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<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-no-proof: yes"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA1.1391205517@aol.com" height=60 alt=Pollinator_notag width=192 DATASIZE="5273" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" ID="MA1.1391205517" ></SPAN></B><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-outline-level: 1" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Request for Proposals – January 2014
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-outline-level: 1" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-outline-level: 1" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Pollinator Partnership – Corn Dust
Research Consortium<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">2014
Research<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></B></P>
<DIV style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1.5pt solid; mso-element: para-border-div">
<P class=MsoNormal style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN: 0pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-outline-level: 1; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0pt 0pt 1.0pt 0pt" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Call for Research Proposals Related
to <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN: 0pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0pt 0pt 1.0pt 0pt" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Reducing Honey Bee Exposure to Dust
Emitted During Planting of Treated Corn Seeds<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Background<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
Pollinator Partnership has formed a Corn Dust Research Consortium (CDRC) to
fund, oversee, and advise on two proposed research projects to further our
understanding of best management practices for mitigating seed treatment
exposure to honey bees during corn planting.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Pollinator Partnership has issued
CDRC invitations to stakeholders from crop protection, seed production, farm
equipment, corn growing, beekeeping, academic, governmental and conservation
organizations.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
first year of research is complete and the report has been released (<SPAN style="COLOR: black"><A href="http://www.pollinator.org/PDFs/CDRCfinalreport2013.pdf"><FONT color=#800080>http://www.pollinator.org/PDFs/CDRCfinalreport2013.pdf</FONT></A>)</SPAN>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For the second year, the Corn Dust
Research Consortium is seeking research proposals from North American
researchers to continue to address the two identified research questions
concerning honey bee’s exposure during planting to dust from seeds treated with
pesticides.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Research
Priorities and Funding<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">We
anticipate funding up to 4 proposals (from pooled resources of $320,000) that
address one or both of two initiatives: <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Project 1- Use by Honey Bees of Flowering
Resources In and Around Cornfields, and Project 2 - Efficacy of Seed Lubricant
Products.</B><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
Consortium will allocate the funding between the two project questions based on
the proposals received.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Proposals
will be considered that address either or both questions. Funds must be used
within an eight-month period (March 2014 to November 2014).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Focused, targeted projects with a high
likelihood of providing tangible results that can be applied to best management
practices for mitigating seed treatment exposure to honey bees are
preferred.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Proposals providing
valuable extensions of previously funded projects by CDRC or others will be
considered. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Proposals that involve
replication of or direct analysis of working field conditions and standard
planting equipment and procedures are preferred.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The projects will be funded for one
year, with discussion of extensions to be considered in the fall of
2014.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Background
and Specifics<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
Corn Dust Research Consortium has identified two priority areas for
funding.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Principal Investigators
may apply to address either or both of the proposed
projects.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A number
of ideas for reducing exposure to planter-emitted dust from treated seeds have
been proposed (please see Issue Overview on page 6). These include:
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=ListParagraphCxSpFirst style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 54pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">1)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">development of seed
coatings that reduce the amount of toxic dust abraded from the seeds,
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=ListParagraphCxSpMiddle style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 54pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">2)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></B><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">management of flowering plants in fields prior to
planting and management of drift during planting to reduce the likelihood that
bees will come in contact with seed dust deposits,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=ListParagraphCxSpMiddle style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 54pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">3)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">modification of planting
equipment to either limit the amount of dust released into the air or direct
emitted dust toward the ground so that the potential for off-site drift is
reduced, <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=ListParagraphCxSpMiddle style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 54pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">4)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></B><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">development and use of seed lubricants that reduce
the amount of dust abraded from treated seeds,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=ListParagraphCxSpMiddle style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 54pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">5)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">confining bees to hives on
days when nearby fields are planted, and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=ListParagraphCxSpLast style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 54pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">6)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">using untreated seeds and
