Disease Research – The NCSRP Board is seeking preproposals focused on reducing soybean yield loss from all economically important soybean diseases of the twelve North Central states. Preproposals for new research should address critical needs of soybean producers, must compliment ongoing research conducted through NCSRP’s Managed Research Teams, and support the goals of the Board’s Plant Health Initiative. Interested researchers view a list of research projects currently funded by the Board and the goals of the Plant Health Initiative at the PHI website (www.planthealth.info).

The Board is also seeking preproposals to elucidate the impact of swine manure from large-scale, confined, feeding operations on soil borne pathogens, including the soybean cyst nematode. The Board is interested in funding a short-term endeavor including laboratory and/or micro plot research that continues this novel research previously conducted in Ontario, Canada.

Soybean Insects and Nematodes – The Board seeks preproposals to minimize yield loss from soybean cyst nematode, soybean aphid, bean leaf beetle, and other economically important pests of soybean. These multi-state research projects should address interactions with diseases and other stresses, economic thresholds, population dynamics and/or biocontrol of the pest.

Production Research – The Board seeks preproposals on short-term research to develop novel ways to manage soybean to minimize the effects of drought stress in the North Central region. Research objectives must compliment ongoing research funded by the United Soybean Board.

The Board is also seeking preproposals to help the Board understand the feasibility of developing hybrid soybean. Preproposals will only be accepted from research programs that have already achieved significant advancements in the area of hybridization of soybean. The preproposal should include proof of heterosis.

An important funding criterion of preproposals for new research will be a clear description of anticipated deliverables that can be developed during the two- to three-year project. Shorter-term projects with focused objectives and clearly defined deliverables will ranked higher than longer-term research projects. The ability to leverage NCSRP funding with other sources of funding will be an important component of all successful preproposals.

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.

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.

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. The funding year for this competitive grants program begins March 1 and ends February 28 of the following year.

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.