NIFA Director Discusses Importance of Cooperative Extension at OSU Extension Biennial Conference
Hear from NIFA Director Dr. Carrie Castille as she discusses the importance of Cooperative Extension and the agency’s federal partnership with Extension units across the nation at the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension Biennial Conference. For more information, watch this video.
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National Pie Day: January 23
National Pie Day is January 23, and what’s better than a warm, delicious dessert during these cold winter days? Look at NIFA funded research at Land-grant Universities supports the fresh fruit industry. For more information, read the NIFA blog.
National Pie Day graphic, courtesy of NIFA.
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Extended: Deadline for Comments on Climate Adaptation Webinar
NIFA is extending the deadline for comments on the Climate Adaptation webinar by an additional week. Please send your comments to Megan O'Rourke by February 4, 5 p.m. EST. With your help NIFA will have an excellent base of input to work from.
Deadline extended graphic, courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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National Cheese Lovers Day: Jan. 20
January 20 marks National Cheese Lovers Day. As you build your next charcuterie board or grab a simple cheese and crackers snack, think of our dairy research partners that help move your favorite product from the farm to your refrigerator. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the United States produced more than 13.3 billion pounds of cheese in 2020. Below are a few research projects conducted by Land-grant Universities with support from NIFA. For more information, read the NIFA blog.
NIFA graphic of National Cheese Lovers Day.
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NIFA Career Opportunities
We are hiring! NIFA recruits a diverse group of talented, creative, motivated professionals who are invested in shaping the future of food and agricultural science. We offer a variety of benefits and services to our employees that focus on work-life balance, career enhancement, and health and well-being. NIFA has career opportunities in a variety of scientific disciplines covering engineering, food science, forestry, education, animal and crop sciences, and many other agriculture-related disciplines. NIFA job openings are listed on USAJobs. Current NIFA job openings are for Kansas City, Missouri, or location negotiable after selection.
Supervisory Budget Analyst (GS-14)
Closing Date: February 4, or when we have received 100 applications.
View the job announcement.
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USDA Announces Plenary Speakers for 2022 Agricultural Outlook Forum
USDA recently announced the plenary speakers for the 2022 Agricultural Outlook Forum, themed “New Paths to Sustainability and Productivity Growth,” which will be held virtually February 24–25. The opening plenary session will feature a fireside chat between Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Commerce Elizabeth Economy. Secretary Vilsack and Dr. Economy will discuss U.S.-China agricultural trade relations and prospects for the Chinese agriculture market. For more information, read the USDA press release.
2022 Agricultural Outlook Forum graphic, courtesy of USDA.
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Poultry Industry on High Alert for Avian Influenza
With highly pathogenic avian influenza being found in wild birds in the United States for the first time in 2022, poultry producers are on high alert. USDA’s Gary Crawford talks with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Dr. Julianna Lenoch and Dr. Jack Shere on what poultry producers can do to protect their birds. For more information, listen to the USDA broadcast.
Indoor chicken farm, courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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USDA Program Encourages Rosebud Youth to Pursue Careers in Agriculture
A USDA program to boost student interest in science and agriculture is coming to the Rosebud Reservation. The Immersive Learning Experience and Rural Networking (or iLEARN) program will help K-12 educators develop and implement hands-on learning modules that incorporate concepts like regenerative agriculture into the science curriculum, according to South Dakota State University (SDSU) biology and microbiology professor Madhav Nepal. He leads a team of SDSU researchers working with community partners to increase enrollment in science courses and encourage students to pursue careers in science and agriculture. The project is supported by a five-year, $500,000 grant from NIFA. For more information, read this SDSU news article.
Interns with the Sicangu Food Sovereignty Initiative meet for a discussion after a morning of hands-on work in the garden, courtesy of South Dakota State University.
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Mining for Knowledge: Scientists Identify Bee that Can Aid Black Cherry Recovery
A ground-nesting bee family, commonly known as miner bees, could play a heightened role in rebuilding black cherry populations in Pennsylvania and beyond, according to Penn State University entomologists who investigated pollinators’ contributions to the valuable hardwood species. Pennsylvania’s black cherry trees are among the finest in the country, noted former graduate student Rachel McLaughlin, who led the study. “Black cherry historically has been one of the more premier commercial hardwoods,” said McLaughlin. “It is used to make high-quality furniture, cabinets, paneling, flooring, musical instruments and more. And nearly 30% of the nation’s black cherry volume is in Pennsylvania.” Identifying the pollinators and factors that influence pollinator abundance and fidelity is critical for supporting and enhancing seed production for this valuable timber species. This research is supported by NIFA. For more information, read the Penn State news article.
A Penn State study found that the andrenid bee is the most important pollinator of black cherry, courtesy of Penn State’s Rachel McLaughlin.
