BOZEMAN, Mont., Nov. 4, 2005 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner announced today the awarding more than $4.5 million in research grants to address organic agricultural issues and priorities, while increasing organic agriculture's global competitiveness.

"Throughout the Farm Bill forums, we have heard extensive support for enhancing research and market opportunities available to producers," said Conner. "This research funding will help organic producers increase their production while decreasing costs."

Through the Integrated Organic Program (IOP), the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) administered eight grants to 13 states in two different areas: the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) and the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI). ORG funds the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic producers. OREI funds research and extension programs that assist producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products.

The fiscal year 2005 grants were awarded to the following:

Organic Transitions Program

• Montana State University, $471,111, "Organic Production in the Challenging Environment of the Northern Great Plains: from Transition to Sustainability."
• Oregon State University, $435,020, "Ecological Soil Community Management for Enhanced Nutrient Cycling in Organic Sweet Cherry Orchards."
• University of Maine and University of New Hampshire, $827,058, "Reducing Off-farm Grain Inputs on Northeast Organic Dairy Farms."

Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative

• Fort Valley State University and Louisiana State University and Texas Agriculture Experiment Station, $299,632, "Development of Sustainable Gastrointestinal Nematode Control in Organic Small Ruminant Production."
• Auburn University and Alabama A&M University, $561,828, "Integration of Organic Production Systems for Summer Production of Tomato and Pepper in Alabama."
• Iowa State University and Michigan State University and Rodale Institute, $483,542, "Evaluation of Strategies for Management of Soybean Rust in Organic Systems."
• University of Nebraska, $762,949, "Improving Organic Farming Systems Across Nebraska Agroecoregions."
• Michigan State University, $754,442, "Partnering to Cultivate Organic Agriculture in Michigan and the Midwest."

Full descriptions of each project are available at http://cris.csrees.usda.gov/cgi-bin/starfinder/0?path=icgpoplink.txt&id=anon&pass=&search=CG=*-51300-*;*-51106-*%20NOT%20PS=TERM*&format=WEBTITLESG.

CSREES advances knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs in the Land-Grant University System and other partner organizations. For more information, visit http://www.csrees.usda.gov.