NIFA Update--May 1, 204

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture sent this bulletin at 05/01/2024 05:30 PM EDT

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Maggie Lawrence, Editor

May 1, 2024

Panorama view of a river. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Making a Difference

Emerging Technologies Aid Conservation and Management

Climate change and biodiversity losses pose extraordinary challenges for the sustainability of natural ecosystems and the species that inhabit them.

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supports research, education and Extension to advance the sustainability of agricultural, forest and range production systems. NIFA uses a variety of programs to support these priorities, including competitive grant programs and capacity funds such as Evans-Allen, McIntire-Stennis, Hatch and Smith-Lever.

Learn more about how NIFA-supported projects at Land-grant Universities are developing and applying emerging technologies that can help to more efficiently, accurately and safely monitor, measure and precisely manage these systems with minimal environmental impact.

I am so proud of how the National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides leadership and funding for innovative programs that feed people and fuel progress advancing agricultural sciences. And our success is inextricably linked to our many partners and their work.

NIFA recognizes there are many outstanding contributions made by our partners in the Land-grant Universities and other cooperating institutions and organizations. To recognize these achievements, the agency created the Partnership Awards Program in 2007. This program recognizes outstanding contributions, in support of NIFA’s mission, and aligned with the USDA Strategic Goals.

I am honored to announce the 2023 NIFA Partnership Award winners.

Mission Integration or Research, Education or Extension: Dr. Gary Vallad, University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, for implementing the Veterans Florida Agriculture Program, teaching veterans the skills to be competitive, and mentoring future producers and leaders in communities across Florida.

Multistate Efforts: Agritourism Research and Extension Collaborative, University of Vermont, for conducting the first national survey of agritourism operators and developing a national network of producers, researchers, Extension and others working in agritourism.

Innovative Programs and Projects: Dive4Ag, Oregon State University, for pairing cutting-edge technology with youth-created content to create an engaging method of increasing agricultural literacy to K-12 audiences and the general public.

Effective and Efficient Use of Resources: Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program, University of Connecticut, for enhancing food security and sovereignty within the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation through the establishment of the tribal Meechooôk Farm.

Congratulations to all of our 2023 Partnership Award winners!

2024 Partnership Award Nominations

NIFA invites all Land-grant Universities and cooperating institutions and organizations supported by the agency to submit nominations for the 2024 NIFA Partnership Awards Program. Awards for this year will recognize excellence in:

Mission Integration of Research, Education and Extension
Multistate Efforts
Innovative Programs and Projects
Effective and Efficient Use of Resources
Program Improvement through Global Engagement

Nominations can be submitted for individuals or teams of up to 20 members. Each institution may submit up to two nominations (combined total across all categories), meaning the entire institution including research, education and Extension functions.

Specific instructions and other information about this awards program may be found on the NIFA Partnership Award webpage. Submit signed nominations using the NIFA Partnership Awards Nomination Form, by email to performance@ars.usda.gov no later than May 30.

Nominations should include only individuals or teams who have performed truly distinguished service. We ask that Deans, Directors and Administrators thoroughly review each submission for validity of accomplishments before signing his or her approval on the nomination form.

We have many excellent examples of success in these categories across our partnership, and NIFA looks forward to recognizing great accomplishments.

Dr. Manjit Misra

Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

New Financial Module for NIFA Reporting System

The NIFA Reporting System (NRS) Financial Module is scheduled for release on May 1. This release will give NRS Financial Administrators the ability to add, edit and submit FY 2023 Financial Reports for Capacity Funds in NRS. Additionally, the release includes functionality for the Office of Grants and Financial Management (OGFM) Supplemental Forms. The OGFM Supplemental Forms will be made available for applicable institutions once allotment information is provided by NIFA’s Awards Management Division. A deadline for the OGFM Supplemental Form has not been determined at this time.

With this enhancement, users will now submit all financial reports required for capacity funds in NRS. Financial Administrators will download the financial report template and upload the completed file directly into NRS, importing all FY 2023 financial data. The financial report template is an easy-to-use Excel file with project/program data prepopulated for ease of use. This streamlined report will cross reference and validate financial reporting information and alert the institution of potential report errors.

