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


Announcement

NIFA Invests $9.5 Million to Promote Innovation in Animal Reproduction (A1211)

The Animal Reproduction program area priority within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative funds projects that focus on enhancing gonadal function, evaluating transcriptomics in sperm, preventing pregnancy loss, and improving…

Announcement

NIFA Invests $6.7 Million to Advance the Sustainable Bioeconomy through Biobased Products (A1414)

This program area priority within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative supports integrated projects to advance biobased products, biomass systems or biomass-generated power to enable the bioeconomy in a manner which reduces…

Announcement

NIFA Invests $16.2 Million in Innovative Plant Breeding Research (AFRI A1141)

Agriculture of the future will be enabled by genome design, innovative breeding methods, data analysis and knowledge of molecular and biological processes. Breeding crops for the future will require new traits, breeding platforms built…

Impact

Study Unravels the Impact of Rockweed Harvest at the Bed-Scale

University of Maine researchers have captured how entire rockweed beds recover from harvest, and the practice has a smaller impact than previously thought. 

UMaine ecologist Amanda Klemmer and her collaborators traipsed Maine’s tidal waters to examine the impact of rockweed harvest over the whole bed — a first for the species.

State of Success: National Oklahoma Day

State of Success: National Oklahoma Day Rachel.Dotson Wed, 06/07/2023 - 9:33am EDT
Blog
United States of America lights during night as it looks like from space. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

To celebrate National Oklahoma Day on June 7, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is highlighting the innovative NIFA-funded research conducted by the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Agricultural Experiment Station (OSU Ag Research).  

Historical Background 

The Hatch Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in March 1887, set up a national network of agricultural experiment stations with a mission to conduct research that would make America's farms more productive. Following suit, on Dec. 24, 1890, the Oklahoma Territory's legislature passed an act that established the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) College (later Oklahoma State University) and the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station in Stillwater. The "college farm" predated any classroom or administration facilities and was located on 200 acres. 

An original barn located at Oklahoma State University’s ’s Agronomy Farm in the early 1900s.
An original barn located at Oklahoma State University’s  Agronomy Farm in the early 1900s. 

Successes and Innovations 

The Magruder Plots: 

J.C. Neal was the first experiment station director, and he hired A.C. Magruder as A&M's first teacher and researcher. Magruder began planting hundreds of varieties of fruit, nut and shade trees, and initiating varietal tests on oats, corn and spring wheat. In 1892, he established the now-famous Magruder Plots, the oldest continuous wheat plantings west of the Mississippi River. The plots were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Over the years, these plots have helped establish new and innovative soil fertilization techniques. One key finding has been the sustained wheat production of more than 16 bushels per acre, following more than 100 years without any fertilization. 

Significant advancements: 

  • Five new wheat varieties were released by OSU in 2020, offering improved yield, disease resistance, grazing tolerance, insect resistance and improved end-use performance. Another variety was released in 2023 that offers increased yield and dual disease resistance. 

  • OSU's Integrated Pest Management Program has significantly impacted the sorghum industry since 2014 by addressing key issues related to the sugarcane aphid, such as screening for effective insecticides and host plant resistance as well as developing economic thresholds and rapid scouting tools. Results have saved Oklahoma growers $6.2 to $14.4 million per year in lost grain yield. 

  • Eight bermudagrass varieties developed at OSU have been used in 26 states, including more than 100 golf courses, 25 professional fields and 25 college/university stadiums. The turfgrass industry contributes more than $40 billion per year to the U.S. economy and more than $1 billion per year to the Oklahoma economy. 

  • Technological innovations have included the creation of tools for measuring nitrogen and pathogens in crops; technology for increasing the shelf life of meat; the co-fermentation of biofuels; and the development of livestock management practices and digital databases to help improve various systems, such as water security management and plant pathogen diagnosis. 

NIFA-Funded Research   

A regenerative agriculture project at OSU monitored the quantity and quality of runoff water from fields where regenerative practices have been implemented. The project: 

  • Assessed practices in continuous cotton production systems to achieve agricultural intensification, greater profitability and improved climate resiliency 
  • Developed forage systems and presented demonstrations in producer and experimental station fields 

The research will support a soil stewardship education program and create a curriculum for regional 4-H Youth Development summer programs. 

