The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced $945,400 in available funding to help foster the next generation of multicultural scholars in agricultural sciences. Funding is made through NIFA’s Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP). “The Multicultural Scholars Program seeks to help young people reach their potential in the agricultural sciences,” said NIFA Director …
Low Education Rural Counties Worse Off than Higher Education Rural Counties
New data announced by the Department of Agriculture shows that rural counties with low education levels have worse economic outcomes than other rural counties. USDA’s Economic Research Service classifies 467 counties as “low education” counties, where at least 20 percent of working-age adults, ages 25 to 64, do not have a high school diploma or equivalent. Nearly 80 percent of …
New UF/IFAS Program Teaches Veterans About Agribusiness
After retiring from a 28-year-career in the U.S. Air Force, Mike Burrell thought about what he could pass down to the next generation. He considered starting his own small business and he looked into law school, but his post-9/11 GI Bill would not cover the latter. “With these things in mind, I was thinking about purchasing several acres of land …
Ronald Cave Named Director of UF/IFAS Indian River Research Facility
An entomologist recognized internationally as a specialist in biological control of insect pests has been named the director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center. Ronald D. Cave will serve as the sixth leader of the Indian River REC. From the Indian River REC’s 1947 start as the Indian River …
Calving Management Workshops in Gainesville and Okeechobee, Florida
Dr. Ricardo Chebel, UF College of Veterinary Medicine Dairy Health Extension Specialist, will be presenting classroom information and hands-on practice on dairy calving management. He will be covering risk factors for dystocia, the process of normal calving, stages of calving, strategies to correct dystocia. Classroom sessions will be available separately in English and Spanish. Both sessions will combine for lunch …
Secretary Perdue Partners with FFA to Support Next Generation of Leaders in Agriculture
Taking action to encourage and inspire American youth, and build a strong foundation for the agriculture industry of tomorrow U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will partner with National FFA to support youth, and prepare the workforce of tomorrow for unique careers in agriculture. Following their remarks, Secretary Perdue and CEO of …
From the Family farm to UF/IFAS: The New Chair of Environmental Horticulture
by Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences When he was 4, Dean Kopsell moved with his family to a 200-acre nursery in northern Illinois. He spent days roaming the farm, wading in the creek that ran through the property and playing in the barns. In high school and college, Kopsell worked summers with his dad, selling …
American Farm Bureau Federation and National FFA Organization to Work Together to Share the Story of Agricultural Education
The American Farm Bureau Federation and National FFA Organization signed a memorandum of understanding to grow leaders, build communities and strengthen agriculture. The MOU outlines how the two organizations will work together to discover opportunities that benefit both their members and agricultural education students in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “This is an opportunity for …
UF, Rutgers, WVU to Help Combat Childhood Obesity
by Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Parents serve as their children’s role models, and they buy most of the food their children eat. With that in mind, researchers from the University of Florida, Rutgers University, and West Virginia University will work with a five-year, $4 million grant to try to change home eating habits to …
Agri View: School Lunch Problem
Everett Griner talks about the changing of the guard brought changes to the school lunch program in today’s Agri View. Agriculture officials were not happy with former First Lady Michelle Obama’s School Lunch Program. They can breathe easy now. It is out. Dumped by officials in the Trump administration. You see, the Obama program featured healthy food. They …