AGRI Crop Research Grant Recipients and Results

Fiscal Year 2023
Fiscal Year 2022
Fiscal Year 2021
Fiscal Year 2020
Fiscal Year 2019
Fiscal Year 2018
Fiscal Year 2017
Fiscal Year 2016
Fiscal Year 2015
Fiscal Year 2014

Fiscal Year 2023
Project Title	Organization	Researcher / Contact
Developing certifiable Minnesota hemp seed and THC-compliant varieties for grain and fiber production	University of Minnesota	George Weiblen
Achieving multiple value chains for Minnesota farmers with wide-row corn and cover crops	Clean River Partners	Alan Kraus
Tall waterhemp and other herbicide-resistant weed control options for crop rotations in northern Minnesota	Minnesota Turf Seed Council	Nancy Ehlke
Evaluating performance of organic alfalfa juice as a foliar fertilizer	Lynn Brakke Organic Farms	Lynn Brakke
Improving fruit and vegetable nutritional quality and yield in organic and conventional systems	University of Minnesota	Paulo Pagliari
Understanding the impact of cover cropping on disease development and soil health in Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Megan McCaghey

Fiscal Year 2022
Project Title	Organization	Researcher / Contact
Hemp grain characterization for food applications	University of Minnesota	Sarah Swan Ray
Advancing New Technologies for Fungal Disease Control in Cultivated Wild Rice	Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council	Beth Nelson
Seed Production and Ecosystem Services from Climate Smart and Cover Crops in NW Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Nancy Jo Ehlke
Supporting new farmers with fresh market grape production and sales in Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Matthew Clark
Biological control for soybean gall midge, a new pest of soybean in Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Robert Koch

Fiscal Year 2021
Project Title	Organization	Researcher / Contact
Developing Nutrient Recommendations for East African Leafy Crops Grown in Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Paulo Pagliari
Increasing High Tunnel Vegetable Productivity through Improved Soil Health	University of Minnesota	Julie Grossman
Expanding the Use of Hail Netting for Non-Chemical Insect Pest Management in Apple	University of Minnesota	Annie Klodd
Accelerating the development of winter barley cropping systems for Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Kevin P. Smith
Developing molecular markers for selecting and improving Minnesota hemp	University of Minnesota	George Weiblen & Tom Michaels
Hybrid Rye as a grain and forage crop for Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Daniel Kaiser

Fiscal Year 2020
Project Title	Organization	Researcher / Contact
Use of Cover Crops to Optimize Early Spring Soil Moisture in Raised Bed Systems	University of Minnesota	Cindy B.S. Tong
Hybrid Rye - A new rotational crop for the turf-seed growing region of northern Minnesota	Minnesota Turf Seed Council	Dave Grafstrom / Marvin Zutz
Optimizing Hard Red Spring Wheat Seeding Rates in On-Farm Trials - read more on Minnesota Wheat’s On-Farm Research Network page	Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council	Melissa Carlson
Residue Management in Kernza® and MNHD Hard Fescue Seed Production	University of Minnesota	Nancy Jo Ehlke
Chili pepper production, quality, drying methods, and market viability for Minnesota farmers - see the Chile Pepper Variety Evaluation report for more information	University of Minnesota	Natalie Hoidal
Assessing Characteristics, Quality, and Flavor of Kernza® Malt	Sprowt Labs	Christopher Abbott
Increasing multi-year seed production of fine fescue through plant breeding and agronomics - see Turfgrass Cultivar Evaluation Results Overview for more information	University of Minnesota	Eric Watkins
Establishing new opportunities for fresh market specialty potatoes in Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Laura Shannon / Thomas Stefaniak

