Nursery Research Grant Program

The Nursery Research Grant Program is administered by the Oregon Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Oregon Association of Nurseries to support applied research that directly benefits the nursery industry in Oregon. Funding for the program is derived primarily from a Nursery Research Assessment Fee that is collected through nursery licensing, ensuring that the program is industry-supported and aligned with sector priorities. The program operates on an annual cycle and funds multiple research projects each year, as evidenced by the support of ten projects in a recent cycle. The primary purpose of the program is to advance research that addresses critical challenges and opportunities within the nursery industry. This includes efforts to prevent and eliminate plant diseases and insect pests, including both common threats and emerging risks, as well as the development and improvement of cultivation methods, technologies, and plant cultivars. The program is designed to produce practical, industry-relevant outcomes that can be adopted by nurseries to improve productivity, sustainability, and resilience. Funding is provided for research activities conducted over a one-calendar-year period. Applicants are required to submit concise proposals that clearly demonstrate the relevance and benefit of the proposed work to the Oregon nursery industry. While the program supports a range of direct project costs such as personnel, travel, and supplies, indirect costs are explicitly disallowed. This restriction ensures that all awarded funds are directed toward tangible research activities and outcomes rather than administrative overhead. Eligibility is broadly defined to include researchers and institutions capable of conducting relevant work; however, projects must demonstrate a direct benefit to the Oregon nursery industry. Proposals from outside Oregon may face limitations if contractual arrangements cannot be established to meet state requirements, indicating a preference for in-state or closely aligned collaborators. Each proposal must identify a principal investigator and collaborators, along with institutional affiliations and contact details, and must designate a primary point of contact for grant administration. The application process requires submission of a proposal via email in PDF format. Proposals must include key components such as background context, clearly defined objectives and expected outcomes, detailed methods, a project timeline covering the full year, and a comprehensive budget. Submissions are limited to two pages and must succinctly convey the value and feasibility of the project. The submission deadline for the referenced cycle is September 12 at 5:00 pm. Applications are reviewed by representatives from the nursery industry, who evaluate and prioritize submissions based on relevance and potential impact. Applicants may be asked to revise and resubmit proposals if additional clarification or development is warranted. Final funding decisions are made by the review committee, and awards are issued by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Successful applicants must comply with reporting requirements, including submission of a mid-year progress report and a final report, both of which are required for payment disbursement. Funding is distributed in three installments tied to project milestones: an initial payment upon approval and execution of the award agreement, a second payment upon acceptance of the mid-year report, and a final payment upon approval of the final report. The program follows an annual cycle with recurring opportunities, and interested applicants are encouraged to join the program contact list to receive announcements and updates about future funding rounds.

Clearly demonstrate direct benefit to the Oregon nursery industry; keep proposal concise and within two pages; align research outcomes with practical industry needs