We Want to Hear from You about NIFA’s Grants Modernization Initiative
As part of NIFA’s Grants Modernization Initiative, we are examining NIFA’s current external facing grants management system capabilities and exploring two new grants management solutions – eRA and GrantSolutions. As part of our process, we are considering a number of factors, such as 1) what advantages our current systems have in meeting our customers’ needs; 2) what are the “gaps” in our current systems’ capabilities; 3) how familiar our external stakeholders are with the eRA (Commons) and GrantSolutions systems; and 4) what grants management features are most important to our customers’ experience.
We welcome your feedback on NIFA’s Grants Modernization Initiative. If you have any comments, questions or concerns about NIFA’s current grants managements systems or the grants management systems NIFA is considering adopting in the future (eRA or GrantSolutions), please send them to NIFAGrantsMod@usda.gov.
Grants modernization process graphic, courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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National 4-H Conference Information Session
Join NIFA for a virtual information session December 7 at 4 p.m. EST to learn more about the 2023 National 4-H Conference, being held in April 2023, including the registration process, schedule and key events, chaperone roles and travel logistics. For more information about National 4-H Conference, visit our website. Registration is required. Register Now.
NIFA 2023 National 4-H Conference Save the Date graphic.
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NIFA Announces Nearly $24M Boost for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
NIFA announced a nearly $24 million investment across 45 organizations and institutions that teach and train beginning farmers and ranchers. This investment is part of the NIFA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program that supports a wide range of professional development activities across an array of important topics for new farmers and ranchers, such as managing capital, acquiring and managing land, and learning effective business and farming practices.
FY 2022 Awardees: Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, Asheville, NC; Berea College, Berea, KY; California State University, San Marcos, CA; Carver Vocational Agricultural Trade Institute, Kansas City, KS; Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship, Oneonta, NY; Center for Land-Based Learning, Woodland, CA; Center of Southwest Culture, Albuquerque, NM; Cornell Cooperative Extension Tioga County, Candor, NY; Corporacion Juvenil Para El Desarrollo De, Caguas, PR; Eco City Farms, Riverdale, MD; Federation of Southern Cooperatives, East Point, GA; Food Works, Carbondale, IL; Garden Raised Project, Olympia, WA; Glynwood Center Inc. Cold Spring, NY; Grand Traverse Conservation District, Traverse City, MI; Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture, Kapaau, HI; Khuba International, Ithaca, NY; Lutheran Services in Iowa, Des Moines, IA; Maine Aquaculture Association, Hallowell, ME; Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Unity, ME; Mississippi Delta Council for Farmworker Opportunities, Inc., Clarksdale, MS; Mountain States Group Inc, Boise, ID; Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition, Mullen, NE; Newark Science and Sustainability, Inc., Newark, NJ; NexGen Farming Institute Inc, Jasper, GA; North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC; North South Institute, Sunrise, FL; Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust Inc. Cranston, RI; Recipe for Success Foundation, Houston, TX; Recirculating Farms Coalition, Inc. New Orleans, LA; Rogue Farm Corps, Ashland, OR; Salt City Harvest Farm, Manlius, NY; Sicangu Community Development Corporation, Mission, SD; Southside Community Land Trust, Providence, RI; Sustainable Molokai, KaunaKakai, HI; Sustainable Systems Research Foundation, Santa Cruz, CA; Sweet Hollow Farm, Victor, ID; The Gleaning Network of Texas, Dallas, TX; The Land Connection Foundation, Champaign, IL; Texas State University, San Marcos, TX; University of California, Davis, CA; University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; and Urban Growers Collective, Chicago, IL.
NIFA Invests $21.6M for Small Business-Led Innovations
NIFA has invested in 34 research projects as part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Each of the projects proposes an innovative or disruptive solution across nine topic areas ranging from food science and nutrition to conservation of natural resources. The program targets early-stage projects in the private sector poised to deliver significant public benefits and strengthens the role of federal research and development in support of small businesses, many of which are owned by women or historically underserved populations.
SBIR Phase II FY 2022 awardees: Hangar Alpha, New York; Trident Sensing, Utah; 3Bar Biologics, Ohio; Nutramaize, Indiana; Pathovacs, Iowa; Sentinel Environmental Group, Texas; Fluidion U.S., California; Nitricity, California; Seacoast Science, California; Greentechnologies, Florida, Solmem, Texas; Verraglo, Kentucky; Inventherm, Louisiana; Mirtech, New Jersey; Guild Associates, Ohio; Fiberstar, Wisconsin; Connect Dynamics, Arkansas; Bludot Technologies; California; Vectech, Maryland; Quantalux, Michigan; Kampachi Farms, Hawaii; Frontline Biotechnologies, Minnesota; Hood Canal Mariculture, Washington; Zestbio, California; Nanosepex, New Jersey; Integrated Lipid Biofuels, Washington; Jua Technologies International, Indiana; Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Maine; International Electronic Machines Corp., New York; Otisco Engineering, Ohio; Tric Robotics, Delaware; Hazel Technologies, Illinois; Application Insight, Michigan; and Nuphy, Washington.
