Background
The Minnesota State Legislature has a strong history of responsiveness to the concerns of citizens involved with our state's natural resources. A recent example is the devastating impact "scab" has had on small grain crops such as wheat and barley. Growers who depend on those crops appealed to the legislature for special funding of control and eradication research, and breeding efforts to develop resistant varieties. In a few short years, promising advances have taken shape as a result of that initiative.
Often, however, attention to such problems has been piecemeal; they are insufficiently coordinated with activities already underway within Minnesota's research institutions. Every group with a need for assistance has had to press its case individually, tying up legislative time and attention.
The University of Minnesota, particularly the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, has long been a focus for research related to our natural resources. Recognizing this, the legislature looked to the University and MAES for direction and coordination of research initiatives needing special emphasis or rapid response.
The Legislative Response
To improve speed of response and organize the decision making process, in 1998 the Minnesota State Legislature authorized a program and created a fund to enable rapid responses to urgent issues and challenges that have arisen and face Minnesota's agriculture and natural resource based industries. An initial allocation of $1.5 million was provided for designated projects in 1998, and a recurring allocation of $1 million was created in 1999.
Under the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, the Rapid Agricultural Response Fund has enlisted the support of faculty in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences, College of Education and Human Development, and Veterinary Medicine, as well as the support of the University of Minnesota Extension Service.
2024-2025 RARF Projects
| PROJECT LEADER(S) | PROJECT TITLE |
|---|---|
| Luciano Caixeta | The utilization of technology to address major challenges in the dairy industry using hyperketonemia as a test case |
| Cesar Corzo | Evaluation of manure pumping as a factor for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) incidence, exacerbation, increased shedding and decreased performance |
| Fabian Fernandez | Controlled-release nitrogen and split applications to enhance corn production and environmental protection |
| Bradley Heins and Isaac Salfer | Genetic selection for reducing greenhouse gas emissions of Holstein and Crossbred Dairy Cattle |
| Natalie Hoidal | Assessing the state of soils on Minnesota’s emerging vegetable farms |
| Timothy Johnson and Randall Singer | What drives Streptococcus gallolyticus success in commercial turkeys? |
| Jennifer Kimball | Innovations in Weed Management Strategies for Cultivated Wild Rice Production |
| Mariana Kikuti | Development of animal welfare-friendly sampling strategies to investigate recently introduced porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) viruses into breeding herds |
| Robert Koch | Rapid response to a new leaf-mining pest of soybean in Minnesota: Evaluating the magnitude of the treat and control methods |
| Hinh Ly | Development of a new generation of viral vectored vaccines against swine influenza virus |
| Montse Torremorell | Investigating the effect of viral strain on the airborne transmission of PRRS virus |
| Zheng Xing | Development of a Novel MicroRNA Targeting-based Avian Influenza Virus Vaccine Platform |
Off cycle RARF projects funded
| PROJECT LEADER(S) | PROJECT TITLE |
| Kahina Boukherroub | Targeting Oxidative Stress in the Lower Reproductive Tract to Improve Fertility in Turkey Breeder Hens |
| George E. Heimpel | Risks and benefits of the samurai wasp, Trissolcus japonicus, in Minnesota |
| Albert Rovira | Early response to the newly introduced pathogens Avian Metapneumovirus subtypes A and B: development, validation and application of diagnostic tools |
2022-2023 RARF Projects
| PROJECT LEADER | PROJECT TITLE |
|---|---|
| Erin Cortus | Greenhouse gas sampling approaches for Minnesota livestock farms |
| Brian Crooker | Reducing mastisis in the dairy cow by increasing the prevalence of beneficial polymorphisms in genes associated with mastisis resistance - RENEWAL |
