By Blake Jackson
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is offering grants to Wisconsin farmers and collaborators for research on optimizing nitrogen use in agriculture. The Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP) aims to improve methods for applying commercial nitrogen to agricultural fields.
Eligible applicants can be individual agricultural producers, groups of producers working together, or producers collaborating with other entities.
To be considered, applicants must partner with the University of Wisconsin (UW) on their project and conduct field studies for at least two years. Research designs require approval from UW by December 20, 2024, before submitting the final grant application.
“Through the continuation of this program, farmers across Wisconsin are able to conduct innovative research to optimize the use of nitrogen in agriculture,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “These grants and the findings of these projects will be valuable as producers continue to serve as stewards of our state’s land and water resources for generations to come.”
A total of $1 million is available for this round of grants. Individual producers can receive up to $40,000 per project. Additionally, a separate grant will be awarded to the UW System for project monitoring, research, and outreach assistance.
To assist potential applicants, NOPP staff from DATCP and UW will host weekly Office Hours every Monday from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM, October 21, 2024 through January 13, 2025. These sessions provide opportunities to ask questions, discuss research ideas, and clarify application details.
The deadline for submitting final applications is January 17, 2025, at 11:59 PM to DATCPNOPP@wisconsin.gov. Grant recipients will be announced in spring 2025.
Photo Credit: wisconsin-doa
Categories: Wisconsin, General, Rural Lifestyle