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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><img width=149 height=43 style='width:1.5486in;height:.4513in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01DC159A.5CBED770" alt="A close-up of a logo
AI-generated content may be incorrect."></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Dear FHB Community,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>As previously communicated, the U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI) was prepared to announce the opening of the FY26 Request for Pre-Proposals (RFP) in early June. However, approval from USDA-ARS is still pending.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>In our last update, we shared the decision of the USWBSI Executive Committee to streamline the process for FY26 by eliminating the requirement of the Letters of Intent (LOI) stage to allow additional time for USDA’s review. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for the approval of our RFP.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>As a result, we will be <b>adjusting the submission deadline</b> for this cycle (FY26). Once the FY26 RFP is approved, we will issue a notification with the new deadline. Principal Investigators (PIs) will still have <b>30 days from the release date of the RFP to submit their pre-proposals</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We recognize the impact of this uncertainty on planning and appreciate the community’s continued patience and commitment to advancing FHB research for wheat and barley.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Next Steps</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>An official announcement with an updated submission deadline will be shared to this FHB Listserv as soon as USDA-ARS approval is received.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>A link to the FY26 RFP will be posted on the <a href="https://scabusa.org/request_research_funding" target="_new"><span style='color:#467886'>USWBSI Research Funding Opportunities page</span></a> once approved and submission access will be highlighted on the USWBSI homepage. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>If you have any questions, please contact the USWBSI Networking & Facilitation Office (NFO) at 517.290.5023 or nfo@scabusa.org.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Thank you for your continued dedication to the USWBSI. We encourage you to share this announcement with colleagues who may also be interested.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><table class=MsoTableGrid border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse;border:none'><tr><td width=270 valign=top style='width:202.5pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Ruth Dill-Macky <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Researcher Co-Chair<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="mailto:ruthdm@umn.edu"><span style='color:#467886'>ruthdm@umn.edu</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=353 valign=top style='width:265.0pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Richard Magnusson <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Grower Co-Chair<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="mailto:rmags@wiktel.com"><span style='color:#467886'>rmags@wiktel.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='color:#0E2841'>______</span></b><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#0E2841;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='color:#0E2841'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><a name="m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663"><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#0E2841'>U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI)<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Networking & Facilitation Office (NFO)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>495 Borlaug Hall | 1991 Upper Buford Circle | St. Paul, MN 55108</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><br></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#222222'><a href="mailto:nfo@scabusa.org" target="_blank"><span style='color:#1155CC'>nfo@scabusa.org</span></a> | 517.290.5023 | </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#414141'><a href="https://scabusa.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:#1155CC'>https://scabusa.org</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Twitter </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#156082'><a href="https://twitter.com/USWBSI"><span style='color:#156082'>@USWBSI</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> | Linkedin </span><u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#156082'><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/company/uswbsi"><span style='color:#156082'>#uswbsi</span></a></span></u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#156082'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>