WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2010 – USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced $24 million in grants to study animal heath, reproduction, breeding, genetics and nutrition. The agriculture animal industry plays a crucial role in the success and growth of the nation’s economy, accounting for 42 percent of forecast U.S. agricultural receipts in 2009.

“The agriculture animal industry faces increasing challenges from animal diseases, reduced fertility, low nutrition and growth and non-tariff trade barriers,” said Roger Beachy, NIFA director.  “These grants will help the United States maintain a strong, internationally-competitive animal agriculture industry and lead to safer and more affordable animal products.”

NIFA awarded these grants through four program areas of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI): Animal Reproduction Program; Animal Genome, Genetics, and Breeding Program; Animal Growth and Nutrient Utilization Program; and Integrated Solutions for Animal Agriculture Program.  AFRI funds research, education, and extension grants and integrated research, extension, and education grants that address key problems of national, regional and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of agriculture.

Animal programs at NIFA address several critical issues, including children’s health, food safety, international food security, and environmental protection.  They help reduce childhood obesity and improving human nutrition by providing higher quality sources of animal protein with reduced fat contents while making efforts to reduce the dependency of the feeding and use of antibiotics and hormones to domestic animals. The programs also work to ensure a safer food supply by targeting the reduction in pre-harvest food borne pathogens. Furthermore, they contribute significantly to international food security by supporting research to reduce the incidence of diseases in animals and improving the production efficiency of agriculturally important animals. Finally, these programs play a critical role in global climate change and environmental stewardship by promoting the reduction of green house gases emissions, the release of nitrogen and phosphorus into the environment through improved systems of livestock management and more efficient use of nutrients fed to animals.

Fiscal Year 2009 grants were awarded to:

Animal Reproduction Program

• Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colo., $125,000
• Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colo., $340,000
• Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colo., $349,082
• University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $349,260
• Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., $315,000
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $349,782
• North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D., $10,000
• North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D., $28,633
• North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D., $320,000
• Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., $325,000
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., $349,503
• University of Texas, Austin, Texas, $325,000
• Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $338,086
• Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $349,287
• University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas, $124,610
• West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.V., $337,835
• West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.V., $330,000
• University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo., $25,000

Animal Genome, Genetics, and Breeding Program

• Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.,   $800,000
• Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., $970,000
• University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., $388,343
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Ill., $10,000
• Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, $449,939
• Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, Md., $341,755
• Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, Md., $625,000
• Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, Md., $749,975
• University of Maryland, College Park, Md., $681,145
• Agricultural Research Service, USDA, East Lansing, Mich.,  $625,000
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $443,491
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $689,921
• University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., $10,000
• University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., $130,000
• North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., $749,502
• Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., $450,000
• Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $597,902
• Utah State University, Logan, Utah, $930,000
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University,
• Blacksburg, Va., $908,280
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc., $449,747

Animal Growth and Nutrient Utilization Program

• Auburn University, Auburn, Ala., $348,836
• University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., $349,326
• California State University, Fresno, Calif., $349,560
• University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Fla., $350,000
• University of Idaho, Moscow, Id., $137,829
• Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, $349,421
• University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky., $149,707
• Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., $349,983
• Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $350,000
• Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla., $125,000
• Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., $349,476
• Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., $349,992
• South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D., $319,883
• Utah State University, Logan, Utah, $260,987
• West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.V., $350,000
• University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo., $10,000

Integrated Solutions for Animal Agriculture Program

• University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $1,000,000
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Ill., $900,000
• University of Vermont, Burlington, Vt., $470,894
• Washington State University, Pullman, Wash., $629,106
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc., $1,000,000

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation’s future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

DAVIS, Calif. Jan. 21, 2010 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced today that USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is awarding $4.6 million to 13 universities for research to develop ecologically and economically rational strategies for management, control or elimination of weedy or invasive species. Of the amount, Merrigan said that nearly $500,000 is for a University of California, Davis Laboratory.

"Invasive plants and animals are a major threat to food and fiber production, costing U.S. producers between $7 billion and $27 billion per year, but by doing research on controlling and managing weedy and invasive species we help protect the productivity of America's farmers and ranchers," said Merrigan.

