• Manuel Duguies, University of Guam, received $41,485 to work with five producers to conduct goat feeding trials, including nutrient analysis, using processed local feeds like breadfruit, taro, bananas and coconuts to replace expensive imported feeds. Weed and grass in feeding areas will also be analyzed for nutrient content. Guam producers will be provided with information on forage analysis, feed formulations from local materials and results of feeding trials through field days, workshops and various publications.
• Asapmar Ogumoro, Saipan, MP, was awarded $14,480 for his effort to revive taro, especially during the off-season, by studying and developing the potential for freezing taro, as well as methods for extending taro’s shelf life. Varieties of popular taro will be processed in two styles — peeled raw corm and peeled and sliced raw corm.
The taro will be tested for taste and nutritional value in each of seven months after being frozen.
• Dilip Nandwani, Saipan, MP, will use his $24,872 to, along with three producers, to teach young people about aquaculture and hydroponics, using the San Vicente Elementary School Aquaculture and Self-Reliant project as a vehicle. The school has several hydroponic units producing tomatoes, and this project hopes to build on that to develop 80 individual and group projects in which participants experiment with hydroponic production. The best 10 of these science fair projects will be featured in a brochure available to island teachers and community members.
Full project descriptions and principal investigator contact information can be found at http://wsare.usu.edu/pro/?sub=fund10.
Western SARE, a USDA program, annually awards grants under five programs to help sustain agriculture, the environment and rural communities. Producers are actively involved in every funded project.
The Western SARE program funds competitive grants in five main categories:
• Producer grants provide up to $15,000 for an individual producer and $30,000 for three or more producers to conduct on-farm research.
• Professional + Producer grants are available to agricultural professionals working with producers; the limits are $15,000 with one producer and $30,000 with three or more producers.
• Research and Education grants, which range between $20,000 and $200,000, are available to agricultural researchers for applied research involving agricultural producers.
• Professional Development Program grants, ranging between $30,000 and $100,000, are designed to help agricultural professionals train other professionals in sustainable agriculture concepts.
• Graduate Fellow grants, worth up to $20,000, are used to assist students in their graduate research projects.
Information on submitting a grant proposal under the next round of funding can be found at https://wsare.usu.edu/grants/ or by calling 435-797-2257.
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