Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is the first and largest citizen science project in the world. Beyond the citizen science of the GBBC, Land-grant University researchers are tackling important questions related to birds and their habitats. Check out some NIFA-funded research investigating how invasive species, human activities and climate change are impacting wild bird populations.
The Great Backyard Bird Count graphic, courtesy of NIFA.
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The Importance of Cover Crops
Cover crops—which are typically added to a crop rotation in between two commodity or forage crops—provide living, seasonal soil cover with a variety of on-farm benefits, such as increased soil moisture capacity, improved nutrient cycling and weed suppression. Cover crops also provide public benefits by reducing sediment loss, nutrient runoff and leaching; reducing flooding; and storing carbon in the soil. Land-grant Universities conduct research and educate landowners about this important conservation practice.
The importance of cover crops graphic, courtesy of NIFA.
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NIFA Supports Heart Health Research
February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on cardiovascular health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women. One person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. Here are a few Land-grant University research efforts supported by NIFA that aim to improve heart health.
NIFA supports heart health research graphic, courtesy of NIFA.
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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 a location negotiable after selection.
Program Analyst (Data Scientist) (GS-14)
Closing Date: March 3, or when we have received 150 applications.
View the job announcement.
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USDA Announces $50M in Grants Awarded to States to Support the Seafood Industry
USDA will invest approximately $50 million in grants to support seafood processors, processing facilities and processing vessels through the Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program. This grant funding, to be distributed through state agencies, will help defray costs incurred by seafood processing facilities and processing vessels preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sorting seafood into containers, courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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United States Advances Agricultural Innovation at Inaugural AIM for Climate Ministerial
At the first Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) ministerial meeting in Dubai, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack underscored the importance of joint international action and investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation, calling on AIM for Climate partners to continue on their ambitious path towards addressing global climate change and hunger challenges.
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Join Us February 24-25 at USDA's Largest and Premiere Annual Gathering
USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum began in 1923 to distribute and interpret national forecasts to farmers in the field. The goal was to provide the information developed through economic forecasting to farmers so they had the tools to read market signals and avoid producing beyond demand. Since then, the forum has developed into a unique platform where key stakeholders from the agricultural sectors in the United States and around the world come together every year to discuss current and emerging topics and trends. On average, 1,600 people attend the forum each year. For more information, watch the video.
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Nebraska Researcher Building Database to Help Farmers Breed Hardier Sheep
Genetic analysis is an increasingly important and common tool in guiding animal breeding. With the use of genomic information, a growing number of desired traits for livestock that boost herd health and producer profitability are being incorporated into breeding programs. However, considerable gaps exist in genetic data collection for the sheep industry, which contributes nearly $6 billion annually to the U.S. economy. A new NIFA-supported research project led by a researcher with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources aims to build a needed inventory of such data to help create more and better markets.
Sheep grazing, courtesy of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
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Michigan State University Researcher Examining the Effects of Wildfire Burn Severity on Soil Health
As wildfires like the current one near Bishop, California, devastate the landscape, there is an urgent need to make forests more resilient. A new Michigan State University-led, NIFA-funded project is studying the effects of wildfire burn severity on soil health.
This California forest burned at high intensity, which killed all of the large trees. Three years after the fire, there are no live trees or tree seedlings. Researchers want to discover ways to increase forest resilience. Photo courtesy of Jessica Miesel.
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Washington State Scientist Aims to Bring New Crops and Diversity into Fields
In Washington state, buckwheat is often grown as a cover crop, not harvested or sold. Washington State doctoral student Rachel Breslauer will investigate whether growers can turn buckwheat into a profitable crop thanks to a NIFA predoctoral fellowship.
Rachel Breslauer in a field of buckwheat. Photo courtesy of Washington State University.
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Mississippi Band of Choctaw Band of Indians Partners with Mississippi State University Extension to Mentor Native Students
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has forged a partnership with the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service to help recruit and retain tribal students as they work toward their career goals. The agreement, funded through a $500,000 grant by NIFA’s New Beginning for Tribal Students grant program, will see the Mississippi Band of Choctaw partnering with multiple MSU departments and organizations. For more information, read this Tribal Business News article.
