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Editor: Kelly Sprute April 25,
2018
Making a Difference
Strawberry Research
Provides Service to Texas Farmers
Strawberries are proven to improve cardiovascular and
brain health, as well as prevent some types of cancer. It’s no wonder Prairie
View A&M University is trying to get ahead of the curve by finding ways to
help limited-resource farmers successfully grow organic strawberries. According
to the USDA, California produces 91-percent of strawberries in the United States, with
Florida providing most of the winter crop. Unfortunately, as it stands, Texas
isn’t a top producer.
“Strawberry production in Texas only occurs on about 150
acres, mainly in the Poteet area,” said Dr. Peter Ampim, a research scientist
with the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center at PVAMU. “We want to figure
out if we can grow the crop statewide, especially with an increase in consumer interest
and demand.” Learn
more about the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
(SSARE)-funded, collaborative, multidisciplinary, and multi-state project.
Strawberries image provided by USDA
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 Jacobs-Young
Announces Shanower as Acting NIFA Director
Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Acting Deputy Undersecretary
for Research, Education, Economics and Acting Chief Scientist, announced that Thomas Shanower will become Acting Director
of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Shanower will replace outgoing NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy.
“Dr. Shanower brings more than 20 years of experience in
scientific research and management, and he will maintain a steady hand at the
helm of NIFA,” said Jacobs-Young. “NIFAs’ support of the best and brightest
scientists has resulted in groundbreaking discoveries that combat childhood
obesity, improve rural economic growth, address water availability issues,
increase food production, explore new sources of energy, mitigate climate
variability and ensure food safety. We salute Dr. Ramaswamy for his
tireless enthusiasm at NIFA in support of agriculture-related research and
education.” Read
the full USDA announcement.
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 Hawaii Middle
School Student Funds 4-H Livestock Project with FSA Youth Loan
Hokuao Arce, a 12-year-old student at Molokai Middle
School in Molokai, Hawaii, is naturally following in his family’s footsteps and
embracing his agricultural background.
Last year, he showed two steers and a market hog project
through the Molokai 4-H Livestock Club. Participating in 4-H livestock projects can come with a
significant price tag when you consider the cost of the animal, feed,
vaccinations and vet costs along with the equipment necessary to show the
animal. Arce used a USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Youth Loan to finance his
livestock project. This is his second time to use the Youth Loan program, which
he learned about when his local FSA representative visited a 4-H meeting. Read
the full USDA article.
The FSA Youth Loan provided Arce with the capital he
needed to purchase market animals, feed and supplies to show the animals at the
County and State Expos.
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 Cover Crops and
Soil Health 2017 National Conference Presentations Now Available
Videos and presentations from the 2017 National
Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health sessions are now available. The
conference, held December 7-8, 2017, highlighted insights from some of the
nation's most innovative producers, conservation leaders, and scientists on
using cover crops to improve soil health. Watch the videos or read the PDF
document of the whole conference from the general sessions, basics of cover
cropping, to special topics with cover crops. Learn
more from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education website.
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 Year One with Secretary Perdue
Sonny Perdue came by his knowledge of agriculture the old
fashioned way: he was born into a farming family in Bonaire, Georgia. From
childhood, and through his life in business and elected office, Perdue has
experienced the industry from every possible perspective. Uniquely qualified as
a former farmer, agribusinessman, veterinarian, state legislator, and governor
of Georgia, he became the 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture on April
25, 2017.
In his first year, Secretary Perdue and the USDA team made
breakthroughs in agricultural trade, moved to reduce burdensome regulations,
responded to natural disasters, and battled through the worst fire season on
record, among other notable achievements. Read the full Year One USDA article.
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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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