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Editor: Kelly Sprute February 3, 2021
Making a Difference
 Called multiseriate cortical sclerenchyma by the researchers or MCS. Image courtesy of Penn State’s Hannah Schneider.
Newly Discovered Trait Helps Plants Grow Deeper Roots in Dry, Compacted Soils
A previously unknown root trait allows some cereal plants to grow deeper roots capable of punching through dry, hard, compacted soils, according to Penn State University researchers, who suggest that harnessing the inherited characteristic could lead to crops better able to deal with a changing climate.
"This discovery bodes well for American and global agriculture because the trait helps corn, wheat and barley grow deeper roots, which is important for drought tolerance, nitrogen efficiency and carbon sequestration," said Jonathan Lynch, distinguished professor in plant science. "Breeding for this trait should be helpful in developing new crops for climate mitigation." For more information, read the Penn State news article.
The U.S. Dept of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Consortium's Crops of the Future Collaborative and its Crops in Silico program funded this project.
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As we move into our second year of Project Café, NIFA has made strong strides toward improving our processes and customer service to meet stakeholder needs.
Five Task Order Teams tackled tough issues that could be completed quickly: Enhance program and grants management specialist training; Reinforce quality comments from panels to applicants; Standardize application deadlines; Provide reliable technology and support for virtual panels; and Outline award and funding notification processes.
Now, new teams are at work addressing seven long-term projects: Determining a tool for grant portfolio data analysis; Enhancing the user experience on NIFA’s public website; Developing recommendations for RFA improvements; Expanding workshops and webinars; Improving payments time to panelists; Developing schedule of program implementation from RFA to award; Launching NIFA talent management system improvements.
Based on stakeholder feedback, these groups have already posted two new tools to NIFA’s website to help you locate NIFA experts by Institute or Program Area, completed a process map for honoraria payments, and completed a draft of Capacity SPIRA Plan for FY21 to mirror the RFA calendar now posted on the NIFA website.
More exciting developments will emerge each month. To keep track of improvements, check the Project Café Dashboard.
Dr. Carrie Castille
Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
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Keeping Food Safe from Farm to Table
During these challenging times, it's especially important to know that we have a safe and strong food supply. Here's what scientists and Cooperative Extension experts at North Carolina State University (NC State) are doing to help. With funding from a USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture COVID Rapid Response grant, scientists and Cooperative Extension experts at NC State developed FoodCoVNET, an online resource bank of science-based information and training to help consumers and the food industry get the COVID-19 information they need. For more information, read the USDA blog.
Photo of fresh produce, courtesy of Getty Images.
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The “Pathways to Success” Program
 The “Pathways to Success” program. Photo courtesy of the California State University.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states, “Diversity recognizes and respects differences in culture, ethnicity, age, gender, race, creed, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability, politics and socioeconomic characteristics.” The “Pathways to Success” program helps prepare underrepresented students for a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. “Pathways” is a 4-year professional development program started in 2017 by Dr. Annette Besnilian and Dr. Merav Efrat, in collaboration with the Marilyn Magaram Center at California State University, Northridge and Los Angeles Mission College through grant funding provided by National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, read the NIFA blog.
Family Farms Continue to Power U.S. Agriculture
What do you think of when you hear the phrase "family-owned business"? You may not immediately think of the family farm, but they are just as important to our economy and communities. In fact, family farms account for 96 percent of all U.S. farms, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology report released last week by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. These farms – 1,789,439 small family farms, 108,304 mid-size family farms, and 52,592 large-scale family farms – collectively produced $318 billion worth of agricultural products in 2017. For more information, read the USDA blog.
Photo courtesy of USDA's Preston Keres.
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Sign-up for the Virtual USDA 2021 Agricultural Outlook Forum
The 97th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, will be held virtually on February 18-19, 2021. The 2021 Forum, themed “Building on Innovation: A Pathway to Resilience,” will focus on the central role science and innovation have played in helping the agricultural sector overcome challenges and build resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. To register or for more information, go to the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum.
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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:
Supervisory Biological Science Specialist, (GS 15)
Closing Date: 02/08/2021
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Nanobubble Tech Could Revolutionize Aquaculture, Aquaponics
The burgeoning fields of aquaculture and aquaponics hold vast potential for growing food. Yet, the efficacy of these microbial-mediated processes is governed by the availability of dissolved oxygen in water. Generally, oxygen has poor solubility in water, which has a negative effect on fish growth and plant yields. Almost $200,000 in new funding from the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Water Quantity and Quality Program may expand researchers’ understanding of how nanobubbles could improve aeration and oxygen supplies. Under the grant, Samir Khanal of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, will apply the technology to these aqueous systems. His goal is to uncover new opportunities for improving fish and plant yields. For more information, read the University of Hawaiʻi news article.
Photo courtesy of the University of Hawaiʻi.
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Call for 2021 National Cooperative Extension Awards
Nominations are being accepted for the 2021 Extension Awards program through May 1, 2021. The Excellence in Extension Awards recognize Cooperative Extension professionals who excel at Extension program, make a positive impact on constituents served, and provide visionary leadership. The Award for Diversity is designed to focus national attention on innovative models and techniques that ensure that Extension programs equitably and effectively engage all audiences. The awards are offered by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) in partnership with USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, go to ECOP online.
Award graphic courtesy of Getty Images.
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Veterinary Services Grant Program Applicant Webinar
Thinking about applying to NIFA's Veterinary Services grant programs? Then sign-up for this webinar on February 17 from 2 to 3:15 p.m. (EST) where NIFA staff will give an overview of the Veterinary Services grant program and upcoming Request for Application deadlines for FY2021. There will be plenty of opportunity for engaging conversation. Go online to register for the Veterinary Services grant program webinar.
Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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Renewable Resources Extension Act
Generational Succession Planning Conference Series
Uncertainty about the future transfer of family forest or rangeland enterprises is becoming more commonplace. Increasingly, family natural resource enterprises are struggling with plans for succession to the next generation, whether the next generation is within the family or simply the next owner. The aging of current forest and rangeland owners, combined with changing opportunities and expectations of the next generation of landowners, has created an urgency for many families to seek creative strategies for succession of land ownership. Join in on this free webinar February 23 at 1 p.m. (EST). To register or for more information go online to the RREA webinar.
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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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