Amount: $200,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Leopld Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Description: The Leopold Center, in cooperation with partners in several Upper Mississippi River Basin Alliances and initiatives, is collaborating in the development of a new generation of agricultural systems that will reduce harmful runoff and nutrient loss in strategic Midwest watersheds. These objectives are complementary to the Basin-wide effort and include: optimizing agricultural production on specific landscapes, facilitating land use change to create ecological buffers and water retention areas, and diversifying land use to increase production of perennials for biobased and energy crops. This request is in the interest of taxpayers because it works to identify economic, environmental and social solutions for some of the complex problems contributing to Gulf Hypoxia.

Amount: $600,000

Location: Muscatine, IA

Recipient: Agriculture Learning Center

Description: The Agricultural Learning Center (ALC) will give agriculture students a hands-on learning facility for agricultural sciences. This is in the interest of the taxpayers because it will assist in supplying a short job market in the agricultural field, such as the current extreme shortage of large animal veterinarians, agriculture educators and agribusiness employees for the Midwest’s number one industry.

Amount: $3,000,000

Location: Butte, MT

Recipient: National Center for Appropriate Technology

Description: ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service is a unique technical assistance service provided through a public/private partnership and a cooperative agreement between USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), a national nonprofit organization.  This project is in the interest of taxpayers because it offers technical information and assistance to farmers, ranchers, and agricultural information providers from all 50 states who are interested reducing production costs, conserving energy and other natural resources, expanding to new energy crops, and developing new markets for agricultural commodities, using sustainable practices.

Amount: $500,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Iowa State University

Description: The Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products (BIGMAP) will provide science-based analysis of the risks and benefits of genetically modified plant and animal products. It will provide guidance and education to help safeguard consumers and the environment.  This request is in the interest of taxpayers because BIGMAP provides guidance and recommendations to appropriate policy markets and regulators, private entities, and the public so that sound decisions can be made about the regulation of genetically modified agricultural products (GMAPs) to safeguard the public and the environment.

Amount: $937,500

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Iowa State University

Description: The Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) conducts innovative public policy and economic research on agricultural, environmental, and food issues. The CARD: Biofuels Impact Analysis program provides analyses of the effects of proposed policy options on the production of biofuels and on the cost and manufacturing of traditional agricultural and energy products.  These analyses are based on supply and demand models that make production and price projections of corn-based ethanol, cellulosic-based ethanol, and biodiesel from soy oil and other feedstocks.  This request is in the interest of the taxpayer because it examines the impact of natural resource policies on agriculture, food, and rural section.

Amount: $1,000,000

Location: Urbandale, IA

Recipient: Iowa Soybean Association

Description: Demands for increased yields in corn and soybean production to meet our energy and food demands are now matched by public interest for farmers to improve their environmental performance, energy efficiency, along with optimizing efficient management of all their inputs. The Iowa Soybean Association's Certified Environmental Management Systems for Agriculture (CEMSA) program is a sophisticated, yet practical and adaptable management tool ready to help farmers meet these sustainability challenges profitably and document their progress.  This request is in the interest of taxpayers because it benefits the public-at-large by helping farmers assess and reduce any negative impacts and increase positive impacts on natural resources such as water, air, soil, wildlife habitat, and energy.

Amount: $500,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Council for Agricultural Science and Technology

Description: CAST is a not-for-profit organization composed of 36 scientific societies and many individual, student, company, nonprofit, and associate society members.  The primary work of CAST is to produce and disseminate task force reports, commentary papers and issue papers written by scientists regarding issues facing agriculture. These publications interpret and communicate credible science-based information to legislators, policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the general public. This request is in the

Amount: $1,066,000

Location: Des Moines, IA

Recipient: Drake University

Description: Drake Law School is nationally recognized for its work on agricultural law and on legislative affairs. Through the Drake Agricultural

Amount: $178,000

Location: Des Moines, IA

Recipient: Drake University

Description: The Agricultural Law Center at Drake University provides support for legal analysis, research, education, training, and capacity building in relation to agricultural law, food policy and rural development, with special focus on issues at the state and local level.   Drake University will use the requested federal funding to continue its work as one of the nation’s only premier legal centers dedicated to the study of agricultural law, food policy and rural development issues.  This request is in the interest of the taxpayers because it helps provide needed legal analysis and assistance to facilitate new local markets through improved collaboration, outreach and training.  

