NIFA Update Dec. 6

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Editors: Kelly Sprute and Judy Rude                                                             Dec. 6, 2017

Making a Difference

Wood Pellets image from University of New Hampshire


Wood Pellets the Solid Choice in Reducing Greenhouse Gases

Using wood pellets for home heating fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than half over fossil fuels and natural gas, according to new research from the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station (NHAES) at the University of New Hampshire.

The research was conducted by John Gunn, research assistant professor of forest management and researcher with the NH Agricultural Experiment Station, and colleagues with the Spatial Informatics Group - Natural Assets Laboratory in Pleasanton, California. “Wood pellet heat is a new and growing heating alternative in the United States and has been proposed as a climate-beneficial energy source to replace fossil fuels. However, little work has been done to assess this claim." 

In the United States, an estimated 42 percent of all energy consumed is for home heating, most of which is derived from fossil fuels. New York and five New England states comprise 88 percent of the entire U.S. consumption of home heating oil. Though natural gas is used widely for heat throughout the northeastern states, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the northern portion of New York still rely on home heating oil as a heat source. Read more about the NHAES project.

NIFA News

4-H Flag Dedication

4-H Flag Dedication


NIFA’s Institute of Youth, Family, and Community - Division of Youth and 4-H celebrated 4-H's 115th anniversary and 103 years since 4-H was recognized as the positive youth development program of the federal government. The official 4-H emblem is a green four-leaf clover with a white H on each leaf standing for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. The stem of the clover is always to the right. 

The folk lore of the flag dates back to June 1906 when 11 Ohio students, who spent recess picking four-leaf clovers, shared their findings with the local superintendent. He said, "I've been looking for an emblem for the agricultural clubs and the schools of the county, and you have just given me that emblem, the four-leaf clover." In 1911, club leaders approved the present 4-H design. Learn more about the 4-H organization.

Dr. Caroline Crocoll, Division of Family and Consumer Sciences Division Director; Dr. Robert Holland, Associate Director of Operations; Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA Director; Dr. Meryl Broussard, Associate Director for Programs, and Dr. Lisa Lauxman, Division of Youth and 4-H Division Director, dedicate the new 4-H flag Nov. 30, which flies over NIFA. Photo provided by NIFA 

Graduate Student from University of Florida

NIFA Programs Support Soil Health

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), one-third of the planet’s soils are degraded. This condition is caused by a number of natural factors, including wind and water erosion as well as nutrient imbalances, but people also leave an indelible impact on the earth. About 38 percent of the world's surface is dedicated to agriculture to feed a population of 7.2 billion. That population is projected to increase to over 9 billion by 2050.

Increasing food production while maintaining a balance of sustainability presents a great challenge and the growing population will have a significant impact on our ecosystems including soil cultivation. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations declared Dec. 5, World Soil Day as a way to bring together the soil management and sustainability efforts of land users, policymakers, and other key stakeholders. Read the full NIFA Blog article.

Dipti Rai, a graduate student from University of Florida’s Soil and Water Sciences Department, measures greenhouse gas flux in the native rangelands of the Range Cattle Research and Education Center in Ona, Florida. Native rangelands consist of woody and non-woody perennial plant species. Photo by Dr. Stefan Gerber, University of Florida.

News for You

Our Farm Our Future Conference logo

Our Farms, Our Future Conference

Registration is now open for the Our Farms, Our Future Conference, hosted by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) and the National Center for Appropriate Technology April 3-5, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri.

This national event will bring together our diverse agricultural community: farmers and ranchers, agricultural professionals, agribusiness stakeholders, students, researchers, scientists, agency representatives, and nonprofit leaders. Every decade, SARE hosts a conference to look at the progress of sustainability in agriculture, and to understand our trajectory for the future. Read the full SARE article


RFA Grant and Award Announcements

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Announces Support for Tribal Extension and Research Programs

NIFA today announced grants to fund programs that promote learning, opportunity, and health within the American Indian community. The funding is made possible through two NIFA programs: the Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program and the Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program.
 
The Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program funds extension programs on American Indian reservations and tribal jurisdictions that address the unique needs and problems of American Indian tribal nations. The Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program supports building institutional research capacity through projects that address student educational needs and meet community, reservation, or regional challenges. Read the full award announcement.

NIFA Supports Increasing Rural Prosperity through Education, Mentoring, and Technical Assistance Programs for the Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers

NIFA announced awards made to support the next generation of farmers and ranchers through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). The BFRDP program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, aims to help address issues associated with the rising age and decrease in the number of U.S. farmers and ranchers.
 
BFRDP supports projects that deliver education, mentoring, and technical assistance programs to help beginning farmers and ranchers in the U.S. and its territories with entering, establishing, building and managing successful farm and ranch enterprises. Read the full BFRDP announcement.

 

NIFA’s mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and extension to solve societal challenges.  NIFA’s investments in transformative science directly support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. agriculture.