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Editor: Kelly Sprute March 18, 2020
Making a Difference
 An avocado a day improves the ability to focus attention for overweight or obese adults, Illinois researchers found in a new study. Graphic by Michael Vincent.
Daily Avocado Consumption Improves Attention in Overweight and Obese Persons
A diet including daily avocado consumption improves the ability to focus attention in adults whose measurements of height and weight are categorized as overweight or obese, a new randomized control trial found. Avocados are high in lutein, a dietary component associated with cognitive benefits. Though avocado consumption’s benefits have been studied in older adults and children, no randomized controlled trials had studied its cognitive effects on adults with overweight or obesity.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign conducted the 12-week study, published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology. This work was supported by the Hass Avocado Board and USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Read the full University of Illinois article.
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Due to the disruptions arising from the national response to COVID-19, NIFA is extending certain deadlines. NIFA will continue to monitor the situation and post updates to this guidance on our web site.
We recognize many institutions are facing operational challenges in relation to COVID-19 (coronavirus). We have policies regarding accepting late applications, available online. If your application is delayed, please let us know as soon as possible and submit all the required documentation after you submit your application to us. We will consider your request at that time based on the information that you provide.
Finally, to continue to provide excellent service, we strongly encourage all Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VLLRP) applicants to submit their application packages via email to vmlrp.applications@usda.gov, if at all possible. Our office will continue to accept VMLRP paper applications at National Institute for Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2312 East Bannister Road, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64131 (Attn: Marline Azevedo).
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USDA Working with Private Sector in Response to COVID-19
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently announced new contacts to encourage communication with USDA to help feed kids and ensure the United States food supply chain remains strong in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Food is essential all year round, but in the face of a pandemic it is critical the shelves remain stocked and supplies remain plentiful. America’s farmers and ranchers, and those on the front lines in the food service industry are doing their part,” said Secretary Perdue. Read the full USDA press release.
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Setting the Stage for Innovative Research
We’re fortunate to have robust food, fiber, fuel, and ag-related industries in America. Our food is safe, nutritious, and plentiful. Our fiber helps clothe people around the world. And we’re using value-added agricultural products to fuel machinery. However, agriculture is at a crossroads with the convergence of a growing global population, a changing climate, and limited natural resources. Fortunately, USDA science agencies work every day to develop new knowledge, technologies, and applications that help our farmers and ranchers work smarter, not harder. Read the full USDA blog.
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Encouragement of Electronic (email) Submissions of VMLRP Applications Due to Circumstances Related to COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS)
NIFA staff currently are following USDA’s enhanced telework posture during the COVID-19 response. To continue to provide excellent service, we strongly encourage all Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) applicants to submit their application packages via email to vmlrp.applications@usda.gov. Our office will continue to accept VMLRP paper applications at National Institute for Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2312 East Bannister Road, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64131 (Attn: Marline Azevedo).
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As we celebrate National Nutrition Month
SuperShelf Transforms Food Shelves
Food Shelf has a faithful flock of volunteers, its board is made up of local church leaders. “Jack, who is in his 80s, unloads trucks, and Johnny carries groceries to cars,” says Lorelei Schelhaas, University of Minnesota Extension SNAP-Ed* educator. “Marv stocks shelves while several others pitch in. They all help where needed.”
Extension’s strength in the SuperShelf partnership comes from the experience educators like Schelhaas who have changed environments for better health—and doing so in ways that treat clients with dignity. SNAP-Ed educators work in every county with those who receive food assistance. Read the full University of Minnesota article.
Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota. Lorelei Schelhaas with Larry Giff, food shelf volunteer, taking care of the arriving fresh food.
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 What is NC Cooperative Extension?
North Carolina’s Cooperative Extension is more than cows and corn. It is the state’s link to two land-grant universities: North Carolina State University and North Caroline Agricultural and Technical State University. Land-grant universities have three parts to their mission: education, research, and extension. NC Cooperative Extension extends research-based knowledge to all North Carolinians, helping them transform science into everyday solutions that improve their lives and grow our state. Read The Times-News article.
Super Farms--A View to the Future of Growing Food
The food growing business is just beginning to adopt new technologies such as robotics. Supporters of agricultural innovation would like to speed up this adoption by creating so-called "super farms". USDA’s Gary Crawford talks with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and SVG Ventures Founder John Hartnett about their on their views of farming in the future. Listen to this edition of Agriculture USA broadcast.
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 Tribal Colleges Extension Program - Special Emphasis (TCEP-SE)
Tribal Colleges Extension Program (TCEP) enables 1994 institutions to deliver science-based, culturally relevant extension education programs to address public needs and improve quality of life. TCEP is intended to be a component of the applicant 1994 institution's land-grant roadmap or strategic planning process. To the extent practicable, 1994 institution's priorities should reflect NIFA's national critical need areas:
- Development of sustainable energy;
- Increased global food security;
- Adaptation of agriculture and natural resources to global climate change;
- Reduction of childhood and adolescent obesity; and
- Improved food safety
Read the full TCEP funding opportunity.
Photo of man standing in a wheat field, courtesy of Getty Images.
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NIFA’s mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and extension that solve societal challenges. NIFA’s investments in transformative science directly support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. agriculture. Keep informed about NIFA, USDA, our land-grant and non-land-grant university partners, and stakeholders with the NIFA Update. Read past issues online, sign up for email updates or follow us on Twitter @USDA_NIFA, #NIFAImpacts or LinkedIn @usda-nifa.
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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