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Editor: Kelly Sprute                                                                                         May 30, 2018

Making a Difference

Meet Jason Tartt and Sylvester “Sky” Edwards, two military veterans who are reviving agriculture in McDowell County, West Virginia. Using high tunnels to grow healthy local food, they are training other potential farmers from their community and improving the health and economy of the area. They have partnered with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency, along with West Virginia University Extension Service’s “Kids Koupon” program. Read the full Fridays on the Farm article. 

NIFA News

Congratulations Dr. Nancy Cavallaro Nancy Cavallaro is the recipient of the 2018 International Award for Scientific Research from the National Science and Technology Council of Mexico (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Mexico) for her scientific achievements and invaluable collaboration between Mexico and the United States of America related to understanding the state of the carbon cycle.

Congratulations Dr. Charles Cleland Charles Cleland is the recipient of the Small Business Technology Council’s 2018 Champion of Small Business Technology Commercialization Award. Cleland is the first Federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program manager to receive this award. This award recognizes individuals who have made unique and extraordinary contributions to small businesses. The Small Business Technology Council is a non-partisan, non-profit industry association of companies dedicated to promoting the creation and growth of research-intensive, technology-based U.S. small business, and is a council of the National Small Business Association.

Agriculture Research and Delivery System Summit

NIFA Acting Director Dr. Thomas Shanower will moderate the “Outlining a Vision for Modernization that Will Enhance the United States’ International Agricultural Competitiveness and Domestic Innovation Economy” panel at the National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research summit on May 31.

The panel consists of Jack M. Payne, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; Bob Avant, Texas A&M corporate relations; Mandy Carr, senior executive director of science and product solutions for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association; and Derek Sandison, director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

News for You

Search, Subscribe and Share from the Grants.gov App With the new Grants.gov mobile app, it’s easier than ever to quickly search for, subscribe to, and share federal funding opportunities on the go. Got a couple of minutes before your next meeting? Waiting in line for coffee? Open the Grants.gov app and run a quick search for grants on the topic of your choice. You can even segment your search by funding provider. Subscribe to it; you’ll get an alert whenever the grantor updates the funding announcement. You can also easily share an announcement with a colleague or friend. The app's Search and Subscribe features are especially useful to grant pros on the go. Download the Grants.gov app today on Google Play and Apple's App Store.

Complete the 2017 Census of Agriculture There is still time to fill out your 2017 Census of Agriculture survey. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is making progress every day, but they need to hear from all producers. Help NASS spread the word that farmers and ranchers still have time to be counted in the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

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.

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