| Fabian Fernandez | Controlled-release nitrogen and split applications to enhance corn production and environmental protection |
| Kahina Ghanem | Prolonging fertility in turkey breeders as a sustainable model for poultry production: The role of the Immune System |
| Timothy Griffis | Improved prediction of the atmospheric transport and fate of Dicamba - RENEWAL |
| Anup Kollanor Johny | Autochthonous bacteriophages for preharvest safety of turkeys: Integrating Salmonella’s phage immune determinants (SaPhIDs) to phage therapy design |
| Robert Koch | Evaluating biological control for soybean gall midge, a new pest of soybean in Minnesota |
| Peter Larsen and Davis Seelig | Developing best practices for the detection and decontamination of Chronic Wasting Disease prions associated with venison processing |
| Debalin Sarangi | Managing herbicide-resistant weeds using cover crops |
| Brian Steffenson | Genetics and breeding of bacterial leaf streak resistance in barley - RENEWAL |
2020-2021 RARF Projects
| PROJECT LEADER | PROJECT TITLE |
|---|---|
| Matthew Clark | Determining Distribution, Impact, and Management Options for Grapevine Trunk Disease in Minnesota Vineyards |
| Brian Crooker | Reducing Mastitis in the Dairy Cow by Increasing the Prevalence of Beneficial Polymorphisms in Genes Associated with Mastitis Resistance |
| Sagar Goyal | Development of Diagnostic Strategies for Porcine Circovirus Type 3 Infections |
| George Heimpel | How Parasitoid Mortality Limits Biological Control of Soybean Aphid |
| William Hutchison | Rapid Response to Japanese Beetle as a New Pest of Wine Grapes & Raspberry |
| Anup Kollanor Johny | Not All Salmonella Are Created Equal: A Comprehensive Study to Determine the Efficacy of Alternative Interventions to Control Emerging Salmonella Serovars of Food Safety Importance in Turkey Production and Processing |
| Jennifer Kimball | Innovations in Controlling Riceworm in Cultivated Wild Rice |
| Robert Koch | Insecticide Resistance Management for Soybean Aphid: Understanding Biological Mechanisms and Grower Practices |
| Peter Larsen | Rapid Next-Generation Diagnostics for Chronic Wasting Disease |
| Hihn Ly | Development of a Novel Vaccine to Protect Turkeys from Hemorrhagic Enteritis Virus Infection |
| Krishona Martinson | Equine Carcass Composting: Demonstration Leads to Industry Adoption |
| Sunil Mor and Robert Porter | Re-Emerging Turkey Arthritis Reovirus in Minnesota Turkeys: Comparative Pathogenesis and Development of Control Strategies - Renewal |
| Abby Neu | NPIP Biosecurity Audits: Comprehensive Success in Minnesota by 2020 and Beyond |
| Lindsay Pease | Providing Critical Support to Minnesota Farmers for Phosphorus Risk Assessment |
| Maria Pieters | A Comprehensive Approach to Elucidate the Detection of Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae in Processing Fluids and its Potential for Disease Monitoring and Surveillance |
| Maria Pieters | Increasing Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae Eradication Success by Investigating Antimicrobial Susceptibility |
| Brian Steffenson | Genetics and Breeding of Bacterial Leaf Streak Resistance in Barley |
| Fabio Vannucci | Evaluation of biosecurity procedures to prevent indirect transmission of Senecavirus A |
| Sinisa Vidovic | Characterization of Novel Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins as Vaccine Targets to Reduce or Eliminate Salmonella Colonization in Turkeys |
2018-2019 RARF Projects
| PROJECT LEADER | PROJECT TITLE |
|---|---|
| Julio Alvarez and Andres Perez | Characterization of emergent antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella strains residing at the animal-human interface to guide evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine |
| Rafael Bisinotto and Gerald Cramer | The relationship between early lactation hoof lesions and behavior, inflammatory mediators, and reproductive performance in dairy cows |
| Robert Craven | Financial counseling to help financially stressed producers explore options to survive |
| William Hutchison | Spotted Wing Drosophila risk and management solutions for the wine grape industry |
| Timothy Johnson | MnPoPPA: Informing strategies for autogenous vaccine development in poultry |
| Lee Johnson | Development of low-carbon footprint energy systems for swine production facilities |
