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Making a Difference
NIFA-Funded Research Results in Technological Innovation That Saves Florida Citrus Industry
Huanglongbing (HLB), also called citrus greening, is the most devastating citrus disease in the United States. Since HLB was detected in Florida in 2005, Florida's citrus production has fallen by 75%, including 90% of grapefruit production. Growers in the United States have been seeking a solution to HLB for nearly 20 years.
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences a $3.5 million Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program (ECDRE). This grant allowed researchers to advance the scope of their research and Extension. The result? Citrus Under Protective Screen (CUPS) is currently the only successful technology that allows growers to profitably produce HLB-free citrus. Read more about how CUPS is transforming citrus growing in Florida.
Inside the CUPS system at the Dundee Citrus Growers Association. Image courtesy of Arnold Schumann/UF/IFAS.
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CUPS system at the Dundee Citrus Growers Association. Credit: Steven Callaham/Dundee Citrus Growers Association
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Environmental Justice Efforts Continue with Upcoming Listening Session
As communities across the nation confront continuing environmental challenges and climate change, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) continues its work to support the development of solutions to this pressing issue.
As part of this work, NIFA is holding a listening session to receive stakeholder input on potential agency actions related to environmental justice. The listening session will be at 3 p.m. EDT Tuesday, August 20. Register for the session.
NIFA will use the information and insights collected in the listening session to strengthen its program delivery.
Nominations Now Being Accepted for Morrill Lecture
Each year, NIFA joins with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) to sponsor a lecture presented at the APLU Annual Meeting. The lecture honors one of the three most important historical figures of the Land-grant University System: William Henry Hatch for research; Seaman A. Knapp for Extension; and Justin Smith Morrill for whom the Morrill Act, which created the Land-grant University System, is named.
NIFA and APLU are seeking nominations to honor Justin Smith Morrill - the U.S. Senator primarily responsible for enactment of the historic legislation establishing the Land-grant University System. The Justin Smith Morrill Memorial Lectureship is awarded to honor outstanding contemporary leadership in teaching and significant contributions as an educator. Nominations will be accepted by August 23. Learn more about the Morrill Lecture and how to submit a nomination.
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NIFA Invests $8.7 Million in Inter-Disciplinary Engagement in Animal Systems (A1261)
USDA NIFA has announced an investment of $8.7 million for 11 awards to Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Inter-Disciplinary Engagement in Animal Systems priority program area. This program supports Integrated (Research and Extension or Education) projects that focus on precision animal management, environmental synergies of animal production, and societal aspects of animal welfare.
Additional Award Announcements
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Discovery of a Hybrid Lineage Offers Clues to How Trees Adapt to Climate Change
The discovery of a hybrid population of poplar trees in western Wyoming has provided insight into how natural hybridization informs the evolution of many plant species, according to a team led by Penn State researchers. Their discovery suggests that genetic exchange between species may be critical for adaptation to environmental change.
The research — which described a novel lineage of hybrid black cottonwood and balsam poplar— was recently published in Molecular Ecology. It is just the latest study to suggest that natural hybridization has played an important role in the evolution of many plant species. Read more about this NIFA-supported work.
Lionel Di Santo collects samples in the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest in early January. The mild maritime climate is the preferred habitat of black cottonwood. Image courtesy of Penn State.
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NASS releases 2022 Census of Agriculture Watersheds Report
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released recently the Watersheds report, which provides data that supplements the 2022 Census of Agriculture, Volume 1. Watersheds is the first of six Subject Series reports to be released for this Census of Agriculture. The Watersheds report breaks down select ag census data – including farms, land in farms, land use and practices, fertilizer and chemical use, and select commodities – by the 6-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (watershed) boundaries, providing data users yet another way to review and compare ag census information.
The type of data provided in the Watersheds report can be used by researchers, community organizations, policymakers and producers to help assess the impact or potential impact of agriculture on the environment and surrounding bodies of water. The data can help inform decisions about government programs and grants and policies affecting producers, communities, and the agriculture industry. Read more and access the full report.
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AFRI Plant Health and Production and Plant Products Webinar Recording Now Available
A video recording of a recent webinar focused on Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Plant Health and Production, and Plant Products programs is now available.
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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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