Marie Jasieniuk, a researcher at the University of California, Davis, is conducting research to develop economical and environmentally sound strategies for managing invasive weeds and prevent the spread of invasive weeds in agroecosystems that provide tree fruits and nuts as well as wine, table, and raisin grapes. The University of California, Berkeley also received a $494,000 grant for their research into ecologically-based, invasive species management programs.

The awards are administered through the NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Biology of Weedy and Invasive Species in Agroecosystems competitive grants program. AFRI is the primary competitive grant program to provide funding for fundamental and applied research, extension and education to address food and agricultural sciences.

Funded projects include work at Cornell University to minimize negative impacts of the European cranefly in perennial grass-based agroecosystems. Researchers at the University of Alaska will test the efficiency of activated carbon on large scale soil to restore native species. Scientists at the University of Minnesota will work to mitigate impacts of the invasion of earthworms as an invasive species.

The Fiscal Year 2009 grants are being awarded to:

• Auburn University, Auburn, Ala., $494,000
• University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, $494,000
• University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, $149,911
• University of California, Berkeley, Calif., $494,000
• University of California, Davis, Calif., $495,000
• Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $124,962
• Idaho State University, Moscow, Idaho, $199,704
• University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn., $493,000
• University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn., $491,000
• Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., $454,000
• Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $494,000
• Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $91,423
• Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore., $125,000

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

Created by the Harvard School of Public Health and MENTOR, National Mentoring Month is marking its ninth year in 2010. By focusing national attention on the need for mentors, as well as how —individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and nonprofitscan work together to increase the number of mentors, we assure brighter futures for our young people. More information can be found online at www.nationalmentoringmonth.org.

The Michigan 4-H Youth Mentoring program was selected for its broad approach to mentoring and its effective use of planned youth mentoring as a delivery vehicle for 4-H positive youth development outcomes in more than 30 counties.

We’re so excited that Michigan 4-H has been invited to the White House to celebrate National Mentor Month,” said extension specialist Lisa Bottomley. “We’re thrilled to be recognized for all the hard work that the staff, volunteers and youth have been doing over the years.”

Michigan State University Extension sent mentor Andrew Knight and mentee Ryan Brott, 14, and Ryan’s mother, to visit the White House. Bottomley and Ottawa County 4-H mentoring coordinator Laura Schleede will also be going to Washington, D.C.  Video from the event is available on the White House Web site.

Ryan Brott and Andrew Knight were matched through the Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring program nearly one year ago.  Ryan, age 14, lives in Holland, Mich., with his mother and siblings.  He is in 8th grade at Holland High School.   Andrew, age 25, lives in West Olive, Mich., and is a student at Grand Valley State University.  Ryan was referred to Journey 4-H when he was struggling in school and had made some poor choices.  He lacked a positive adult male role model.  Andrew learned about Journey 4-H when he heard a presentation in his criminal justice class. Andrew and Ryan were matched because they both have a passion for sports and the outdoors.  They have participated in a variety of program opportunities including the Outdoor Challenge, an initiative designed to expose youth to positive outdoor activities.  Since they were matched last February, Ryan has improved his grades -- he almost made the honor roll this past semester.

As part of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), 4-H National Headquarters seeks to promote positive youth development, facilitate learning and engage youth in the work of the land-grant universities and USDA to enhance their quality of life.  4-H Programs of Distinction is a recognition program that highlights high quality youth development programs within Cooperative Extension occurring in communities across the United States. These programs exhibit strong program development characteristics and contribute to the field; convey new ideas, materials or innovative methods; and demonstrate changes in knowledge, behaviors, attitudes or aspirations of youth and adults.  More information is available at www.national4-hheadquarters.gov.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

McNear was honored for his outstanding research in improving our understanding of how pasture management impacts soil quality, productivity and sustainability of tall fescue pastures and livestock grazing operations in the Eastern United States and for teaching and outreach to both the scientific and lay communities.

