by OAP Budget Justification Table 2022
2022 OAP Project Plan Submission Guidelines
Ogallala Aquifer Program (OAP) scientists are requested to submit a detailed Project Plan (suggested length 3-5 pages) that addresses the overall OAP Goal of “Developing and evaluating water management strategies and technologies for maintaining and/or enhancing the economic viability of the agriculture industry and the vitality of the Southern Ogallala Aquifer Region.” The process for this year will be similar to the past, but not identical and due dates are sooner.
Projects Plan Narratives as Word documents are due by May 6, 2022.
Budgets are due May 20, 2022. Please send as Excel files using the template provided.
Projects addressing the following five sub-objectives will have a greater chance for support:
1) Develop and evaluate water management strategies and technologies that could reduce water withdrawals for irrigation by 25% in 2025 compared to 2012, while maintaining and/or enhancing the economic viability of the agriculture industry and the vitality of the Southern Ogallala Aquifer Region.
2) Develop and evaluate management strategies and technologies that would increase the productivity and profitability of dryland cropping systems.
3) Improve the understanding of hydrological and climatic factors that affects water use and economic profitability, and provide estimates of the climatic, hydrologic, cropping, and profitability conditions that are likely to occur on the southern High Plains over the next 50 years.
4) Determine the impacts of alternative water withdrawal/use policies on the economic viability of the agriculture industry and the vitality of the Southern Ogallala Aquifer Region.
5) Best management practices for alternative crops that increase the sustainability of dryland farming or high-value crops that maintain farm income with decreasing pumping from the Ogallala Aquifer.
The prioritization process will favor projects that are multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary. Submissions will be evaluated by peer scientists and members of the OAP leadership using the attached OAP Pre Plan Rating Sheet as a guide.
The Project Plan Narrative should be divided into five sections, including:
1) Title
2) Investigator(s) on the research team and their institutional affiliation
3) Summary/abstract
4) Project narrative
a) Objective(s)
A brief statement identifying the OAP overall objective or sub-objective being addressed and how the results will help to achieve the objective.
b) Rationale/Literature Review/Conceptual framework
This section should provide the rationale for the proposed research. This rationale can be achieved in different ways including, but not limited to: 1) review of the literature to identify knowledge gaps; and 2) theoretical analysis of the problem and concept(s).
c) How the objective will be met
Statement of proposed activities including but not limited to: experimental design, methods, procedures, etc. The use of timelines is encouraged.
d) Expected outcomes including publications, economic assessments and technology transfer activities.
5) Literature Cited/References
Budget Information: Due May 20, 2022.
One budget Excel file and OAP Budget justification table must be submitted for each Pre Plan. These need to be submitted as Excel or Word files to facilities processing.
OAP typically does not reimburse for equipment purchases. All other direct expenses, including but not restricted to, greenhouse and field usage fees, sub-contracts for professional services (computer programming, sample analyses, etc.), etc. need to be described both on the form and in the Pre Plan narrative. Scientists should have their budgets reviewed by the appropriate pre-award offices at their university prior to submission.
Any questions can be directed to me, david.brauer@usda.gov or Gwen, gwen.coyle@usda.gov or the university PIs, Christy Bratcher (TTU), Dan Devlin (KSU), Kevin Pond (WTAMU), or John Tracy (TexasA&M AgriLife).
