Northern New York Agricultural Development Program Co-Chairs Jon Greenwood, Joe Giroux, and Jon Rulfs have issued the NNYADP call to researchers, Extension educators and agribusiness professionals for 2015-2016 research proposals.
The NNYADP Farmer Committee is pleased to invite integrated research/extension proposals in areas it has identified as being of the high priority for 2015-2016 for the North Country’s agricultural production sector. Project ideas were solicited from researchers, CCE educators, and agricultural stakeholders. A list of the project ideas in each of several interest areas is included with this Request for Proposals (RFP).
Please share this call for proposals with colleagues who may have interest in agricultural research projects in the six-county NNY region: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.
Here is some brief background and guidance for preparing a proposal:
- The purpose of the NNYADP small grants program is to support projects that focus on the needs and/or conditions (i.e., market opportunities, climate, soil, etc.) that are important and sometimes unique to NNY. To the extent possible, it is expected that research will be conducted on sites in the six-county region, however with justification, laboratory work at Ithaca and work at other locations can be funded.
- The NNYADP is a farmer-driven program. Review panels: dairy and field crops, livestock, horticultural crops, and maple and forestry products assist the 32-member NNYADP Steering Committee. The review panels review and rank proposals in their areas and make recommendations for funding to the NNYADP Steering Committee. The membership of the NNYADP Steering Committee and the review panels is limited to producers. More than 75 farmers participate.
- Funding for the NNYADP is supported by the New York State Senate and administered through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
- Work will be done under a contract with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, based on a scope of work that includes proposals submitted in response to this RFP and approved for funding by the NNYADP Steering Committee.
- Funding in the amount of $600,000 is available from the current year’s state budget.This request for proposals is for projects to be conducted between January 1 and December 31, 2016. Reports will be due February 1, 2017. The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets has indicated that they can write a contract for this year’s NNYADP allocation that will allow any remaining balance at the end of the State’s fiscal year (31 March 2016) to be spent in the subsequent fiscal year.
- NNYADP awards have ranged from $8,000 to $58,000 with most in the $10,000-$30,000 range.
- Projects should address one of the priorities identified on the attached list. Projects outside these areas may not be considered.
- Each project MUST contain both research and extension/outreach components. Joint projects among CALS researchers, CCE educators, and other private/public sector collaborators in the region are strongly encouraged.
- Preference is given to projects that include one or more research sites in both the ENNY region: Essex, Clinton, and/or Franklin counties) and the WNNY region: Jefferson, Lewis and/or St. Lawrence counties. Research sites can include the Cornell Baker Research Farm in Willsboro, the W.H. Miner Institute, the CCE St. Lawrence Extension Learning Farm, as well as other research stations/farms in NNY. In addition, sites on operating farms are strongly encouraged wherever possible for research and/or demonstration. With strong justification, project sites may be limited to either ENNY or WNNY.
- The outreach component MUST be designed to reach producers in all six NNY counties.
- Extensive budget detail is not required, but a breakdown in broad categories must be provided. See Request for Proposals (RFP) template for accepted budget categories.
- For projects that include collaboration with CCE, budgets should clearly reflect funds to cover expenses incurred by CCE Associations as a result of their participation in the research and/or extension component of the project. Commitments from CCE Associations and agreement on funding to support their educators’ work must be obtained prior to submission of the proposal.
- Requests for funds associated with personnel will need clear and compelling justification.