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Maggie Lawrence, Editor

Sept. 17, 2025

Making a Difference

New OSU Study Shows Persistent Airborne Spread of Carrot Disease

Farmers in Central Oregon produce some of the world’s most valuable hybrid carrot seed, including about 75% to 85% of the U.S. supply. But the disease bacterial blight poses a significant threat to seed quality and yields.

Work done at Oregon State University (OSU) has changed the fundamental knowledge of how and when the disease spreads. Not only is the pathogen airborne about 80% of the growing season, but it can also establish early and survive cold months. Read more about this work supported by NIFA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative.

Flowering carrot plants. Image courtesy of Lynn Ketchum, Oregon State University.

Acknowledging NIFA Support

Just a reminder that proper acknowledgment of your NIFA funding in published manuscripts, posters, presentations, press releases, and other communications is a required element and can be found in NIFA’s Terms and Conditions. Additionally, new awards should not be announced in any manner by a grantee until they are officially and publicly announced by USDA NIFA through NIFA Update. Find more information about appropriate language to use in acknowledging NIFA here.

Be sure you and your organization are using the current USDA NIFA official identifier. You can download the NIFA logo in color, black, and white versions in EPS and PNG file formats here.

NIFA Director Visits Clemson

NIFA Director Dr. Jaye Hamby visited Clemson University recently and toured several NIFA-supported projects including peach breeding research and its robotic dairy facility. He also met with South Carolina State 4-H and FFA officers.

Pictured above NIFA Director Dr. Jaye Hamby talks with Clemson University researchers about their NIFA-supported work in peach breeding.

NIFA Director Dr. Jaye Hamby visiting with South Carolina 4-H and FFA state officers during his Clemson visit.

NIFA Legislative Affairs Officer Gary Mayo taking photos at Clemson University's robotic dairy.

• 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

• Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II—Sept. 23

Public Comment 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.

National Impacts Database Training

There will be a virtual National Impacts Database (NIDB) training. For administrators and new and returning inputters, it will cover the basics of the NIDB, how submitted statements are used, and how to write effective impact statements. Register now for the training set for 2 p.m. EDT, Oct. 15.

• Oil City News: UW Needs Assessment May Help Wyoming’s Agricultural Community Plan Ahead
• East Idaho News: New U of I Extension Tool Helps Farmers Protect Crops, Cut Costs
• KOLO TV: Are Lab-Grown Dairy Proteins Truly Identical To Natural Dairy? New Study Raises Questions

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 Gabriel de Zayas, Equal Opportunity Specialist, at Gabriel.DeZayasrodriguez@usda.gov or (202) 655-7842 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.