Written By Marne Coit According to N.C. State Extension, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), has announced a new round of grant funding that specifically includes support for hemp projects. The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program is intended to fund projects related to research, extension and education. The purpose of AFRI’s Sustainable Agricultural …
USDA-NIFA Grant To Enhance UF/IFAS Vanilla Research, Promote Domestic Industry
HOMESTEAD, Fla – A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) tropical fruit breeder is a step closer to establishing a domestic vanilla industry for growers in Florida, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Alan Chambers, an assistant professor and plant geneticist at UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department …
UF Faculty Part of National Team Awarded $7.5 Million USDA-NIFA Grant
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A University of Florida plant pathologist is part of a national team studying ambrosia beetles in fruit trees and woody ornamental crops, thanks to a $7.5 million federal grant. University of Florida (UF) plant pathologist Romina Gazis, who studies fungal-associated diseases affecting many types of tropical and subtropical crops, and her colleagues received a grant from the …
USDA Invests Nearly $28 Million to Support Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced an investment of $27.9 million across 45 organizations that teach and train beginning farmers and ranchers, including programs for U.S. veterans who are entering into agricultural careers and starting new farming businesses. “The next generation of farmers and ranchers hold the promise for future American agriculture and rural …
USDA ERS Study: Organic Strawberry Production on Rise
A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) study concludes organic strawberry production has helped increase domestic production over the past two decades. Most organic strawberries are produced in California, though Florida has experienced increased production in recent years. Approximately 680 organic acres were produced in Florida in 2019, compared to just 14 in 2008. From 2008 to …
$3.2 M USDA Grant: CAES Leads Research to Improve Organic Onion Production
A team of researchers from the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) is partnering with colleagues from Texas A&M University to find more effective production practices for organic onion growers in the southern United States where short-day onions — those that bulb with 11 to 12 hours of sunlight each day — are primarily grown. …
USDA ERS Study: Changing Landscape with Strawberries
A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) study concludes that strawberries remain the most popular berry in terms of their value and volume of production. About 2.4 billion pounds of strawberries were produced in 2018-2020, an 87% increase from 1.29 billion pounds in 2000-2002. About 2 billion pounds, or 83% of strawberry production, are for the fresh …
USDA Invests in Research, Extension and Education at 1890 Land-grant Universities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of more than $33 million to support capacity-building efforts at 1890 Land-grant Universities. This investment, administered through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), will support 82 research, Extension, and education projects across the nation’s 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities designated as 1890 Land-grant Universities. These projects are part …
On the Lookout: USDA Asks Americans to Look for Invasive Pests in April
WASHINGTON, April 4, 2023 — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is declaring April 2023 Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month (IPPDAM). This national outreach month is dedicated to highlighting the impact of invasive pests and diseases on plants nationwide and informing Americans how they can help reduce their spread. “Each year, invasive insects and plant diseases cause …
USDA Offers Funds for Beginning Farmers
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Chief Scientist Chavonda Jacobs-Young announced on Tuesday a nearly $24 million investment across 45 organizations and institutions that teach and train beginning farmers and ranchers. “Investing in the professional development of our nation’s newest farmers and ranchers will help our food and agriculture sectors to flourish from the ground up,” said Jacobs-Young, who is also …