|
 Beekeeper inspecting hive. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
NIFA Programs Benefiting Small Farmers
Small farms account for 90% of all U.S. farms, and they play an important role in the agricultural sector. The viability and sustainability of small farms is important to the nation’s economy and to the stewardship of our biological and natural resources. Learn more about how USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is highlighting its Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs and how they are benefiting small farms across the country.
|
|
News from NIFA
2023 agInnovation Awards for Excellence
Dr. Dionne Toombs, NIFA associate director for programs, and Dr. Dierdra Chester, director of the USDA Office of the Chief Scientist, presented the 2023 agInnovation Awards for Excellence at a ceremony held recently in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Awards included Excellence in Leadership, Excellence in Multistate Research, and National Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
The Excellence in Leadership Award recognizes those who have served the regional experiment station associations, the national section and the national Land-grant System with exemplary distinction. Through their leadership, they have personified the highest level of excellence by enhancing the cause and performance of the regional associations and agInnovation in achieving their missions. Learn more about the 2023 Excellence in Leadership Award recipients.
The Excellence in Multistate Research Award recognizes scientists and educators who conduct exemplary multistate activities and enhance the visibility of the multistate program. Demonstration of interdependence is a high standard and has become a hallmark of the Multistate Research Program’s management objectives. The 2023 Excellence in Multistate Research Award was awarded to the Soybean Diseases Team representing 25 Land-grant Institutions.
The 2023 National Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards celebrate extraordinary accomplishments and efforts of individuals and groups that have taken diversity, equity and inclusion to new levels and serve as role models. A key component of this award is recognition of individuals or groups that go beyond meeting Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action program requirements. Learn more about the 2023 National Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards recipients.
Dr. Dionne Toombs, far right, presenting Dr. Glenda Humiston, center, with Leadership Award. Also pictured is Dr. Matt Wilson, agInnovation Chair. Image courtesy of agInnovation.
|
|
|
OMB Uniform Guidance Update
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing to revise sections of OMB Uniform Guidance for Grants and Agreements (2 CFR 200). This proposed revision reflects comments received in response to the OMB Notice of Request for Information published in the Federal Register in February 2023. In response to federal agency and public input, OMB is proposing 1) revisions intended in many cases to reduce agency and recipient burden; 2) policy changes and clarifications to existing guidance including plain language revisions; 3) to update the guidance to reflect recent OMB priorities related to federal financial assistance; and 4) revisions to improve Federal financial assistance management, transparency, and oversight through more accessible and readily comprehensible guidance. OMB invites interested persons and organizations to submit comments by December 4.
Office of Management and Budget seal.
|
|
Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities Certification Process
This amendment to NIFA regulations updates the list of institutions that are granted Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU) certification by the Secretary and are eligible for HSACU programs for the period starting July 1, 2023, and ending July 1, 2024. This rule makes changes to the existing list of institutions in appendix B of 7 CFR part 3434. This rule is effective October 16, 2023, and applicable July 1, 2023. Read the federal Register notice for more.
Federal Register graphic logo.
|
|
|
Award Announcements
NIFA Invests $4.8 Million in Community Food Projects
NIFA has invested $4.8 million in 21 projects through the Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program. These projects meet specific state, tribal, insular, local or neighborhood food and agricultural needs for infrastructure improvement and development, while reducing barriers to food access and increasing food and nutrition security for communities across the nation.
|
|
NIFA webinar graphic
|
|
|
Impact of NIFA-Funded Research and Outreach
Managing Medusahead with Cattle
A NIFA-supported multiyear study involving University of Idaho researchers has found allowing late-fall and winter grazing on rangeland heavily infested with invasive Medusahead grass could provide extra forage for cattlemen while reducing wildfire fuel.
“Managing Medusahead Using Dormant Season Grazing in the Northern Great Basin,” recently published in the 2023 edition of Rangeland Ecology and Management, also concluded grazing in the fall and winter did not negatively affect native perennial grasses.
Medusahead, an annual grass native to the western Mediterranean region of Eurasia, has invaded nearly five million acres of rangeland throughout the West, posing a host of problems for rangeland health. Read more about their findings.
Scott Jensen checks rangeland species composition as part of Medusahead research.
Photo courtesy of Scott Jensen, University of Idaho Extension.
|
|
|
News from USDA
USDA Announces 2023 Awardees of 1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical Program, Accepting Applications for 2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) announced its 2023 awardees for the 1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical Program and is now accepting applications for the 2024 program.
ARS established this program in 2015 to honor the 125th anniversary of 1890 Land-grant Universities. Since then, the program has provided 34 tenure and research track faculty at historically black Land-grant Universities opportunities to collaborate with ARS laboratories nationwide. Read more about this program.
USDA graphic symbol.
|
|
|
Facebook Post of the Week
Farmers nationwide are tackling the challenge of using ecological principles to manage weeds using fewer herbicides. Understanding the biology of weeds is key to helping producers adopt innovative strategies that achieve strong yields while adapting to changing consumer preferences.
Three new videos from Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education illustrate how Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens manage weeds without chemicals on their 2,000-acre organic grain farm near Penn Yan, New York.
|
|
|
|
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 X (formerly 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.
|
|
|
|
|
