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The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorates for Engineering (ENG) and Geosciences (GEO), the Divisions of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) and Environmental Biology (DEB), in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), the Division of Computer and Network Systems in the Directorate Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE/CNS), and the Division of Chemistry (CHE) in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) encourage convergent research that transforms existing capabilities in understanding dynamic soil processes, including soil formation, through advances in sensor systems and modeling. The Signals in the Soil (SitS) program fosters collaboration among the two partner agencies and the researchers they support by combining resources and funding for the most innovative and high-impact projects that address their respective missions. To make transformative advances in our understanding of soils, multiple disciplines must converge to produce environmentally-benign novel sensing systems with multiple modalities that can adapt to different environments and collect and transmit data for a wide range of biological, chemical, and physical parameters. Effective integration of sensor data will be key for achieving a better understanding of signaling interactions among plants, animals, microbes, the soil matrix, and aqueous and gaseous components. New sensor networks have the potential to inform models in novel ways, to radically change how data is obtained from various natural and managed (both urban and rural) ecosystems, and to better inform the communities that directly rely on soils for sustenance and livelihood.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorates for Engineering (ENG) and Geosciences (GEO), the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO/IOS), and the Division of Computer and Network Systems in the Directorate Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE/CNS), in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) of United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) encourage convergent research that transforms existing capabilities in understanding dynamic, near-surface soil processes through advances in sensor systems and modeling. To accomplish this research, multiple disciplines must converge to produce novel sensors and/or sensing systems of multiple modalities that are adaptable to different environments and collect data and report on a wide range of chemical, biological and physical parameters. This type of approach will also be necessary to develop next generation soil models, wireless communication and cyber systems capabilities, and to grow a scientific community that is able to address complex problems through education and outreach. This program fosters collaboration among the partner agencies and the researchers they support by combining resources and funding for the most innovative and high-impact projects that address their respective missions.

The purpose of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program is to encourage research and outreach designed to increase knowledge concerning agricultural production systems that: (1) maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil; (2) conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources, and fish and wildlife habitat; (3) maintain and enhance the quality of surface and ground water; (4) protect the health and safety of persons involved in the food and farm system; (5) promote the well-being of animals; and (6) increase employment opportunities in agriculture (7 U.S.C. 5801 and 5811).

To determine the cover crop yields, nutrient concentrations, and C/N ratio Utilize the nutrients measured in the previous year cover crop, and apply ½ of this credit (N &K) to the following cash crop. Evaluate Nitrogen response by having 0, 25, 50, & 100 lbs. of N per acre in cotton To evaluate the effects of different cover crops and fertilizer N on succeeding cotton and peanut crop growth, dry matter production, yield, and crop nutrition. To quantify the effects of cover crops on infiltration soil moisture and plant available soil nitrogen at 0-6" and 6-12" depths. Evaluate the economic returns of cover crop farming systems versus no cover crop farming systems. Provide valuable information to encourage producers to adopt cover crop conservation systems

The purpose of the SARE program is to encourage research and outreach designed to increase knowledge concerning agricultural production systems that: (1) maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil; (2) conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources, and fish and wildlife habitat; (3) maintain and enhance the quality of surface and ground water; (4) protect the health and safety of persons involved in the food and farm system; (5) promote the well-being of animals; and (6) increase employment opportunities in agriculture (7 U.S.C. 5801 and 5811).

