The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will be investing $3 million in partnerships to promote and fund research that informs and improves soil surveys. So, the NRCS encourages institutions of higher education in the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network to submit proposals by July 8, 2024.
NRCS Chief Terry Cosby said, “Congress recognized that states and other partners need soil surveys to support community planning and resource development, protect and improve the quality of the environment, meet recreational needs, conserve land and water resources, and control and reduce pollution. We continue to accomplish this through partnership and collaboration.”
Each proposal must include significant cooperation with soil survey personnel, such as the National Soil Survey Center research staff or Major Land Resource Area soil survey or regional offices. The work should have national or broad regional application to fill gaps in soil survey databases, provide new approaches to collecting or interpreting soil survey data, and/or address emerging issues in the national research priority areas.
The period of performance could begin as early as October 2024 and could extend up to three years. Individual proposals must have a total cost between $50,000 and $500,000.
The fiscal year 2024 research priorities were developed through meetings of the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) Research Priorities Committee and in conjunction with NRCS and Soil and Plant Science Division (SPSD) priorities.
Additional information is available in the notice of funding.