Amount: $1,202,319

Location: Marshalltown, IA

Recipient: Farm Pilot Project Coordination

Description: With the current economic climate, swine, dairy, and poultry farmers are experiencing serious financial challenges.  This project would allow these farmers to significantly increase production and employment, while advancing environmentally sound and innovative manure treatment technology systems. This project is in the interest of the taxpayer because the project will measure potential for job creation and environmentally sound industry progress.  FPPC will support swine, dairy and poultry farmers in the advancement of environmentally sound and innovative treatment technology systems to convert the nutrient content of the waste streams from animal feeding operations into reusable resources.

Amount: $1,500,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Iowa State University, University of Missouri

Description: The Agricultural Law Center at Drake University provides support for legal analysis, research, education, training, and capacity building in relation to agricultural law, food policy and rural development, with special focus on issues at the state and local level.   Drake University will use the requested federal funding to continue its work as one of the nation’s only premier legal centers dedicated to the study of agricultural law, food policy and rural development issues.  This request is in the interest of the taxpayers because it helps provide needed legal analysis and assistance to facilitate new local markets through improved collaboration, outreach and training.  

Amount: $2,500,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Iowa State University

Description: The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) is a unique, dual-university research program - Iowa State University and the University of Missouri - that uses comprehensive data and computer modeling systems to analyze the complex economic interrelationships of the food and agriculture sector. FAPRI prepares baseline projections each year for the U.S. agricultural sector and international commodity markets. These baseline projections provide a starting point for evaluating and comparing scenarios involving macroeconomic, policy, weather, and technology variables.  This request is in the interest of taxpayers because FAPRI baselines are used use by farmers, government agencies and officials, agribusinesses, and others who do medium-range and long-term planning in the food and agriculture industries. 

Amount: $300,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Iowa State University

Description: The Food Safety Consortium consists of researchers from the University of Arkansas, Iowa State University and Kansas State University that conduct extensive investigation into all areas of poultry, beef and pork meat production, from the farm to the consumer's table.  This request is in the interest of taxpayers because it addresses food safety in the pork, poultry and beef industries. 

Amount: $650,000

Location: Des Moines, IA

Recipient: Iowa Biotechnology Association

Description: The future of the biofuel industry depends on the introduction of biomass – any organic material made from plants or animals – as an economic source of ethanol and biodiesel.  Unfortunately, the use of field-dried plant biomass for biofuels may contribute toxic compounds, including herbicides, pesticides, and mycotoxins, to the feed made as a co-product of biofuels.  This initiative is developing protocols to detect, monitor, and remediate biological and chemical impurities in solid and liquid co-products without reducing the nutritional value of feed.  This request is in the interest of taxpayers because it addresses the critical goal of ensuring that biomass feed stocks production, as well as biofuels and bioenergy production processes, are environmentally acceptable through the development and application of modern agricultural and biotechnology tools.

Amount: $743,866

Location: Cedar Falls, IA

Recipient: University of Northern Iowa

Description: Iowa Biotechnology Association is working to determine the feasibility of using corn stover biomass to create renewable sources of energy and materials. They also are working to advance the commercialization of pyrolysis faction technology. This request is in the interest of the taxpayers because it will allow Iowa to diversify its renewable energy portfolio and create rural jobs.

