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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Blog

Engaging Community Volunteers Helps Reduce Food Insecurity in Montana

In Montana, one in 10 individuals experience food insecurity and 92% of adults do not meet the vegetable intake recommendations. Growing Together Montana is a collaboration between the Montana State University Extension Nutrition…

Vegetables in raised garden bed. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Blog

NIFA Leadership Visits Louisiana Land-grant Universities

Acting NIFA Director Dr. Dionne Toombs recently visited Louisiana’s Land-grant Universities.  Dr. Toombs spoke at the Center of Excellence for Nutrition, Health, Wellness and Quality of Life symposium at Southern University.

Acting NIFA Director Dr. Dionne Toombs speaks at the Southern University’s 1890 Center of Excellence for Nutrition, Health, Wellness, and Quality of Life Symposium. Photo courtesy of Southern University.

Blog

Celebrating World Health Day Extension Program Efforts

Extension programs and other outreach programs at the nation’s Land-grant Universities (LGUs) – supported by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) – are improving the health of individuals across the country.  

World Health Day graphic by NIFA. Left image of woman standing in a forest. Right image of water droplets falling on a hand.

Blog

Living the Farm Dream

The nation’s Land-grant Colleges and Universities work through their Extension programs to ensure the nation has a secure and stable food supply and to educate and support farmers and ranchers. The 1890 Land-grant Universities (LGUs)…

Susan Miller farmer in Kentucky.

Blog

NIFA Supported Research Tackles Weedy Problem

On National Weed Day, learn about the institutions and universities supported by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture that are developing non-chemical, sustainable weed management practices. 

Field of strawberry plants. Courtesy of Alabama Extension Flickr.

Blog

Community Nutrition Programs Improve Healthful Outcomes

Community Nutrition Education Programs, a service of the Land-grant University System, use Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) funding to educate and…

Family eating food together at the dinner table. Courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Blog

NIFA Celebrates National Ag Day

March 21 marks the 50th Anniversary of National Ag Day, which will be celebrated in communities and schools across the nation.  One of USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) strategic objectives aligns closely with…

Graphic of various agricultural images. Courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Blog

What is a Forest?

To celebrate International Day of Forests, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture's Dr. Daniel Cassidy, National Program Leader, discusses the role of forests.  

A group of people hiking through a forest. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock

Blog

Tribal Youth Use ‘Seed Bombs’ to Heal Wildfire-Damaged Lands

With funding provided by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) grant, Extension and tribal partners developed a citizen science project to help youth learn about…

Tribal youth places seed bomb on charred rangeland. Photo credit: Linda McLean

Blog

Conversations with #WomenInScience: Amy Ganguli, Ph.D.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is featuring Dr. Amy Ganguli. Dr. Ganguli serves as a National Program Leader in the Division of Global Climate in the Institute of…

Amy Ganguli stands in a rocky field.

Blog

USDA Observes Inaugural National Biobased Products Day

Today marks the USDA’s inaugural National Biobased Products Day, which is intended to raise awareness of biobased products, their benefits and contributions to the U.S. economy.  

National Biobased Products Day March 8th logo

Blog

State of Success: Oregon

To celebrate National Oregon Day on March 8, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is highlighting the innovative NIFA-funded research conducted by Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences.   

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

Blog

Northeast Maple Syrup Season Off to a Very Early Start

If you live in the Northeast, you may have noticed that some maple syrup producers are tapping their trees already. And if you think it seems a bit early to be tapping trees this year, you are correct. In fact, maple syrup operations in…

Pure maple syrup is graded on four key attributes: Color, clarity, density and flavor. Credit: UVM Extension.

Blog

NIFA Program Supporting Beginning Farmers

In 2017, the United States had 48,697 producers who identified as black and accounted for 1.4 percent of the country’s 3.4 million producers, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture reports. Twenty-nine percent of those producers…

Farmer examining kale from her garden. Courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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