USDA announced recently an investment of more than $43 million in meat and poultry processing research, innovation and expansion in support of its ongoing efforts to transform the food system at every stage along the supply chain. This investment is funded through the American Rescue Plan ACT and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

As part of this total investment, the University of Arkansas was awarded a $5 million grant from the AFRI Center of Excellence for Meat and Poultry Processing and Food Safety Research and Innovation. In addition, $13.9 million in grants from the Meat and Poultry Processing Research and Innovation – Small Business Innovation Research Phase III – program were awarded to 14 small and mid-sized meat and poultry processors. These grants are administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Read more.

Chicken processing facility, courtesy of Getty Images.

USDA Observes Inaugural National Biobased Products Day

USDA observed its inaugural National Biobased Products Day on March 8.  The day is intended to raise awareness of biobased products, their benefits and contributions to the U.S. economy.  Learn more about how NIFA is supporting research and development programs to help advance biobased products and a sustainable bioeconomy.   

National Biobased Products Day graphic.

NIFA Now Using Pay.gov 

NIFA’s Financial Management Division has announced that it is now utilizing Pay.gov to receive funds from awardees.  

Pay.gov is a United States Treasury website that allows individuals, states and institutions to make secure electronic payments to the federal government using the internet. Payments can be made to federal agencies (including NIFA) using a U.S.-held bank account (through ACH Debit), a credit or debit card or with a digital wallet, such as PayPal or Amazon Pay. NIFA strongly discourages paper checks for return of funds or other payment remittances from this point forward.   

This change represents a huge improvement and cost savings for the agency by reducing the cost of processing postal mail and paper checks. This is also an improvement for our awardees and partners that need to send funds to NIFA but cannot utilize ASAP to do so.   

Please note that utilizing ASAP for fund returns is still the preferred method. But where a paper check would have been accepted in the past, Pay.gov should be used if possible.  

People who need to use this service should visit https://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/65117223. This will ensure the payment is credited to NIFA and not another USDA agency. They should also contact Sheila Zajkowski, Financial Closeout Team Lead, for instructions on how to include the correct FMMI Customer/Vendor Number and FMMI Bill Number for proper financial posting. 

If you have questions or concerns about this process improvement, please contact Tara.Warner@usda.gov or Lily.Eskanos@usda.gov. 

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

Live FAQ Session: Veterinary Services Grant Program

NIFA program staff will host a live FAQ session about the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) March 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. EDT. The goals of the VSGP are to support food animal veterinary medicine through EET funds for accredited schools and organizations and through RPE 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. Register.

NIFA webinar graphic.

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 time is slated to accommodate applicants from insular areas. Registration is required.

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

Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative Extension Disaster Education Network RFA Technical Assistance Webinar

Join NIFA staff on March 17 at 2 p.m. EDT for an RFA technical assistance Q&A webinar about the Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative Extension Disaster Education Network program. A pre-recorded video is available to applicants on the funding opportunity listing; applicants are highly encouraged to watch the pre-recorded video prior to this RFA technical assistance live Q&A webinar. During this RFA technical assistance live Q&A webinar, NIFA staff will briefly highlight the program and then will spend the remainder of time answering participants’ questions. Register.

WIC Workforce Development RFA Technical Assistance Q&A Session

Staff members with NIFA's Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition will host a live RFA technical assistance Q&A session regarding the WIC Workforce Development funding opportunity on Monday, March 20 at 11:30 a.m. EDT. Interested applicants can learn more about this program area priority by viewing this recorded webinar prior to the session. Staff members will respond to questions that arise from the webinar viewing during the live session.

The National WIC Workforce Strategy aims to strengthen the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce, with the goals of increasing WIC participation through reaching those populations that are eligible, but not enrolled and increasing WIC participants’ likelihood of adoption nutrition education and breastfeeding support. Register.

Rural Health and Safety Education FY 2023 RFA Technical Assistance Webinar

NIFA professionals will offer a Rural Health and Safety Education (RHSE) FY 2023 RFA Technical Assistance webinar on Monday, March 20 at 2 p.m. EDT. Learn about program goals, eligibility, other requirements, and resources available. Register here.

FY 2023 WAMS  Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields Grant Program (WAMS) Technical Assistance Informational Webinar

NIFA is hosting a technical assistance webinar to provide guidelines for the FY 2023 WAMS RFA on Tuesday, March 21 at 2 p.m. EDT. Interested applicants should join us this webinar to learn about this program and clarify any doubts you have before applying. Register here.

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.

• Insular Areas Webinar: Tuesday, March 21, 5-6 p.m. EDT - Register

GusNIP Produce Prescription RFA Webinar

NIFA staff for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) will host webinars for applicants interested in applying to the GusNIP Produce Prescription Program. Registration is required.

• March 23 at 5:00 p.m. EDT - Register

Technical Assistance Q&A Webinar: Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program

Join NIFA staff on Friday, March 24 at 2:00 pm EDT for a RFA technical assistance Q&A webinar regarding the Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program. NIFA staff will briefly highlight the program and then will spend the remainder of time answering participants’ questions. Register here.

Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Live FAQ

NIFA staff will hold a second Live FAQ at 4 p.m. March 28 to discuss the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) Request for Applications. NIFA anticipates that approximately $10 million in funding will be available in FY23 to help mitigate food animal veterinary service shortages in the United States. VMLRP helps qualified veterinarians offset a significant portion of the debt incurred in pursuit of their veterinary medical degrees in return for their service in certain high-priority veterinary shortage areas. Register.

AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems RFA Technical Assistance Webinar

On March 30 at 2 p.m. EDT, staff with the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative's - Sustainable Agricultural Systems program area will hold a webinar to acquaint prospective applicants with this year’s Request for Applications. The webinar will also include a brief overview of the AFRI SAS program and a question-and-answer session. Register.

Higher Education Challenge RFA Technical Assistance Webinar

NIFA staff will host a webinar for applicants interested in applying to Higher Education Challenge competitive program on March 30 at 3 p.m. EDT. The webinar will focus on the HEC Request for Applications (RFA) and general program guidelines for FY 2023. Register.

Live FAQ Session: Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agriculture Systems 

NIFA staff will host a webinar for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems (A1712) program on Tuesday, April 11 at 2:30 p.m. EDT. This program 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. Register. 

Ag Communications Researchers Aim to Enhance Industry's Connection with Consumers

Understanding how food and agriculture blogs are used can help improve how industry communicators talk to consumers, said Jefferson Miller, professor of agricultural communications. Miller, a researcher for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and professor in the Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Department, set out to describe blog posts about animal agriculture production. Read more about Miller’s research.

Professor Jefferson Miller, courtesy of University of Arkansas.

Statement by Secretary Vilsack on the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget

The President’s Budget Request for USDA invests in an equitable and climate-smart food and agriculture economy that protects and improves the quality of life for all Americans. The Biden-Harris Administration has released the President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2024. Read more of Secretary Vilsack’s statement.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. USDA image.

In honor of Women’s History Month, learn about a handful of remarkable women who make up NIFA. These leaders in science share their path into their career, who has inspired them along the way, challenges they have overcome and more!