New Interactive Graphic Helps Navigate NIFA’s Competitive Grants Process
NIFA has published a new interactive flowchart to help applicants for NIFA’s competitive grants better understand the process and more accurately estimate the time required for processes from application to grant closeout. Using stakeholder feedback given through Project Café, a quick response team developed and published this new infographic, which will also be included in all grant correspondence from NIFA to applicants for easy reference. We hope you find the chart helpful and welcome your feedback.
Compass Rose graphic courtesy of Getty Images.
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USDA Launches AskUSDA, Improves and Streamlines Customer Experience
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the official launch of the AskUSDA Contact Center program. AskUSDA Contact Center will serve as the “one front door” for phone, chat, and web inquires, transforming how the public interacts with USDA and providing an enhanced experience for the public. AskUSDA was created to make USDA more responsive to the public by providing a single destination for phone, chat, and web inquiries. Whether it’s talking to a USDA representative via phone, chatting with a live agent on our website, or communicating with USDA via e-mail, the public will have streamlined access. AskUSDA delivers a centralized contact center that offers customer service and consistent information and resources for the public. For more information, read the USDA press release.
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NIFA Career Opportunities
We are hiring! Remember to check out NIFA's Career Opportunities webpage, where there is a direct link to all open positions. You can also explore NIFA jobs at the USAjobs.gov website. Current openings in Kansas City, Missouri:
Staff Accountant, GS 9-11
Closing Date: 12/04/2020
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Virginia Tech to Improve Prevention of Boxwood Blight
Boxwoods are a common staple in landscaping and bring life and energy to gardens year-round across the globe. But boxwoods face a threat, a fungal infection that is easily transported through the nursing industry by plants that don't show any signs of infection. A multi-institutional research team led by Virginia Tech Professor Chuanxue Hong, will find innovative methods to safeguard the nation's largest evergreen shrub against boxwood blight. With a nearly $4 million grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the team will work toward protecting boxwoods from this blight by preventing further spread of the disease through plant breeding and genetics, innovation, economic analysis, and education. For more information, read the Virginia Tech article.
Chuanxue Hong will conduct research on how to prevent disease in boxwoods, courtesy of Virginia Tech.
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Managing Cucurbit Diseases with Research and Outreach
Michigan State University (MSU) Professor Rebecca Grumet has dedicated her career to assisting specialty crop growers. A professor in the MSU’s Department of Horticulture, she is an expert in reproductive development and disease resistance in cucurbit crops such as cucumbers, melons, squash and watermelons. Grumet is the lead investigator on a multi-institutional, nationwide research endeavor called the Cucurbit Coordinated Agricultural Project (CucCAP). The project began in 2015 with a $6.5 million grant from the Specialty Crop Research Initiative within USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Researchers use genomics to better understand the genetic makeup of cucurbit species and breed disease-resistant varieties, one of the most effective tools to improve production when paired with a disease management strategy. For more information, read the MSU news article.
Professor Rebecca Grumet (left) with a student in the lab, courtesy of MSU.
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FY 2021 RFA AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) program staff will offer a webinar on December 10, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET (1 to 2 p.m. CT) to provide an overview of the AFRI SAS FY2021 request for applications (RFA). This is the third year of soliciting competitive grants. The AFRI SAS program supports projects that help transform the U.S. food and agricultural system, to increase sustainable agricultural production by 40 percent, and do so in the context of economic, societal, and environmental attributes of sustainability. For Fiscal Year 2021, the AFRI SAS RFA presents two program area priorities: Sustainable Agricultural Systems (A9201) and Sustainable Agricultural Systems Program Evaluation (A9211). A Letter of Intent is required for each program. Program staff will review and explain the AFRI SAS FY2021 RFA for interested applicants and will be available to answer questions. Learn more and register on NIFA’s website.
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Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) Grant Program
The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) Grants program staff will offer a webinar on December 15, from noon to 1 p.m. ET (11 to 12 p.m. CT) to provide an overview of the WAMS FY2021 request for applications. The WAMS program supports research and extension projects that increase participation by rural women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Program staff will review and explain the FY2021 RFA WAMS program for interested applicants and will be available to answer any questions. Learn more and register on NIFA’s website.
Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants (SPECA)
The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants (SPECA) program staff will offer a webinar on December 15, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET (2 to 3 p.m. CT) to provide an overview of the SPECA FY2021 request for applications. SPECA promotes and strengthens synergistic linkages among secondary education, two-year postsecondary education, and higher education. SPECA advances excellence in education in the food and agricultural sciences and encourages young Americans to pursue and complete a baccalaureate or higher degree in these disciplines. Program staff will review and explain the FY2021 RFA SPECA program for interested applicants and will be available to answer questions. Learn more and register on NIFA’s website.
NIFA Awards $400,000 to help Small Businesses Ensure Healthy and Productive Forest Ecosystems
NIFA recently awarded four grants under the Forest and Related Resources topic area of the USDA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. SBIR is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. This includes qualified small businesses in the nation's R&D arena that stimulate high-tech innovation. SBIR strengthens the United States entrepreneurial spirit as it gains specific research and development needs. These early stage innovation grants focus on protecting the nation’s forested lands and resources to help ensure the continued existence of healthy and productive forest ecosystems.
Specialty Crop Research Initiative
 Image courtesy of Getty Images.
Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) program promotes collaboration, open communication, the exchange of information, and the development of resources that accelerate application of scientific discovery and technology. The priorities of SCRI reflect the needs of the specialty crops industries that deal with key challenges of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture, including conventional and organic food production systems. For more information, read the SCRI funding opportunity.
Continuing Resolution Match Requirement Update:
Under the current Continuing Resolution (CR), the waiver of a match for Specialty Crop Research Initiative is extended. However, since awards are anticipated following the date of expiration of the CR and the authorizing language requires a match, the Request for Applications for SCRI Pre-applications does not include mention of the waiver. Should the waiver language be included in future appropriations legislation, then the SCRI full-applications RFA will include that language that gives NIFA the waiver authority.
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