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Editor: Kelly Sprute Jan. 31,
2018
Making a Difference
Improving
Precision Agriculture Technology
Worldwide demand for food, fiber, and fuel is increasing
rapidly. To keep up, production systems need to be intensified, but also
sustainable. Precision technologies, such as GPS, sensors, robotics, drones,
autonomous vehicles, and 3D and thermal imaging, help famers fine-tune
irrigation, fertilization, disease and pest control, harvesting, and other
practices. Precision boosts productivity and limits the impacts of agriculture
on our soil, water, and air resources. Research is needed to design and calibrate
precision technologies, and farmers need to know how to use these technologies
and interpret the complex data they generate. Researchers and extension specialists across the U.S. are working together to advance the science of
precision agriculture and support growers who are adopting precision
technologies. Increased adoption of advanced precision technologies will help
ensure the security of the food, fiber, and fuel we rely on. Read
more about the Multistate Research Fund Impact online.
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NIFA News
In Memoriam: Dr. Catalino Blanche
Colleagues.
It is with great sadness that I inform you of Dr.
Catalino “Lino” Blanche’s passing.
I have known Lino and his family since the 1980s, when we
overlapped at Mississippi State University, and I know he’ll be missed by his
family, colleagues, and friends. Through his long career, he had significant,
national impact in the area of forestry.
Lino was the national program leader for forest resources
at NIFA's Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment in Washington, DC. He provided
leadership and management for the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry
Research Program and other forestry-related programs at NIFA for the last 15
years.
Prior to joining the agency, Dr. Blanche served as the
Associate Director of the Urban Forestry Program of Southern University in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana; as research scientist (agroforestry program leader) for
USDA's Agricultural Research Service at the Dale Bumpers Small Farm Research
Center in Booneville, Arkansas; and as research scientist at Mississippi State
University. He also served as a member of the Secretary of Agriculture’s
Forestry Research Advisory Council.
Lino received his BS degree in forest utilization engineering and Master of Science in agriculture from the University of the
Philippines in Los Banos; he also received a Master of Science in forest resources from the University of Georgia and Ph.D. in forestry from Mississippi
State University. His research interests included Southern pine-bark beetle
interactions, accelerated aging of tree seeds, primary productivity, bioenergy,
urban forestry, and agroforestry.
Lino served as the President of the Philippine-American
Academy of Science and Engineering from 2013-2015.
Our hearts go out to Lino’s wife, Fe, and daughters,
Kathleen and Kathryn.
Sonny Ramaswamy Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
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Veterinarian Shortage
Situations for FY 2018
The map of Veterinarian Shortage
Situations for FY 2018 contains all applicable designations
for the fiscal year (FY) 2018 application cycle. All states shaded
blue have at least one designated shortage area. The shortage situations
will appear in the table below the map. Additional details for that area are available by clicking on the PDF or the ID code of the area of
interest. Previous years' designations are available by selecting the
year of interest and applying the filter. (Data not is not available
for all program years.)
These designations are part of the eligibility determination
for USDA’s Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), authorized by
the National Veterinary Medical Services Act (NVMSA), which helps qualified
veterinarians offset a significant portion of the debt incurred in pursuit of
their veterinary medicine degrees in return for their service in certain
high-priority veterinary shortage situations for specific lengths of time. If veterinarians commit to at least three years of providing veterinary services in a designated veterinary shortage area, NIFA
may repay up to $25,000 of student loan debt per year. The FY 2018 Veterinary
Medicine Loan Repayment Program application period will open in February. NIFA will issue a request for applications (RFA), with an expected application deadline
of March 16.
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Community-Education, NCAC Ag Committee Partnership
Members of the NCAC-24 Agricultural
Education Research Committee provided valuable feedback on NIFA RFAs that
contain significant educational components. The committee reviewed
approximately 14 education and minority serving institution (MSI) RFAs and
provided six recommendations to strengthen the RFAs. The recommendations may
also influence future RFAs. Some of the recommendations presented by
NCAC-24 have already been addressed in FY18 RFAs.
The Division of Community and Education (DOCE) assembled an
RFA editing team to streamline and harmonize the agency’s education and
MSI RFAs. As a result, FY18 RFAs will be shorter, more uniform, utilize more
generic terms for project and grant types, and be less prescriptive.
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Farm Bill
Perdue Announces
USDA’s Farm Bill and Legislative Principles for 2018
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today
announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Bill and Legislative
Principles for 2018 during a town hall at Reinford Farms in Mifflintown,
Pennsylvania.
“Since my first day as the Secretary of Agriculture, I’ve
traveled to 30 states, listening to the people of American agriculture about
what is working and what is not. The conversations we had and the people we
came across helped us craft USDA’s
Farm Bill and Legislative Principles for 2018,” said Secretary Perdue.
“These principles will be used as a road map – they are our way of letting
Congress know what we’ve heard from the hard-working men and women of American
agriculture. While we understand it’s the legislature’s job to write the Farm
Bill, USDA will be right there providing whatever counsel Congress may request
or require.”
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USDA Message
Plenary Speakers Announced
for the 2018 Agricultural Outlook Forum
USDA announced its speakers for the 2018 Agricultural Outlook Forum, Feb. 22–23, at the
Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.
This year’s forum is themed “The Roots of Prosperity.” The opening plenary session will feature keynote remarks
from Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, and welcoming comments
from Deputy Secretary Steve Censky. USDA Chief Economist Robert Johansson will present “The 2018 Economic Outlook
for Agriculture." Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, president of the
African Development Bank and 2017 World Food Prize Laureate, is the forum's distinguished speaker. Read
the full USDA press release.
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NIFA Announces
Support for Women and Minorities in STEM
NIFA announced support for research, education, teaching, and extension
projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities
from rural areas in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
fields. Funding is made through NIFA’s Women and Minorities in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) Grant Program.
WAMS develops and implements robust collaborations that improve the economic
health and viability of rural communities across the nation. Funded projects
will lead to the development of a robust and diverse food and agricultural
workforce that is highly competent in the application of STEM knowledge and
skills, with increased participation of women and minorities. Read
the full request for applications announcement.
NIFA Announces
Support for Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher
Education in Insular Areas
NIFA announced $800,000 in available funding to support the Distance Education
Grants (DEG) program for institutions of higher education in insular
areas.
DEG strengthens the capacity of institutions of higher education in
insular areas to carry out resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching
programs in the food, agriculture, natural resource and human sciences
through distance education technology. Funded project activities will support
the creation, adaptation, and adoption of learning materials and teaching
strategies to operationalize what we know about how students learn. Read
the full request for applications announcement.
NIFA Announces
Support for Higher Education in Insular Areas
NIFA announced support for postsecondary agricultural science programs in
insular areas. Funding is made through NIFA’s Resident Instruction Grants
Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) and the
Agriculture and Food Sciences Facilities and Equipment Program for Insular
Areas (AGFEI).
RIIA strengthens the ability of eligible institutions in the insular areas to carry
out education within the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human
sciences. This includes enhancing libraries, curriculum, faculty,
scientific instrumentation, and student recruitment and retention. Furthermore,
it facilitates cooperative initiatives between other insular area institutions,
units of state government, or private sector organizations in the development
of resources to enhance food and agricultural sciences teaching programs. Read
the full request for applications announcement.
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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.
If you wish to submit a news item or information, send an email to NIFAUpdate.
USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer.
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