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 NIFA Welcome’s new director graphic.
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Making A Difference
Michigan State Soil Carbon Stock Research
With support from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), research at the nation’s Land-grant Universities is a critical element to addressing the challenges climate change poses to agriculture. NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), the agency’s flagship competitive grants program, provides important funding to projects working to mitigate the impacts of climate variability.
Newly published research from Michigan State University is an outstanding example of the work being done with AFRI support. Learn more about Michigan State’s work.
Soil image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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News from NIFA
1890 Scholarship Rekindles Mother of Four’s Dream of Finishing College
NIFA’s 1890 Scholarships Program provides scholarships to support recruiting, engaging, retaining, mentoring and training of undergraduate students at the 1890 Land-grant Institutions. The scholarships are intended to encourage outstanding students at 1890 Institutions to pursue and complete baccalaureate degrees in the food and agricultural sciences and related fields. Learn more about how an 1890 Scholarship changed the world for a working mother and student at West Virginia State University.
Destiny Weese, 1890 Scholar at West Virginia State University.Image courtesy of WVSU.
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NIFA Seeks 2023 Hall of Fame and Partnership Award Nominees
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is seeking nominations for its Hall of Fame and Partnership Awards. Hall of Fame nominations must be e-mailed to AdminOpsTeam.NIFA@usda.gov no later than May 15.
NIFA also invites nominations for the 2023 NIFA Partnership Awards Program. Visit the Partnership website for complete details, instructions and forms. Nominations must be submitted by May 15 via email to performance@ars.usda.gov.
Golden trophy award, courtesy of Adobe Stock.
Read More:
Impacts of NIFA-funded research and Extension programs on our Blog page.
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Aquaculture Stakeholders Invited to Attend Listening Sessions
The USDA, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service Aquaculture National Program 106 and USDA-NIFA are hosting a series of listening sessions for aquaculture stakeholders to inform priority setting and program planning actions for the next five years. Learn more here.
Aquaculture fish farming at the University of Arizona Environmental Research Laboratory
in Tucson, Arizona. Courtesy of the University of Arizona.
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Update on the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Program
Congress is currently developing the next Farm Bill. NIFA stands ready to implement Congressional Farm Bill language signed into law. Contingent on the new Farm Bill and future appropriations, NIFA anticipates the release of a competitive Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) Program RFA in FY2024. The FY2023 FRSAN appropriations will be awarded to the current regional lead institutions to extend their leadership role for one additional year. Visit the FRSAN program page here.
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Award Announcements
NIFA Invests Over $13 Million in Animal Nutrition, Growth and Lactation Program
NIFA is investing more than $13 million to projects addressing innovative work in cellular, molecular, genomic and whole-animal aspects of nutrition, growth and lactation.
Awardees: USDA Agricultural Research Service; American Meat Science Association; Auburn University; Cornell University; Michigan State University; North Carolina State University; Oklahoma State University; Purdue University; Texas Tech University; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; University of Alabama-Birmingham; University of Arkansas; University of California-Davis; University of Connecticut; University of Florida; University of Maryland; University of Nebraska – Lincoln; and University of Wisconsin.
NIFA Invests $9 Million in Extension, Education and USDA Climate Hubs Partnership
NIFA is investing $9 million through the A1721 Extension, Education and USDA Climate Hubs Partnership program area priority within AFRI’s Foundational and Applied Science Program. The program supports projects that provide effective, translatable and scalable approaches to address climate change through regional partnerships including the USDA Climate Hubs and Extension. In collaboration with USDA agencies and partners, the USDA Climate Hubs develop and deliver science-based, region-specific information and technologies for agricultural and natural resource managers to enable climate-informed decision-making and provide access to assistance to implement those decisions.
Awardees: American Farmland Trust; Clemson University; Migrant Clinicians Network; Purdue University; Texas A&M AgriLife Research; and Washington State University.
NIFA Invests Nearly $12 Million in Regional Innovations for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry
NIFA is investing almost $12 million in two projects that will establish agricultural testbeds and demonstration farms for climate-smart agriculture and forestry. These projects will incorporate current production practices with advanced precision agricultural technologies to develop and implement climate-smart agricultural or forestry practices that will reduce emission of greenhouse gases; create positive economic, environmental and social impact; and address unique regional production systems in the United States.
Awardees: University of Georgia; and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
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NIFA webinar graphic.
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Impact of NIFA-Funded Research and Outreach
Calling all Canines: Help Sniff Out the Dangerous Spotted Lanternfly
From New York to North Carolina and as far west as Illinois, the invasive spotted lanternfly is causing chaos in many states where agricultural and forestry industries are essential to the economy. It has been estimated that crops and forest production losses caused by insects and pathogens are close to $40 billion a year.
Now, Virginia Tech University researchers are experimenting with a new approach and calling upon dogs in the fight against the spotted lanternfly. Read more about their work here.
Handler and a trained detection dog search for spotted lanternfly egg masses.
Photo by Luke Hayes for Virginia Tech.
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News from USDA
AIM for Climate Summit Opens with Global Food Systems Innovation and Climate-Smart Agriculture Initiatives
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, co-host for the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) Summit, announced during the Summit’s opening plenary that AIM for Climate partners from around the globe are increasing investment in, and support for, climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation. This includes an additional $5 million to support enteric methane mitigation as part of the AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems program, bringing the total program investment to $10 millionRead more here.
USDA graphic symbol.
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Nominate a Graduate Student for the Local Food Economics Dataviz Challenge
Know a graduate student interested in practicing coding and data visualization skills? The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is recruiting master’s and doctoral students for a local food-oriented hackathon that will take place in July at the annual meeting of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association in Washington, D.C.
The hackathon is a great opportunity for students to build networks, connect with mentors and learn about USDA AMS’ new local food system data tools. Participating students can also receive travel support to attend the meeting. Get more information and register at AAEA website.
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Tweet of the Week
Eggs are popular, but many consumers are concerned about chicken welfare. A multistate research team has made numerous advances in reducing chicken stress from lighting, heat, cages, or other factors.
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The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is committed to ensuring that its programs and services are accessible to all individuals, including individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited English proficiency. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any NIFA event, please contact the appropriate Program staff no later than 10 days prior to the event. To find Program staff by event, please visit the NIFA Calendar of Events. NIFA Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request. If you need interpretation or translation services please visit NIFA language services or contact Lois Tuttle, Equal Opportunity Specialist, at Lois.Tuttle@usda.gov or (443) 386-9488 no later than 10 days prior to the event.
NIFA’s mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and Extension that solves societal challenges. NIFA’s investments in transformative science directly support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. agriculture. Keep informed about NIFA, USDA, our Land-grant and non-Land-grant university partners, and stakeholders with the NIFA Update. Read past issues online, sign up for email updates or follow us on Twitter @USDA_NIFA, #NIFAImpacts or LinkedIn @usda-nifa.
If you wish to submit a news item or information, send an email to NIFAUpdate.
USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer.
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