Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission
795 22nd Rd NW
Lebo, KS 66856
(785) 477-9474
Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission Call for Proposals
Priorities
1. Weed Control
a. Research focusing on the identification of new genetic sources for resistance to available grass
control herbicides.
b. Management research addressing herbicide treatment and farm based weed control.
2. Yield
a. Genetic and breeding research targeted towards increased yields in both high yielding and
limited resource environments.
b. Research focusing on best farm management practices for top yields. This priority can include
but is not limited to: farm trials, extension meetings and on-farm management case studies.
c. Identify best management practices for both full and limited irrigation practices.
3. Standability
a. Researching the key components attributed to standability.
b. Proposal directed toward ensuring genetics in producers’ fields have strong standability.
4. Sorghum Economics and Profitability
a. Production economics focusing on farm profitability and sorghum return relative to other
crops.
b. Water economics to include but not limited: water response curves and limited irrigation
returns.
c. Basis drivers evaluating the impact of ethanol, feed markets, exports and other market drivers
on interior Kansas basis markets.
5. Disease Control
a. Evaluate how plant health and disease resistance are influenced by management including but
not limited to fertilizer, seed treatment, and seeding rates.
b. Genetic research targeted toward plant health and disease resistance.
6. Insect Control
a. Evaluation of economic threshold for treatment and insect control related to profitability.
b. Chinch bug management and control.
Research proposals outside of these priorities will be considered. Strong proposals will provide a linkage and
vision for commercialization of project outcomes. For further clarification or questions regarding your
proposal please contact the commission.
Proposal Instructions
The following instructions are provided to aid the preparation of project proposals.
1.
Time Frame for Research Project
We anticipate that the contracts for these proposed projects will begin on October 1, 2015 and end on
September 30, 2016. A midyear and final report due no later than 30 days after the end date of the
contract are required.
2.
Technical Questions
All questions regarding technical and contractual items shall be directed to:
Jill Barnhardt, Administrator Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission
795 22nd Rd NW
Lebo, KS 66856
Phone: (785) 477-9474
jill@ksgrainsorghum.org
Research Priorities
All questions regarding research priorities shall be directed to:
Jill Barnhardt (785) 477-9474 or
Sarah Sexton-Bowser (785)477-6018
3.
Submission of Proposals
The deadline for submitting proposals to the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission Office is close of
business on April 30, 2015. Please submit all proposals electronically to:
Jill Barnhardt, Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, jill@ksgrainsorghum.org
4.
Proposal Format
Proposals should be no longer than five (5) pages plus the cover page. Proposals should be written in
lay language and contain the following information:
a. Cover page: Follow provided cover page format.
b. Title: The major thrust of the project. Avoid highly technical words or phraseology; do not use
scientific jargon-use common names for all organisms. No more than 15 words for the title.
c. Principal investigator(s), department, email address and telephone number. An individual may be
listed as the first principal investigator on only one proposal, but be listed as a secondary principal
investigator on more than one proposal.
d. Objectives: A clear and complete one-sentence statement for each specific, numbered objective of
the project arranged in logical sequence.
e. Procedure: a description of the investigations and/or experiments proposed; techniques to be
used in carrying out the proposed project; methods by which experimental data will be analyzed, or
interpreted; procedures of applying results or accomplishing technology transfer.
f. Justification: Research importance and benefit to Kansas’s sorghum farmers.
g. Objective: In addition to explaining the proposal’s objective, indicate the specific priority being
addressed.
h. Project Location(s): Location(s) for field research and test laboratories.
i.
Duration of the project (number of years). If this is a multi-year project, which year does this
proposal represent? Projects will be approved for only one year at a time. What are the exact start
and end dates?
j.
Budget: itemize the budget, splitting out labor, travel and other cost. The Kansas Grain Sorghum
Commission does not normally fund equipment purchases. Indirect costs are not allowed.
k. Facilities and Equipment: Are they adequate to complete the project? Describe.
l.
Cooperators: Lists all private and public cooperators and their role in and relationship to the
proposal.
m. Related Information: A summary of the most significant work related to the project should be
described. Provide a brief review of how the proposed project will supplement previous work.
m. Expected Outcome: Provide a brief description of the expected outcomes of the proposed research
or education program. The expected outcomes may be the generation of new information as
reflected in tangible products such as new varieties, development and/or acceptance of new
methodologies, Research and Extension publications, patents, software, and others. Where
feasible, identify the measurable economic, social and environmental benefits expected to result
from the project.
Examples of such benefits include cost savings, enhanced economic and employment impacts,
improved health and nutrition, human or community development, more efficient natural resource
utilization and minimizing the impact of agriculture on the environment. Identify, where
appropriate, the potential recipients of the benefits such as producers, consumers, taxpayers and
communities. Describe how the results of the research will be communicated to potential users. If
outcomes are not expected during the life of the project, please develop a schedule.
Proposal Cover Page
Project Title:
Proposal to:
Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission
From:
Funding Period:
Amount Requested:
Project Status:
New ____
Continuing_____
If Continuing, Year ___ of ____ total years
Lead Investigator Name, Unit,
Email and Phone:
Other Investigators Name,
Unit, Email and Phone:
By signature below, I certify that the investigator(s), department head(s), and appropriate Dean(s)/Director(s)
associated with this proposal have indicated their agreement with the content, procedures, commitments,
and obligations included in this submission. This submission is thus institutionally authorized.
__________________________________
Paul R. Lowe
Assistant Vice President for Research
Kansas State University
Budget
For the period of * to *
Personnel:
Equipment:
Travel:
Supplies and Materials:
Other Expenses:
Total Request:
Budget Justification:
Total