 Video Message from
Sonny
Greetings from Washington DC, our nation's capital on
this national agriculture day. I wanted to spend a few minutes with you here, to
share with you a little bit of the history of this amazingly American idea
called the land-grant institutions, and why it is important to us as a nation,
and for that matter for humanity itself. Watch
the NIFA video.
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National 4-H
Conference Members Visit NIFA
4-H Students gave a presentation on “Teen Health”
focusing on better resources teenagers need to improve their diet and health. 4-H’ers huddle around Dr. Denise Eblen, deputy
director of NIFA’s Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition.
 Robots to Help
California’s Grape Growers
Vintners in California’s Central and Napa valleys are
facing two shortages: of water and of workers. What’s more, the state’s recent
drought has caused a financial strain for growers thanks to the cost of
irrigating their thousands of hectares of vines. Stepped-up enforcement of
immigration laws, competition from less strenuous higher-paying jobs, and an
aging workforce have led to a labor shortage, according to Wine
Spectator magazine.
When researchers from the University of California met
with grape growers to discuss how technology could help them, the growers asked
if their irrigation systems could be made more efficient and with less human
intervention. Read
the full The Institute article.
This prototype robot is part of the RAPID system. It
will turn the cap of adjustable plastic water emitters that are being
designed for existing drip irrigation lines. Photo by Thomas Thayer.
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 Will Hastings: Cares for the UNH Kiwiberry Vineyard
Contoocook resident Will Hastings, will graduate this May
with a master’s in biology, agricultural sciences, and conducts research with Dr.
Iago Hale at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Agricultural Experiment
Station. Learn why he chose the UNH for his graduate studies, what he
researched, and what he has gained from his research experiences. Read the full
UNH article.
Will Hastings photo
provided by UNH.
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NIFA Announces
Support for Pilot Projects in Extension at Tribal Colleges
NIFA announced support for reservation community needs
through projects that address youth, agriculture, economic development, and
more. Funding is made through NIFA’s Tribal Colleges Extension Program: Special
Emphasis (TCEP-SE).
TCEP-SE gives reservation communities opportunities for
enhanced agricultural productivity, community resilience, economic growth, and
youth development by extending the reach of innovations in research and
technology and enhancing informal, local educational programming. This program
supports short-term, two-year pilot projects allowing extension educators to
explore new ways to better serve their community. Read
the full request for applications announcement.
NIFA Announces
Support for Aquaculture Research Programs
NIFA) today announced support for the development of
environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture programs. Funding is
provided through the Aquaculture Research Program, authorized by the
Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grants Act.
Aquaculture Research
supports the development of an environmentally and economically sustainable
aquaculture industry in the U.S. by generating new science-based information
and technology to address industry constraints. Results of projects supported
by this program are intended to help improve the profitability of the U.S.
aquaculture industry, reduce the U.S. trade deficit, increase domestic food
security, expand markets for U.S.-produced products, and provide more jobs for
rural and coastal America. Read
the full request for applications announcement.
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