NTEP signs agreement with USDA for $32.4 million in turfgrass research
22 Jun, 2004 LM Week in ReviewWashington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" (MOU) with the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) to develop the National Turfgrass Research Initiative.
Under the $32.4 million agreement, the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will hire 72 turfgrass scientists and fund about $10 million in university research projects. According to Kevin Morris, NTEP's executive director, Congress must still authorize the funding.
"This is the first attempt to provide the type of long-term research that has been key to the success of all other major crops," said ARS Acting Administrator Edward B. Knipling at the signing ceremony.
The new initiative will support research in six priority areas identified by the industry as its top research needs:
- improvement of water management
- germplasm collection and enhancement
- pest management
- improving turfgrass' role in the environment
- soil enhancement
- integrated turf management systems.
For more info, see "ARS, Turfgrass Group Sign Research Pact," USDA, June 3, 2004.
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