NIFA Update--Sept. 10, 2025

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture sent this bulletin at 09/10/2025 05:45 PM EDT

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Maggie Lawrence, Editor

Sept. 10, 2025

National Preparedness Month graphic. Courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Making a Difference

Cooperative Extension—Key Partner in Disaster Preparedness

The beginning of National Preparedness Month provides an excellent opportunity to consider the role Cooperative Extension plays in community disaster preparedness. Extension connects the Land-grant University System with communities to provide research-based information and resources as well as planning support. Read more about how NIFA supported efforts are improving preparedness across the country.

National Preparedness Month graphic. Courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Presidential AI Challenge

The Presidential AI Challenge (Challenge) is a national challenge where K-12 youth, educators, mentors, and community teams come together to solve real-world problems in their communities using AI-powered solutions with an opportunity to showcase their solutions at a national level. Students and educators of all backgrounds and expertise are encouraged to participate. Learn more about the Challenge and how to support youth participation.

Introduction to eRA for NIFA Grant Applicants & Recipients—Sept. 11, 2 p.m. EDT
Live FAQ Session: AFRI Rapid Response (A1712/A1713) Programs—Sept. 30, 1 p.m. EDT

AFRI Commodity Board Co-funding Topics—Oct. 2
Economics, Markets and Trade—Oct. 2
Engineering for Agricultural Production and Processing—Oct. 2
Foundational Knowledge of Agricultural Production Systems—Oct. 2
Biorefining and Biomanufacturing—Oct.9
Conventional Plant Breeding for Cultivar Development—Oct. 9
Engineering for Precision Crop and Water Management—Oct. 9
Pollinator Health: Research and Application—Oct. 9
Small and Medium-Sized Farms—Oct. 9
Bioeconomy and Biobased Products—Oct. 9

Rural Cooperative Development Grants—Sept. 15
Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II—Sept. 23

Plant infected with tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus. Image courtesy of Metin Gulesci, Bugwood.org.

Penn State Study Offers New Insight into When Two Viruses Attack Plants

New research led by researchers at Penn State examined what happens when two common viruses — tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus and impatiens necrotic spot orthotospovirus — infect the same plant. Their findings provide a better understanding of these viruses that could help lead to better disease control in the future.

Researchers found that there was a lower number of co-infected plants than plants infected with a single virus, suggesting an antagonistic relationship between the viruses. Read more about this NIFA supported research and how it could impact disease management.

Plant infected with tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus. Image courtesy of Metin Gulesci, Bugwood.org.

USDA Announces Forest Health Resilience Projects to Improve Timber Production

USDA is investing more than $8 million in five new projects to reduce wildfire risk, protect water quality and improve forest health across the nation.

The Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Program is a collaborative effort between USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Forest Service to work across public-private boundaries and at a landscape scale. The new investment is in addition to $32 million for 24 existing three-year-long Joint Chiefs’ projects. Read more about this investment.

Public Comment Extended on USDA Reorganization Plan

The public comment period has been extended for stakeholders to provide feedback on USDA’s reorganization plan. All stakeholders, including USDA employees, members of Congress and agricultural and nutrition partners, are encouraged to provide feedback by emailing reorganization@usda.gov. The comment period closes Sept. 30.

Big Island Now: Hawai‘I Community College Butchery Program Graduates Second Cohort
Morning Ag Clips: C-CHANGE: Digestate’s Potential to Replenish Soil
Seed Today: Breeding Turfgrass for Drought
Grain Journal: New University of Idaho Extension Tool Helps Farmers Protect Crops, Cut Costs

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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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