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CORVALLIS - The Agricultural Research Foundation, a private, non-profit corporation that funds natural resources research, has awarded grants totaling $176,000 for 20 projects involving Oregon State University scientists and extension personnel.

The grants, for the 1998-99 fiscal year, will support research and extension work on topics such as using molecular biology to detect a fungal disease of wheat, improving storage of Oregon blueberries, managing animal wastes in dairies more efficiently, and growing landscape-sized yew bushes as a sustainable source of anti-cancer compounds.

One goal of the annual grant program is to provide "seed" money that will help scientists launch research programs, said Dorothy Beaton, the Agricultural Research Foundation's executive director.

The foundation's board of directors is made up of Oregon farmers, ranchers and agri-business representatives. The foundation is based on the OSU campus.