Animal and food science researchers are: 
  • Identifying specific microorganisms associated with resistance to necrotic enteritis in chickens. Certain breeds of chickens are naturally resistant to infections, while other genetically related breeds are more susceptible. OSU scientists are searching for the differences in the composition and function of the gut bacteria among different breeds of chickens when it comes to infection. The $300,000 NIFA-funded project is a collaborative project among Oklahoma State University, Iowa State University and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in East Lansing, Michigan. 
  • Improving meat goat production practices by determining how different conditions in production influence the efficiency of production and profit. 
  • Bettering cattle selection practices by comparing the immune responses of cattle selected for high growth versus moderate growth or high milk rate versus low milk rate in both spring and fall calving herds. 
OSU scientists in other areas: 
  • Created a plant pathogen diagnostic system called the Diagnostic Assay Validation Network that will safeguard U.S. production systems, ensure safe and beneficial trade, food security and environmental protection.  
  • Studied the interactions between plants and beneficial microorganisms to enhance the ability of grain crops to take in soil nutrients and fight a specific fungal disease. 
  • Developed a new co-fermentation process for biofuels that significantly increases biofuel and chemical yields while reducing carbon dioxide emissions. 
  • Identified multiple wheat genes that play important roles in discovering genetic components responsible for yield and disease resistance. This research is leading to wheat varieties with more advanced disease resistance and higher yield. 
Brett Carver (right), chair of OSU wheat genetics, receives an update on new    OSU wheat varieties grown in a wheat nursery in Stillwater.
Brett Carver (right), chair of OSU wheat genetics, receives an update on new  
OSU wheat varieties grown in a wheat nursery in Stillwater. 

Unique Agricultural Challenges   

Many challenges confronting livestock and food producers, such as sustainability, climate change and water quality/accessibility standards can only be addressed through multidisciplinary approaches. A sound environmental plan for a livestock operation will involve several different areas, including: 

  • Animal science: nutritional/feeding programs that meet animals’ dietary needs without excess nutrient excretion into the environment 
  • Veterinary medicine: animal health can impact efficiency of nutrient utilization 
  • Biosystems and agricultural engineering: animal housing and manure collection systems can impact the volume and type of nutrients applied to land 
  • Plant and soil sciences: crops, types of soil and cropping practices impact land application of manure 
  • Agricultural economics: all practices associated with environmental management must allow the operation to remain economically sustainable 
Drones used in OSU crop research identify crop diseases and pests. The drones are also used   in water research to identify structural decline in Oklahoma dams. Brian Arnall    is a researcher and Extension specialist in precision agriculture.
Drones used in OSU crop research identify crop diseases and pests. The drones are also used 
in water research to identify structural decline in Oklahoma dams. Brian Arnall  
is a researcher and Extension specialist in precision agriculture. 

Future Research 

OSU Agriculture hopes to see NIFA continue to fund creative and fundamental research that is relevant not only in our state but beyond our borders. NIFA is the major competitive-grant federal funding agency for our Land-grant scientists. The changing landscape of issues and needed scientific investment that leads to solutions for safe, abundant future food supply can only be achieved with NIFA’s involvement. 

Blog

Celebrate National Higher Education Day

National Higher Education Day occurs annually on June 6 to celebrate access to higher education opportunities. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) partners with Institutions of Higher Education, such as Land-grant…

Students study together seated at library desk. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Press Release

USDA’s Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) Creates $85m Economic Impact, Increases Fruit and Vegetable Intake, and Decreases Food Insecurity in Year 3

The Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Center (NTAE) has released Year 3 (2021-2022) evaluation impact findings for the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Gus…

teenage girl holding plate of food, Adobe Stock

Blog

#BeatPlasticPollution this World Environment Day

USDA NIFA programs are driving agricultural innovation in the race to develop the knowledge and solutions needed to address the environmental challenges posed by plastics.  

Various paper tableware and utensils. Courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Blog

State of Success: National Utah Day

To celebrate National Utah Day on May 31, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is highlighting the innovative NIFA-funded research conducted by Utah State University’s (USU) Agricultural Experiment Station.  

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

Announcement

USDA NIFA to Invest $12.7M in Sustainable Agroecosystems (A1451)

The Sustainable Agroecosystems (A1451) program area priority within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative funds research projects that focus on the improvement of ecosystem health and output of ecosystem services in managed…

Announcement

USDA NIFA Invests $6.2M to Advance Agricultural Biosecurity (AFRI A1181)

Initiated in 2018, the Agricultural Biosecurity (A1811) program area priority within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative focuses on increasing the national capacity to prevent, rapidly detect and respond to biological threats…

Announcement

USDA NIFA Invests $12M to Improve Plant Production (AFRI A1152)

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Physiology of Agricultural Plants (A1152) program area priority advances research to improve plant production, which is critical to the sustainability and competitiveness of U.S…

Impact

Chase City Community Gardens Flourish

Community gardens offer residents the potential of fresh vegetables and the prospect of improved nutrition.  But to reach their full potential, community gardens require effective leadership to nurture both beginning and veteran…

Community garden participant picking leafy greens.  Photo by Wanda Johnson.

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…

man harvesting blueberries, Adobe Stock

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.
1 of 58 pages