| Anup Johny | Investigating the efficacy of multiple antimicrobial interventions against Salmonella Heidelberg colonization in turkeys - Renewal |
| Hinh Ly | Development of a novel vaccine to protect turkeys from Hemorrhagic enteritis virus infection |
| Sunil Kumar Mor | Re-emerging turkey arthritis reovirus in Minnesota turkeys: development of novel diagnostic assays and control strategies |
| Christopher Philips and Robert Koch | Evaluating infestation and potential natural enemies of brown marmorated stink bug in Minnesota apple orchards |
| Roger Ruan | Atmospheric pressure Non-thermal plasma for sanitizing animal production facility air |
| Matthew Russell | Minnesota's rural forests and the expanding emerald ash borer: Landscape risks and forest management response |
| Kevin Smith | Stems of Steel: a structural engineering approach to improve lodging resistance in cereals |
| Montserrat Torremorell | A comprehensive surveillance system to control influenza virus in pigs |
2016-2017 RARF Projects
| PROJECT LEADER | PROJECT TITLE |
|---|---|
| Sandra Godden | Evaluation of a longer duration protocol to heat-treat Bovine Colostrum on colostrum characteristics, and on passive transfer, health and Johne's Disease Control in Minnesota dairy calves |
| Bo Hu | Reducing sulfide generation by electrochemical treatment of liquid manure in deep-pit manure storage systems |
| Johny Anup | Investigating the efficacy of multiple antimicrobial interventions against Salmonella Heidelberg colonization in turkeys |
| Angela Orshinsky | Development of a risk assessment model for tomato leaf mold infection in Minnesota |
| Christopher Philips | Creating a risk-based decision support tool and early-warning system for Spotted-wing Drosophila |
| Patrick Redig | Surveillance for high-consequence poultry diseases in wild bird reservoirs: Influenza and Newcastle Disease |
| Montserrat Torremorell | A comprehensive surveillance system to control influenza virus in pigs |
| Gerard Cramer | Evaluating the Relationship Between Hyperketonemia and Lameness in MN Dairy Herds |
| George Heimpel | The role of Insecticidal Seed Treatments in Limiting Biological Control of Soybean Aphid |
| Bo Hu | Mechanism Study of Manure Foaming in the Swine Pit Storage |
| William Hutchison | Canopy Management and High Tunnel use for Maximizing Control of Spotted Wing Drosophila in Raspberry |
| Yuzhi Li | Using a Novel Approach, Social Network Analysis, to Remedy Animal Welfare Concerns Raised by Consumers |
| Ian MacRae | Remote Sensing in Agricultural Production |
| Douglas Marthaler | Transdisciplinary Approach to Characterize the Diversity of Streptococcus Suis, Leading to Rapid Genotyping by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) |
| Srinand Sreevatsan | A Universal Nanoparticle Based Mucosal Delivery Subunit Vaccine for Animal Disease |
| Fabio Vannucci | Transmission of Senecavirus A by Artificial Insemination and the Impact on the Production of Piglets |
2014-2015 RARF Projects
| PROJECT LEADER | PROJECT TITLE |
|---|---|
| Robert Blanchette | Rapid Diagnostic Methods to Combat a New Disease of Conifer Trees in Minnesota: Heterobasidion Root Rot causing Circles of Death |
| Jim Collins | Development of a Rapid, High Throughput Real-time RT-PCR Diagnostic Tool and Complete Genome Characterization of US Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus |
| Jim Collins | Identifying the genetic diversity of swine group B and C rotaviruses: Steps Toward Developing a Universal Rotavirus B / C Subunit Vaccine |
| Ruth Dill-Macky | Bacterial Leaf Streak of Wheat and Barley |
| Connie Gebhart | Analysis of Virulence-Associated Genes in Known and Novel Brachyspira Species to Develop Pathogen-Specific Diagnostic Assays |
| Jeffrey Gunsolus | Crop Rotation Strategies for Management of Glyphosate-Resistance Weeds |
| George Heimpel | Experimental releases of a Newly-Approved Asian Biological Control Agent of the Soybean Aphid |
| Bradley Heins | Integration of Renewable Energy Technologies to 'Green' Energy Consumed in Dairy and Swine Production Systems |
| Bill Hutchison | Population Dynamics of Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) in Minnesota: Predicting and Examining the Geographic Spread of an Invasive Fruit Pest |
