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Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP) FAQs

1) What is the Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP)?

AFRP is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) discretionary grant program that funds applied, collaborative research intended to strengthen the U.S. forage sector, with a strong expectation that funded work will also support technology transfer to producers and industry stakeholders.

2) What is the main goal of AFRP?

The program aims to improve the efficiency, profitability, and long-term sustainability of forage production systems, including both conventional and organic operations, by supporting practical research tied to real production needs.

3) What does AFRP mean by "technology transfer"?

AFRP expects projects to go beyond generating research results. Projects should also help move usable tools, practices, or recommendations into the hands of producers and other forage industry stakeholders.

4) What kinds of projects does AFRP encourage?

AFRP encourages projects that are practical, collaborative, and multi-disciplinary. The program is built around the idea that major challenges in alfalfa and forage production are rarely solved by a single discipline or institution.

5) Are multi-institution or multi-state projects expected?

Yes. AFRP encourages applicants to form multi-disciplinary networks that may involve multiple organizations and more than one state to address high-priority national or regional needs.

6) What disciplines or expertise areas are relevant to AFRP projects?

AFRP networks may include expertise such as agronomy, plant breeding, entomology, plant pathology, irrigation management, soil fertility, engineering, and animal nutrition.

7) What is the FY 2016 emphasis for AFRP?

For fiscal year 2016, the program specifically emphasizes the development of improved alfalfa forage and seed production systems.

8) What are the AFRP priority areas for FY 2016?

USDA-NIFA solicits proposals in five broad priority areas: (1) improving alfalfa forage and seed yield; (2) improving persistence of alfalfa stands; (3) improving harvesting and storage systems; (4) improving estimates of forage quality as animal feed; and (5) breeding to address biotic and abiotic stresses affecting yield, persistence, and seed production.

9) What topics fit under Priority Area 1 (improving forage yield and seed yield)?

This area includes improvements through better nutrient management, water management, and/or pest management. Examples described include optimizing fertilization, improving irrigation efficiency, and using integrated pest management approaches.

10) What topics fit under Priority Area 2 (improving stand persistence)?

This area focuses on reducing the impacts of biotic and abiotic stresses that shorten stand life and reduce profitability. Stresses mentioned include diseases, insects, weed pressure, drought, winter injury, heat stress, and soil constraints.

11) What topics fit under Priority Area 3 (harvesting and storage systems)?

This area supports improving alfalfa forage and seed harvesting and storage systems to optimize economic returns. The description includes reducing harvest losses, maintaining quality during storage, improving handling practices, and developing better equipment and management systems.

12) What topics fit under Priority Area 4 (forage quality as animal feed)?

This area prioritizes improving estimates of alfalfa forage quality to increase forage use in animal rations. The description includes improved testing methods, prediction tools, and decision-support systems to better match forage quality to animal needs and improve feeding efficiency.

13) What topics fit under Priority Area 5 (breeding for stresses and performance)?

This area supports breeding efforts to address biotic and abiotic stresses that affect alfalfa forage yield, stand persistence, and seed production for propagation, emphasizing genetics as a pathway to durable, field-ready improvements.

14) Is the program intended to support conventional systems, organic systems, or both?

Both. AFRP explicitly includes forage production systems across conventional and organic operations.

15) What is the funding opportunity title?

The funding opportunity title is "Alfalfa and Forage Research Program."

16) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA OP 005656.

17) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.330 (Agriculture).

18) What is the funding instrument?

The funding instrument is a grant.

19) What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling (maximum award amount) is $250,000.

20) When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on February 1, 2016.

21) What was the application closing date?

The application closing date was April 13, 2016.

22) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification indicated as being provided in the full eligibility text of the announcement.

23) What kinds of outcomes is AFRP trying to achieve?

The program is aimed at supporting applied, collaborative projects that can measurably improve alfalfa forage and seed production outcomes while strengthening coordinated research and extension-style technology transfer across the forage industry.

24) Why does AFRP emphasize networks and collaboration?

AFRP is designed around the idea that high-priority problems in alfalfa and forage production are rarely solved by one discipline or one institution. Coordinated networks across institutions and regions are intended to create more widely applicable outcomes and make better use of limited state, federal, and industry resources.