|
Making a Difference
1890 Land-grant Institutions Strengthening Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability of Small-Scale Farms
Producers working on small-scale farms often face different challenges than their counterparts farming larger acreages. With support from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a number of 1890 Land-grant Institutions are tackling these challenges and are strengthening agricultural profitability and sustainability of small-scale farms through a variety of programs. Read more about the work being done by professionals at Alcorn State University, Fort Valley State University, Lincoln University, North Carolina A&T State University, Southern University and A&M College, Tuskegee University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Virginia State University.
Lincoln University's Innovative Small Farm Outreach Program helps farmers improve farm efficiency and to sustain soil and natural resources. Image courtesy of Lincoln University.
|
|
|
NIFA Director Meets with Non-Land-grant Colleges of Agriculture
NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra met recently with representatives of the nation’s non-Land-grant and Renewable Resources Universities (NARRU) in Washington, D.C. NARRU was formed to create a forum and unifying force for all faculty, staff, students and administrators of state-funded public colleges and universities with agriculture, food and renewable resource programs.
Pictured are from left to right: John Greathouse, NARRU President, Northwest Missouri State University; Robert Cox, NARRU Director, Texas Tech University; Michelle Schelske-Santos, NIFA national program leader (on screen); NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra; Todd Winters, NARRU President-elect and Legislative Affairs Chair, University of Tennessee at Martin; Michelle Santiago, NARRU Director, University of Central Missouri; Rod Barr, NARRU Treasurer, Northwest Missouri State University; and Jim Prince, NARRU Past-President, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
NIFA Virtual Grants Support Technical Assistance Workshop Coming Soon
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
NERAOC Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for the 2024 National Extension and Research Administrative Officers (NERAOC) Conference set for April 7 through 10 in Wilmington, DE. NERAOC provides a venue for professional development, information sharing, and networking to state Cooperative Extension, Agricultural Experiment Station and NIFA staff. This includes the opportunity to share and exchange current and relevant best practices, discuss policy, obtain a definitive interpretation of regulations, and discuss future issues pertinent to operating the Land-grant University system and other cooperating institutions. Learn more about planned sessions as well as registration information here.
|
|
-
March 4-8, 11 a.m. EST: Second Annual Virtual Grants Support Technical Assistance Workshops
-
March 6, 1 p.m. EST: Technical Assistance Webinar: Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Request for Pre-Applications
-
March 12, 5 p.m. EDT: Technical Assistance Webinar: GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program FY 2024 RFA (Insular Areas)
-
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, 11 a.m. EDT: Technical Assistance Webinar: GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program FY24 RFA (Continental U.S.)
-
March 14, 2 p.m. EDT: Technical Assistance Webinar: Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Systems Program
-
March 14, 4 p.m. EDT: Technical Assistance Webinar: Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program
-
March 19, 3 p.m. 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
|
|
UCF Researcher Develops Nanotechnologies for Sustainable Agriculture, Optimized Drug Delivery
University of Central Florida inventor Swadeshmukul Santra is developing new technologies that hold promise not only for sustainable agriculture but also for improved medicine.
Santra, a professor associated with UCF’s NanoTechnology Science Center, Department of Chemistry and Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, has 34 UCF inventions under his belt and leads the university’s Materials Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) center, a U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agricultural recognized Center of Excellence.
Some of his latest inventions include a nanocomposition that captures and preserves plant materials and agrochemicals and a targeted delivery system for combatting plant disease and providing nutrients at the nano level. Read more about him and his work here.
University of Central Florida’s Swadeshmukul Santra leads the university’s Materials Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture center, a USDA National Institute of Food and Agricultural recognized Center of Excellence. Image courtesy of University of Central Florida.
|
|
|
USDA Foreign Agriculture Service Recruiting
Do you want to dedicate your career to supporting U.S. farmers and ranchers? To live in interesting places, learn new languages and work with great people? If so, then the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is for you! Later this year, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service will conduct an assessment to hire new Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) to represent USDA at U.S. embassies and consulates. FAS FSOs analyze global agricultural production and trade; advocate for science-based trade regulations; market U.S. agricultural products; and promote global food security, technical expertise and fight climate change through capacity building projects. Visit the FAS careers page for more information on upcoming public information sessions and the application in late spring 2024.
|
|
NSF Research Security Training Modules Now Available
The U.S. National Science Foundation has launched four interactive research security training modules available to researchers and institutions across the U.S. These online modules are designed to facilitate principled international collaboration in an open, transparent and secure environment that safeguards the nation's research ecosystem.
The modules provide researchers with clear guidelines and effective strategies to protect against existing and emerging research security threats.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
