Research proposals that can enhance the profitability of Kansas wheat farmers are being sought by the Kansas Wheat Commission for the 2014 fiscal year.

The KWC, a farmer-funded organization based in Manhattan, needs preliminary letters of intent by Nov. 28, 2012. These will be reviewed by a committee of farmer-commissioners, who will issue an invitation for full proposals on Dec. 19. Final proposals will be due by Jan. 25, 2012 and on Feb. 12-13, proposal applicants will be invited to give a brief proposal presentation to a research review committee in Manhattan. Final award announcements will be made in April, 2013.

"With the current rapidly evolving world of crop technology, Kansas Wheat Commissioners take their job of advancing wheat research very seriously," says Aaron Harries, director of marketing for the Kansas Wheat Commission. "Nearly one quarter of the Commission's producer-funded budget is appropriated to wheat research."

Research proposal applicants should consider the following three goals when submitting research proposals:

• Focus research by selecting research initiatives that support the industry's ability to gain and sustain market share profitably in both domestic and international markets.
• Educate Kansas wheat producers to adopt technologies that are shown by research and development to be profitable.
• Cooperate with the wheat supply chain to adopt and implement technologies and innovations that support the profitability of Kansas wheat producers.

Some specific areas of interest include:

New Variety Development

• Improvement of HRW and HW wheat varieties for Kansas.
• Improved insect and disease resistance.
• Wheat varieties with increased human health benefits.
• Quality screening of new wheat varieties.
• Use of wheat doubled haploids for rapid trait discovery and variety development.
• Develop wheat varieties that are consumed by people with gluten sensitivity (Celiac disease).

Production

• Insect and disease monitoring and development of new management tools.
• Development of new disease management tools.              
• Stored grain management tools.
• Best management practices to maximize yields and profit.

Testing Methods and Procedures

• Efficient and rapid market applicable test for identifying and predicting end-use quality of HW and HRW. Available to growers and grain trade for identifying and capturing value.

Trait Discovery and Biotechnology

• Identify traits that could be introduced into wheat that would encourage consumer acceptance.
• Yield enhancing and adaptability traits (heat tolerance, drought resistant, nitrogen-use efficiency, insect resistance, disease resistance).
• Tools, technologies and methods to sequence the wheat genome.
• Identify proteins that lead to gluten intolerance (Celiac disease).

Value-Added Uses

• Non-food or feed uses for wheat that return value directly to the farmer and have potential mass-market appeal.
• Identity preserved niche varieties for contract production.

Consumer Preferences

• Benefits of whole grains and healthful components of wheat in the diet.
• New uses of wheat.

To submit a two-page, preliminary letter of intent, the following must be included:

• Title, Estimated Project Cost (without budget),
• Project Status (new or continuing),
• Principal Investigators (contact information - including e-mail addresses),
• Introduction, Objectives, Project Location and Duration,
• Other Funding Received For Project (include other potential funding sources),
• Research Cooperators, Expected Outcome (including benefits to Kansas wheat producers).

Proposals not meeting these requirements will be rejected.

All letters of intent should be submitted via electronic mail in a Microsoft Word document or Adobe Acrobat format to aharries@kswheat.com no later than Nov. 28, 2012. Proposals are evaluated and prioritized by committee based on relevance to Kansas Wheat goals and funds available.

Proposals are evaluated and prioritized by committee based on relevance to Kansas Wheat goals and funds available. Not all research projects will be funded.