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1996

1. Berkshire Growers Cooperative Inc., Lee, and Coastal Growers Association, Inc., Westport - Cooperative Opportunities for Wholesale Shrink Wrapped Butternut Squash. By building technological and food safety improvements into their operations, and by pooling products and working together, these growers hope to become a competitive force in the marketplace with their local grown value added products. $22,500

2. Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, Barnstable - Investigation into the Application of Barley Straw to Control Algae in Farm Ponds. This project is intended to provide sound evidence about the use of barley straw to control algae. It
will determine proper application rates and what environmental parameters impact its use. $13,450

3. Coastal Growers Association, Inc., Westport - Cooperative Opportunities for Wholesale Cut Flowers Markets. A cut flower field trial project will research production techniques, costs of production, and sales and marketing of 7 new
varieties of cut flowers. $27,525

4. Coonamessett Farm, East Falmouth - Outside Hydroponic Production Using Solar Hot Frames. New materials and technology will be applied to traditional hot frames to test this new concept in hydroponic salad mix production. $15,300

5. Cranberry Hill Farm, Plymouth - Introducing Organic Management as an Acceptable Option for Commercial Cranberry Growers. This project will develop a vehicle for sharing information about organic growing methods and begin to organize a structure for cooperative handling, processing and marketing of organic cranberries. $7,900

6. The Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire Conservation Districts, Northampton - Integrating Global Positioning and Universal Product Code Systems for Yield, Quality and Marketing Improvement for Orchards. Two new technologies will research, test and demonstrate an alternative to gathering yield, quality and marketing information which may help reduce nutrient and pesticide use and increase profitability. $12,084

7. Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc. Reading - Expanding Resources to Educators. Distance education using satellite hookup, a comprehensive plan for website networking, teacher workshops, classroom visits and more are elements in a outreach strategy to ensure widespread use of a newly released video and accompanying set of teacher plans which will educate young people about the agriculture industry. $14,800

8. Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., Ashland - Feasibility Study for Massachusetts Hay Cooperative. This study will assess current hay production within the state and research opportunities for expansion. The study will determine if improved quality and cooperative marketing efforts will result in expanded production capacity. $7,187

9. Bill Mullin, West Barnstable - Development of Small Scale Shellfish Nurseries to Increase Regional Seed Production. A new business network will be established and nurseries will be constructed which will provide about 30 million hard shell clam seeds to Massachusetts growers. $37,400

10. Northampton's Market Working Group, Northampton - A Feasibility Study for an Agricultural Center and Retail Supermarket. A study will measure consumer and investor interest in the development of a natural foods cooperative superstore and agricultural center. $9,000

11. The Open Field Foundation, and The Pioneer Valley Milk Marketing Cooperative, Amherst - The Development of a Distribution Infrastructure for Value-Added Agriculture Products in Western Massachusetts. A feasibility study,
development of a business plan and pilot project will demonstrate a new distribution system operated by local producers. $13,850

12. UMass Cranberry Experiment Station, East Wareham - Best Management Practices Guide for Massachusetts Cranberry Production Year 2000 Update. This guide will provide growers with information and guidelines regarding best practices for growing cranberries while preserving water resources, protecting water quality, coexisting with neighbors, and maintaining profitable levels of production. $5,000

13. UMass Plant and Soil Sciences Department, Amherst - Introduction of Two New Crops for Massachusetts Growers. This project will refine growing techniques, IPM practices and further establish urban markets for local grown calabasa and recao crops. $7,373