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Maggie Lawrence, Editor

Jan. 21, 2026

Making a Difference

Land-grant Scientists’ Work Safeguards Livestock 

Pests like ticks, mites and flies, in particular, cause billions of dollars in damage and control costs each year. And controlling these pests is increasingly challenging due to newly emerging pests, insecticide resistance, environmental changes and evolving livestock management practices. As a result, Land-grant researchers are working to understand how these pests interact with animal agriculture to better protect livestock and people. Read more about these efforts that support a safe, secure food supply.  

USDA Agricultural Research Service professionals inspect for ticks. USDA photo by Scott Bauer.

NIFA and APLU Announce National Teaching Awards

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced four public university faculty members were honored with national teaching awards recognizing excellence in agricultural sciences teaching and student engagement.

Christopher Estepp of the University of Arkansas and Michel Wattiaux of the University of Wisconsin-Madison are the national recipients of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Excellence in College and University Teaching Awards for Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Mellissa Crosswhite of Oklahoma State University and Toni Gist of the University of Illinois Champaign are the recipients in the National Teaching and Student Engagement category. Learn more about the National Teaching awards as well as the regional award winners here.

NIFA seeking input on FY 2026 Research Facilities Act Program

NIFA will be holding a virtual listening session on Feb. 5 at noon EST to solicit public input on the implementation of the FY 2026 Research Facilities Act Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (RFAP). The RFAP program aims to assist Land-grant Institutions with the construction, modification, acquisition, modernization, refurbishment, or remodeling of agricultural research facilities to conduct research in the food and agricultural sciences.

In reauthorizing the program last year, Congress increased its annual funding level to $125 million in mandatory spending. In addition to the listening session, NIFA Program staff will also accept written comments before Feb. 12. Visit the NIFA website for more information.

NIFA Now Accepting Applications for Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: Education and Workforce Development

NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Education and Workforce Development (EWD) program area focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and Extension/outreach professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. EWD supports professional development for K-14 educational professionals; nonformal education that cultivates food and agricultural interest in youth; workforce training at community, junior, and technical colleges; training undergraduate students in research and Extension/outreach; and predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships.

Learn more about this funding opportunity including requirements and deadlines.

Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Funding Opportunity

USDA NIFA’s Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program ensures an adequate supply of trained food animal veterinarians are placed in identified shortage situations. The program incentivizes food animal veterinarians to serve in veterinary shortage situations in exchange for veterinary education loan repayment assistance.

 Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent by Feb. 19 and a full Application by March 5. Find more information here.

Veterinary Services Grant Program Funding Opportunity

USDA NIFA has announced the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) is now accepting applications. VSGP supports education and Extension activities and practice enhancement initiatives that enable veterinarians, veterinary students, veterinary technicians, and veterinary technician students to gain specialized skills and provide practices with additional resources needed to more effectively address veterinary service shortages in the U.S. The applications deadline is April 16. Find more information here.

Information about the program area priority—including program contacts, types of projects allowed, and more—can be found in the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development NOFO.

• Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy (A7501) - March 19
• Agricultural Workforce Training at Community Colleges (A7601) - March 19
• Food and Agricultural Non-formal Education (A7801) - March 19
• Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (A7401) - March 19
• Predoctoral Fellowships (A7101) - April 16
• Postdoctoral Fellowships (A7201) - April 30
• Education and Workforce Development Workshop Grants (A7001) Continuous throughout the year but at least 210 days before the start of the workshop and upon invitation after submission of a Letter of Intent at least 255 days before the workshop begins

Accepted on a Continuous Basis

• Rapid Response to Emerging and Re-emerging Pest and Disease Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems
• Rapid Response to Weather Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems

• Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Letter of Intent—Feb. 19
• Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Application—March 5
• Veterinary Services Grant Program—April 16

Registration Now Open for USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum

Registration is now open for USDA’s 102nd Agricultural Outlook Forum. The event will be held at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott on Feb. 19-20, and all sessions will be livestreamed.

The Forum program will feature a presentation on the 2026 outlook for the U.S. agricultural economy and trade by USDA Chief Economist Justin Benavidez, a keynote address by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, and a plenary panel of speakers who will discuss agricultural trade. Learn more about the forum and how to register.

National 4-H Conference Information Session Recording Available

The recording of the National 4-H Conference Information Session is now available. View it here.

• Fresh Fruit Portal: A Sting in the Tail for European Foulbrood: AI Tool Aims to Sharpen Bee Disease Diagnostics
• Oklahoma Farm Report: Join Us for National 4-H Conference!
• Vertical Farm Daily: Researchers Seek Industry Input on Strawberries Grown Using CEA

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.