| Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.  | | | Editor: Kelly Sprute December 8, 2021 Making a Difference  Quality beers can be brewed from gluten-free grains like these, courtesy of Penn State University by Andrew Ledley. With Modified Mashing Process, Gluten-Free Grains can Produce Quality Beers Using a modified, lower temperature mashing procedure to retain enzyme activity, brewers can use malts from gluten-free grains to produce high-quality beers, according to Penn State University researchers who conducted a new study. The research promises to result in brewers using gluten-free grains such as teff, sorghum, rice, millet, corn, and buckwheat to produce better-tasting beer for consumers with celiac disease or other gluten intolerances. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, through the Pennsylvania Malt and Brewed Beverage Industry Promotion Board, and USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded this research. For more information, read this Penn State news article. | |  USDA to Make Up to $800 Million Available to Provide Economic Relief to Biofuel Producers and Restore Renewable Fuel Markets Hit by the Pandemic USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA will make up to $800 million available to support biofuel producers and infrastructure. Today's announcement includes $700 million to provide economic relief to biofuel producers and restore renewable fuel markets affected by the pandemic. The Department will make the funds available through the new Biofuel Producer Program authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). For more information, read the USDA press release. |  Community Food Projects (CFP) FY 2022 Informational Webinar NIFA's Community Food Projects (CFP) team has published a Grantsmanship webinar on the Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP) FY2022 Request for Applications (RFA). The webinar focuses on how to utilize NIFA resources and prepare a competitive application, adhering to RFA guidelines. Eligible applicants include public food program service providers, tribal organizations, and private nonprofit entities, including gleaners. First time applicants, returning applicants, and those interested in applying to the CFP program in the future are encouraged to use this resource. The webinar is available on the CFP program page. Applications for Funding Year 2022 are due December 20, 2021, at 5pm EST. To apply, please visit the CFP funding opportunity page. For more information or questions contact the Community Food Projects (CFP) team at: SM.NIFA.CFP@usda.gov. FY22 CFP Informational Webinar YouTube Presentation. Wooden box full of vegetables, courtesy of Adobe Stock. |  Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day On Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day, we're heading back to the late 1800s to learn more about what led to the passage of the Hatch Act in 1887. The Hatch Act funds research at state agricultural experiment stations in land-grant institutions, through USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The Hatch Act grew out of a national effort by supporters of agricultural education and applied research to advance the experimental work at agricultural colleges. For more information, read the NIFA blog. Pretend to Be A Time Traveler Day. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock. |  Investing in Climate Smart, Resilient, Rural Infrastructure The Agriculture Secretary explains recent investments in rural infrastructure that emphasizes greater resiliency and climate smart practices. USDA's Rod Bain reports on how the USDA is creating more energy opportunities for rural America. For more information, listen to this USDA broadcast. Renewable energies collage, courtesy of Adobe Stock. |  World Soil Day 2021: NIFA Works to Boost Soil Productivity Healthy soil is a critical component to agricultural success, from the crops grown to the nutrients moving through the soil to feed livestock. World Soil Day (December 5) raises awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing growing challenges in soil management, according to the United Nations. This year's theme is "Halt Soil Salinization, Boost Soil Productivity," focusing on salt content in the soil. Per Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, salt-affected soil disrupts agricultural productivity, water quality, soil biodiversity, and soil erosion. On World Soil Day and every day, NIFA recognizes researchers and stakeholders taking part in developing effective ways to manage soil health. For more information, read the NIFA blog. World Soil Day 2021, NIFA Works to Boost Soil Productivity graphic. |  Western Snowpack and Water Supply Concerns The recent start of the Western mountain snowpack season may bring cause for concern about already low water supplies going into the Spring. USDA's Rod Bain talks with USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey on the outlook of the spring water conditions. For more information, listen to this USDA broadcast. Winter landscape, courtesy of Adobe Stock. |  Pen-sized? Test for Bovine Respiratory Disease May Save Cattle Industry Millions Sous-vide cooking inspired an idea that took promising technology out of the lab and into the barn. Researchers at Purdue University successfully developed an on-site bovine respiratory disease test that provides results within an hour. The team of researchers has been steadily advancing the point-of-care technology to address the disease, which is the most common and costly disease affecting cattle in the world. Bovine respiratory disease, or BRD, is responsible for half of all cattle deaths from disease in North America and costs the beef industry $900 million annually. Funding for this research provided through a $1 million USDA-NIFA grant. For more information, read this Purdue University agriculture news article. Purdue graduate student Josiah Davidson shows the color change in a new pen-side bovine respiratory disease test, courtesy of Purdue University by Tom Campbell. |  Alabama Extension Receives Food Safety Grant Food safety and processing issues can present big challenges to small farmers as they diversify their operations. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System will help farmers address those challenges thanks to a grant from the USDA's National Institute for Food and Agriculture. Alabama Extension's Janice Hall said the project will develop a food safety training program to empower limited-resource, minority farmers in Alabama's Black Belt region. For more information, read this Alabama Extension article. Sorting produce, courtesy of Shutter Stock. |  Lessons from COVID-19: Positioning Regional Food Supply Chains for Future Crises
April 21, 2022, 1 p.m. CT This Agriculture and Food Research Initiative is a multi-region, multi-institution research and outreach project that assesses the impact of COVID-19 on food and agricultural systems to develop strategies for coping with future crises. Lessons from COVID-19: Positioning Regional Food Supply Chains for Future Pandemics, Natural Disasters and Human-made Crises is one of 17 projects nationwide to receive funding through a new program area of the USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, targeting rapid response solutions to the pandemic through applied research, education and extension activities. Register online for this webinar. Lessons from COVID-19 graphic. | NIFA Webinar Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities (AgrAbility) Webinar December 9, at 1 p.m. ET. For more information, go to the AgrAbility webinar announcement.  NIFA Invests over $7M for Food and Agricultural Non-Formal Education NIFA recently awarded 11 grants in the AFRI Food and Agriculture Non-formal Education (FANE) program supports content development and activities for non-formal education to foster development of technology-savvy youth. Projects must develop activities that cultivate interest and competencies in STEM and in food and agricultural sciences supported by the six Farm Bill Priority areas of AFRI. Go online to read the full FANE award notification. NIFA invests $7 million in non-formal education to inspire and enhance youth's understanding of and interest in food and agriculture technology. Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock. | NIFA Invests Nearly $463K to Support Education Outreach for Disaster Preparedness NIFA recently awarded five grants in the Smith-lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program. This program implements educational outreach initiatives for disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery (pre-disasters, during, and post-disasters). Go online to read the full Special Needs award notification. Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP)
(formerly Extension Indian Reservation Program)  Image courtesy of Adobe Stock. The Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program establishes an Extension presence and supports Extension outreach on Federally Recognized Indian Reservations and Tribal jurisdictions of Federally Recognized Tribes. FRTEP seeks to continue the Land Grant mission of inclusion, providing education, and research-based knowledge to those who might not otherwise receive it. Priority will be given to projects that have been funded by FRTEP in the past to ensure continuity of service to Tribal and reservation communities. For more information, read the FRTEP funding opportunity announcement.  | | | NIFA's mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and extension that solve societal challenges. NIFA's investments in transformative science directly support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. agriculture. Keep informed about NIFA, USDA, our land-grant and non-land-grant university partners, and stakeholders with the NIFA Update. Read past issues online, sign up for email updates or follow us on Twitter @USDA_NIFA, #NIFAImpacts or LinkedIn @usda-nifa. If you wish to submit a news item or information, send an email to NIFAUpdate. USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer. | | | |
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