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Making a Difference
NIFA Research Investments Spur New Agricultural Markets
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced recently a nearly $22 million investment in agricultural economics research that includes agricultural markets, international trade, farm labor, consumer behavior and nutrition, food retail, agricultural production and processing and agricultural policy.
This investment is part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science Program grants portfolio. AFRI is the nation’s leading and largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences. These grants are available to eligible colleges, universities and other research organizations. Learn more about the 41 projects funded by this award.
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News from NIFA
Grants.Gov to Go Offline for Scheduled Maintenance
Grants.gov will be unavailable during a scheduled downtime maintenance period from Saturday, October 28 through Tuesday, October 31. NIFA funding opportunities that close during this maintenance outage will be extended to November 6, at 5 p.m. EST.
Visit the NIFA website for more information.
ASAP System Available on November 10
While it is a federal holiday, users will be able to access the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) application on Friday, November 10, to draw down funds, make payment requests and view accounts. ASAP is an electronic system that federal agencies use to quickly and securely transfer money to recipient organizations. Recipient organizations include state and local governments, educational and financial institutions, vendors and contractors, profit and nonprofit entities and Indian tribal organizations.
Upcoming Training Opportunities for NIFA Awardees: Reporting Intellectual Property Generated with NIFA Funding on iEdison
NIFA award recipients are encouraged to attend a three-part training on the new iEdison system beginning November 15. iEdison is the online reporting system usedby NIFA recipients of federal funding agreements to report subject inventions to the agency under the Bayh-Dole Act requirements. The training will provide an overview of the updated iEdison system that was launched by the National Institute of Standards and Technology last year.
NIFA awardees must report inventions to NIFA within two months of the inventor’s report to the awardee. The reporting of inventions must be made through submission to Interagency Edison (www.iedison.gov). NIFA awardees have specific requirements for invention reporting that are contained in the NIFA agency’s terms and conditions, a copy of which can be provided upon request.
Registration is not required to attend. Visit the links below to join.
iEdison Training Schedule
- Wednesday, November 15, noon-2 p.m. EST: Basic Training Part I: Overview of the system, including how to how to login, navigate and run reports. Join the Webinar.
- Thursday, November 16, noon-2 p.m. EST: Basic Training Part II: How to create new reports, link reports, submit requests and upload documents. Join the Webinar.
- Wednesday, December 6, 1-2 p.m. EST: NEW Utilization Update and Training. Join the Webinar.
For additional information, contact Libby Bernal, Biological Science Specialist–Data Analyst, at Libia.Bernal@usda.gov.
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In Case You Missed It
Using PubAg to Share USDA-Funded Work
In this recorded webinar, NIFA and the National Agricultural Library share information on Departmental Regulation (DR) 1020-006, involving public access to scholarly publication and digital scientific research data assets. The webinar provides details on how to meet the requirement to submit final, peer-reviewed, accepted manuscripts to PubAg, the USDA public access archive system. All NIFA awardees and contractors engaged in USDA-supported scientific research are encouraged to watch.
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Award Announcements
NIFA Invests $6.3 Million in Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research
NIFA has invested $6.3 million in 10 research projects and one conference grant as part of the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) program. This program supports the development of new information that will assist federal regulatory agencies in making evidence-based decisions about the effects of genetically engineered organisms on the environment. BRAG is co-administered by USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and jointly funded by USDA-NIFA, USDA-ARS, and USDA-Forest Service.
NIFA Invests Nearly $3.4 Million in New Technologies for Ag Extension
NIFA has awarded nearly $3.4 million to the University of New Hampshire (UNH) through its New Technologies for Agriculture Extension program. UNH Extension in partnership with the Extension Foundation will develop the Technology-Enhanced Cooperative Extension Hub, a groundbreaking initiative that aims to revolutionize Extension by infusing it with state-of-the-art technologies and practices.
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Impact of NIFA-Funded Research and Outreach
Management Zone Maps of Little Use to Corn Growers, Study Finds
A University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign researcher conducted a multiyear analysis to test whether management zone maps based on soil conditions, topography or other landscape features can reliably predict which parts of a cornfield will respond best to higher rates of seeding or nitrogen application. The study, supported by USDA NIFA and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, found that – contrary to common assumptions – crop-plot responses to the same inputs vary significantly from year to year. The most unpredictable factor – the weather – seemed to have the biggest impact on how the crops responded to these inputs.
Results showed that a plot that responds well to a higher nitrogen rate one year might not respond so well the next time it is planted in corn. This makes the management zone mapping concept an unreliable predictor of crop responses to inputs. Learn more about this research.
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News from USDA
USDA Announces 2024 Tribal Scholarships and Fellowships
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced two tribal higher education opportunities to train the next generation of agricultural professionals and strengthen ties with tribal higher education institutions. The USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program offers a fast-track career path with USDA, and the Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Faculty Fellowship engages tribal college faculty with USDA resources and research. These programs reflect USDA’s commitment to advance equity and remove barriers to service for tribal nations and encourage tribal workforce development. Learn more about these programs and how to apply.
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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 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.
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