How Midwest Corn Farmers are Adapting to Climate Change
Global climate change presents unique challenges to the resilience of United States agriculture, and farmers and advisors must use effective adaptation strategies to be both economically and environmentally sustainable. This study addresses Midwestern U.S. crop farmers’ beliefs about climate change, perceived risks from weather and climate, and attitudes toward adaptation that influence their decisions to adopt adaptation strategies. Analyzing a 2012 survey of nearly 5000 corn farmers across 22 Midwestern U.S. Watersheds, researchers investigated the most common weather and climate risk management strategies, including purchasing additional crop insurance, implementing conservation practices, and adding new technology.
This study highlights the critical role of risk perceptions in adaptation attitudes as well as behaviors among agriculturalists. Finally, they discuss how these findings could be applied to increase uptake of adaptation strategies and thus resilience of U.S. agriculture to a changing climate. The survey of Midwestern corn producers was developed through collaboration of two NIFA supported projects, Cropping Systems Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP): Climate Change, Mitigation, and Adaptation in Corn-Based Cropping Systems (Award No. 2011-68002-30220) and Useful to Usable (U2U); Transforming Climate Variability and Change Information for Cereal Crop Producers (Award No. 2011-68002-30220). Additional funding was provided by the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Purdue University College of Agriculture, and the Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service.
NIFA News
 National Perspectives on Nutrition and Aging Research
The Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) hosted "A Washington Perspective: The Importance of Nutrition and Aging Research" Aug. 15, at the HNRCA Auditorium, Boston, Massachusetts. The event featured senior USDA officials responsible for setting policy at the national level and determining how funding is awarded for food, nutrition, and healthy aging research.
Among the speakers were Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director, which provides extramural funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences; Chavonda Jacobs-Young, administrator of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS); and Pamela Starke-Reed, ARS deputy administrator.
Caption: Sonny Ramaswamy, USDA Photo
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 USDA Cites Salmon Embryo Research in National Email Bulletin
University of Maine research was highlighted in the NIFA's email bulletin, “Fresh from the Field.” The weekly newsletter showcases transformative impacts made by grantees funded by the NIFA. The Aug. 10 bulletin included a description of research being conducted by LeeAnne Thayer, a Ph.D. candidate in marine sciences, and Heather Hamlin, an assistant professor of aquaculture and marine biology. Beginning in 2000, fertilized salmon eggs began dying in large numbers, and the average survival rate fell from 80 to 50 percent. The study, which was funded by NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, has found that two hormones may play significant roles in achieving an 80 percent embryo survival rate, the bulletin states.
Subscribe to "Fresh from the Field." by logging in to NIFA Email Updates with your email and choose the topic areas you would like to receive. Back issues of Fresh from the Field are also available.
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News for You
FSIS Announces Educational Meeting on the Implementation of Siluriformes Inspection
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is sponsoring an educational meeting Aug. 24, in Memphis, Tennessee, to
discuss the enforcement and implementation of the Final Rule on the "Mandatory
Inspection of Fish of the Order Siluriformes and Products Derived From Such
Fish." As with the previous meetings in Virginia and Maryland, this meeting will provide updated information to stakeholders
and encourage dialogue between FSIS and the Siluriformes fish industry. Siluriformes are catfish-like fish known for their "whiskers." FSIS
is particularly interested in soliciting participation from representatives
from domestic wild-caught operations that process Siluriformes fish and fish
products. Affected industry and interested individuals, organizations and other
stakeholders are invited to participate.
Advanced registration is encouraged. The cutoff date for
pre-registration is Aug. 22. The meeting will be held Aug. 24, from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. CT in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Holiday Inn Memphis
Airport and Convention Center. On-site registration begins at 8:30 a.m. CT.
Contact Evelyn Arce, Outreach and
Partnership Division, Office of Outreach, Employee Education and Training via
telephone (202) 418-8903, fax (202) 690-6519, for pre-registration, more information about the meeting, or to arrange for special
accommodations.
Please feel free to distribute this
meeting announcement to individuals or organizations that you think would be
interested in attending, or participating.
Grants & RFA Announcements
Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Curriculum Development & Metrics
NIFA requests applications for the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program
Curriculum Development & Metrics Competitive Grant Program for FY 2017 to continue curriculum development (in-person and online)
and comprehensive program evaluation within the Yellow Ribbon Integration
Program to support Reserve Component members and their families.
Request for Applications
Apply for Grant
Closing Date: Friday, Sept. 8, 2017
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-EXCA-006386
Estimated Total Program Funding: $900,000
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