Extension Pioneer: Thomas Monroe Campbell

Thomas Monroe Campbell was a trailblazer of the Cooperative Extension Service, and we honor his achievements during Black History Month 2023. Campbell was hired by Seaman Knapp, then a special agent with USDA in 1906.  A protégé of George Washington Carver, he brought modern agriculture methods to rural African American farmers in Alabama. After the passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914, Campbell was officially considered the first Extension Agent hired into the Cooperative Extension System. Read more here.

UMES Awarded NIFA Grant Aimed at Helping Hemp Growers Combat Pests, Diseases and Weeds

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is working to help industrial hemp growers on Delmarva manage pests, plant diseases and weeds supported by a NIFA capacity building grant. Learn more about the project here.

Dr. Simon Zebelo courtesy of University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences.

Read More:
Impacts of NIFA-funded research and Extension programs on our Blog page.

SBIR/STTR FY23 Phase II RFA Technical Assistance Webinar

On February 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. EST, NIFA program staff will provide an overview of Phase II of NIFA's Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. The programs’ Phase II funding opportunity, which is only open to previous Phase I awardees who have not already applied for a Phase II grant, focuses on continuing the research and development undertaken in Phase I with a goal of commercialization — bringing the innovation to market as the Phase II project completes.

NIFA webinar graphic.

Children Youth and Families at Risk Sustainable Community Projects Technical Assistance Webinar

NIFA's Children Youth and Families at Risk Sustainable Community Projects team will host a technical assistance webinar to discuss how to use NIFA resources and prepare a competitive application, adhering to Fiscal Year 2023 Request for Applications guidelines.

There will be two webinars held on separate days. Choose which date you prefer to attend when registering.

• February 21, 3-4 p.m., EST
• February 28, 6-7 p.m., EST

Live FAQ Session: Veterinary Services Grant Program

NIFA program staff will host a live FAQ session about the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) February 22 from 3 to 4 p.m. EST. The goals of the VSGP are to support food animal veterinary medicine through Extension, Education and Training funds for accredited schools and organizations and through Rural Practice Enhancement funds for veterinary clinics that provide services in veterinary shortage situation areas. This program is designed to support education and Extension activities that will enable veterinarians, veterinary students and veterinary technicians gain specialized food animal skills and practices. Another Live FAQ Session will also be held on March 15 from 3 to 4 p.m. EDT.

GusNIP Nutrition Incentive RFA Webinars

In March, NIFA, Food and Nutrition Service and NTAE Center staff for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) will host webinars for applicants interested in applying to the GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program. The webinars will focus on the fiscal year 2023 GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program Request for Applications, covering general program guidelines, matching guidelines, SNAP/NAP policy, GusNIP NTAE Center’s Nutrition Incentive Hub free one-on-one support, and the required core firm-level and participant-level metrics. An evening timeframe is slated to accommodate applicants from insular areas. Registration is required.

• General Webinar: Monday, March 6, 2:30-4:30 p.m. EST - Register
• Insular Areas Webinar: Thursday, March 16, 4:30-6:30 p.m. EDT - Register

GusNIP NTAE RFA Webinars

In March, NIFA staff for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) will host webinars for applicants interested in applying to the GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation and Information Centers (NTAE) competitive program. An evening timeframe is slated to accommodate applicants from insular areas. Registration is required.

• General Webinar: Friday, March 10, 3-4 p.m. EST - Register
• Insular Areas Webinar: Tuesday, March 21, 5-6 p.m. EDT - Register

Registration Now Open for 2023 Agricultural Outlook Forum

USDA’s 99th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum will be held in-person at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, on February 23-24, and all sessions will be livestreamed. More than 30 sessions and 100 agriculture leaders and subject matter experts will discuss key issues impacting the sector. Learn more about the Forum and register here.

2023 USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum graphic.

National 4-H Conference Registration Open

Registration is now open for the 2023 National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. Bringing hundreds of 4-H’ers to the nation’s capital each spring, National 4-H Conference is the flagship youth development opportunity of USDA. From April 14-19, the nationally recognized event is developing the next generation of leaders alongside more federal partners than ever before. Experience unparalleled discovery, learning, professional development and networking with 4-H’ers from around the world. The event features roundtable sessions, Youth Career Fair exhibitions, live “cool job” panels, community service, special events, assemblies and much more. Learn more and register online.

2023 National 4-H Conference “Join Us” graphic.

Expansive agricultural dataset now available from Purdue University

A multidecade agricultural dataset is now available from Purdue University. The Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center (SEPAC) drainage research data are from a long-term subsurface drainage project that was conducted at SEPAC in Jennings County, Indiana, from 1984 to 2020. SEPAC is one of eight Purdue Agricultural Centers (PACs) across Indiana that researchers use to conduct applied field crop and animal research.

Smart agriculture graphic, courtesy of Adobe Stock.

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.

• Equal Opportunity Specialist-
  Closes Feb. 22 or when 75 applications are received.

Career opportunity NIFA graphic.

NIFA announced today an investment of $70 million in sustainable agricultural projects that integrate research, education, and Extension efforts. The goal is to establish robust, resilient, and climate-smart food and agricultural systems. Read more online.

NIFA is committed to providing the broadest support possible to the 1890 Land-grant Colleges and Universities, their faculty and their students. In Fiscal 2022, NIFA oversaw $212.5 million in competitive and capacity grants awarded to its 1890 Land-grant University partners. This funding included $26 million in capacity building grants, $20 million in student scholarships, and $10 million to fund 1890 Centers of Excellence.

Student studying, courtesy of Adobe Stock.