Amount: $500,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Iowa Community Vitality Center

Description: There is a growing movement among health professionals, school officials, and local organizers to transform school food environment to offer fresh meals and food. UNI will work closely with 20 school districts to create change and offer healthier meals to their students. This request is in the interest of the taxpayer because it will create community connections between local growers and schools to offer the freshest local food while being cost effective.Iowa is working to revitalize the rural areas of the state to support strong economies that will be competitive in the 21st century. This request is in the interest of the taxpayers because it will be used by the Community Vitality Center, a unit of the Iowa Extension Service, to collaborate with community leaders representing diverse interests from across the state sustain and boost economic growth in rural communities

Amount: $330,000

Location: Cedar Falls, IA

Recipient: Linn County

Description: According to the Small Business Administration, Iowa historically has ranked near the bottom nationally in business startups.  Small businesses with less than five employees account for 86 percent of Iowa businesses, yet these enterprises increasingly are bypassed by existing entrepreneurial assistance and capital networks, particularly in non-metro areas.  Population trends indicate that in many cases, areas beyond convenient commuting zones of metropolitan and regional centers have not sustained economic and social competitiveness, nor have they adequately invested and renewed the infrastructure of regional roads, utilities, and housing.

Amount: $1,500,000

Location: Des Moines, IA

Recipient: Iowa NCRS

Description: This request would work to reduce flood damage, gully erosion damage, stream channel degradation, and improve water quality in the Little Sioux River Watershed. This is in the interest of the taxpayers because it provides local landowners and local governments to achieve more economically reasonable installation of erosion and flood control.

Amount: $300,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Iowa State University

Description: Midwest Agribusiness Trade Research and Information Center (MATRIC) was created as a research center to expand opportunities for international trade and investment by small and mid-sized agribusiness firms in the U.S. Midwest. This request is in the interest of taxpayers because MATRIC addresses a range of trade topics relating to economic potential, food safety, marketing, and branding, transportation, and trade barriers. MATRIC also disseminates information and promotes U.S. agricultural products through seminars, training programs, conferences, and promotional activities.

Amount: $1,500,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Iowa State University

Description: The Midwest Poultry Consortium is a public/private partnership created to address research needs of the poultry industry.  The Program aims to improve efficiency and sustainability of poultry production through integrated, collaborative research and technology transfer.  This request is in the interest of taxpayers because it provides producers with valuable new knowledge and techniques that enhance animal production and welfare, strengthen producer profitability along the supply chain, and ensure safe poultry food products.

Amount: $1,000,000

Location: Cedar Falls, IA

Recipient: University of Northern Iowa

Description: UNI’s National Agriculture-Based Lubricants (NABL) Center is as a nonprofit, University-based research and testing facility dedicated to the advancement of biobased lubricants.  The objectives of the Center are to engage in applied research investigating the use of agricultural crop oils in lubricant applications (biolubricants), to continue market advocacy to gain greater acceptance, and to provide testing services in support of biorenewable lubricants and greases.  This request is in the interest of the taxpayers because advancements in biobased lubricants will result in more environmentally acceptable lubricants made from domestic resources as well as tangible economic benefits for rural America.   

Amount: $1,600,000

Location: Iowa City, IA

Recipient: University of Iowa

Description: The project will provide new monitoring, predictive tools, and support for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) efforts in the Midwest and with the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative to reduce pollutants to the Mississippi River. It would aid current federal, state, and local programs and create a new strategy for near real-time modeling, offering an integrated management tool that could be used throughout the nation and internationally.

Amount: $800,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Iowa State University

Description: A critical component of our national strategy for reducing our dependence on petroleum and other fossil fuels is the development and use of increasing amounts of biomass for biofuels, bioproducts and bioenergy.  The emerging bioeconomy depends on the simultaneous improvement of biomass feedstock production, harvest, transport and storage technologies, and biomass processing technology development.  Integration of these functions will optimize their resource utilization and economics.  The BioCentury Research Farm at Iowa State University is the nation’s first integrated research and demonstration facility dedicated to the full spectrum of biomass production and processing.  This request is in the interest of taxpayers because it will focus on biomass crop selection, improvement, and production, and on harvesting, storage, and transportation challenges.  Both projects will involve a systems approach for perennial crop production and innovative cropping systems to enhance carbon sequestration and help mitigate climate change. 

Amount: $698,00

Location: Cedar Falls, IA

Recipient: University of Northern Iowa

Description: Recently there has been an increase interest in the use of plants as biofuels to reduce atmospheric carbon and our dependence on fossil fuels. Interest also has increased in native prairie species for biomass production as an alternative fuel. This request would be in the interest of the taxpayers because the research would lower energy costs, create more sustainable energy, reduce atmospheric carbon, reduction in soil erosion, and increase wildlife habitat.

