soybean Promotion and Research Order, 7 CFR Part 1220.

Availability of Funds
The North Central Soybean Research Program cannot grant funds for the conduct of research for more than one funding year. Budgets of projects that span more than one funding year must be approved separately.

Technical Review of Proposals
The North Central Soybean Research Program reserves the right to have each proposal peer-reviewed for technical and scientific merit. The Board reserves the right to use all or part of this information during the selection process.

Questions?
Questions concerning the Request for Preproposals or the Research Proposal Application and Summary Budget Form may be addressed to Dr. David L. Wright by calling (800) 383-1423 or by emailing dwright@iasoybeans.com.


Instructions for sending pre-proposals

Applicants desiring feedback may submit an optional DRAFT pre-proposal. The DRAFT pre-proposal should not exceed one page in length, and it should be an informal abstract of your project. Provide a brief description that highlights the innovative nature of the project, how it applies to the goals of the North Central Soybean Research Program and approximate overall cost. Submission and review of a DRAFT pre-proposal does not guarantee the final proposal will be selected for funding.

Send one electronic copy in Microsoft Word or Adobe format to David L. Wright at dwright@iasoybeans.com and Sue Heath at sheath@iasoybeans.com . Proposals can be submitted for research lasting up to three years. However, funding is approved annually based upon progress of the research and availability of funds.

Send 30 copies, 3-hole punched to:
Sue Heath
North Central Soybean Research Program
1255 SW Prairie Trail Parkway
Ankeny, Iowa 50023

Funds granted through this program are checkoff funds contributed to Qualified State Soybean Boards pursuant to the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, 7 U.S.C. 6304 (1) (4). Work performed under this Agreement will be performed in accordance with the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act and the Soybean Promotion and Research Order, 7 CFR Part 1220.

NCSRP Research Investments 2009