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians spokesperson Tia Grisham, third from left, joins Mississippi State University Extension personnel Kaiti Ford, Mariah Morgan, and Jim McAdory helping to create career pathways for tribal students. Photo courtesy of MSU Extension Service/Kevin Hudson.
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MacKenzie Scott donates $50M to National 4-H Council
Billionaire philanthropist and novelist MacKenzie Scott has pledged to donate a record $50 million to the National 4-H Council, the youth development organization announced today. It’s the largest single gift in the group's 120-year history. Given the expansive reach of Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program, delivered through the nation’s Land-grant Universities, this investment will support positive youth development for nearly six million kids and their families in every U.S. county, parish and territory. For more information, read this AgriPulse article.
4-H students, courtesy of AgriPulse.
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NIFA Invests $16M for Undergraduate Ag Research and Extension Experiences
NIFA has invested $16 million to ensure that the agricultural workforce of the future includes undergraduates from diverse backgrounds who have the education and training necessary to compete for the agricultural jobs of tomorrow. For more information, read the NIFA press release.
This initiative helps provide opportunities for undergraduate students, including those from underrepresented and historically underserved groups, minority-serving institutions, community colleges, and universities. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
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NIFA Invests Over $8M in Physiology of Agricultural Plants
NIFA has invested more than $8 million in research to improve plant production, which is critical to the sustainability and competitiveness of U.S. agriculture. Future improvements to production systems require a better understanding of inter-related factors affecting agricultural plants and their nutritional quality, water-and nutrient-use efficiency, and resilience to climate variability. The Physiology of Agricultural Plants Program supports research that addresses these needs at the molecular, cellular, biochemical and whole-organism levels. These 19 projects are funded by NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).
NIFA Invests $7M in Data Science for Food and Agricultural Systems
NIFA has invested $7 million in 13 innovative, new approaches to artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture through the Data Science for Food and Agricultural Systems program. This AFRI program focuses on data science/AI to enable systems and communities to effectively utilize data, improve resource management, and integrate new technologies and approaches to further U.S. food and agriculture enterprises.
Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative
 Organic vegetables, courtesy of Adobe Stock.
NIFA’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) seeks to solves critical organic agriculture issues, priorities or problems through research, education, and Extension activities. OREI funds projects that enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high-quality organic agricultural products. The OREI program is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research, education and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole farm planning. Fieldwork must be done on certified organic land or on land in transition to organic certification, as appropriate to project goals and objectives. Refer to the USDA National Organic Program for organic production standards. Application deadline: March 31. For more information, read the OREI funding announcement.
Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Grants Program
 Student conducting plant research, courtesy of Adobe Stock.
NIFA’s Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) program supports training students for master's and doctoral degrees in food, agricultural and natural resource sciences; and Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances for eligible USDA NNF beneficiaries. NNF awards are specifically intended to support traineeship programs that engage outstanding students to pursue and complete degrees in the food and agricultural sciences. NNF awards invest in graduate training and relevant international experiential learning for diverse individuals who demonstrate their potential to successfully complete graduate degree programs in disciplines relevant to the mission of the USDA. Application deadline: April 26. For more information, read the NNF funding announcement.
Veterinary Services Grant Program
 Female veterinarian examining dairy cows, courtesy of Adobe Stock.
NIFA’s Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) supports education, Extension activities, and practice initiatives that enable veterinarians, veterinary students, veterinary technicians, and veterinary technician students to gain specialized skills. VSGP also provides practices with additional resources and equipment needed to mitigate veterinary service shortages in the United States. This program will ultimately bolster the capacity of private practitioners to provide food animal veterinary services in designated rural veterinarian shortage situations. Application deadline: April 5. For more information, read the VSGP funding announcement.
Director of NIFA Dr. Carrie Castille, recently visited Georgia Tech and saw our impact on food processing, agricultural, and forestry research.
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With support from NIFA, a team of scientists from UC Davis has identified a new gene variant in wheat that can increase the amount of the grain produced. Wheat is a staple of food diets worldwide, and the gene discovery could allow farmers to grow more food without increasing land use. The increased yield also could lower consumer prices, making the crop more accessible.
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