Free Online Social Justice Courses and Discussions Available
Society is challenged every day with events and actions that sometimes seem unbelievable. Between racial conflict, gender identity issues, gun violence, LGBTQIA+ controversy, and the migrant crisis there is news every day that is disheartening and often misunderstood. The 2022 Military Family Readiness Academy series focuses on individuals’ understanding of social justice and equity, including their own understanding of privilege and oppression.
Three asynchronous courses and two panel discussions will equip family service providers with the skills to identify barriers that impact a family’s health and well-being and identify opportunities for social justice advocacy in their work. The Academy series will address the intersections between engaging a social justice mindset as a family service professional and the ability to support the well-being of diverse military families. Enroll today and accept the challenge of social justice advocacy in your work.
Military Family Readiness Academy, courtesy of OneOp.
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NIFA Programs Increasing Access to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month. Fruits and vegetables are a vital – and delicious – part of a healthy diet. Adults should consume 1.5 to 2 cups of fresh fruits and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables each day, according to the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. NIFA supports programs that are working toward a safe, nutritious food supply while also developing, delivering and disseminating evidence-based nutrition education and promotion.
National Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Month graphic, courtesy of NIFA.
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NIFA-Funded Research Projects Advance U.S. Aquaculture, Protect Our Oceans
To mark World Oceans Day this June, we’re highlighting the collaborative work among Land-grant Universities, through support from NIFA, to advance aquaculture in the U.S. and protect our coastal waters.
World Oceans Day graphic, courtesy of NIFA.
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How NIFA Champions Greater Access to Higher Education
National Higher Education Day occurs annually on June 6 to champion accessibility to higher education. NIFA supports higher education by partnering with the Land-grant University System to find innovative solutions to the most pressing local, national and global problems. In fiscal year 2021, NIFA’s support for research, Extension and education totaled nearly $2 billion.
Higher Education Day graphic, courtesy of NIFA.
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Increasing Food Security in a Mohican Tribal Community
With support from NIFA and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, a Mohican Indian tribe in north central Wisconsin, is increasing community food security and access to fresh produce.
National Garden Week graphic, courtesy of NIFA.
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Sweet Dreams Are Made of Cheese, Who Am I to Diss a Brie?
June 4 was National Cheese Day. From that slice of sharp cheddar on your burger at the summer barbeque to that gooey mozzarella pull when you reach for a piece of pizza, people love cheese – and have for a very long time. In fact, it is speculated that cheesemaking predates recorded history. Therefore, it is no surprise that there is a whole day dedicated to this dairy delicacy. NIFA understands the importance of cheese, not only to consumers but to dairy farmers and producers as well. That is one reason why NIFA funds research dedicated to supporting, strengthening and expanding the dairy industry.
National Cheese Day graphic, courtesy of NIFA.
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National Egg Day: An Egg-cellent Source of Nutrition
With 6% of Vitamin A, 6.3 grams of protein and 75 calories in one egg, the egg is an important food for those who want to stay fit or lose weight. On National Egg Day, we shared a few NIFA-funded research projects conducted by Land-grant Universities that explore the health benefits associated with egg consumption. Check out the easy egg-based breakfast recipe from the University of Kentucky to help you incorporate more protein in your diet.
National Egg Day graphic, courtesy of NIFA.
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The Extension Disaster Education Network Helps Prepare Nation for Hurricane Season
June 1 marked the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season in the United States. This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an above-average hurricane activity this year — which would make it the seventh consecutive above-average hurricane season. Led by NIFA, the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) is a collaborative multi-state effort by Cooperative Extension Services across the country to improve the delivery of services to citizens affected by disasters.
Hurricane Season Begins June 1 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.gov. Current NIFA job openings are for Kansas City, Missouri, or a location negotiable after selection, unless otherwise noted below.
Associate Director for Operations (ES-00)
Closing Date: June 23.
View the job announcement.
Career Opportunities graphic, courtesy of NIFA.
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USDA Invests in New HBCU Agribusiness Innovation Center at NC A&T State University
 USDA Deputy Agriculture Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh and Acting NIFA Director Dr. Dionne Toombs.
The USDA has announced a $1.92 million investment to establish an Agriculture Business Innovation Center at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (NC A&T) State University, an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“This new innovation center will serve as a technical assistance hub to enhance agriculture-based business development opportunities nationwide,” said USDA Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh in a presentation to a systemwide meeting of 1890 Land-grant Universities. The 1890 Land-grant System is comprised of 19 HBCUs — designated under the Second Morrill Act of 1890, which gave Land-grant University status to HBCUs along with colleges of agriculture, research, education and Extension programs.
USDA Celebrates National Pride Month
 The Pride flag is raised at USDA Headquarters at the Whitten Building in Washington, D.C., as part of USDA’s celebration of National Pride Month.
A Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Pride Month, 2022
During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Pride Month, we reflect on the progress we have made as a Nation in the fight for justice, inclusion, and equality while reaffirming our commitment to do more to support LGBTQI+ rights at home and abroad.
