NIFA gathers stakeholder input and information to identify priorities for new grant programs and/or to modify priorities for existing grant programs, as described in their Requests for Applications (RFA). A stakeholder is anyone who conducts or uses agricultural research, education, and extension. Input is used to meet the requirements of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998.

NIFA gathers input from any individual, and specifically from commodity groups, industry, inter-agency Federal work groups, the National Academy of Sciences, non-governmental organizations, scientific societies, and university partners.

Stakeholder input is obtained in several ways. Input is solicited in all NIFA RFAs. NIFA also conducts stakeholder listening sessions or workshops, some as stand-alone events, some in conjunction with national scientific meetings. NIFA staff also gathers stakeholder information from other government and private sector events and publications.

Stakeholder Input Sources: Economics & Community Development

Past:

• Stakeholder input sought for Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)

• A Science Roadmap for Agriculture, Update 2006,National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant College (NASULGC) and Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy (ESCOP). Discussion of the scientific feasibility to meet the needs of diverse groups of stakeholders.

• A Science Roadmap for Agriculture Survey, May 2005, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant College (NASULGC) and Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy (ESCOP). Survey of diverse stakeholder groups to develop the priorities for the next five years.

• Achievements of the National Plant Genome Initiative and New Horizons in Plant Biology. An overview of how the Plant Genome program addresses plants function and characteristics. (Executive Summary | Report in brief)

• Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Stakeholder Hearing Transcript - Hearing held on September 10, 2008 at the NIFA Waterfront Building.

• National program staff from NIFA Competitive Programs, Economic and Community Systems and the Office of Extramural Programs encouraged stakeholder input to the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Competitive Grants program. Opportunities included a public meeting at NIFA, two webinars, a call in number, fax and a dedicated email address.

• Enhancing Social Science Programs Workshop: Stakeholder Feedback. A white paper on stakeholder feedback on developing effective social science programs.

• Message from Chairman of Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics (C-Fare), American Agricultural Economics Association Newsletter, July/August 2006. Summary of the objectives of Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics (C-FARE).

• National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board. Organization contributing to effective federal agricultural research, education and education programs through broad stakeholder feedback and sound science in its ongoing role as advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture.

• 2nd Annual NRI Social Science Stakeholder Workshop.

• Workshop Report on the Social Science Programs within the NRI, NIFA. Examination of the social science research priorities for agriculture and rural development.

See all stakeholder input pages