NIFA Update - March 22, 2023

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Editor: Maggie Lawrence                                                                              March 22, 2023

Making a Difference NIFA graphic icon.National Ag Day NIFA graphic.

National Ag Day NIFA graphic.

NIFA Celebrates National Ag Day

March 21 marks the 50th Anniversary of National Ag Day, which will be celebrated in communities and schools across the nation. One of USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) strategic objectives aligns closely with this year’s National Ag Day theme of “Growing a Climate for Tomorrow.” Learn how NIFA is bolstering scientific research to enhance the nation’s resilience and response to climate change

News from NIFA

NIFA's grant process jeopardy-like trivia game

NIFA Leads Grants Workshop at Entomological Society of America Branch Meeting

NIFA National Program Leaders Michelle Samuel-Foo in the Institute of Food Production and Sustainability (IFPS), Rizana Mahroof in the Institute of Youth, Family and Community, and Program Specialist Carina (Teri) Allen (IFPS) hosted a four-hour workshop at the Southeastern branch meeting of the Entomological Society of America's annual meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas, March 12-15. The workshop centered on demystifying the grant writing process when applying to USDA-NIFA. The target audience was graduate students, early career professionals and minority scientists who have not traditionally benefited from federal funds. Attendees were overwhelmingly positive in their feedback, and even professors who did not attend reported that their students found the workshop extremely helpful. NIFA staff have been asked to provide the workshop at other regional Entomological Society of America meetings and are making plans to do so.

Smiles all around as teammates consisting of ARS scientists, postdocs, professors and graduate students celebrate their win in the Jeopardy-like trivia game on NIFA's grant process held at the Southeastern branch meeting of the Entomological Society of America's annual meeting. Credit: Michelle Samuel-Foo/NIFA.


Regional Rural Development Centers Utah State graphic

RRDCs Release Findings from National Listening Sessions on Rural Community, Economic, and Workforce Development

The Regional Rural Development Centers have released findings from a comprehensive initiative aimed at identifying the critical investments needed to build community capacity and improve quality of life in rural America. These centers and their work are supported by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Their report can be used by a broad audience of practitioners, decision makers, and government agencies to inform where programmatic efforts and resources may be most effective in tackling key issues facing rural communities. The report summarizes results from eight listening sessions, which convened stakeholders in facilitated dialogues focused on regional and national issues. It also integrates qualitative data from a national survey conducted in Fall 2021, building on the quantitative survey findings published in 2021. Get the executive summary, full report, or topical and regional reports here.

Regional Rural Development Centers Utah State graphic.

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

Award Announcements

NIFA Invests $9.4 Million in Urban, Indoor, and Other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education and Extension Initiative

NIFA has announced funding of more than $9.4 million for 12 projects through the Urban, Indoor, and Other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education and Extension Initiative. This initiative provides grants for research, education and Extension work to solve key problems of urban, indoor and emerging agricultural systems. Awardees: University of Alabama, Birmingham; University of California, Davis; Cornell University; University of Delaware; University of Florida; University of Illinois; Michigan State University; Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation; Ohio State University (2 awards); University of Oregon; and University of Rhode Island.

These grants are part of a broad USDA investment in urban agriculture. For example, last week, USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) announced the availability of up to $9.5 million for Compost and Food Waste Reduction pilot projects for fiscal year 2023. Meanwhile, USDA also offers other opportunities to partner on urban agriculture through grants and risk management education projects. Learn more at usda.gov/urban.

NIFA Webinars

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Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program Produce Prescription RFA Webinar

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

NIFA Webinar graphic.

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

Join NIFA staff on Friday, March 24 at 2 p.m. 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.

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Technical Assistance RFA Q/A Session

As a follow-up to the formal Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) Technical RFA Webinar on March 8, the BFRDP Program Team will host informal Q/A sessions to answer any additional questions. Register here.

  • March 28: 2 - 4 p.m. EDT
  • April 4: 2 - 4 p.m. EDT
  • April 11: 2 - 4 p.m. EDT

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.

Supplemental and Alternative Crops RFA Technical Assistance Webinar

Join NIFA staff on March 29 at 2 p.m. EDT for a Supplemental and Alternative Crops RFA technical assistance Q&A webinar regarding the Supplemental and Alternative Crops Program. 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.

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative's Foundational Plant Sciences Technical Assistance Webinar

Join NIFA staff on Monday, April 10 at 2 p.m. EDT for a technical assistance webinar regarding Agriculture and Food Research Initiative's - Foundational Plant Sciences program. Register.

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

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.

Renewable Resources Extension Act–National Focus Fund Projects Technical Assistance Webinar

On Thursday, April 6 at noon EDT, staff with the Rural Resources Extension Act – National Focus Funds program will host a webinar to discuss the program’s Request for Applications and answer audience questions. Register.

Application Deadlines

Impact of NIFA-Funded Research and Outreach

Researchers dug up and cleaned thousands of corn plant the roots to analyze their phenotypes. Courtesy of Penn State University.

Discovery of Root Anatomy Gene May Lead to Breeding More Resilient Corn Crops

A new discovery could lead to the breeding of corn crops that can withstand drought and low-nitrogen soil conditions and ultimately ease global food insecurity, according to a Penn State-led team of international researchers. In findings published March 16 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, the researchers identified a gene encoding a transcription factor – a protein useful for converting DNA into RNA – that triggers a genetic sequence responsible for the development of an important trait enabling corn roots to acquire more water and nutrients. Learn more about this NIFA supported research.

As a part of this study, researchers dug up and cleaned the roots of thousands of corn plants at sites in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin and South Africa to analyze their phenotypes. Freshly excavated roots still in soil are shown in the inset.
Courtesy of Penn State University.

NIFA In the News

News from USDA

USDA graphic symbol

USDA Seeking Nominations for Advisory Board and Associated Committees

USDA is seeking membership applications for the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board and for the board’s committees and subcommittees. NAREEE Advisory Board members, as well as committee and subcommittee members, contribute valuable professional insight and help shape USDA’s future research and science programming.

Established in 1996, the NAREEE Advisory Board advises the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics and USDA's Chief Scientist, on top priorities and policies for food and agricultural research, education, Extension, and economics. It provides stakeholder input and science-backed information to better inform USDA’s program decisions.

The Board has four committees and subcommittees under its umbrella:

  • Specialty Crop Committee
  • Citrus Disease Subcommittee
  • National Genetic Resources Advisory Council
  • Pollinator Subcommittee

The application deadline is Wednesday, May 31For more information and details on how to complete an application, visit the NAREEE Applications web page.

USDA’s graphic symbol

Apply for USDA’s Climate Change Fellows Program

Interested in helping the People’s Department implement its climate change strategy? USDA is seeking qualified applicants for the USDA Climate Change Fellows Program, which allows USDA to hire Climate Change Fellows through a time-limited appointment of up to four years. There currently are open positions in two offices— the Office of the Chief Economist and the Office of Energy and Environmental Policy. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through May 15. Visit the website to learn more.

Facebook Post of the Week

Facebook post of the week March 22 - women's history month

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!