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Last Issue of NIFA Update for 2025 |
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Making a Difference
Employment Outlook Remains Strong for Agriculture Graduates
A new report released by Purdue University’s College of Agriculture and USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) projects that employment opportunities will remain strong for new college graduates with degrees in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and the environment. The Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources and the Environment report for 2025-2030 forecasts more than 104,000 job openings annually across four job clusters: business and management; science and engineering; food and biomaterials production; and education, communication and governmental services. Read more about the report’s findings.
NIFA's Employment Opportunities forecasts more than 104,000 annual job openings for graduates in agriculture and related fields. Image courtesy of Purdue University.
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New Name, Same Opportunity
NIFA is updating the name of the competitive funding announcement document from Request for Applications (RFA) to Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This change aligns with federal standards and helps clarify the purpose of the document.
Deadline for Commodity Board Topics Is Jan. 20
The deadline for federal- and state-level commodity boards to submit proposed topics for the FY27 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Foundational and Applied Science Notice of Funding Opportunity is 5 p.m. EST Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.
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Information about the program area priority—including program contacts, types of projects allowed, and more— will be found in Part I, C of the AFRI Foundational and Applied Science RFA. Letters of Intent (if applicable) and applications must be received at NIFA by 5 p.m. EST on the deadlines below. |
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Animal Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics
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Animal Nutrition, Growth and Lactation
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Critical Agricultural Research and Extension
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Data Science for Food and Agricultural System
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Diseases of Agricultural Animals
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Pests and Beneficial Species in Agricultural Production Systems
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Welfare of Agricultural Animals
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Accepted on a Continuous Basis continuing
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Rapid Response to Emerging and Re-emerging Pest and Disease Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems
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Rapid Response to Weather Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems
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MSU Launches Innovative Agricultural UAS Video Series
Unmanned aircraft systems with spray capabilities offer promising solutions to some of today’s greatest agricultural production challenges. A video series created by Mississippi State’s Agricultural Autonomy Institute helps farmers navigate this technology, from spray drone basics to detailed troubleshooting. The 13-part series includes bite-sized informational clips on high-demand topics and an in-depth troubleshooting segment. Read more about this NIFA-supported work.
MSU researchers demonstrate unmanned aircraft systems with spray capabilities.
Image courtesy of David Ammon, Mississippi State University.
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USDA to Conduct 2025 Organic Survey
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the 2025 Organic Survey over the next few months. NASS will mail survey codes to respondents with an invitation to reply online. NASS will follow up by mailing the full questionnaire in early January. Last conducted in 2021, this Census of Agriculture special study will look to gather new data on organic production, marketing practice, income and expenses in the United States. This effort is critical to help determine the economic impact of organic agriculture production on the nation. The results will be available on Oct. 30, 2026. Read more here.
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Presidential AI Challenge Deadline Approaching
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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.
USDA NIFA invests in and advances high-impact agricultural research, education, and Extension to solve the Nation’s pressing challenges, grow U.S. agricultural innovation and competitiveness, fuel rural prosperity, and develop the future agricultural workforce. 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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