managing pests in a different way.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Proposed
Research Projects<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">While
there may be a role for all of these mitigation approaches, an immediate need
for research on points 2 and 4 (in bold above) has been identified.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Project 1:
Use by honey bees of flowering resources in and around cornfields during spring
planting and how this behavior can be effectively managed to reduce exposure to
pesticide dust and residues. </SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">In 2013,
three separate research teams, funded by the CDRC, worked to develop a greater
understanding of the use by honey bees of flowering cover crops and weeds in and
around cornfields during spring planting season and how this is influenced by
vegetation management practices.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The report of their preliminary findings and provisional recommendations
is found beginning on page 16 at: <SPAN style="COLOR: black"><A href="http://www.pollinator.org/PDFs/CDRCfinalreport2013.pdf"><FONT color=#800080>http://www.pollinator.org/PDFs/CDRCfinalreport2013.pdf</FONT></A>
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
ultimate goal for the CDRC is to develop recommendations for best management
practices that growers can follow in order to minimize exposure of forager honey
bees to seed dust while maintaining as much forage for honey bees as
possible.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This may involve a
trade-off of promoting presence of these flowering plants at some times and
locations and their removal via herbicide applications at other times and
locations. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The CDRC
anticipates that the research methods will replicate methods used in the first
year’s research which include trapping pollen at sentinel hives placed in
landscapes dominated by cornfields to determine the relative use by bees of
different kinds of plants, direct observations of honey bee visits to flowers in
and around fields, and surveying corn growers and fields to determine current
vegetation management practices.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Some existing and potential practices, i.e. removal of flowering plants,
may adversely affect native bee communities, an issue not addressed in this
RFP.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=ListParagraph style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Project 2:
Efficacy of Seed Lubricant Products<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
second research project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a new seed lubricant
product that has been developed by Bayer CropScience. The CDRC is looking to
reproduce initial work conducted at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Guelph</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> in 2013.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The project proposes measuring
deposition levels of pesticide dust in and around fields when commercially
available neonicotinoid-treated corn seed products are planted using this new
seed lubricant product in comparison to standard lubricants (talc and
graphite).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Such measurements should
be made with a range of negative pressure pneumatic planter types in several
corn-growing regions (e.g., several major corn-growing states or
provinces).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">As the time
frame of this study is short and the planting season is rapidly approaching, BCS
or Syngenta field personnel can aid in locating and signing up cooperating corn
growers; however, to the extent practicable, Principal Investigators are
encouraged to use independently-solicited contacts.<A name=_GoBack></A> BCS will
provide the new seed lubricant product as well as technical support for its use
free of charge to study personnel.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Each
cooperating grower would plant two fields with the same planter, seed type and
seed treatment. On one field the standard lubricant (talc and/or graphite) for
the planter type would be used, while the new BCS lubricant product would be
used on the other field.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Lubricants
should be added to and mixed with the pesticide-treated seeds in the planter
hopper per label directions and after mixing, a sample of the seeds should be
collected for possible later laboratory analysis of dust and active ingredient
using a Heubach dustmeter. Study personnel will establish study locations and
sampling devices prior to planting and measure the amount of pesticide active
ingredient in dust deposited at sampling stations in and around the field.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Stations should be located within and at
prescribed distances downwind from each test field.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">At each
station, samples should be collected at various heights above ground.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The order in which the two lubricant
types are used and the fields to which they are applied should be determined
randomly, and the pneumatic system of the planter should be cleaned of any
leftover lubricant powder and seed debris before each of the fields is planted.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Collected samples will be analyzed to determine the
amount of active ingredient deposited on sampling devices per unit area (i.e.,
the measurement needs to be able to be converted to µg a.i./m<SUP>2</SUP>).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Evaluations of each planter and seed
treatment type should be replicated at least three times in each region
studied.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Principal Investigators
will be encouraged to confer with the 2013 PI and with the CDRC to discuss study
design elements that have proven successful in previous
studies.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Geographic
Scope<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
intent is to evaluate factors that can reduce honey bee exposure to corn seed
dust in the US Midwest and all North American corn production areas and in the
main corn growing areas of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ideally, field investigations should be
replicated in multiple locations in these regions. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Quality
Assurance<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
research does not need to be conducted in strict compliance with Good Laboratory
Practice requirements, but should be conducted in accordance with the spirit of
GLP requirements which include preparation of a written study protocol and
standard operating procedures for data collection prior to study initiation,
