Industry Perspective on the USDA-SCRI Turfgrass Breeding Projects.

The Specialty Crop Research Initiative addresses the needs of the horticulture industry by awarding research and extension grants. The program focuses on national and regional challenges in sustaining conventional and organic agriculture. Projects address at least one of five focus areas: 1) Research in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and other methods to improve crop characteristics; 2) Threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators; 3) Improve production efficiency, handling and processing, productivity, and profitability; 4) Develop new innovations and technology, including those that delay or inhibit ripening; and 5) Address potential food safety hazards in the production efficiency, handling and processing of specialty crops. SCRI was part of H.R. 3242 Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004, and was included in Section 7311 of H.R. 2419 “Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.” SCRI was continued in Section 7306 of H.R. 2642 “Agricultural Act of 2014.” Turfgrass research became eligible to submit grant applications in 2009 after a rules and regulations change in Federal Register Volume 74, Number 58 (March 27, 2009) that stated “ ‘Specialty crops’ for the purpose of this rule, means fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture). The inclusion of horticulture means turfgrass sod is a covered commodity.” Since that time, four grants have been awarded to turfgrass scientists from more than ten land-grant universities. One of the projects focused on fine fescue breeding and barriers to its widespread use, while another is breeding several warm-season grasses for the south with improved drought and salinity tolerance.