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    Agronomic and Forage Crops ProgramSharePrint Friendly Email Twitter Facebook
    
    Agronomic and Forage Crops ProgramField and forage crops are grown on most of the more than 200 million acres of harvested cropland in the United States. These crops provide the food, feed, fuel, and fiber for domestic consumption, and they are a major component of the U.S. export market.

  Uses of agronomic and forage crops for industrial purposes are substantial and increasing. Competition from world markets has kept the price of farm commodities low, while the cost of production continues to increase. To stay competitive, farmers must maintain a balance between yield and input costs, as well as monitor environmental impacts. These challenges are likely to intensify. Therefore, the need for NIFA support for agronomic research, extension, and education is greater now than ever before.Crop Selection, Development, and ManagementThe success of agronomic crop production in various locations in the United States depends on the availability of plant varieties and hybrids specifically adapted to local production conditions. These cultivars provide resistance to major pests and diseases, produce acceptable yield and quality, and have agronomic characteristics that are compatible with existing production systems. Management of these crops across diverse environments to improve sustainability is also critical. Crop selection, development, and management represent a major use of NIFA federal Hatch and multi-state formula grants at land grant university agricultural experiment stations. Most agricultural experiment stations have active breeding and management programs focused on the more important crops grown in their state. Research activities in this area span a wide range, including:Development of new cultivars adapted to local conditions, a changing climate, and with superior resistance to known or emerging biotic and abiotic stressesEvaluation of practices and management methods to improve economic, environmental, and social sustainability in agricultureNew planting, cultivating, harvesting, and processing technologies for use in crop and forage production systemsIdentification of genes of agronomic importanceDevelopment of value-added productsNew methods to estimate forage yield and quality to support marketing and reduce producer risksImproved water and nutrient use efficiency traits for crop varieties that result in decreased irrigation and fertilizer demand while maintaining yield and qualityMultiple production components managed to improve profitability, productivity, and resource stewardshipFunded ProjectsAlfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage System Program (ASAFS)Canola Research (HW)Foundational Knowledge of Plant Products (A1103)Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (113.A)Organic Transitions (112.E)Physiology of Agricultural Plants (A1152)Plant Breeding for Agricultural Production (A1141)Potato Research (AN)Program Specific ResourcesAgriculture and Food Research Initiative ProgramsAlfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage System ProgramPotato ResearchOrganic ProgramsSupplemental and Alternative CropsSustainable Agriculture ProgramNewsRevealing the Diversity of Genes Behind Better Alfalfa HayU.S. Canola Research Aims to Increase ProductionDevelopment of New Potato VarietiesTaking Tillage out of Organic Grain Crop ProductionHigh-Speed Precision Seeding TechnologiesHighlightsCanola ResearchGrassland 2.0Cattle Grazing and Soybean YieldsGround Pressure Resulting from Equipment in Alfalfa FieldsExternal ResourcesAmerican Society of AgronomyInternational Plant Nutrition InstituteNorth American Alfalfa Improvement ConferenceNortheastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station DirectorsSociety for Range ManagementSustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)Weed Science Society of AmericaWestern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station DirectorsNational Commodity Associations and CouncilsAmerican Forage and Grassland CouncilAmerican Peanut CouncilAmerican Pulse AssociationAmerican Soybean AssociationAmerican Sugarbeet AssociationNational Association of Wheat GrowersNational Barley Growers AssociationNational Corn Growers AssociationNational Cotton CouncilNational Grain and Feed AssociationNational Hemp AssociationNational Sorghum ProducersNational Sunflower AssociationThe Potato Association of AmericaU.S. Canola AssociationUS Dry Bean CouncilUS Rice Producers AssociationUSA Rice

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    Vance Owens

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