New Features Available in NIFA Reporting System

We are pleased to announce that users can now submit results for capacity-funded research projects and Extension programs in the NIFA Reporting System (NRS). This represents a significant milestone in the development of NRS and the ongoing effort to streamline reporting. In addition, there are several key features that improve the overall performance and user experience including:

• Add results – New features enable users to record key findings from their research and Extension activities. Users will now be able to add, edit, view, and submit results for approval within NRS. As a reminder, NIFA has moved due dates forward by one month for results (previously referred to as progress reports) and the Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results (for Plan of Work only). For more information on upcoming deadlines, please review our Reporting Fact Sheet here.
• Email notifications – A new email notification system will alert users to important changes in project/program status. For example, designated NIFA staff will be notified when projects have been submitted for NIFA review and organizations will be notified of approvals, deferrals, and declinations.
• Project/Program dashboard improvements – These enable users to filter and search by knowledge area to more easily find projects/programs pertaining to a specific subject matter. Also, projects can now be searched by accession number and department name.
• System and design improvements – Through our ongoing user engagement through webinars, interviews, and working groups, we identified several design improvements for the application including a new, reorganized design to the project view and more intuitive button features. As the application continues to be developed, additional refinements will be made based on feedback from our user community.

For additional information about these new features, please attend a NIFA webinar about them Thursday, Feb. 10., at 1 p.m. EST. Use passcode: 728518 to join the ZoomGov meeting.

Data graphic interface showing reports, courtesy of Adobe Stock.

January 2022 USDA Climate Science Webinar: Climate Change Effects on U.S. Agriculture and Forests

Climate change impacts are already evident in many U.S. forests, ecosystems, and agroecosystems. Additional effects and opportunities to mitigate those effects are being brought about by increased frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events and associated disturbances. Ecosystem services and agricultural productivity can both be maintained in most locations through timely implementation of risk assessments and climate-smart management. The long-term goal is to ensure that U.S. agriculture, food production, forests, and ecosystems are more resilient to both climate and nonclimate stressors now and in the future. Panelists: Dr. Emile Elias, Agricultural Research Services, Southwest Climate Hub; Dr. David Peterson, U.S. Forest Service Emeritus, Pacific Northwest Research Station; Dr. Dennis Todey, Agricultural Research Services, Midwest Climate Hub; and Dr. James Vose, U.S. Forest Service Emeritus, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Watch webinar.

Smart agriculture technology concept, courtesy of Adobe Stock.

National Carrot Cake Day: Feb. 3

National Carrot Cake Day would not be possible without its key ingredient. Learn more about crucial carrot research being conducted by Land-grant Universities with support from NIFA. For more information, read this NIFA blog.

National Carrot Cake Day graphic, courtesy of NIFA.

Kudos to Our EXCITE Partners

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, and the Center’s Deputy Director for Science have expressed gratitude to the nation’s Cooperative Extension System for addressing vaccine hesitancy by educating and raising awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated for COVID-19 in rural America.

Kudos to Our EXCITE Partners graphic, courtesy of NIFA.

Eat Like a Champ

Whether you’re rooting for the Bengals or the Rams, make sure you eat like a champ on Super Bowl Sunday by including healthy appetizers. Here are some winning recommendations for snacks from our friends at Cooperative Extension units around the country.

Eat Like a Champ graphic, courtesy of NIFA.

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 a location negotiable after selection.

Equal Opportunity Specialist (GS 13)
Closing Date: Feb. 15.
View the job announcement.

USDA to Invest $1 Billion in Climate-Smart Commodities, Expanding Markets, Strengthening Rural America

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA is delivering on its promise to expand markets by investing $1 billion in partnerships to support America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity will finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse gas benefits. USDA is now accepting project applications for fiscal year 2022.

“America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest owners are leading the way in implementing climate-smart solutions across their operations,” said Vilsack. “Through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, USDA will provide targeted funding to meet national and global demand and expand market opportunities for climate-smart commodities to increase the competitive advantage of American producers. We want a broad array of agriculture and forestry to see themselves in this effort, including small and historically underserved producers as well as early adopters.” For more information, read this USDA press release.