Amount: $252,00

Location: Pella,IA

Recipient: Central College

Description: Native grasses and prairie plants have tremendous potential as a fuel source and for other uses in agriculture. Recent research has shown that diverse plantings of prairie vegetation have the potential produce more bioenergy per acre than other crops, especially on a net energy basis. These native biomass feedstocks can be used to produce ethanol or other biofuels fuels, generate electricity, or serve as feedstocks for biobased products. Central College has begun work to examine the use of diverse plantings of prairie grasses and forbs to simultaneously: produce biomass for the production of ethanol and other fuels; provide habitat for plants & animals that are declining due to habitat loss; and sequester carbon. This request is in the interest of the taxpayer because it will help to determine which prairie vegetation will provide the best energy and environmental benefits.

Amount: $700,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Iowa State University

Description: The chemical typically used to extract oil from the soybean is petroleum-based, and has the potential to cause environmental damage. This request is in the interest of the taxpayers because it will develop and improved the design for the next generation biorefinery using a water-based extraction and enzyme-catalyzed conversion technology to remove soybean oil and protein co-products that may have high value in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. 

Amount: $2,500,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Iowa State University

Description: Current problems in food safety are global and systemic, and public confidence in U.S. food safety is hurt. The CDC estimates one in four Americans is affected by food borne illnesses each year. This new initiative was created to address these growing concerns by using groundbreaking science and technologies that will enable a rapid, sensitive, and reliable detection of contamination and seamless integration of that data to an information grid. This request is in the interest of the taxpayers because the proposed creation of the Infrastructure for System Approach to Food Safety Enhancement will advance scientific knowledge and technologies vital for developing a paid detection and response to food safety and security events.

Amount: $2,000,000

Location: Columbia, MO

Recipient: University of Missouri

Description: The Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) aim is to spur public dialogue and help policymakers understand the rural impacts of public policies and programs. This request is in the interest of taxpayers because RUPRI provides unbiased analysis and information to policy makers on the challenges, needs, and opportunities facing rural America.

Amount: $595,000

Location: Des Moines, IA

Recipient: Iowa NCRS

Description: Landowners and communities need assistance in installing planned systems of soil and water conservation practices to slow water runoff and reduce erosion damage to agricultural land, public infrastructure including roads and bridges, and to reduce sediment and associated agricultural nutrients and pesticides being delivered to streams and rivers. This project will reduce flood damage, gully erosion damage, stream channel degradation, and improve water quality within the Soap Creek Watershed in Davis, Wapello, Monroe, and Appanoose counties, Iowa. This project is in the interest of taxpayers because it reduces the environmental impact of flooding and reduces the costs associated with flood recovery.

Amount: $5,000,000

Location: Ames, IA

Recipient: Iowa State University

Description: The U.S. pork industry has faced significant and serious economic, social, and production challenges in the previous and upcoming years. This initiative of the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence provides coordination, collaboration, and prioritization to swine research education and extension efforts on issues of national significance to all stakeholders in the U.S. pork industry. This request is in the interest of the taxpayers because adds value to the pork industry by facilitating and coordinating national and regional collaborations in research and technology transfer among its partners to support pork producers in all parts of the country.

Amount: $193,00

Location: Cedar Rapids, IA

Recipient: Trees Forever

Description: This project will develop and apply more sophisticated technology and forecasting, add more flood control measures where they matter most and “re-tool” our landscape. This project is in the interest of taxpayers because it reduces the environmental impact of flooding and reduces the costs associated with flood recovery.

Amount: $300,000

Location: Urbandale, IA

Recipient: Iowa Soybean Association

Description: One of the greatest challenges to achieving improvements in water quality and watershed health is the lack of technical assistance and planning funding for farmers and other stakeholders in watersheds.   The Iowa Soybean Association's Watershed Management and Demonstration Program works with producers and other stakeholders in a watershed to measure, evaluate, and investigate farming practices for their potential impacts on production, profitability and water quality.  This request is in the interest of taxpayers because it looks to improve the health and water quality in watersheds throughout the state of Iowa.