(UF/IFAS) — A professor with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has been awarded a $500,000 grant to study how climate change is threatening subtropical grasslands and the ways they sustain agriculture, wildlife biodiversity, and ecosystems and their benefits to humans. Subtropical grasslands – such as those in Central-South Florida — are wide expanses of …
Dr. Carrie Castille Named as New NIFA Director
(USDA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that President Trump has named Dr. Carrie Castille as the new, six year term director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Dr. Castille will start her new role on Monday, January 4, 2021. “Dr. Castille is a trusted leader in economic development and public policy and has more than 20 …
Employment Outlook Promising for New College Graduates in Agriculture
(NAFB) — A report last week from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Purdue University shows a strong job demand for new college graduates with degrees in agricultural programs. U.S. college graduates can expect approximately 59,400 job opportunities annually between 2020 and 2025. This reflects a 2.6 percent growth from the previous five years. Employer demand will exceed …
Feds Taking Steps to Address Rural Veterinary Shortages
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is taking steps to address veterinary shortages in rural America. The agency says 74 food animal and public health veterinarians will get educational loan assistance in exchange for a three-year commitment to practice in a USDA-designated veterinary shortage area. The awards were handed out as part of the Veterinary …
USDA Invests to Support Military Veterans Pursuing Farming and Ranching Careers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announces six awards to help military veterans pursue farming and ranching careers. Grants are made through NIFA’s Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program (AgVets). Section 760 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (H.R. 244, 115th Congress) provides funds to NIFA for AgVets to provide grants to …
Scientists and Economists Unite Against USDA Move
More than 1,100 scientists and economists penned a letter opposing the Trump administration proposal to realign and relocate programs within the Department of Agriculture. The group is opposed to the USDA plan to move the Economic Research Service under the Office of the Chief Economist and to relocate most of the positions in ERS and the National Institute of Food …
NIFA Invests in Research to Solve Critical Water Problems
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced seven grants for research that will provide solutions to critical water problems across the United States. These awards were made through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Water for Food Production Systems Challenge Area. AFRI is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and administered by …
USDA Partners with HHS to Support Rural Communities Combating Opioid Misuse
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that a group of Cooperative Extension partners will have the opportunity to apply for grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help communities combat opioid use disorders. HHS intends to build on successful 2017 and 2018 National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Rural Health and Safety Education …
Peanut Industry Expands Research Dollars with NIFA Matching Funds
The National Peanut Board, along with funding partner USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), announces the awarding of three research grants focusing on genomics-enabled plant breeding. Collaborating with two peanut industry funding partners, the Southeastern Peanut Research Initiative (SPRI) and the Peanut Foundation, the National Peanut Board was able to allocate $542,226. NIFA’s dollar-for-dollar matching funds yielded a …
National Peanut Board, Peanut Industry Partners Expand Research Dollars with NIFA Matching Funds
The National Peanut Board, along with funding partner USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), announces the awarding of three research grants focusing on genomics-enabled plant breeding. Collaborating with two peanut industry funding partners, the Southeastern Peanut Research Initiative (SPRI) and the Peanut Foundation, the National Peanut Board was able to allocate $542,226. NIFA’s dollar-for-dollar matching funds yielded a …