USDA Invests $1.4 Billion to Support Local Businesses, Create Good-Paying Jobs and Strengthen the Economy in Rural America

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the Department is investing $1.4 billion to help a diverse rural America keep resources and wealth right at home through job training, business expansion and technical assistance. The programs these investments are being made through are part of a suite of business and cooperative services that are projected to help create or save more than 50,000 jobs in rural America through investments made in fiscal year 2021. For more information, read the USDA press release.

Sauces and Dog Food: Two Success Stories from the Florida Culinary Accelerator @ Immokalee

Reshma Tannassee’s sauces sell like hotcakes. She started the business on her own, and now she has 13 employees and hopes to have about 300 in a few years. Kendra Locke and Corene Petitpren wanted to sell their dog food and treats. After a rigorous process of research, and trial and error with licensing and other assorted regulations, they made their first sale several months later. These entrepreneurs refined their products and processes at the Florida Culinary Accelerator @ Immokalee with help from Matt Krug, a state specialized agent in food science for the University of Florida (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension (IFAS). For more information, read this UF-IFAS blog.

Dog food image, courtesy of the University of Florida.

Ease of Food Donations, Standardizing Date Labels Reduce Food Waste

The average U.S. household wastes an estimated 32% of purchased food, translating to $240 billion in economic losses. When it comes to reducing food waste, consumers most favor solutions that involve making food donations easier and establishing standards for food date labels, according to a Penn State University study supported by USDA-NIFA. The study is among the first to examine support and perceived effectiveness for popular food waste solutions. Scientists found making food donations easier and standardizing date labels were the two most popular food waste solutions, with more than 90% support and more than 80% agreement of effectiveness. For more information, read this Penn State Agricultural Sciences blog.

Colorful vegetables image, courtesy of Pexels-Engin Akyurt.

Researcher Combines Climate Change and Land Use Data to Predict Watershed Impact

When rain falls, it picks up pollution from streets, farms, and other manmade features as it winds toward the ocean. With support from USDA-NIFA, researchers at Florida State University (FSU), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Ohio State University, and the U.S. Geological Survey determined that average annual runoff in the Broad Run watershed of Loudoun County, Virginia — home to more than 400,000 people — could increase by as much as 67% if historical trends in urban growth continue and extreme climate-related events materialize. As runoff increases, pollutants such as suspended solids, nitrogen and phosphorus also increase. The research is important as a comprehensive understanding of how changing landscape conditions can help urban planners and environmental policymakers choose more sustainable and resilient watershed restoration strategies. For more information, read this Florida State University news article.

Florida State University’s Nasrin Alamdari, image courtesy of FSU Photography Services.

Research Examines How Viruses Affect Honey Bees’ Vision

Viruses are one of many factors scientists believe are contributing to the collapse of honey bee colonies. Not only do the viruses kill bees; infections also can alter their eyesight and what foods they are attracted to, leaving their colonies with inadequate nutritional content. With support from USDA-NIFA, Louisiana State University (LSU) researchers are working to learn more about how viruses affect bees’ vision and whether there are ways to help them recover from infections and return to normal foraging behavior. For more information, read this LSU AgCenter article.

USDA entomologist Michael Simone-Finstrom holds a frame from a beehive. Image courtesy of LSU AgCenter’s Olivia McClure.

CDC Recognizes Partnership with National Cooperative Extension System

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expressed gratitude to the nation's Cooperative Extension System, including University of Missouri Extension, for addressing vaccine hesitancy by educating and raising awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated for COVID-19 in rural America. For more information, read the Missouri Ag Connection article.

Teacher gets vaccinated graphic, courtesy of Adobe Stock.

An Auburn University postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences recently received a two-year, $225,000 postdoctoral fellowship from NIFA for developing genomic tools to sustainably accelerate hop breeding programs.

Although the landscape may be bleak in the winter, now is the time for gardeners — those with established green thumbs and those who are just starting out — to begin their gardening plans for the upcoming growing season. Oklahoma State Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources' Oklahoma Garden Planning Guide is chock full of useful information covering everything from site selection and garden planning to gardening tips and a planting guide. This work is supported by NIFA.