| Timothy Johnson | Role of the Bacterial Microbiome in Optimal Commercial Turkey Production |
| Robert Koch | Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM) in Minnesota Soybean |
| Dean Malvick | Advancing Knowledge to Manage Goss's Wilt of Corn, a New Disease in Minnesota |
| Marla Spivak | Responding to an S.O.S. from the Commercial Beekeeping Industry |
| Zheng Xing | Identification, Culture and Virulence Studies of Heartland Virus-like Bunyaviruses in Minnesota Food Animals |
2012-2013 RARF Projects
| Project Leader | Project Title |
|---|---|
| Ricardo Chebel | Effects of Stocking Density and Grouping Strategies of Prepartum Dairy Cows on Wellbeing, Behavior, Innate and Humoral Immunity, and Productive and Economic Performance |
| Ruth Dill-Macky | Bacterial Leaf Streak of Wheat and Barley |
| George Heimpel | Successful Biological Control of Soybean Aphid: The Link to Buckthorn |
| Bo Hu | Microbial Analysis of Foaming Swine Manure to Improve Deep-Pitted Swine Barn Safety |
| Pam Ismail | Patulin Control and Detection in Apple Juice and Cider |
| Michael Murtaugh | Threat Assessment of PRRSV Isolates in High Season PRRS |
| Kakambi Nagaraja | Cellulitis in Turkeys: Pathogenesis and Control |
| Ken Ostlie | Corn Rootworms: Exploring Potential Resistance to Transgenic Corn |
| Raymie Porter | Wildrice Breeding Resources Advancement, Preservation, and Genetic Distinctiveness |
| Robert Porter and Sagar Goyal | Novel Turkey Reovirus in Minnesota: Virus Characterization and Determination of its Role in Turkey Lameness |
| Albert Rovira | Investigation of a Possibly Emerging Disease Referred to as Peri-Weaning Failure to Thrive Syndrome in Minnesota Swine Herds |
| Stephanie Valberg | Seasonal Pasture Myopathy: An Emerging Disease in Minnesota |
2010-2011 RARF Projects
| PROJECT LEADER | PROJECT TITLE |
|---|---|
| James Anderson | Breeding Wheat Varieties Resistant to the Ug99 Race of Stem Rust |
| Kevin Janni | Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and disease transmission from animal facilities with gas-phase biofilters |
| Lee Johnston | Moving pork producers to socially acceptable sow housing: Transition from gestation stalls to group-housing |
| Srinand Sreevatsan | Population genetic frameworks of Mycobacterium bovis and their correlation with virulence and environmental survival |
| Senyu Chen | Developing critical technology for managing the emerging virulent populations of the soybean cyst nematode |
| Marcia Endres | Evaluating utilization of recycled manure solids as bedding material for freestall dairy barns in the upper Midwest |
| Kevin Janni | Air Emissions Mitigation Techniques for Sand Bedded Dairies |
| Srinand Sreevatsan | Development and Evaluation of a Universal swine/avian Influenza Vaccine |
| Jim Collins | Preparing Minnesota for the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in fish |
| Francisco Diez-Gonzalez | Effect of feeding distiller's grains on Escherichia coli 0157:H7 prevalence in feedlot cattle |
| William Hutchison | Univoltine European Corn Borer in Southern Minnesota Sweet Corn: Impact, Research and Response to an Expanding Ecotype |
| Sally Noll | Do feed ingredients affect microbial pathogens and thus indirectly impact poultry health and meat safety? |
| Devi Patnayak | The role of astrovirus and other enteric viruses in poult enteritis syndrome |
| Jun Zhu | Co-digesting the wasted milk from dairy operations with cattle slurry to reduce water pollution |
| Don Wyse | Hazelnuts as a Multifunctional New Crop for Minnesota |
| Robert Craven | Developing University of Minnesota Extension's Capacity to Support the Minnesota Farm Assistance Network |
| Larry Jacobson | Determining Commonality among Swine Barn Pit Explosions |
| Montserrat Torremorell | Understanding Transmission of Swine Influenza under field Conditions |
| Kevin Janni | Assessing and Optimizing the Performance of a Small Dairy Farm Digester |
| Mel Baughman | Emerald Ash Borer in Minnesota: Taking the Lead on Preparing Communities |
2008-2009 RARF Projects
| PROJECT LEADER | PROJECT TITLE |
|---|---|
| Christian Thill | Early Generation Selecting Strategies to Reduce Potato Virus Y (PVY) Incidence Earlier in Breeding |
| Dean Malvick | Assessment and Management of Sudden Death Syndrome of Soybeans, an Emerging Disease in Minnesota |