The FY 2023 Financial Report for Capacity Funds will be due on July 1. All financial reports must be submitted in NRS.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the NRS Help Desk at nrs@usda.gov.

NIFA Director Visits West Virginia State University

NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra visited West Virginia State University (WVSU) recently. The visit provided an opportunity for Dr. Misra and NIFA to see some of the NIFA-supported research being done at WVSU as well as to visit with WVSU leadership, faculty and students.

WVSU President Erick S. Cage and Dr. Misra. Photo courtesy of West Virginia State University.

WVSU student Ameris Chadband and Dr. Amir Hass share their NIFA-funded research projects with Dr. Misra. Photo courtesy of WVSU.

WVSU President Erick S. Cage and Dr. Misra. Photo courtesy of WVSU.

NIFA Invests $600K in Response to Extreme Weather Events Across the U.S.

NIFA has funded two projects through the Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agriculture Systems program, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill project related to drought and a Louisiana State University Agricultural Center project related to winter storms. Rapid responses to extreme weather events are critical to maintaining a secure, accessible, safe, nutritious, affordable and abundant food supply.

May 2, 12 p.m. EDT: Demystifying the Panel Review Process for Grant Funding
May 14, 3 p.m. EDT: NIFA Climate Change Priority Team Celebration: Accomplishments and the Path Forward
May 29, 2 p.m. EDT: Tribal Research Partnerships: Indigenous Agroforestry, Food Security and Sovereignty
June 12, 2 p.m. EDT: Technical Assistance Webinar: AFRI Animal Systems
June 25, 6 p.m. EDT: Live FAQ Session: Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agriculture Systems

May 2: Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage System Program
May 3: Equipment Grant Program
May 13: Research Facilities Act Program
May 14: The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - Nutrition Incentive Program
June 6: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Broilers in commercial poultry house. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Probiotic Feed Additive Boosts Growth, Health in Poultry in Place of Antibiotics

Antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious threat for public health, and the use of antimicrobials in livestock feed has been a major contributing factor in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance to many drugs, according to the National Institutes of Health. The poultry industry is evolving toward antibiotic-free production to meet market demands and decelerate the spread, and Penn State researchers are helping to identify and better understand alternative approaches.

The growing need for antibiotic-free products has challenged producers to decrease or completely stop using antimicrobials as feed supplements in the diet of broiler chickens to improve feed efficiency, growth rate and intestinal health. A Penn State research team conducted a study of natural feed additives that are promising alternatives to substitute for antimicrobial growth promoters. Read more about this NIFA-supported research.

Broilers in commercial poultry house. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Nominations Being Accepted for NIFA Hall of Fame

NIFA is seeking nominations for the NIFA Hall of Fame, which was created at the agency's five-year anniversary in 2014. May 30 is the deadline. Nominations will be evaluated on: 1) measurable impact on NIFA; 2) synergy of research, education, and/or Extension; and 3) endorsement/letters of support.

Nominations must include a completed NIFA Hall of Fame Nomination form and up to three endorsements/letters of support. NIFA Hall of Fame background information and criteria can be found here.

Submit nominations by e-mail to AdminOpsTeam.NIFA@usda.gov no later than May 30. Use “Hall of Fame Nomination Submission” as the email subject line.

Decanter: Researchers Identify the Cause of Rotten Egg Smell in Canned Wine
Potato News: The Subtle Science of Potassium Application: Enhancing Potato Quality Without Compromising Yield
Southeast AgNet Radio: A Gathering of Youth – National 4-H Conference
Morning AgClips: OSU Hosts National Conference Focused on Innovative Projects for Youths in Agriculture
Government Technology: What’s Next for Robots? Experts at Pittsburgh Event Say Farming
New Media: College of Menominee Nation Partners with Foodwise Program
Madison Daily: Sow and Grow with Sara: Biennial Weeds and New Fertilizer Tool
Good Fruit Grower: Dialing In a More Affordable Soil Moisture Sensor
Rural Innovation Exchange: Suttons Bay Winery Wins Research Grant to Test New Sustainable Soft Pesticides at Vineyard

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.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.