We invite entrepreneurs, researchers, and advocates to submit their business, research, or policy proposals for funding consideration. Submissions will be reviewed by experts who will provide issuespecific insights and vet applications for boldness, viability, and impact. Best-in-class candidates will be selected to receive equity and debt financing for their businesses. A cash prize will be awarded to Soil GroundBreakers - rising stars working in research, social enterprise, or advocacy. GroundBreaker nominations will be accepted from FoodShot's diverse community of partners and aligned organizations, including a range of food system innovators, investors, and thought leaders.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Iowa is requesting proposals to provide implementation of restoration activities on eligible Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Wetlands Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE). With the signing of the 2014 Farm Bill, the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) was de-authorized and program purposes were assimilated into ACEP-WRE. While both WRP and ACEP-WRE easements will undergo wetland restoration activities under this agreement, for consistency with current program offerings all references from this point forward will be made to ACEP-WRE. The objective of ACEP-WRE is to provide technical and financial assistance to landowners in planning, designing and implementing wetland and associated upland restoration plans that maximize wildlife habitat in wetland systems, as well as provide water quality improvements, reduced soil erosion, reduced impacts of flooding and provide wildlife habitat opportunities for threatened and endangered species. Applicants will be responsible for assisting NRCS and landowners by providing technical assistance necessary to implement ACEP-WRE restoration plans, while at the same time improving and protecting wetland habitat for environmental benefits. Performance may include any part or all operations necessary to implement, provide inspection, and management activities for various wetland restoration and enhancement practices and other related conservation practices that meet NRCS standards and specifications.

The overall goal of the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is to support the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices. In FY 2014, ORG will continue to prioritize environmental services provided by organic farming systems in the area of soil conservation and climate change mitigation, including greenhouse gases (GHG). Two new priorities have been added to support (1) the development of educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices and (2) the development of cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the National Organic Programs National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. Practices and systems to be addressed include those associated with organic crops, organic animal production, and organic systems integrating plant and animal production.

NIFA initiates a new challenge area to address critical water resources issues such as drought, excess soil moisture, flooding, quality and others in an agricultural context. Funding will be used to develop management practices, technologies, and tools for farmers, ranchers, forest owners and managers, public decision makers, public and private managers, and citizens to improve water resource quantity and quality. NIFA's approach will link social, economic, and behavioral sciences with traditional biophysical sciences and engineering to address regional-scale issues with shared hydrological processes and meteorological and basin characteristics.

NIFA initiates a new challenge area to address critical water resources issues such as drought, excess soil moisture, flooding, quality and others in an agricultural context. Funding will be used to develop management practices, technologies, and tools for farmers, ranchers, forest owners and managers, public decision makers, public and private managers, and citizens to improve water resource quantity and quality. NIFA's approach will link social, economic, and behavioral sciences with traditional biophysical sciences and engineering to address regional-scale issues with shared hydrological processes and meteorological and basin characteristics.

For FY 2015, Kentucky NRCS will consider proposals that demonstrate the use of innovative technologies and/or approaches to address at least one of the below bulleted topics: * Soil Health * Water Quality * Forage Quality and Quantity

The Noble Research Institute is accepting applications for its 2019 Lloyd Noble Scholars in Agriculture program, which provides students with the opportunity to work alongside agricultural professionals at one of the nation's foremost agricultural research organizations. The Noble Research Institute offers opportunities in its core areas of expertise: animal science and livestock management (emphasis on forage-based ruminant systems), agricultural economics, agronomy, horticulture, range management, soils and crops, and wildlife and fisheries. Scholars work alongside agricultural researchers and consultants who assist farmers, ranchers, and other land owners operating in the cattle belt of the Southern Great Plains to attain financial, production, and quality-of-life goals. Scholars will develop valuable applied agriculture skills, interact with and assist in identifying solutions to real-world issues encountered by producers, and further enhance communication and leadership skills necessary to be effective advocates for agriculture. The objective of the scholar experience is to provide participants a competitive advantage in the development of a career in a leading agricultural field of study, thus enabling them to positively impact the agriculture industry of tomorrow. At the conclusion of the summer program, scholars present their findings to the Noble Research Institute agriculture and research community.

The overall goal of the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is to support the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices. NIFA administers the ORG program by determining priorities in U.S. agriculture through Agency stakeholder input processes in consultation with the NAREEEAB. ORG will continue to prioritize environmental services provided by organic farming systems in the area of soil conservation, pollinator health, and climate change mitigation, including greenhouse gases (GHG), as well as the development of educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices, and development of cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the National Organic Program's National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. It is expected that all projects will integrate research, education and extension activities, as appropriate to project goals, although some projects may be weighted more heavily than others in one or more of these areas. However, all proposals should have activities and impact in research and at least one of the other areas: education and extension.