A Bounty of Pride graphic, courtesy of USDA.
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USDA Announces $503 Million to Improve Outdoor Recreation and Conservation on National Forests
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh has announced that USDA is investing more than half a billion dollars through the Great American Outdoors Act to address deferred maintenance, improve infrastructure, increase user access and support rural economies while also meeting conservation goals.
USDA Has Provided $700 Million to Restore Sustainable Fuel Markets Hit by Pandemic
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the Department has provided $700 million to help lower costs and support biofuel producers who faced unexpected market losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are being made available through the Biofuel Producer Program, which was created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The investments include more than $486 million for 62 producers located in socially vulnerable communities.
USDA Partners with States, Territories and Tribes to Enhance Supply-Chain Resiliency Through Local Food Purchase Programs
USDA has made significant advancements in food purchasing efforts through new programs administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service. The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) fund purchasing programs that aim to strengthen local and regional food systems, improve agricultural supply-chain resiliency, and support underserved producers. The application period for LFPA closed on May 20; applications for LFS remain open for eligible organizations until July 20.
USDA Celebrates National Homeownership Month
Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack kicked off National Homeownership Month. As part of this nationwide celebration, USDA is highlighting programs that help people in rural, Tribal and underserved areas buy, build and repair affordable homes and to pay their rent in America’s smallest towns and communities.
USDA NIFA Funds ‘Farm of the Future’
The USDA has announced that it is funding a new collaboration between two institutes and a research center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign that will create an integrated farm of the future in the U.S. Midwest. Titled “I-FARM: Illinois Farming and Regenerative Management,” this $3.9 million, three-year project is funded through NIFA. The Illinois-led study will develop an 80-acre agricultural testbed, where commodity crops (corn and soybean) and livestock are farmed using synergistic and sustainable practices.
A crop robot, courtesy of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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Experiment Station Researcher in Search of a More Water-Efficient Chicken
In a world with shrinking freshwater resources for a growing human population, where do you find enough moisture to grow food? You might start by improving water use efficiency in the world’s number one livestock animal — chickens. University of Arkansas Assistant Professor of Poultry Science Sara Orlowski is working toward developing chickens that can thrive on limited water. Her research is part of a five-year, multi-institution project funded by a $9.9 million grant awarded through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.
University of Arkansas Assistant Professor of Poultry Science Sara Orlowski is selecting broilers for water efficiency. Photo courtesy of Fred Miller,
University of Arkansas System, Division of Agriculture.
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The Grass May Be Greener on Old Mine Sites as WVU Researchers Test Resiliency of Bioenergy Crops
West Virginia University researchers are working to better understand how climate change may make an impact on a bioenergy crop that flourishes on reclaimed mining lands. Previously living materials, including perennial grasses like Miscanthus x giganteus, produce bioenergy. With support from NIFA, Associate Professor Ember Morrissey is examining the symbiotic relationship between microbes and this type of tall grass to prepare for climate change and decreasing fossil fuel usage.
West Virginia University researchers will use $817,000 in grant funding from NIFA to study the resiliency of miscanthus, a bioenergy crop that grows well on reclaimed mine land. Photo courtesy of Jenni Kane, West Virginia University.
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Morning Ag Clips: Uncovering Best Practices for Cover Crops to Optimize Production
Planting cover crops like cereal rye is a beneficial agricultural practice. One of their many benefits is to cover soil for times when farmers cannot plant cash crops like corn and soy – over the winter, for example. But it is not as simple as just growing cover crops in between growing seasons. Farmers have multiple decisions to make about optimizing cover crop production. Researchers like Heidi Reed at Pennsylvania State University want to help farmers make the best decisions about their cover crops. In a recent study supported by NIFA, Reed and her team examined the impact of cereal rye seeding rate, termination time and nitrogen rate.
Soybeans growing in a field in Pennsylvania. Photo courtesy of Heidi Reed,
Pennsylvania State University.
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NIFA Invests Over $1M in Economic and Social Implications of Food and Agricultural Technologies
NIFA has invested over $1 million in three projects as part of the Economic and Social Implications of Food and Agricultural Technologies program. Examining the economic and social implications of technology is a form of technology assessment that anticipates the unforeseen and unintended consequences of technological innovation, including cultural, health, welfare, equity, ethical and environmental impacts. The award recipients are New Mexico State University, Las Cruces ($50,000); North Carolina State University, Raleigh ($649,515); and Decision Science Research Institute, Eugene, Oregon ($614,642).
A team of researchers at Washington State University - Pullman and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have demonstrated that their artificial enzyme succeeded in digesting lignin, which has stubbornly resisted previous attempts to develop it into an economically useful energy source.
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Meet John Martins.
John is a Senior Public Affairs Specialist with NIFA's Office of Communications. "I was so impressed by the scale and impact of NIFA’s work,” says John. “I couldn’t imagine a better way of answering a call to public service than by supporting USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area." Interested in joining NIFA’s team? Check out our Career Opportunities page for current openings.
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