Fiscal Year 2019
Project Title	Organization	Contact
Going Greener: Improving Cultivated Wild Rice Integrated Disease Management to Reduce Fungicide Use	University of Minnesota	Beth Nelson
Wheat Variety and Sourdough Product Analysis for Anti-Nutrient Levels Related to Digestibility – learn more at AURI Partnerships: Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council, Breeding Wheat That's Easier to Eat (webinar), and AURI Helps Drive Research for Wheat Digestibility Issues Amid Slumping Demand	Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)	Becky Philipp
Novel cropping systems for economic and environmental improvement in hard fescue seed production – find out more about Seed Production Research at Magnusson Research Farm	University of Minnesota	Eric Watkins
Addressing trade-offs between weed control and cover crops using a systems approach	University of Minnesota	Gregg Johnson
Developing two-rowed barley varieties for farmers, maltsters, brewers, and the environment	University of Minnesota	Kevin Smith
Building on the foundation of the Minnesota Oat Breeding Program	University of Minnesota	Kevin Smith
Evaluating 2nd Generation Hybrid Hazelnut Germplasm for Minnesota - read more at Upper Midwest Hazelnuts and Hazelnuts 101: Choosing Hazelnut Plants (PDF), and Hazelnut Germplasm Improvement (PDF)	University of Minnesota	Lois Braun
Development and Evaluation of Cold Hardy Table Grapes	University of Minnesota	Matthew Clark
Management Practices to Improve Seed Yields and Stability of Tall Fescue in Northern Minnesota - learn more at Seed Production Research at Magnusson Research Farm	University of Minnesota	Nancy Ehlke
Developing seed tests for regulatory compliance and improving Minnesota industrial hemp - learn more by reading A genetic test predicts THC versus CBD in Cannabis plants, Research shows that, genetically, high-CBD “hemp” plants are mostly marijuana, and Validating a predictive model of cannabinoid inheritance with feral, clinical, and industrial Cannabis sativa.	University of Minnesota	George Weiblen and Thomas Michaels

Fiscal Year 2018
Project Title	Organization	Contact
Enhancing field testing and genomic tools for pennycress breeding and domestication. Learn more: Winter Annual Oilseeds--Pennycress reports, plus three field day videos, (1) Environmental Benefits, Breeding & Agronomics, (2) Food Science Research & Cooking Demo, and (3) Supply Chain Development & Industry Interest	University of Minnesota	James Anderson
Potato production with adoption of new cultivars with high N uptake rate: A Physiochemical study	University of Minnesota	Sanjay Gupta
Proactive Research to Counter the Threat of Insecticide Resistance in Spotted Wing Drosophila - see FruitEdge: Spotted Wing Drosophila	University of Minnesota	William Hutchinson
Developing hop breeding resources and Midwest-adapted hop cultivars	University of Minnesota	Gary Muehlbauer
Management Practices to Maximize Canola Profitability - see Minnesota Canola Production Center 2020 Research Summary Report (PDF)	Minnesota Canola Council	Beth Nelson
Tailoring management to corn rootworm risk: scouting to detect populations and resistance threats	University of Minnesota	Kenneth Ostlie
Next generation Minnesota oat to enhance cropping system diversity, profitability, and consumer health - see Transpiration increases under high-temperature stress, Hidden Costs of Nighttime Warming on Yields, and Systemic effects of rising atmospheric 'drying' on plant physiology	University of Minnesota	Walid Sadok
Increasing Yields in Perennial Ryegrass Seed Production Systems through Agronomics and Breeding - see Cultivar Evaluation Results Overview page	University of Minnesota	Eric Watkins

Fiscal Year 2017
Project Title	Organization	Contact
Improving sustainable management practices for SWD, an emerging pest of small fruit in Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Mary Rogers
Increasing the capacity of an applied, genomics-assisted Kernza breeding program	University of Minnesota	James A. Anderson
Identification and Characterization of the Soybean Cyst Nematode Resistance in Dry Bean	University of Minnesota	Senyu Chen
Reducing Canola Input Costs through Singulation and Row Spacing	Minnesota Canola Council	Nancy Ehlke
Developing Vitamin D3-enriched tomato varieties for Minnesota growers	University of Minnesota	Changbin Chen
Utilizing structural engineering principles to develop lodging resistant oats	University of Minnesota	Kevin P. Smith
Breeding Barley and Soybean for a Dual Cropping System	University of Minnesota	Aaron Lorenz
Developing a hybrid hazelnut production package for Minnesota - see Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative (UMHDI) Resources for Growers	University of Minnesota	Lois Braun
Agronomic and breeding strategies for improved pennycress grain yield and oil content	University of Minnesota	M. Scott Wells
Plant Growth, Development and Yield Influenced by Sulfur Applied in Soybean, Spring Wheat	Minnesota Turf Seed Council	Nancy Ehlke