“By helping us understand how soil microbial communities impact larger ecosystems, greenhouse gas fluxes, and movement of nutrients and toxic substances through the soil, David’s work is generating knowledge about soil science and production agriculture critical to improving the productivity and sustainability of American agriculture,” said Roger Beachy, NIFA director.  “The microbial community is one of the least-understood components of the agroecosystem, and David’s research opens a wide window on this important set of players.”

PECASE nominees are selected for their innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology. Nominees show exceptional potential to shape the future through intellectual and inspired leadership. Educational activities reflect a spirit of community service to help understand the nature and implications of scientific research.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) expects to release its request for applications (RFA) for the 2010 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) no later than mid-February 2010 and will commit up to $800 million in funding for new grants, contingent on annual appropriations in following years.

AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grant program and was established under section 7406 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, otherwise known as the 2008 Farm Bill.  AFRI will support work in the following priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition, and health; renewable energy, natural resources, and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities. Programs focused on these areas will use a disciplinary-based approach to building a foundation of knowledge critical for solving current and future problems.

Within these priority areas, AFRI will support interdisciplinary, multi-functionaly projects in five  “societal challenge” areas to achieve significant and measurable outcomes and achieving goals. The five goals include:

1. Keep American agriculture competitive while ending world hunger
2. Improve nutrition and end child obesity
3. Radically improve food safety for all Americans
4. Secure America’s energy future through renewable biofuels
5. Mitigate and adapt agriculture to variations in climate

NIFA will issue a series of RFAs to address these program areas. Grants in 2010 will be larger in size with funding up to $25 million and longer in duration with five year grants awarded that are eligible for renewal upon achieving specific goals.  NIFA expects such grants will lead to greater collaboration among institutions and organizations and will integrate basic and applied research with deliberate education or extension programs.

In addition, up to $5 million in funding opportunities for pre- and postdoctoral fellowship grants will be offered.  This program area will create a cadre of "NIFA Fellows" poised to become the next generation of agricultural scientists, educators and practitioners.

All RFAs will be available on NIFA’s Web site and on Grants.gov.  Some program areas require letters of intent, which will be requested no sooner than three weeks after the RFA’s release.  Submission of full proposals to those program areas will be no sooner than six weeks after the letter of intent deadline, with deadline dates determined based on proposal complexity.  Applicants will be allowed a minimum of 90 days to prepare proposals for large, complex projects.  For program areas that do not require letters of intent, proposal submission deadlines will be no sooner than four weeks after the RFA’s release and will be determined with consideration of application complexity.

For more information about the AFRI funding opportunity, visit the NIFA Web site at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/afri/afri.html.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation’s future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2010 – The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today awarded more than $4 million to conduct research aimed at improving and maintaining healthy watershed habitat and water supplies.

"Science-based information on both water quality and water scarcity is going to be key to addressing these critical issues for America's producers and the consumers in the years ahead," said Roger Beachy, NIFA director. "These grants will further research to help manage agricultural water supplies in the face of climate change, while better protecting aquatic habitats and the larger communities that we share the water supply with agriculture”

The grants are awarded through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Water and Watershed competitive grants program. The program seeks to reduce pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa; as well as hormones and pharmaceuticals in waters derived from agricultural and rural watersheds , while maintaining adequate water supplies for agricultural crop and livestock production and rural use. In the past five years, the program has awarded more than $24.2million in grants.

Fiscal Year 2009 grants were awarded to:

• University of California, Davis, Calif., $399,808
• University of Delaware, Newark, Del., $320,000
• American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C., $10,000
• Ecological Society of America, Washington, D.C., $10,000
• Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga., $400,000
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Ill, $386,775
• Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $400,000
• Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La., $110,000 
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $399,970
• Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss., $398,821
• University of Nevada, Reno, Nev., $399,945
• Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., $299,370
• North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D., $393,297
• Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $110,352
• Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, $261,662

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

PINE BLUFF, Ark. Dec. 9, 2009 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced today that USDA is awarding more than $14 million in grants to organizations throughout the country that will provide training and assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation, Brinkley, Ark., will each receive $300,000 in funding. The announcement was part of Merrigan’s keynote address at the South Central Regional Small Business Conference, the second in a series of small business conferences being held as part of USDA’s Food Commodity Contracting Opportunities for Rural America initiative.

