|
Making a Difference
Students Growing from Learning to Leading
Recently, students from 17 academic institutions traveled from more than 10 states and Insular Areas to Washington, D.C. to participate in a three-day program as part of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s from Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals (NextGen) program.
In 2023, NIFA awarded more than $262.5 million for 33 NextGen projects across 24 states and Insular Areas for the training and support of students to build future food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences workforce. Read more about what students did over the three-day program.
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and USDA Undersecretary for REE Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young with NextGen participants. USDA image.
|
|
|
North American Agricultural Advisory Network to Launch New Collaboration Platform
The North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN) has announced NAAAN CONNECT, a new platform that will allow members to better communicate and collaborate across the continent.
Designed as a community for Extension and rural advisory services experts, practitioners, researchers and those interested in agriculture across Canada, Mexico and the United States to engage with one another, NAAAN CONNECT will help members address the issue of ensuring the vibrant agricultural communities of North America continue to work together for shared food security. Learn more about NAAAN CONNECT as well as register to join the platform here. Registration is free.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack serves on the NAAAN Secretariat and a number of NIFA leaders serve as senior staff for the Network.
U.S. Agency for International Development Seeking Volunteers for Farmer-to-Farmer Program
Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Farmer-to-Farmer Program (F2F) provides technical assistance from U.S. volunteers to farmers, farm groups, agribusinesses and other agriculture sector institutions in developing and transitional countries with the goal of promoting sustainable improvements in food security, agricultural processing, production and marketing. F2F leverages the expertise of U.S. volunteers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The FY24-28 F2F Program is implemented by nine partners that are currently recruiting for volunteer assignments. Volunteers help individuals and organizations build capacity and make connections to resolve local problems. Since F2F’s inception, the program has completed more than 22,000 volunteer assignments assisting more than 14,000 local hosts, directly assisting more than 2.5 million agricultural professionals and impacting more than 178 million indirect beneficiaries.
If you are interested in becoming a Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer, complete this form.
|
|
NIFA Makes $10 Million Project Investment at Oregon State University
NIFA has announced a $10 million investment to Oregon State University’s Global Hemp Innovation Center as part of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative's Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) program. The Center will work with 13 Native American Tribes to spur economic development in the western United States by developing manufacturing capabilities for materials and products made from hemp.
|
|
-
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
-
March 21, 1 p.m. EDT: Focus on AFRI, Part II: NIFA Funding Opportunities for Climate Change Research, Education and Extension
-
March 26, 4 p.m. EDT: Technical Assistance Webinar: Equipment Grants Program FY 2024
-
April 16, 11 a.m. EDT: Using Ag Data Commons to Share USDA-funded Work
|
|
University of California Extension Launches Website for Small Acreage Landowners
University of California Cooperative Extension has created a new comprehensive website for small acreage landowners in California and beyond. Funded in part with a NIFA Renewable Resources Extension grant, the Small Acreage Landowners website provides a one-stop shop for backyard livestock producers, youth raising livestock and other small acreage landowners. Information on livestock husbandry, pasture management, pests and predators, weed management and emergency preparedness is available in both English and Spanish on the website. Learn more about the team who developed the website as well as the resources it’s providing.
The Small Acreage Landowners website contains tips for caring for goats, cows, pigs, poultry, horses, sheep, rabbits, llamas and alpacas. Image courtesy University of California Cooperative Extension/Theresa Becchetti.
|
|
|
USDA Invests Nearly $66 Million to Improve Roads, Trails and Water Quality
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a nearly $66 million investment to improve water quality, roads, trails, bridges and fish habitat on national forests and grasslands nationwide.
The announcement is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and the Administration’s work to create economic opportunity in communities across the country. This award, made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will fund more than 100 projects in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Read more about these projects.
|
|
Meet NIFA SBIR/STTR Representatives on America’s Seed Fund Road Tour – South
In April, staff from NIFA’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs will join the South leg of America’s Seed Fund Road Tour to help entrepreneurs, researchers, small technology firms and others navigate the over $4 billion in early-stage funding opportunities through America’s Seed Fund.
The tour will stop in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas from April 2-5. Visit the American Seed Fund Road Tour website to register.
NIFA Publishes New Application Development Guide for Prospective Grantees
NIFA has published a new Application Development Guide to help prospective grantees develop their application packages. Learn more.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
