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Making a Difference
NIFA Meets Workforce Needs through AI Education
To address 21st century challenges, advances in technology are key to success. NIFA programs support youths to build understanding and skills in STEM, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), preparing them to meet workforce needs.
Through curriculum innovation, teacher training and experiential learning projects, NIFA grantees are preparing the next generation of professionals and leaders to use and develop advanced technology in precision agriculture, machine learning, data science and other agri-STEM fields. Read more about these NIFA supported projects.
Student working in a drone lab. NIFA image.
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AgriProspects Mini-grants Applications Open
AgriProspects, an Extension Foundation program, has announced its second round of grants aimed at advancing Extension-led adult agricultural workforce development.
Supported by NIFA through AFRI’s National Extension Clearinghouse for Industry and the Workforce, AgriProspects will award up to five two-year grants of $200,000 each to support regional or national-scale projects that build Cooperative Extension’s capacity and readiness in two focus areas.
- Digital credentialing initiatives for adult agricultural workforce development in rural and urban areas
- Artificial Intelligence tools and resources to support the agricultural sector and supply chain and the adult agricultural workforce in rural and urban areas
Applications are due Aug. 31. Learn more about the program and how to apply.
Extension Risk Management Education Directors Meet
Directors and staff from the regional and electronic support Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) Centers gathered recently at NIFA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. to meet with NIFA Director Dr. Jaye Hamby and to review their ongoing work and plan for future efforts.
Established in the Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000, the regional centers address local and regional needs of producers. NIFA has asked ERME to use the regional model to deliver trade adjustment assistance for farmers; meat and poultry processing support; and a technical assistance provider network. Since its creation, ERME has funded 1,843 projects with 820,235 people.
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 Front row, L-R: JoAnn Warner, Washington State/Western Center; Jamie Cousins, Arkansas/Southern Center; Pauline Van Nurden, Minnesota/Digital Center; Laurie Wolinski, Delaware/Northeast Center; Dr. Jaye Hamby, USDA NIFA; Ron Rainey, Arkansas/Southern Center; Erica Barnes Fields, Arkansas/Southern Center; and Sheila Aikanathan Johnson, Nebraska/North Central Center.
Back row, L-R: Shannon Neibergs, Washington State/Western Center; Amulya Rao, Minnesota/Digital Center; Brad Lubben, Nebraska/North Central Center; Curtis Mahnken, Minnesota/Digital Center; Kevin Klair, Minnesota/Digital Center; Michelle McCullough, Delaware/Northeast Center; Katie Nichols, Minnesota/Digital Center; and Christine Lockert, Nebraska/North Central Center. NIFA Image.
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Texas A&M AgriLife Research Discovery Defends Citrus and Potatoes
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists have developed a new approach to countering citrus greening and potato zebra chip diseases, two economically devastating agricultural diseases in the U.S. Their NIFA supported work uses spinach antimicrobial peptides, known as defensins, which naturally defend plants against a broad range of pathogens.
In a study published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal, researchers showed that some spinach defensins can confer similar protection to citrus and potatoes — and possibly other crops. The effects show significant progress toward recovering yield and improving quality in diseased plants. Read more about their work, their results and future implications for crops beyond citrus and potatoes.
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist Kranthi K. Mandadi inspecting a citrus greening disease-affected tree. Image courtesy of Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications.
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Celebrate America by Recognizing America 250 at State Fairs Across the Nation
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins is calling on states to celebrate America’s proud agriculture heritage by implementing America 250 programing at every state fair during the year leading up to the anniversary of the nation’s founding. More than 35 states have already committed to celebrating America 250 with the Great American State Fair in 2025. Read more about the yearlong plan to celebrate American agriculture.
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Nominations Being Accepted for National Teaching Awards
NIFA is accepting nominations for the Teaching Awards portion of the National Food and Agricultural Sciences Teaching, Extension and Research Awards (TERA) program. Nominations must be submitted electronically and received by NIFA no later than Sept. 30. Find more information about the awards and evaluation criteria here.
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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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