AFRI Foundational Knowledge of Agricultural Production Systems
NIFA has supported one recipient with a grant of nearly $25,000 in the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational Knowledge of Agricultural Production Systems program. This program supports plant research to advance knowledge for the wide range of agricultural production systems found across the rural-urban continuum, from conventional open-fields to protected built environments. Results are expected to lead to the development of innovative sustainable solutions to challenges limiting or threatening the productivity, profitability, and good stewardship of natural resources, environment, and human capital.
FY 22 awardee: Organic Association of Kentucky, Inc.
NIFA-Funded Drought Research Inspires Scientist’s Poetry
It’s not often that we learn about a scientist who is so inspired by her NIFA-funded research that she is moved to pen poetry. So when we learned about scientist Jess Gersony’s six poems that have been published in four literary journals, we wanted to know, not only about her research, but the pieces that it inspired. Learn more about Gersony here.
Original artwork courtesy of Carolyn Sicbaldi, Smith College student.
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Promoting Philanthropy through 4-H
National Philanthropy Day celebrated individuals and organizations that give back to the community. 4-H is committed to delivering high-quality, positive youth development. NIFA’s Division of Youth and 4-H leads volunteerism specialists from state 4-H programs in creating and promoting connections and resources while providing leadership in defining what volunteerism means and how change needs to continue to happen. Read more here.
National Philanthropy Day NIFA graphic.
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Impact of NIFA-funded research and Extension programs on our blogs page.
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AFRI Food and Agriculture Nonformal Education Webinar
Join NIFA staff for an information webinar November 29 at 4 p.m. EST regarding the AFRI Food and Agriculture Nonformal Education program. This program area priority will support content development and activities for non-formal education to foster development of technology-savvy youths. Projects must develop activities that cultivate interest and competencies in STEM and in food and agricultural sciences supported by the six Farm Bill AFRI priority areas. Data science, including artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics as well as gene editing, and biotechnology will be supported in this program area priority.
NIFA Webinar graphic.
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Live FAQ Session: Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agriculture Systems
NIFA will hold an FAQ session December 8 at 3 p.m. EST for those interested in the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems (A1712) program area priority. This priority area is designed to rapidly identify and implement strategies to protect the nation’s food and agricultural supply chains and the people who support them during and after extreme weather events.
University of Maryland Research Shows Three Distinct Attitudes Toward Improving Stormwater Management
Private citizens, scientists and policymakers all agree stormwater management needs to involve private lands, but they diverge on what that looks like. Researchers from University of Maryland surveyed a variety of stakeholders and found that everyone agrees the old, centralized way of managing stormwater needs to change, but their attitudes about how and who is responsible fall into three divergent camps. Read more about this research supported by NIFA here.
Storm runoff into street, image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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Impacting the Sustainability of the Oklahoma Aquaponics Industry through Extension, Education
The Langston University School of Agriculture & Applied Sciences (LU-SAAS) Aquaponics Program is assisting Oklahoma's emerging aquaponics industry as one solution to the state's extensive food deserts. The aquaponics industry in Oklahoma is rapidly growing and is now comprised of more than 200 beginning farmers. LU-SAAS assists these producers through funding provided by the United States Department of Agriculture and the NIFA. This funding supports targeted aquaponics Extension programs and academic scholarships. Learn more about their work here.
Aquaculture ponds, courtesy of Alabama Extension Flickr.
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NMSU Research Enhances, Prioritizes Representation in New Children’s App
Children in the U.S. are using their screens more and more – for learning and for fun – and New Mexico State University (NMSU) researchers are finding the tools to use that screen time to help the youngest learners in important ways. They have created a suite of apps that encourage healthy eating and give children fun ways to exercise, while also paying attention to what the users see on their screens. Critical to the apps’ success is showing diversity in animated characters. Read more about both the research and the apps here.
Children looking at artwork for NMSU apps, photo courtesy New Mexico State University.
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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.
Social Science Specialist (National Program Leader) (GS 13-14)
Closing Date: November 23 or when 150 applications are received.
View the job announcement for more information.
Biological Science Specialist (National Program Leader) (GS 13-14)
Closing Date: November 23 or when 150 applications are received.
View the job announcement for more information.
NIFA Career Opportunity graphic.
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USDA Announces New Resources to Empower Indigenous Food Sovereignty
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new resources and new agreements of the USDA Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative, which promotes traditional food ways, Indian Country food and agriculture markets, and Indigenous health through foods tailored to American Indian/Alaska Native dietary needs. USDA is partnering with tribal-serving organizations on these projects to reimagine federal food and agriculture programs from an Indigenous perspective and inform future USDA programs and policies.
USDA graphic symbol.
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Vilsack Highlights USDA’s Climate Initiatives and Investments at COP27
At the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack highlighted the USDA's initiatives and investments in climate-smart agriculture and forestry, noting that global food security depends upon the ability of farmers and producers worldwide to increase their productivity while strengthening their climate resilience and minimizing their climate impacts.
Visit USDA for additional USDA news.
Through NIFA’s Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program and @UConnExtension, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Department of Agriculture was able to transform a 300-acre parcel into Meechooôk Farm, a vibrant agricultural operation for the tribe.
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This week is designated #HungerAndHomelessnessAwarenessWeek. Read how NIFA supports projects across the nation to address food security and other issues faced by our most vulnerable populations.
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