From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath
The USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) funded as part of the Farm Bill provides multi-million-dollar grants to solve problems identified as priorities by specialty crop producers. Last year the USDA awarded a planning grant to the University of Florida to plan a grant proposal on Fusarium wilt of watermelon. The preproposal will be submitted in January 2024 and, if selected, the full proposal in spring 2024.
I am involved in this effort and am looking for growers or industry representatives from the seed, breeding, greenhouse, or chemical industries to join a virtual listening session and planning meeting in August 2023. Industry personnel should be those whose territories include South Carolina. Please let me know with an email to tknth@clemson.edu.
Stakeholder participation in grant planning is required for the preproposal to be advanced. After a difficult year with Fusarium wilt on watermelon, this opportunity comes at a really good time. Participating in this meeting will help secure funding for research on Fusarium wilt to continue in 2025-2027.
The South Carolina Grower 