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Editor: Kelly Sprute April 4 2018
Making a Difference
Using Space-Age
Technology for Down-to-Earth Agriculture
Astronauts and polar explorers can grow fresh foods in
space and Antarctica. Now, it’s time for rural communities to get into the
greenhouse game.
Similar to what Matt Damon portrayed in the movie The
Martian, astronauts can successfully grow enough food to sustain
themselves in orbit or on another planet. Researchers in Antarctica have been
doing the same since 2004 in an environment where the average yearly
temperature is minus 56 F. One of the researchers involved in these extreme
environment success stories says that local communities can also benefit from
controlled environment agriculture.
Dr. Gene Giacomelli, professor of agricultural and biosystems
engineering at the University of Arizona, leads an internationally recognized,
one-of-a-kind research and education program at the university’s Controlled
Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC).
Read the full NIFA article.
University of Arizona students work in the University of
Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center vertical farming facility
for research, education and outreach. (Photo courtesy of Austin Smith).
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Special Announcement
Colleagues.
I was privileged to be appointed by President Barack
Obama to serve under Secretary Tom Vilsack as the director of the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) since May 6, 2012. Since 2017 I’ve had
the privilege of working under President Trump and Secretary Sonny Perdue’s
leadership.
NIFA has supported the goals of both administrations and
helped develop the innovations and knowledge needed to promote the American
farming enterprise, and helped nurture the workforce that supports the same.
The agency is on an excellent trajectory and will continue to promote the
needed research, Extension, and education across our great nation and ensure
its global preeminence.
My six year term ends May 5, 2018.
On July 1, 2018, I will embark on the next phase of
my career as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Northwest Commission
on Colleges and Universities, where I’ll oversee 162
universities and colleges in the Pacific Northwest. I’ll be based out of
Seattle.
I look forward to working with you through the next few
weeks.
I want to thank you, my NIFA colleagues, for your support
and for what you do in support of our nation’s food and agricultural
enterprise, and wish you the best.
Sonny Ramaswamy Director
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CFDA Changes to
CFDA 10.500!
Effective Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, capacity and competitive
extension programs will see a change in their Catalogue of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) number. This change is being made to provide individual
programs a unique CFDA. The change in CFDA numbers will be effective for awards
made on or after Oct. 1, 2018. Grants awarded prior to FY 2019 grants will
retain CFDA Number 10.500 until the grants expire. A memorandum providing
background for this change, as well as action steps needed to be taken by NIFA
grantees prior to Oct. 1, 2018, can be found on the NIFA website. If you
have any questions, please email: formulagrantquestions@nifa.usda.gov
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National Extension and Research Administrative Officers Conference
Michigan State
University is hosting the 2018 National Extension Research Administrative Officers
Conference in
Grand Rapids, April
22-25. This year's theme, "Great Lakes, Great State:
Endless Possibilities,” showcases
all that the Mitten and West Michigan has to offer.
NERAOC will feature learning tracks on diversity and inclusion,
finance/capacity funds, grants, HR/organizational development,
minority-serving, and program reporting and accountability. The conference will
strengthen professional development, create information sharing
opportunities, and provide networking time with colleagues from across the
nation. Don't forget to register for NERAOC.
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The Need for a
Systems Approach for Soybeans
USDA's Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is making U.S. soybean farmers and
exporters aware of a new procedure to comply with China’s phytosanitary import
requirements. The new procedure, which applies to both bulk and container
shipments of raw, unprocessed soybeans to China, went into effect Jan. 1.
In 2016, China put in place a new grain import law to keep
invasive weeds and other plant pests from entering their country. In 2017, they
informed USDA that U.S. grain shipments, particularly soybeans, did not comply
with the new law. They specifically cited increased detections of weed seeds.
These weed seeds threaten U.S. access to China’s soybean market.
Soybeans are critical to the U.S. economy. Approximately
1 in 3 bushels of U.S. soybean are shipped to China, making it the United
States’ largest market for this commodity. In 2017, this export was valued at
$12.4 billion, which is approximately 91 percent by value of all U.S. grains shipped
to China.
A
Systems Approach for U.S. Soybean is a suite of recommended best practices
that can help reduce weed seeds in soybeans on farm, at U.S. grain elevators,
and at the point of export. APHIS worked with U.S. industry groups, other USDA
agencies, and academia to develop the approach, which includes recommendations
for integrated weed management, harvesting, and handling.
If you have questions or would like additional
information about the systems approach or the impact of weed seeds on grain
trade, contact George Galasso, APHIS national trade director for grain at (301) 851-2050 or by email. For more information about specific
recommended weed management practices, contact Dr. Wendy Jin, APHIS associate executive director at (919) 855-7430 or by email.
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Making Data
Machine-Readable
The National Agricultural Library’s Ag Data Commons
continues its monthly webinar series with “Making
Data Machine-Readable” April 24, at 1 p.m. EST.
The Ag Data Commons
is the catalog for USDA Research, Education, and Economics mission area funded research data. Webinars cover a variety of
topics relevant to ag research data "Introduction to the Ag Data
Commons" webinars introduce researchers to use the Ag Data Commons
interface. Other webinars will feature topics related to digital data curation
and preservation.
Refer to the Ag
Data Commons News section for more details, including a schedule of
upcoming webinars and join instructions. Note each webinar will have a
different join code.
NAL is eager to hear from our customers about their
reactions to the webinar series. Please feel free to send your comments and
questions to: https://www.nal.usda.gov/ask-question.
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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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