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Making a Difference
Rising to the Challenge: Lifelong Love of 4-H Sparks Leadership Role at National 4-H Conference
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has administered the National 4-H Conference on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., since 1927. Known as “the Secretary’s Conference,” the event is the flagship youth development opportunity of USDA.
The conference brings together young people, volunteer leaders, county and state Extension staff, Land-grant University faculty and administrators, as well as state and federal government officials from across the United States and its territories. During the conference, youth delegates become familiar with the government and future career opportunities and share their voice with federal agencies and congressional committees.
A Collegiate Facilitator Team, made up of 20 college students and two adult advisors, hosts and facilitates youth roundtable groups. Read more to learn how serving as a collegiate facilitator impacted one Ohio State University freshman.
National 4-H Conference participants in front of the Whitten Building. USDA image.
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Understanding How Wildfires Change Soil Could Aid Recovery
Severe wildfires can drive chemical changes in soil that affect ecosystem recovery and risks to human health. A new study finds broader surveillance and modeling of these changes could inform strategies for protecting lives, property, and natural resources, and managing wildlife.
The study, led by Stanford University and Colorado State University scientists, found that better techniques are needed to monitor changes in soil and surrounding ecosystems. This enhanced monitoring could inform decisions on how to treat drinking water sourced from burned areas, support reforestation and protect workers against toxins during cleanup, rebuilding or revegetation.
Read more about this research, which was supported in part by a NIFA Agricultural Microbiomes in Plant Systems and Natural Resources Crosscutting Program grant.
Landscape after a wildfire. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
NIFA Offers $29 Million in Supporting Funding Opportunities to Strengthen WIC Workforce
As part of USDA’s new Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Workforce National Strategy to strengthen the WIC workforce, NIFA has published two new supporting funding opportunities with a combined funding level of $29 million. Read more about these funding opportunities which both have July 1 application deadlines.
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NIFA Invests $9 Million for Ag Risk Management Education Partnerships
NIFA has announced more than $9 million in funding for 5 projects as part of the Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants Program (ARME). ARME’s goal is to educate agricultural producers about the full range of risk management activities.
NIFA Invests $5.7 Million in Pollinator Health
NIFA has announced more than $5.7 million in funding for 10 projects as part of the Pollinator Health: Research and Application program. The program supports projects focused on promoting healthy populations of pollinators in agricultural systems where reliance on pollinators for pollination services is increasing and where declines of pollinators are evident.
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Scientists Identify Gene That Could Lead to Resilient ‘Pixie’ Corn
Iowa State University scientists have identified a widely found gene in plants as a key transporter of a hormone that influences the size of corn. The discovery offers plant breeders a new tool to develop desirable dwarf varieties that could enhance the crop’s resilience and profitability.
Iowa State scientists spent years working to pinpoint the functions of the gene ZmPILS6. Now, they have been able to characterize it as an important driver of plant size and architecture, a carrier for an auxin hormone that helps govern growth in roots below ground and shoots, or stalks, above ground. Read more about their work.
Dr. Dior Kelley, Iowa State University scientist, right, and Craig Cowling, a doctoral student in her lab, stand behind corn plants. Image courtesy of Iowa State University.
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USDA Announces Expansion of Interagency Collaboration to Help Reduce Food Loss and Waste
USDA has signed a formal agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to renew their Federal Interagency Collaboration to Reduce Food Loss and Waste. The U.S. Agency for International Development also joined the collaboration to help reduce food loss and waste internationally. Read more about USDA food loss and waste reduction efforts.
USDA Seeking Public Input on Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program
USDA invites public input into the preparation of proposed regulations for the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program, which is intended to facilitate farmer, rancher and private forest landowner participation in voluntary carbon markets. The program is being implemented as part of the Growing Climate Solutions Act.
Public input is due by June 28. See the Federal Register Notice for more information.
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Nominations Deadline Extended for NIFA Hall of Fame and Partner Awards
NIFA is seeking nominations for the NIFA Hall of Fame and its Partner Awards. Nomination deadline has been extended to June 10.
Read the Partner Award guidelines and find nomination forms here. Partner Award nominations forms should be emailed to performance@ars.usda.gov and include “NIFA Partnership Award Nomination” in the subject line.
Find more information about NIFA Hall of Fame background information and criteria as well as a link to the nomination form here. Nominations must be e-mailed to the Admin Operations Team at AdminOpsTeam.NIFA@usda.gov and put “Hall of Fame Nomination Submission” in the subject line.
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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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