Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding announced $2.187 million in 27 research grants to help grow Pennsylvania’s agriculture and respond to changes in technology, climate, disease and markets.
“Research is an important first step in developing the innovations needed to keep Pennsylvania agriculture at the cutting edge of the industry,” said Secretary Redding.
The research grant recipients and amounts announced today are as follows:
Center for Dairy Excellence, Dauphin County
Examining dairy farmer demographics, business growth, environmental sustainability, consultant use, biosecurity, risk management, workforce concerns, and other challenges and opportunities – in partnership with PSU College of Ag Sciences – $22,248
Cheyney University, Philadelphia County
Valuation of food fish farming in Pennsylvania – $46,824
Chester County MYCO Guard
Research into peat alternatives – $100,000
Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, Berks County
Grow climate resilient farms through soil health benchmarks – $82,375
Rodale Institute, Berks County
Developing a skilled agricultural workforce and promoting understanding of sustainable and regenerative farming practices – $500,000
Team Pennsylvania Foundation, Harrisburg
Accelerating Economic Growth for Pennsylvania Agriculture: 2024 Economic Impact Report – $63,868
Pennsylvania State University, Center County
Agricultural Resource Center – $300,000 Farm Law Center – $100,000 Evaluation of Ammonium Thiosulfate and Lime Sulfur as Apple Flowering Thinners: Efficacy and Impact on Pollinators – $71,339 Agricultural Sprayable of Spent Mushroom Substrate and Low-Value Trees Conversion to bioplastics – $100,000 Monitoring honey bee populations in Pennsylvania Improving information about wild pollinator populations and pollination services – $82,426 Understanding the potential of predatory mites to control mushroom flies – $77,559 Robotic Solutions for Sustainable Weed Management in Perennial Crop Systems – $72,275PSU Scranton – Robotic Mushroom Picking Improves Harvesting Efficiency and Optimizes Mushroom Spoilage Levels – $100,000 Promotes Cow Udder Health Strengthening pathogen detection systems for – $27,535 Exploring precision techniques to spot sick calves – $56,042 Progesterone supplementation: a strategy to promote fetal and placental development in sheep – $34,846 Liver abscess development and respiratory tract development in cows Disease associations – $55,198 Ornithine supplementation during early pregnancy: a strategy to promote conceptus development in pigs – $67,926
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia County
Molecular investigation of avian metapneumovirus subgroups A, B, and C in poultry and wild bird populations – $18,750 Pig noises as an indicator of animal health and welfare – $23,000 To investigate the transmission dynamics of antimicrobial resistance Development of a biobank of samples for – $20,056 Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ceftiofur in serum and synovial fluid of sows – $6,311 A novel microbial intervention strategy to prevent ketosis in dairy cows – $48,300
University of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Assessing tick-borne pathogens in invasive tick species to improve animal health and welfare – $29,342
