NIFA Update July 4

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Editor: Kelly Sprute                                                                                            July 4, 2018

Making a Difference

First prototype of a solar-powered robotic scout developed for citrus under protective screen groves.
First prototype of a solar-powered robotic scout developed for citrus under protective screen groves.


Artificial Intelligence for Detecting Citrus Pests, Diseases and Disorders

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly entering the farming scene. Some of the leading uses of machine vision are to process video from cameras for identification of weeds, pests, diseases and hazards, and to enhance auto-steering guidance of farm vehicles. Smart sprayers for precision spraying of herbicide only on weeds in agronomic crops have already been developed. They rely on AI machine vision to identify every plant on the ground and make on-the-go decisions about which plants to spray. Herbicide savings of 90 percent were reported from the use of the AI sprayer technology. Development of similar technologies for specialty crops is currently in progress. NIFA is supporting this work with a $3.5 million grant. Read the full Citrus Industry News article.


NIFA News

And Justice For All poster

"And Justice For All" Poster Updated

The Civil Rights poster “And Justice For All” is the primary method utilized to inform customers of their rights and displays information relevant to assisted programs. The poster was recently updated. The NIFA website instructs land-grant partners on guidelines of use.



News for You

Elizabeth Denvir, Agricultural Research Service biological laboratory technician, extracts samples. USDA photo.

After at Least Five Decades of Growth, High-Income Countries are Now Investing Less in Public Agricultural R&D

By Paul Heisey, ERS

Governments in high-income countries are spending less on agricultural research. A new report from USDA’s Economic Research Service reviews long-term trends in public agricultural research and development (R&D) investment by high-income countries and examines how these investments have contributed to economic growth. In high-income countries (the United States, European countries, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) as a group, spending on public agricultural research (adjusted for inflation) grew rapidly after 1960. However, this growth slowed significantly in recent decades and is now declining. Read the full USDA article.

Elizabeth Denvir, USDA's Agricultural Research Service biological laboratory technician, extracts samples for total lipid fatty acid composition. USDA photo.

Tropical bananas

Creating Dialogue - Tropical Island Farmer Education Series

The University of Guam conducted the New Tropical Island Farmer Risk Management Education Series focusing on risk management for agricultural producers, and production/business support professionals.The intended audience included resource-challenged, beginning and small farmers, and focused on those who were veterans or Chamorra Land Trust Commission lease holders or applicants. The program created a dialog between the university and potential farmers in the Veteran community. Over 40 Veterans attended and will practice the skills learned. Read the full Western Extension Risk Management Education article..

Award Notifications

NIFA Invests $3.7 Million in Economics, Markets, and Trade Research

NIFA announced 10 Economics, Markets, and Trade awards that will promote American agricultural products and exports. Research efforts include the effects of regulatory measures on U.S. and global agricultural trade, quantitatively evaluating food safety monitoring and enforcement tools, the economic viability and growth of organic farming, and a regional dynamic model of U.S. beef cattle to assess the economic impacts of movement restrictions in an event of foot-and-mouth disease. This research will also help U.S. farmers provide a safe, nutritious and secure food supply while promoting rural prosperity and economic development.  These grants are part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

NIFA Invests $4.5 Million Rural Prosperity and Economic Development Research

NIFA announced 11 rural economics awards that will provide insights into improving rural prosperity and economic development. The projects address the role of innovation in rural business startup and vitality, measure and build on local food system vitality for communities in the South, explore opioid risks in rural areas and small- to mid-sized towns, will develop a research-based entrepreneurial curriculum for rural business startup and survival, as well as other topics. These grants are part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

NIFA Invests $2.3 Million in Antimicrobial Resistance Research

NIFA announced six Antimicrobial Resistance awards that will lead to a better understanding of antimicrobial resistance in food and agricultural systems. This knowledge will identify opportunities and strategies to make agricultural antimicrobial resistance less persistent; identify innovative alternatives to control farm animal diseases, which could also affect humans; and help understand how drug resistance occurs. These grants are a part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

NIFA Invests $1.3 Million in Soil and Nitrogen Data Tools

NIFA announced three soil science related awards that will help farmers manage nitrogen inputs, track nitrogen gas outputs, and help measure overall nitrogen footprints at different special scales. These projects will develop an individualized recommendation tool that meets the diverse needs of farmers, landowners, and managers in Hawaii; improve our understanding of how nitrous oxide escapes from the soil; and develop an open use data platform that will lead to new insights on how to minimize the farm nitrogen footprint. These grants are a part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

NIFA Invests $2.6 Million in Research in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

NIFA announced six Environmental and Natural Resource Economics awards that will strengthen our stewardship of private lands by improving our understanding of the relationship between agricultural activities and natural resources and the environment. Research includes examining key factors that influence farmers’ water use and irrigation decisions in the West, how farm and open space conservation impacts different socioeconomic groups, and assessing Native American preferences for preventing an invasive species in Montana. These grants are part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).