Fiscal Year 2016
Project Title	Organization	Contact
Laying the foundation for an applied, genomics-assisted oat breeding program at the University of Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Kevin Smith
Optimizing soil management to enhance potato yields & soil health in fumigated soil	University of Minnesota	Linda Kinkel
Integrated disease management for cultivated wild rice	Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council	Beth Nelson
Barley breeding for the Minnesota craft brewing industry	University of Minnesota	Kevin Smith
New winter hardy perennial ryegrass to improve the profitability of grazing and haymaking	University of Minnesota	Nancy Ehlke
Sustainable protein for aquaculture from alfalfa	USDA Agricultural Research Service	Deborah Samac
Increasing adoption of cover cropping systems through research-based education	University of Minnesota	Scott Wells
Investigating genetic resistance to foliar phylloxera in cold hardy hybrid grapes	University of Minnesota	Matthew Clark
Fine fescue: a new grass seed crop for Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Eric Watkins

Fiscal Year 2015
Project Title	Organization	Contact
Using High Tunnels to Increase Crop Production, Market Access, and Vegetable Crop Diversity in Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Chris Philips
Determining Best Agronomic Practices for Winter Barley Production in Minnesota	University of Minnesota	Brian Steffenson
Spring and Winter Barley Variety Development and Production Practices	Busch Agricultural Resources	Joshua Butler
Old Heirloom and English Hard Cider Apple Varieties For Minnesota	Wild River Vineyards	Irving Geary
Developing New Hairy Vetch Varieties for Winter Cover	University of Minnesota	Nancy Ehlke
Evaluation of Processability and Storage Stability of Intermediate Wheatgrass for Food Applications	University of Minnesota	Baream Ismail
Digital Imagery-Precision Agriculture	Northland Community & Technical College	Dave Grafstrom
Improving Canola Yields and Quality Through Best Management Practices for Diseases	Minnesota Canola Council	Beth Nelson
New Regionally-Adapted Heirloom Dry Beans for Organic Production	University of Minnesota	Thomas Michaels
Proper Nitrogen Crediting from Cover Crop Species Grown Prior to Com	University of Minnesota	Daniel Kaiser
Hazelnut Micropropagation: Plant Acclimatization from Flask to Field	University of Minnesota	Jerry Cohen
Flavor/Sensory Analysis of Different Winter Rye for Distillery Industry; find out more in the report, The Rye Study: Variety Determines Flavor	Far North Spirits	Michael Swanson
Increasing the Availability and Adoption of Aphid-resistant Soybean for More Sustainable Soybean Production	University of Minnesota	Robert Koch
Greening the Brown Period of the Corn and Soybean Rotation with Self-perpetuating Winter Annual and Perennial Cover Crop Systems	University of Minnesota	Don Wyse

Fiscal Year 2014
Project Title	Organization	Contact
Improving Alfalfa Production, Quality and Value	Midwest Forage Association	Craig Sheaffer
Remote Scouting of Insect Damage Using unmanned Aerial Systems	University of Minnesota	Ian MacRae
Agronomic Value of Crop Rotations in Northwest Minnesota	Minnesota Canola Council	Nancy Jo Ehlke
Intermediate Wheatgrass: Managing a new perennial grain for food, forage and bioenergy	Minnesota Turf Seed Council	Marvin Zutz
Growing polycultures for multiple high-value outputs: natural products, seed and biomass	University of Minnesota	Craig Sheaffer
Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to record and analyze Crop Nutrient Research	Minnesota Turf Seed Council	Nancy Jo Ehlke
Developing Spring and Winter Two Row Barley to Diversity Minnesota Agriculture	University of Minnesota	Kevin Smith
Millet as a second crop in Minnesota to add value to farmers and consumers	University of Minnesota	Baraem Ismail
Yields and Practices of Profitable Apple and Tomato Producers	Central Lakes College	Thaddeus McCamant
Northwest Minnesota on-farm Research network: Grower driven, field scale solutions to priority wheat production issues	Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council	David Torgerson