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University of Kentucky Rises Above Tornado Aftermath
In the midst of utter destruction caused by the December 11, 2021 tornado, University of Kentucky (UK) employees continued to press on, offering help where and when their fellow Kentuckians need it the most. The UK Research and Education Center in Princeton took a direct hit from the powerful tornado that began in northwestern Arkansas and carved a path of destruction across the western half of Kentucky. Watch this video and learn how UK employees worked through the weekend, securing and caring for animals, assessing damage, and offering support.
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Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grant Program Request for Applications
NIFA staff for the Rural Health and Safety Education (RHSE) program will host a webinar for applicants interested in applying to RHSE request for applications on February 23, 2 p.m. EST. RHSE supports the quality of life in rural communities across the United States by addressing the needs of rural Americans’ individual and family health and safety in the context of food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences. Proposals are expected to be community-based, outreach education programs such as those conducted through Human Science Extension outreach. For more information, read the RHSE webinar announcement.
Webinar graphic, courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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Save the Date
Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grants Program
The Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grants (TCEG) program focuses on development of culturally responsive students and faculty who use student backgrounds and identities to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment. View the TCEG Request for Applications for more information.
Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grant informational webinar, February 3, at 1 p.m. CST, Zoom link
New Beginning for Tribal Students
New Beginning for Tribal Students (NBTS) makes competitive grants to Land-grant Colleges and Universities to provide identifiable support specifically targeted for Tribal students. View the NBTS Request for Applications for more information.
NBTS RFA informational webinar, February 3, at 2 p.m. CST, Zoom link
Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program
Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) establishes an Extension presence and supports Extension outreach on Federally Recognized Indian Reservations and Tribal jurisdictions. View the FRTEP Request for Applications for more information.
FRTEP informational webinar, February 3, at 3 p.m. CST, Zoom link
NIFA Invests Nearly $8 Million to Educate and Develop Agricultural Scientists and Professionals
NIFA recently awarded 54 Predoctoral Fellowships grants to develop new scientists and professionals to enter research, education and/or Extension fields within the food and agricultural sciences. The aim of these fellowships is to cultivate future leaders who can solve emerging agricultural challenges of the 21st century. NIFA is particularly interested in supporting fellows that address (1) sustainable agricultural intensification; (2) agricultural climate adaptation; (3) food and nutrition translation; (4) value-added innovation; and (5) agricultural science policy leadership. These grants are a part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.
NIFA Invests Nearly $5.5M to Enhance Animal Genetics for Food Production
NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Animal Breeding and Functional Annotations of Genomes program supports research to genetically enhance animal production throughout the nation. In the U.S., horn flies are estimated to cause more than $1 billion in economic losses in cattle health and gain – an issue that has not been traditionally mitigated through genetic selection. NIFA has recently funded this project and seven others to ensure producers have the available tools to improve animal production to maintain U.S. food security.
CORRECTION: Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Announcement
NIFA recently announced the fiscal year 2021 Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) awards. VMLRP provides up to $75,000 in loan repayment to help eligible veterinarians offset a significant portion of the debt incurred in pursuit of their veterinary medicine degrees in return for their service in certain high-priority veterinary shortage situations. Funding is authorized by the National Veterinary Medical Services Act. In 2021, NIFA made 78 awards totaling $7,558,227 in loan repayments in 36 states. Go to the VMLRP shortage area map for more information.
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 Image of woman with laptop, courtesy of Adobe Stock.
NIFA's Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program provides funds for improving agricultural producers’ farm management knowledge and skills by maintaining and expanding a national, publicly available farm financial management database to support improved farm management. FBMB supports producers to develop farm management knowledge that is consistent with NIFA’s food and agricultural priorities. Application deadline: April 8. For more information, read the FBMB funding opportunity announcement.
Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program
 Image of schoolchildren, courtesy of Adobe Stock.
NIFA’s Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants (RHSE) program supports quality of life in rural communities across the United States by addressing the needs of rural Americans’ individual and family health and safety in the context of food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences. RHSE fosters, improves and coordinates education programs among Federal agencies, other levels of government, and institutions and private organizations in rural areas, to disseminate information about rural health and safety. RHSE proposals are expected to be community-based outreach education programs such as those conducted through Human Science Extension outreach. Application deadline: April 29. For more information, read the RHSE funding opportunity announcement.
Small Business Innovation Research Program - Phase II
 Image of robot picking tomato courtesy of Adobe Stock.
NIFA's Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) focuses on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. This program supports small businesses in the creation of innovative and/or disruptive technologies, and enables the application of research advancements from conception to market. All SBIR Phase II projects must have previously completed a successful USDA SBIR Phase I project before applying for a Phase II grant. Projects dealing with agriculturally related manufacturing and alternative and renewable energy technologies are encouraged across all SBIR topic areas. SBIR's flexible research areas ensure innovative projects consistent with USDA's vision of a healthy and productive nation in harmony with the land, air and water. Application deadline: April 6. For more information, read the SBIR Phase II funding opportunity announcement.
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