USDA Science Strengthens U.S. Efforts to End COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic requires a coordinated approach to combat the virus and its rippling effects. We all have a role to play to help end the pandemic. USDA is doing its part by providing evidence-based research and information, its facilities, personnel, and expertise to communities across the country. For more information, read the USDA blog.

USDA science agencies are using evidence-based research to combat the pandemic.

Addressing Nutrition Insecurity in our Nation

The Agriculture Secretary says challenges of hunger in America go beyond food insecurity, into what he describes as nutrition insecurity. USDA’s Rod Bain talks with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about how to improve food and nutrition security in the U.S. For more information, listen to the USDA broadcast.

Food Basket image courtesy of Tyler Stalman.

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:

Student Trainee (Biological Science) (GS 3-5)
Closing Date: 03/19/2021

Student Trainee (Accounting) (GS 4-5)
Closing Date: 03/19/2021

Student Trainee (Business) (GS 4-5)
Closing Date: 03/19/2021

Model May Help Chincoteague Ponies Avoid Deadly Infection  

The Chincoteague pony is a unique breed of wild horse that lives on Assateague Island, on the Virginia/Maryland border. In the past three years, 12 of the horses have been infected with P. insidiosum and developed pythiosis. Researchers from North Carolina State University have created a model that can identify potential hot spots for the pathogen Pythium insidiosum in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, home to the wild Chincoteague ponies. P. insidiosum is an aquatic, fungus-like pathogen that thrives in standing water and is commonly found in tropical or subtropical environments. In horses it causes pythiosis, or "swamp cancer," a fatal infection which often affects the skin or gastrointestinal tracts of the animals. It is hoped that this model will help caretakers manage the horses in ways that can reduce their exposure to this pathogen. The research appears in Frontiers in Veterinary Science and was supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture McIntire Stennis project. For more information, read the North Carolina State University article.

Wild horses (Chincoteague Ponies) in Maryland, photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Florida-Grown Coffee? How Scientists are Using AI to Serve Up the Possibilities

Most of the world’s coffee is grown in tropical regions. However, a changing climate could allow coffee to grow farther north for example, in Florida. To understand how that might work, scientists with the University of Florida are already growing coffee plants at the UF/IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit. This research could one day produce a morning cup of joe with origins in the Sunshine State. This project is funded by a grant from USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, read the UF/IFAS blog article.

Pouring coffee, photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Improving Soil Health Could Mitigate Greenhouse Gases in Semi-Arid Region

Farmers and ranchers in West Texas walk a very thin line to achieve sustainability with the semi-arid climate and scarcity of water. A slight deviation one way or the other often determines how profitable a growing season or herd can be. The key for producers is to use as little of the limited natural resources as possible while still improving production. That task is the focus of many ag research projects at companies and universities across the U.S., including those in the College of Ag Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University, where Assistant Professor Lindsey Slaughter is leading one of those projects. Funded by a $500K grant from USDA-NIFA’s Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service. For more information, watch the Texas Tech University video.