recording and maintenance of raw data, and documentation of any deviations from
the protocol or SOPs that occurred.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The goal
is to produce peer-reviewed published papers to advance the understanding of the
issue broadly and transparently.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We
encourage budgets to provide for photographic/videographic capture of the study
as it is being conducted as a means to demonstrate the methods and to
communicate results to wide-ranging audiences, from practical advice for
producers and beekeepers, to economic analysis for agribusiness, to reproducible
science for the research community, and to general interest for the broader
public. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Research
Constraints and Reporting<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">So that
results are representative of real-world corn planting scenarios, <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">field work should be conducted mainly
during the spring corn planting season (April-May). </B>In addition to
conclusions and analysis, a copy of original datasets will be made available for
researchers to use in the future.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Reports from both projects are needed by end of November 2014 in order to
be incorporated into recommendations communicated to beekeepers and corn growers
for the 2015 planting season.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Such
recommendations may need to be provisional pending additional research during
the 2014 and 2015 planting seasons.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Project
Oversight<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Corn
Dust Research Consortium has been formed to review proposals and oversee the
project execution, including review and comment on study protocols, draft
reports and presentation materials prior to their execution and public
release.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Final decisions on
technical interpretation of the study findings and content of study reports,
publications and presentations will be made by study personnel; however, it is
important for the CDRC to confer with the PI and to examine and understand all
processes and results.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The role of
the Corn Dust Research Consortium on these matters will be advisory only.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Corn Dust Research Consortium
intends to include at least one representative from each primary sponsoring
organization (industry, beekeeping, academia, government, and
conservation).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The CDRC will also
seek input from regulatory agencies, including the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency
(PMRA).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Proposal
Requirements<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt 2pt 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">1)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Cover page
including:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt 2pt 72pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">a.<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Project or projects the
proposal will address (Project 1, Project 2 or both.) <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt 2pt 72pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">b.<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Contact information
including e-mail(s), physical mailing address, and telephone
number(s).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt 2pt 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">2)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A 4-page (maximum) project
description for each project proposal being submitted with sufficient background
and description of methods to ascertain the importance and feasibility of the
studies.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Please use Arial, 12-pt
font, single spaced, with page numbers. References are not included in this page
limit. If the proposal combines the two projects, the limit would be 8
pages.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt 2pt 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">3)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Detailed budget that
includes funds for the Principal Investigator and a research timeline by month
(approximately March 2014 to November 2014).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt 2pt 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">4)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">2-page CV of the Principal
Investigator(s).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt 2pt 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">5)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Please include funding
details if the proposal is under consideration by other funding
organizations.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Submission<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">E-mail your proposal packet as a single PDF file to
Jennifer Tsang (</SPAN><A href="mailto:jt@pollinator.org"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">jt@pollinator.org</SPAN></A><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">) <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">by 3PM PDT
on Monday, March 3, 2014.<o:p></o:p></B></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Please identify the e-mail subject line and the PDF
attachment using <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">“Project (1 and/or 2),
PI Last Name, First Name.”<o:p></o:p></B></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Funding
Decisions<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 2pt 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
proposals will be evaluated by members of the Corn Dust Research Consortium
Advisory panel, and<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> funding decisions
will be made by Friday, March 14, 2014.<o:p></o:p></B></SPAN></P></DIV><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><BR style="PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE: always; mso-break-type: section-break" clear=all></SPAN></B></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">Laurie Davies
Adams<BR>Executive Director<BR>Pollinator Partnership<BR>4</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">23 Washington St.
5th Fl.<BR>San Francisco, CA 94111<BR>T: 415.362.1137<BR>F: 415.362.0176<BR><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA2.1391205517@aol.com" height=173 width=319 border=0 DATASIZE="27063" ID="MA2.1391205517" ></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR>Follow up on <A href="http://twitter.com/#!/Pollinators">Twitter</A> and <A href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pollinator-Partnership/48680445464">Facebook</A>!</FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>