Background: In the fall of 2016, BLM was asked to participate in a non-vascular plant inventory in Musselshell County, MT. This location was chosen based on an evaluation of the MT Natural Heritage Programâ¿¿s (NHP) biological database which indicated no records for lichens, mosses, and other components of biotic soil crust. The results of this evaluation identified 11 Eastern Montana counties with no records. It was also noted that the diversity of vascular and non-vascular plant data from Eastern Montana is lacking in comprehensive information. Objectives: This project would help to fill information gaps on vascular and non-vascular plants associated with public, private, and state lands in Eastern MT. The goals of the project would be to supplement the MT NHP on-line field guide, build a more complete record of species in the database, and make this information available to all land owners. Public Benefit: This data will help land management make better informed decisions and bring more awareness of the role that of vascular and non-vascular plants play in a healthy ecosystem. The project would also look to bring simple and consistent monitoring of these species based on the functional areas that each support.

The overall goal of the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is to support the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices. NIFA administers the ORG program by determining priorities in U.S. agriculture through Agency stakeholder input processes in consultation with the NAREEEAB. ORG will continue to prioritize environmental services provided by organic farming systems in the area of soil conservation, pollinator health, and climate change mitigation, including greenhouse gases (GHG), as well as the development of educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices, and development of cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the National Organic Program's National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. It is expected that all projects will integrate research, education and extension activities, as appropriate to project goals, although some projects may be weighted more heavily than others in one or more of these areas. However, all proposals should have activities and impact in research and at least one of the other areas: education and extension.

Water and salt management are vital to agricultural sustainability in Yuma, Arizona, which is located within the Lower Colorado River Basin. Irrigation water contains salts and because the shallow ground water in the valleys, which fluxes up through the fine textured soil by capillarity, also contains salts, some level of excess irrigation (beyond consumptive use) must be applied to leach salts below the crop root zone. Effective leaching is especially important in the Lower Colorado River Basin because many of the crops produced are sensitive to salinity. To reduce risk of loss of crop yield, there is some level of excess irrigation (beyond crop consumptive use) that must be applied to leach salts below the crop root zone.

The Organic Farming Research Foundation is dedicated to fostering the widespread adoption and improvement of organic farming systems in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. To that end, OFRF provides funding for research on organic farming and food systems and the dissemination of these research results to organic farmers and the greater agricultural and research communities. One-year grants of up to $20,000 are available for research projects related to any production, social, economic, or policy-related topic of concern to organic farmers and/or ranchers. Priority areas include soil health, innovative weed control, management of emerging insect and disease issues, and livestock health. Projects must involve farmers or ranchers in project design and implementation and must take place on certified organic land, ideally on a working organic farm or ranch. Applicants should articulate how the proposed research project will foster the improvement or adoption of organic farming systems, as well as ways in which organic farmers or ranchers can use the proposed results in their operations. Research projects must include strong education and outreach components and contain measurable objectives.

The overall goal of the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is to support the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices. NIFA administers the ORG program by determining priorities in U.S. agriculture through Agency stakeholder input processes in consultation with the NAREEEAB. ORG will continue to prioritize environmental services provided by organic farming systems in the area of soil conservation, pollinator health, and climate change mitigation, including greenhouse gases (GHG), as well as the development of educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices, and development of cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the National Organic Program's National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. It is expected that all projects will integrate research, education and extension activities, as appropriate to project goals, although some projects may be weighted more heavily than others in one or more of these areas. However, all proposals should have activities and impact in research and at least one of the other areas: education and extension

Grants are awarded to research, education and advocacy projects that advance FAFO's mission: to protect and promote the organic industry and the livelihood of organic farmers. Within this context, FAFO is currently prioritizing projects that focus on: Projects that benefit family farmers who produce organic dairy, eggs, meat, produce, and grain/forage Projects that focus on organic soil health and biology Projects that strengthen CROPP Cooperative (internal)