NIFA Update, Sept. 27 -- News for You

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture sent this bulletin at 09/27/2017 04:25 PM EDT

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The NIFA Update is a weekly compendium of news and information that may be of interest to Land-Grant and non-Land-Grant Universities, NIFA stakeholders, and other subscribers.

Sept. 27, 2017

Making a Difference

Sage-grouse
Photo Credit: University Wyoming, Leanne Correll


New Guide Provides Tools for Ranchers, Others in Sage-Grouse Country

According to its authors, "Landowner Guide to Sage-grouse Conservation in Wyoming: A Practical Guide for Land Owners and Managers" is meant to enhance understanding and conservation of sage-grouse in Wyoming. The new guide, which provides tools and resources, is available as a free download from the University of Wyoming Extension. 

The guide condenses scientific findings into a practical format that is easy to use and understand. Sagebrush ecosystems are complex, and efforts to conserve sage-grouse are multifaceted. It is co-authored by Leanne Correll, lead author and photographer, Rebecca Burton, and Wyoming professors Derek Scasta and Jeffery Beck.

This study was supported in part by the University of Wyoming Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources through a NIFA McIntire Stennis project titled "Advancing Landowner Tools for Use with the Greater-Sage Grouse Umbrella Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) for Wyoming Ranch Management" (2015-2020, Project# WYO-560-15) CRIS No. 1006605.

NIFA News

Primer

Leading Large Transdisciplinary Projects: A Guide for Prospective and New Grantees 

Project directors who lead large, transdisciplinary teams face a number of unique collaboration and management challenges throughout the project life cycle. Three of NIFA’s experienced project directors of Coordinated Agricultural Projects, Sanford Eigenbrode (REACCH), Lois Wright-Morton (Sustainable Corn), and Tim Martin (PINEMAP), led an effort to develop a new guide for prospective and new project directors. This primer, Leading Large Transdisciplinary Projects Addressing Social-Ecological Systems, is intended to reduce the steepness of the learning curve and provide insights and inspiration to help directors develop and manage high-functioning teams throughout the project life cycle. Please share this primer widely, as it will be a useful guide in helping current and future grantees successfully lead their large projects.

4-H

National 4-H Week, Oct. 1-7

For 75 consecutive years, millions of youth, parents, volunteers, and alumni across the country will be celebrating National 4-H Week during the first full week of October. 4-H National Headquarters will leverage National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the experiences that 4-H offers young people, and will highlight the 4-H youth in communities who work each day to make a positive impact on those around them.

The 4-H Youth Development Program is the youth outreach program of the Land-Grant Universities’ Cooperative Extension Services and USDA. 4-H serves as a model program for the practice of positive youth development. 4-H National Headquarters is housed within the Division of Youth and 4-H at NIFA. Additional support is provided by the National 4-H Council (a private nonprofit organization) and Land-Grant University Extension 4-H offices. To learn more about 4-H, visit the website or email 4-H National Headquarters.

News for You

Jacobs-Young

Jacobs-Young to Serve as REE Acting Deputy Under Secretary

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young will serve as the Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics (REE). The designation and delegations of authority are effective immediately.  

GusII

Gus Schumacher, 1940-2017 

Gus Schumacher, the vice president of policy at the Wholesome Wave Foundation, died of a heart attack Sunday.

Schumacher held many important government positions in agriculture over several decades. He was a career official at the World Bank. He took leave from the bank to serve as the Massachusetts agriculture commissioner, an administrator of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, and as undersecretary for farm and foreign agricultural services in the Clinton administration.

Later, he and Michel Nischan, an award-winning chef, founded Wholesome Wave to make produce available to low-income people.

A public memorial service will be scheduled. Wholesome Wave has published an appreciation of Schumacher on their website, and ask that friends and associates watch the site for opportunities to add to the appreciation.

Source: The Hagstrom Report, Sept. 26, 2017

Farm Bill

New York Farm Bill Listening Session

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson announced a committee listening session, “The Next Farm Bill, Conversations in the Field” in Cobleskill, New York, Monday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m. EST. The listening session is a continuation of the committee’s efforts to gather input from farmers, ranchers and stakeholders ahead of the upcoming farm bill. Additional details are forthcoming.

Grants & RFA Announcements

Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program

NIFA announced $21 million to help the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants increase their purchases of fruits and vegetables by providing incentives at the point of purchase. The funding comes from the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. Read the full RFA.

USDA Announces Support to Grow the Bioeconomy 

NIFA announced six grants totaling nearly $21.1 million to support the development of new jet fuel, biobased products and biomaterials from renewable sources. Funding is made through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. Read the full announcement.

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