“USDA is committed to expanding opportunities for all Americans to succeed in agriculture and to ensuring the success of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as they work to feed people in their local communities and throughout the world,” Merrigan said.  “Not only will this conference provide new business opportunities for producers, but the grants we are announcing today will provide the training and assistance to producers who might not traditionally participate in the full range of USDA programs.”

Merrigan said USDA’s Food Commodity Contracting Opportunities for Rural America initiative is designed to enable rural economic growth by increasing small business contracting participation in rural areas of the country. USDA intends to help small farmer-owned cooperatives and small rural businesses to better compete for government and commercial contracts. 

Merrigan also highlighted USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) grant program which is administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Developed to provide increased opportunities for socially disadvantaged producers, the program enables socially disadvantaged producers to successfully acquire, own, operate, and retain farms and ranches, and to assure equitable participation in the full range of USDA programs. A socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher is one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice without regard to their individual qualities.

Generally, socially disadvantaged producers who participate in OASDFR-funded projects develop profitable new farming or ranching practices, receive loans more rapidly, increase their farm or ranch income, continue farming or ranching longer and are less likely to go out of business.

Fiscal year 2009 grants were awarded to:

• Alabama State Association of Cooperatives, Epes, Ala., $300,000
• Alabama A&M University, Normal, Ala., $300,000
• Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala., $300,000
• Developing Innovations in Navajo Education, Inc., Flagstaff, Ariz., $299,946
• University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., $300,000
• Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation, Brinkley, Ark., $300,000
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, Ark., $300,000
• International Rescue Committee, Phoenix, Ariz ., $300,000
• National Center for Appropriate Technology, Davis, Calif., $300,000
• Cachuma Resource Conservation District, Santa Maria, Calif., $96,487
• California FarmLink, Sebastopol, Calif., $300,000
• Rural Coalition, Washington, D.C., $299,258
• Farmworker Association of Florida, Inc., Apopka, Fla., $300,000
• Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Inc., Albany, Ga., $300,000
• Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Ga., $300,000
• Kentucky State University, Frank Fort, Ky., $300,000
• Southern University Agricultural Research & Extension Center, Baton Rouge, La., $300,000
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Md., $300,000
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass., $300,000
• Michigan Food and Farming Systems, East Lansing, Mich., $300,000
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $300,000
• Minnesota Food Association, Marine St Croix, Minn., $295,561
• Farmers` Legal Action Group, Inc., St. Paul, Minn., $300,000
• Center for Field Services & Research, Itta Bena, Miss., $100,000
• Winston County Self Help Cooperative, Jackson, Miss., $300,000
• Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, Jackson, Miss., $300,000
• Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Mo., $300,000
• National Tribal Development Association, Granite Falls, Minn., $300,000
• Indian Nations Conservation Alliance, Twin Bridges, Mont., $300,000
• University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Reno, Nev., $300,000
• New Mexico State University, Alcalde, N.M., $300,000
• New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M., $300,000
• Farm to Table, Inc., Santa Fe, N.M., $300,000
• Council on the Environment, Inc., New York City, N.Y., $225,362
• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, N.C., $300,000
• Operation Spring Plant, Inc., Henderson, N.C., $275,800
• Langston University, Langston, Okla., $300,000
• Adelante Mujeres, Forest Grove, Ore., $300,000
• South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, S.C., $300,000
• University of Puerto Rico, Agricultural Extension Service, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, $300,000
• Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn., $300,000
• Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Weslaco, Texas, $298,734
• University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, Texas, $300,000
• Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas, $299,972
• Texas/Mexico Border Coalition, Rio Grande City, Texas, $300,000
• Virginia State University, Petersburg, Va., $299,880
• Washington State University, Wenatchee, Wash., $300,000
• Rural Community Development Resources, Yakima, Wash., $300,000
• Growing Power, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisc., $300,000

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation’s future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).