Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Image of wheat field, courtesy of Getty Images
News Items

Search for News Items

Results


Blog

NIFA Honors Veterans and Military Service Members on Memorial Day and Every Day

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supports military members, veterans and their families through work initiatives and a variety of programs and services. In May, NIFA honors Memorial Day and Mental Health…

NIFA web graphic.

Blog

Growing Hawaii’s New Farmers

Hawaii imports about 85-90% of its food, making it vulnerable to food supply disruptions. Additionally, the state struggles with an aging farmer population and lack of farm labor. As USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture …

Green beans being harvested out of garden. Courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Blog

State of Success: National Wyoming Day

To celebrate National Wyoming Day on May 24, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is highlighting the innovative NIFA-funded research conducted by University of Wyoming’s (UW) Agricultural Experiment Station.    …

United States of America lights during night as it looks like from space. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Announcement

USDA NIFA Invests $26.7M to Further Research into Pests and Beneficial Species (AFRI A1112)

The Pests and Beneficial Species in Agricultural Production Systems program area priority within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative aims to advance knowledge of invasive or established plant pests and associated beneficial…

Announcement

Commodity Board Co-funding Topics (AFRI A1811)

USDA-NIFA and various commodity boards seek to co-fund research projects that will improve crop production efficiency and advance solutions to critically important problems in U.S. agriculture to increase farmer profitability and…

Announcement

A1103 AFRI Foundational Knowledge of Plant Products FY23

The AFRI Foundational Knowledge of Plant Products (A1103) program supports projects to study the synthesis of plant-derived, high-value chemicals and ingredients for use in foods, pharmaceuticals, and other natural products. The intent…

Blog

NIFA Helps Veterinary Medical Students Repay Loans

In 2022, 89 food animal veterinary practitioners from 29 American Veterinary Medical Association accredited Colleges of Veterinary Medicine received nearly $9 million in loan repayment benefits from USDA’s National Institute of Food and…

Veterinary and a livestock producer examining goats. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Blog

On World Bee Day, Celebrate NIFA-Funded Native American Pollinator Projects

Bees and other pollinators are fundamental for the health of ecosystems and food security. They help maintain biodiversity and ensure the production of nutritious food. Learn about how Native American farmers, ranchers and youth are…

Images of bees. Courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Blog

Land-grant Universities Support the ‘Queen of Forages’

Several Land-grant Universities conduct research and Extension projects with funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that supports the nation’s alfalfa industry. Learn more about some of these projects,…

Two farmers stand in a field of alfalfa. Credit: Adobe Stock.

Announcement

Animal Health and Production and Animal Products: Animal Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics (AFRI A1201)

NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), Animal Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics (AFRI A1201) supports research on development of novel quantitative genetic methods, development of national and regional breeding…

Impact

Understanding and Addressing the Stress Faced by the Nation’s Farmers and Ranchers

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, it is important to recognize projects funded through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) Program and how they are addressing…

two men examining crops in field, Adobe Stock

Blog

State of Success: National Washington Day

To celebrate National Washington Day on May 10, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is highlighting the innovative NIFA-funded research conducted by Washington State University (WSU).  

United States of America lights during night as it looks like from space. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Announcement

NIFA Invests Nearly $8M in Regional Innovations for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry

The purpose of the CAFF program area priority in AFRI’s Foundational and Applied Science program area is to establish an agricultural testbed and demonstration farm for climate-smart agriculture and forestry. The established…

Announcement

NIFA Invests $9M in Extension, Education and USDA Climate Hubs Partnership

The A1721 Extension, Education and USDA Climate Hubs Partnership program area priority within AFRI’s Foundational and Applied Science Program supports projects that provide effective, translatable and scalable approaches to address…

Announcement

NIFA Invests Over $13M in Animal Nutrition, Growth and Lactation Program

The AFRI Animal Nutrition, Growth and Lactation Program promotes innovative work in cellular, molecular, genomic and whole-animal aspects of nutrition, growth and lactation.

Blog

Aquaculture Stakeholders Invited to Attend Listening Sessions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Aquaculture National Program 106 and USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) are hosting a series of listening sessions for…

An aquaculture system.

Impact

Michigan State Soil Carbon Stock Research

With support from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), research at the nation’s Land-grant Universities is a critical element to addressing the challenges climate change poses to agriculture. NIFA’s Agriculture and…

Soil texture with green background. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Blog

State of Success: National Montana Day

To celebrate National Montana Day on May 3, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is highlighting the innovative NIFA-funded research conducted by Montana State University (MSU).    

United States of America lights during night as it looks like from space. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Impact

1890 Scholarship Rekindles Mother of Four’s Dream of Finishing College

The 1890 Scholarships Program, which is funded through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, provides scholarships to support recruiting, engaging, retaining, mentoring and training of undergraduate students at the 1890…

Destiny Weese, an 1890 Scholar at West Virginia State University (WVSU).  Image courtesy of WVSU

Impact

Land-grant Universities Key in Managing Devastating Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that threatens to destroy North American ash trees following its accidental introduction from Asia in the 1990s. Since then, efforts have been underway to identify the most effective means…

Close up view of emerald ash borer

Blog

The Biggest Asset is You

The Utah State University (USU) Extension team created an Ag Wellness Team and mental health training program to combat mental health issues among Utah's ranchers and farmers.  Their work was supported by Sustainable Agriculture…

Farmer looking concerned

Announcement

NIFA Invests $6M in Foundation Knowledge of Ag Production Systems

The Foundational Knowledge of Agricultural Production Systems program supports plant research to advance our knowledge for the wide range of agricultural production systems found across the rural-urban continuum, from conventional open…

Blog

Variety Trials Improving Gardens

Gardening has always been popular in the United States, but the last few years have brought millions of new people to gardening. According to the National Gardening Association in 2020, 18 million new gardeners joined the hobby. As we…

Lettuce plants courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Impact

Award-winning Film Highlights Rutgers Efforts to Protect Basil from Blight

“Fields of Devotion” provides a window into the science behind developing disease- and climate change-resistant food crops. 

Pioneering work on disease-resistant basil led by Rutgers University's Distinguished Professor James Simon is featured in a new film. Credit: Rutgers.

Press Release

USDA Invests Over $46M in Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

This press release was first published at usda.gov. Media contact: USDA Office of Communications, press@usda.gov WASHINGTON, April 19, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today an investment of more than $46…

cow in field, Adobe Stock
1 of 57 pages