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Making a Difference
Researchers Honored for Advancing Poultry Health and Food Safety
A team of scientists from across the country studying how genetics influence a bird’s ability to fight disease has received the 2025 Excellence in Multistate Research Award from agInnovation, a national organization that supports research administrators in colleges of agriculture. The long-running project is supported by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture through its Hatch Act Multistate Research Fund.
This award celebrates the project’s 57-year legacy of collaboration, innovation and impact and recognizes the project’s recent outstanding achievements.
Led by researchers at 11 Land-grant Universities and supported by partners from the poultry industry, government agencies and other institutions worldwide, this project adapts to emerging avian disease threats, integrates cutting-edge technologies, and responds to stakeholder needs. Read more about this team’s work.
Broilers in a poultry house. USDA Photo by Bob Nichols.
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NIFA Extends Deadlines for AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program
New deadlines are posted for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program Foundational and Applied Science (FAS) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to ensure that potential applicants can get technical assistance from NIFA staff.
Please do not submit a duplicate application if one was already submitted and there are no changes. If an application has already been submitted and the applicant was not able to receive technical assistance from NIFA staff, the applicant may revise and resubmit prior to the new deadline. Any applicant who did not submit an application may submit prior to the new deadline. Find more information at AFRI FAQs and AFRI Resources.
Innovation Proposals Being Accepted for Ag Outlook Forum
Do you have an innovation that you want to feature at the next Agricultural Outlook Forum? Does it benefit farmers or directly impact consumers?
The Forum, scheduled for Feb. 19-20, 2026, at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA, will again feature Science Innovation Exhibits.
Anyone with an innovation that is wholly or partially funded by USDA can apply. Each exhibitor will be required to fund their own travel. A selection committee will evaluate and rank the proposals based on communicated impact, alignment with USDA priorities and visual, tactile or other interactive qualities of the proposed exhibit.
The proposal should be limited to one page and include:
- A description of the innovation.
- A description of how the innovation links to the USDA mission of maximizing and promoting American agriculture, ensuring a safe, nutritious and secure food supply, enhancing rural prosperity, and protecting our National Forests.
- A description of items brought for display to fit on a table or within a 6 x 5 space.
- An explanation of how the project is linked USDA funding.
- The current and projected impact.
Send proposals to Dr. Melanie Abley (melanie.abley@usda.gov) by close of business Dec. 5. Messages should include the subject line Ag Outlook Forum Proposal. Reach out to Dr. Abley for further information.
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NIFA Invests $6.8 Million for Novel Foods and Innovative Manufacturing Projects
NIFA has announced a $6.8 million investment in as part of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative's Novel Foods and Innovative Manufacturing grant program.
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Oregon State Researchers Develop Forecast Model for Spotted Lanternfly
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect pest that has spread rapidly across the United States. Oregon State University researchers developed a model to forecast the insect’s seasonal development and survival across the contiguous United States. These forecasts provide insight into where and when to expect the spotted lanternfly. Read more about their work.
Len Coop, Oregon State University (OSU) professor checks an insect predictive model driven by data collected by a weather station. Image courtesy of Silvia Rondon, OSU.
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USDA Announces Opening of Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility in Mexico
USDA has announced the opening of a New World screwworm sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico. The Tampico facility will allow USDA to disperse sterile flies aerially across northeastern Mexico, including in Nuevo Leon. Aerial operations allow for dispersal at a steady rate through a large area and also because sterile insects may be dispersed in areas that are unreachable from the ground. Read more about the new facility.
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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 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.
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