| Simone Oliveira | Surveillance of Highly Virulent Haemophilus parasuis Strains affecting North American Swine Herds using Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) |
| Stan Hokanson | Diversifying Minnesota’s Biofuel Feedstocks: An Evaluation of Nitrogen-fixing Woody Plant Germplasm |
| Bill Hutchinson | Reducing the Risk of Corn Rootworm Damage to Sweet Corn: Exploiting Planting Date and New Monitoring Tools |
| Sagar Goyal | Etiology and Pathogenesis of the New "Poult Enteritis Syndrome" |
| Marcia Endres | Evaluating Animal Performance and Welfare in Two New Dairy Housing Options in the Upper Midwest |
| Scott Dee | Investigating Complex Swine Diseases Using a Model of a Swine Production Region |
| Eric Watkins | Reducing Economic Loss Caused by Stem and Crown Rust in Perennial Ryegrass |
| Marla Spivak | Maintaining the Vitality of Bee Pollinators and the Honey Producing Industry in Minnesota (Renewal) |
| Sally Noll | Utilization of Byproducts from the Biofuels Industry as Feed Ingredients for Commercial Turkey Production |
| Andrew David | Conservation of Minnesota’s Ash Genetic Resources in Response to Emerald Ash Borer |
| Jeffrey A. Davis | Using Marker Assisted Selection to Accelerate Development of Potato Cultivators That Pyramid Novel Sourses of Aphid, Virus and Late Blight Resistence |
| David Ragsdale | Incorporating Natural Enemies into the Economic Thresholds for Soybean Aphid |
| Ken Ostlie | Corn Rootworms: Adaptation, Risk & Transgenic Corn |
| Kakambi Nagaraja | Cellulitis in Turkeys: Pathogenesis and its Control using an Inactivated Vaccine |
| Larry Jacobson | Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Measurements to Existing Dairy and Turkey Barn Gas Monitoring Projects |
| Scott Wells | Reducing Interactions between Cattle and White-tailed Deer in Northern Minnesota |
| Brian Buhr | Special RARF 2008-2009 Bovine TB Funding: Economic Impact of Bovine Tuberculosis on the Minnesota Cattle Industry |
| Alfredo DeCostanzo | Special RARF 2008-2009 Bovine TB Funding: Assessment of the Value of Spayed Heifers for Marketing |
| Alfredo DiCostanzo | Special RARF 2008-2009 Bovine TB Funding: Managing Feed Intake in Beef Cattle Herds to Reduce TB Transmission Risk |
| Timothy Goldsmith | Special RARF 2008-2009 Bovine TB Funding: Assessment of Bovine TB Diagnostic Testing Strategies |
| Ryon Walker | Special RARF 2008-2009 Bovine TB Funding: Education and Extension Activities Related to the Bovine TB Initiative |
| Scott Wells | Special RARF 2008-2009 Bovine TB Funding: Qualitative Risk Assessment of Bovine TB in Northern Minnesota |
| Scott Wells | Special RARF 2008-2009 Bovine TB Funding: Use of Electrified Fencing to Mitigate Cattle-Deer Interactions on Minnesota Cattle Farms |
| James A. Anderson | Breeding Wheat Varieties Resistant to the Ug99 Race of Stem rust |
| Kevin A. Janni | Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and disease transmission form animal facilities with gas-phase biofilters |
| Lee J. Johnston | Moving Pork Producers to socially acceptable sow housing: Transition from Gestation Stall to Group-Housing |
| Srinand Sreevatsan | Population Genetic Frameworks of Mycobacterium bovis and Their Correlation with Virulence and Environmental Survival |
| Senyu Chen | Developing Critical Technology for Managing the Emerging Virulent Populations of the Soybean Cyst Nematode |
| Marcia Endres | Evaluating Utilization of Recycled Manure Solids as Bedding Material for Freestall Dairy Barns in the Upper Midwest |
| Kevin A. Janni | Emissions Mitigation Techniques for Sand-Bedded Dairies |
| Srinand Sreevatsan | Development and Evaluation of a Universal Swine/Avian Influenza Vaccine |
| James Collins | Preparing Minnesota for the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus in Fish |
| Francisco Diez-Gonzalez | Effect of Feeding Distiller’s Grain on Escherichia coli 0157:H7 Prevalence in Feedlot Cattle |
| Bill Hutchinson | Univoltine European Corn Borer in Southern Minnesota Sweet Corn: Impact, Research and Response to an Expanding Ecotype |
| Sally Noll | Do Feed Ingredients Affect Gut Microbial Pathogens and Thus Indirectly Impact Poultry Health and Meat Safety? |
| Devi Patnayak | The Role of Astrovirus and Other Enteric Viruses in Poult Enteritis Syndrome |
| Jun Zhu | Co-digesting the Wasted Milk from Dairy Operations with Cattle Slurry to Reduce Water Pollution |