NIFA Update--Oct. 23, 2024

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture sent this bulletin at 10/23/2024 05:30 PM EDT

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Maggie Lawrence, Editor

Oct. 23, 2024

Celebrating 1994 Land-grant Colleges. NIFA graphic.

Making a Difference

Celebrating 30 Years of 1994 Land-grant Colleges

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act being signed into law. In 1994, there were 29 Tribal Colleges designated as 1994 Land-grant Institutions (LGI). Today, there are 35 recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities in 13 states.

The 1994 LGIs are focused on serving their communities. Their students pursue degrees in diverse areas including science, technology, engineering, mathematics and agriculture. Some conduct research under the mentorship of faculty, while others intern at USDA and other federal agencies. The 1994 LGIs are opening doors for their students, helping them achieve degrees that lead to professional careers or graduate studies. Read more to learn how USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture supports the 1994s.

Celebrating 1994 Land-grant Colleges. NIFA graphic.

NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra giving keynote address at FALCON. NIFA image.

NIFA Attends FALCON

NIFA staff recently attended the First American Land-grant Consortium (FALCON) Conference in Minneapolis, Minn. Oct. 11 to 13. FALCON provides a network of Tribal colleges and universities that supports 1994 administrators, directors, faculty, Extension educators and students in fulfilling their Land-grant mission. NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra served as one of the keynote speaker.

Funding Opportunity: Extension Risk Management Education Competitive Grants Program

The four regional Extension Risk Management Education Centers have announced a competitive funding opportunity for educational projects designed to help agricultural producers improve their economic viability through targeted risk management strategies. Applications are due Nov. 14. Learn more at the regional centers’ websites.

USDA Invests $46 Million to Address Food and Nutrition Security

USDA NIFA has announced an investment of more than $46 million in projects aimed to tackle food and nutrition insecurity in underserved communities, as well as support healthy diets by providing access to fruits and vegetables for eligible families. These funds support efforts across NIFA’s Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) and Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP).

The investment provides funding to 20 CFPCGP projects, which bring together stakeholders from distinct parts of the food system and fosters understanding of national food security trends and how they might work together to improve local food systems.

GusNIP grant programs include Nutrition Incentives and Produce Prescriptions. Fourteen awardees are receiving GusNIP Nutrition Incentive funding totaling $36.3 million. The awards include Pilot Projects, Standard Projects and Largescale Projects. Finally, Produce Prescription awards account for $5.2 million to 11 awardees.

Additional Award Announcements

Nov. 14, Noon EST: NIFA Reporting Activities: Differences Between Capacity and Competitive Awards
Nov. 14, 3 p.m. EST: Live FAQ Session: Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agriculture Systems
Nov. 21, 4 p.m. EST: 2025 National 4-H Conference Information Session
Dec. 11, 1 p.m. EST: Reviewing and Evaluating Transdisciplinary and Engaged Research Projects: Perspectives from Funding Programs

Oct. 24: Predoctoral Fellowship
Nov. 7: Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program
Nov. 8: Specialty Crop Research Initiative
Nov. 12: Veterinary Shortage Situation Nominations Deadline
Nov. 15: Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program
Dec. 5: AFRI Education and Workforce Development
Dec. 31: AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program
Dec. 31: Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program

Morrill Lecture Announcement. NIFA Graphic

Montana State researcher Hannah Goemann explores microbial communities that coexist with rangeland grasses. Image courtesy of MSU.

Montana State Researcher Examines How Rangelands Respond to Heat and Drought Stress

As the climate in the American West becomes increasingly arid and drought stress becomes more common, agricultural producers are seeking to understand how crops weather those warmer and drier trends across Montana’s rangelands. Montana State University researchers are investigating the microbial communities in rangeland grasses and how they respond to heat stress and drought.

Their work is focused on plant-microbe interactions between a native grass called blue grama and the microbial communities that coexist with it. Drs. Hannah Goemann and Danielle Ulrich are exploring how the microbial communities change depending on the availability of water or environmental temperature, and how those in turn may impact the health and vitality of blue grama. Read more about their work.

Montana State University (MSU) researcher Hannah Goemann explores the microbial communities that coexist with rangeland grasses. Image courtesy of Kelly Gorham/MSU.

DHS Seeks Applicants for Public-Private Analytic Exchange Program

Subject matter experts who are U.S. citizens can apply for the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Public-Private Analytic Exchange Program.

Sponsored by the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis, the six-month hybrid program provides government analysts and private sector partners with a better understanding of select national and homeland security issues as well as deeper expertise and new insights and perspectives. Applications are due Nov. 1. Visit the DHS website for more information.

Huntsville Item: SHSU School of Agricultural Sciences Secures $750K Grant to Support Future Ag Teachers
Farm Talk: Five Ways the Center for Regenerative Agriculture Is Cultivating Growth in Missouri
Seed Today: Purdue-Led Tomato Organic Management and Improvement Project Receives $3.5 Million Grant
Seed Quest: New Imaging Technique Brings Us Closer to Simplified, Low-Cost Agricultural Quality Assessment
WATT Poultry: USDA Funds Poultry Processing Training Center in Puerto Rico

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.

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