NIFA Update--February 14, 2024

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture sent this bulletin at 02/14/2024 05:30 PM EST

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Maggie Lawrence, Editor

February 14, 2024

Making a Difference

Aquaculture America 2024 Features NIFA-Funded Research and Extension Projects

Aquaculture America 2024, the nation’s most prominent aquaculture conference and exposition in the United States, will feature research and Extension projects supported by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Slated for late February in San Antonio, it offers an excellent opportunity for NIFA-funded researchers and Extension specialists working to support the development of a globally competitive U.S. aquaculture industry to directly reach those at the forefront of this booming industry.

Dr. Tim Sullivan, NIFA national program leader for aquaculture, will lead a session, “Impacts and Outcomes: USDA NIFA Support for U.S. Aquaculture,” that will feature 13 NIFA-funded research and Extension projects. Learn more about how NIFA is supporting aquaculture research and outreach.

Aquaculture facility. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Young women in robotics lab. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Dr. Dionne Toombs, NIFA’s associate director for programs, took some time recently to reflect on the importance of role models for young women interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, where a significant gender gap persists. Additionally, she shared some NIFA programs working to address this gap. Read Dr. Toombs’ reflection here.

Young women in robotics lab. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

NIFA to Host Second Annual Virtual Grants Support Technical Assistance Workshop

Following on the success of its first workshop last year, NIFA will host its Grants Support Technical Assistance Workshop again this year. The workshop’s goal is to support prospective applicants and other stakeholders interested in grants development and/or grants management. Registration is required.

The 2024 workshop will be held daily March 4 through 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST.

March 4: Accessing NIFA Web Resources on Grants Development and Grants Management
March 5: Overview of Major NIFA Programs
March 6: Opportunities for Selective NIFA Applicants (Groups)
March 7: Learning Moments from Grants Management
March 8: Reporting and Related Topics

February 15, 3 p.m. EST: Technical Assistance Webinar: Multicultural Scholars Program FY 2024 RFA
February 21, 2 p.m. EST: Technical Assistance Webinar: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program RFA
February 22, 4 p.m. EST: Technical Assistance Webinar: Veterinary Services Grant Program
February 23, 10:15 a.m. EST: Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program Listening Session
February 27, 1 p.m. EST: USDA’s ASCEND for Better Health Nutrition Hub at Southern University Webinar
February 28, 2 p.m. EST: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Technical Assistance Office Hours
March 4-8, 11 a.m. EST: Second Annual Virtual Grants Support Technical Assistance Workshops
March 13, 2 p.m. EDT: Lessons Learned from Teams Using Transdisciplinary Approaches Webinar
March 13, 2 p.m. EDT: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Technical Assistance Office Hours
March 14, 4 p.m. EDT: Technical Assistance Webinar: Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program
March 19, 3 p. EDT: Live FAQ Session: Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agriculture Systems
March 21, 12 p.m. EDT: Technical Assistance Webinar: Agricultural Genomes to Phenomes Initiative

February 15: Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative
February 15: Children, Youth, and Families at Risk Sustainable Community Projects
February 15: Crop Protection and Pest Management
February 28: GusNIP Produce Prescription Program
February 28: Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas
February 29: Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program
March 5: Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program
March 7: Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program
March 7: Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program – Organic Transitions
March 8: Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program
March 13: Renewable Resources Extension Act - National Focus Fund Projects
March 14: Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program
March 20: Distance Education Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas
March 21: Veterinary Services Grant Program
March 26: Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II
April 1: Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program
April 4: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program

There’s often much more going on in the life of leaf-living bacteria than meets the eye. Image courtesy of Iowa State University/Daren Mueller.

Researchers Discover Bacteria Use Light Cues to Anticipate, Prepare for Coming Stress

Iowa State University researchers are illuminating the role of light sensing in the lives of bacteria. The scientists discovered that several types of bacteria that grow on plants and in soil can use light to anticipate an imminent, potentially deadly loss of water from their environment.

The study was originally inspired by pure curiosity, according to Dr. Gwyn Beattie, whose research often focuses on trying to understand how bacteria interact with their environment. She was looking at genes in the bacteria, trying to identify how and why they express genes differently in different environments.

As she and her graduate students dug deeper into Pseudomonas syringae’s genome, they had some surprising moments of discovery. One was finding light-sensing proteins. The second was that these proteins influence the expression of genes that help bacteria survive periods of drying. Read more about this NIFA supported work.

Iowa State University scientists have found that there’s often much more going on in the life of leaf-living bacteria than meets the eye. Image courtesy of Iowa State University/Daren Mueller.

USDA Announces Webinars Highlighting 1890 Scholarship Program

USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement is hosting two webinars highlighting the 1890 Scholarship Program. USDA liaisons will present information about the 1890 National Scholars Program, including eligibility requirements, what scholarship awards include and the selection process.

February 15 at 7 p.m. EST Register here
February 21 at 7 p.m. EST Register Here

The 1890 Scholars Program provides educational and career opportunities for U.S. citizens seeking bachelor's degrees from an 1890 Land-grant University. The scholarship provides full tuition, fees, books, and room and board to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines.

Comments Sought on USDA’s Open Science and Public Access Policies

The National Agricultural Library (NAL) has announced a second public feedback period on the USDA’s updated Implementation Plan to Increase Public Access to USDA-funded Research Results. This second public feedback period is to allow opportunity for feedback from interested parties not widely heard from during the first period. NAL will host a question-and-answer session on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 12 p.m. EST. Register here.

Comments can be made at Regulations.gov, until Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5 p.m.

NIFA In the News

Ag News: Novel Discovery Could Fortify Soybean Cyst Nematode Resistance
Morning AgClips: Texas A&M Begins Next Phase of Breeding Disease-Resistant Spinach
Missouri Business Alert: Agriculture Grant Winners Share Insights, Challenges of Getting Funds
com: Study Mines Blood-cell Data
Growing Produce: How Blueberry Growers Can Best Maximize Pollination in Their Fields
Ag Update: Genomic Options Could Help Honeybees
Centre County Gazette: Women Farmers Quantitatively Linked to Better Community Well-Being

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.

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