CSREES Update - November 14 , 2007

CSREES Update, from the Office of the Administrator, is a biweekly newsletter for research, education, and extension partners at land-grant universities and other cooperating institutions.

In This Issue

CSREES

• CSREES News
• CSREES Lists Open Requests for Grant Applications

USDA

• President Bush Honors Texas A&M Researcher
• USDA Awards $4.8 Million in Grants for Community Food Projects
• USDA Awards More Than $5 Million to Assist Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers

Partners

• NAUFRP Unveils McIntire-Stennis Strategic Plan
• The National Academies' Federal Sustainability Research and Development Forum

Opportunities

• RME Centers Announce Funding Opportunity
• PMN Makes Resources More Accessible

Awards and Recognition

• 2007 Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Ag Sciences Awards
• Martin 2007 Justin Smith Morrill Lecturer
• 2007 Award for Excellence in Extension
• Hart 2007 National Diversity Awardee

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CSREES

CSREES News

• USDA Announces New Funding for Whole Genome Animal Selection

  CSREES announced November 7 that $5 million will be available in Fiscal Year 2008 for a 4-year research project to investigate methods of using whole genome enabled animal selection. This research will enable animal breeders to use genetic information to predict what an animal's physical makeup will be and what genes will be passed to the next generation.

  To capitalize on this exciting area of science, CSREES and the Agricultural Research Service developed the Blueprint for USDA Efforts in Agricultural Genomics 2008-2017. Whole genome enabled animal selection was identified as a high-priority research focus. This program is expected to take advantage of recent advances in genomics and translate these basic discoveries and knowledge to practical applications. CSREES is funding this project under the National Research Initiative's 2008 Request for Applications. Peter Burfening, CSREES national program leader for animal genomics in Competitive Programs Unit, developed this new project and will coordinate the new funding opportunity. Visit the CSREES Newsroom to read USDA Announces New Funding for Whole Genome Animal Selection release.

• Scientists Sequence a Cereal Killer

  Important cereal crops, such as wheat and barley, are susceptible to a fungus called Fusarium graminearum that is responsible for head blight disease. Researchers recently sequenced and annotated the genome of this fungus, shedding light on how it is able to survive in rapidly changing environments. The new knowledge could lead to new ways to combat the harmful pathogen, which has caused more than $10 billion in crop losses over the past 10 years.

  USDA scientist H. Corby Kistler, along with Christina Cuomo of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and colleagues at a consortium of universities and labs around the world, used a whole genome shotgun approach, a faster approach that involves shredding and replicating the genome in order to sequence the Fusarium graminearum genome, bypassing the need for a physical map. CSREES funded this research project through the NRI Microbial Genomics program. Visit the CSREES Newsroom to read Scientists Sequence a Cereal Killer release.

• USDA Awards $5 Million in Education Grants for Students at Hispanic-Serving Colleges and Universities

CSREES announced November 1 more than $5 million in education grants to 20 Hispanic-serving institutions (HSI). The HSI Education grants program is on its 10th year of funding and continues to attract under-represented students to various fields of agriculture. The program helps colleges and universities develop new curricula in agricultural sciences, expands the use of experiential learning, and bolsters student recruitment and retention. Some of these grants establish collaborations between 2-year colleges and 4-year institutions. This year's HSI-funded projects will support ventures in food science nutrition, water quality, range and wildlife, veterinary sciences, and environmental and biotechnology. They also support collaborations with USDA agencies that include Natural Resources Conservation Service, Forest Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Food and Nutrition Service, Foreign Agriculture Service, Agricultural Research Service, and the Farm Service Agency. Visit the CSREES Newsroom to read USDA Awards $5 Million in Education Grants for Students at Hispanic-Serving Colleges and Universities release.

 

CSREES Lists Open Requests for Grant Applications

CSREES advertises all of its funding opportunities through "Find Grant Opportunities" on the Grants.gov Web site. This site is searchable and contains summary information on all federal funding opportunities with links to the full announcements. Users can search announcements by topic, funding agency, and date, as well as subscribe to an e-mail notification service based on these parameters.

USDA

President Bush Honors Texas A&M Researcher

Texas A&M university researcher Sarah Brooks, whose research was funded by CSREES, received the 2006 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) on November 1. "We congratulate Dr. Brooks for her accomplishments in agricultural research, which have helped agricultural producers understand and control atmospheric emissions," said Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner. "She sets a good example not only through her research work, but also through her dedication to training and mentoring the next generation of scientists." CSREES nominated Brooks for her investigations into the chemical and physical properties of dust emissions from cattle feed lots and other agricultural operations. Visit the USDA Newsroom to read Texas A&M Researcher Honored by President Bush full release.

USDA Awards $4.8 Million in Grants for Community Food Projects

Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner announced November 1 that $4.8 million has been awarded as part of the CSREES Community Food Projects (CFP) program. The grants, given to 34 organizations in 20 states, will help low-income people meet their food needs. "These grants offer exceptional opportunities to make food available so that disadvantaged communities can move toward self-sufficiency," Conner said.

The CFP program has been meeting the food needs of low-income people for the past 11 years while increasing the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food, farm and nutrition issues, and needs. The program administers three types of projects: community food projects, training and technical assistance projects, and planning projects. Visit the USDA Newsroom to read USDA Awards $4.8 Million in Grants for Community Food Projects full release.

USDA Awards More Than $5 Million to Assist Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers

Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner announced October 31 that USDA is awarding more than $5 million to institutions and organizations that conduct training, outreach, and technical assistance to assure increased opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The grants are administered by CSREES as part of the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) program, also referred to as the 2501 program. A socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher is one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice without regard to their individual qualities. Visit the USDA Newsroom to read USDA Awards More Than $5 Million to Assist Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers full release.

Partners

NAUFRP Unveils McIntire-Stennis Strategic Plan

The National Association of University Forest Resource Programs (NAUFRP) released the strategic plan for the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Program. NAUFRP released the plan on October 22 in Portland, OR, prior to the opening of the Society of American Foresters Annual Convention. NAUFRP President George Hopper, dean of Mississippi State University's College of Forest Resources, presented the plan and expressed appreciation for the assistance and encouragement from CSREES in its development. NAUFRP took a bold and proactive step in re-envisioning this 45-year-old research forestry program. The strategic plan represents a novel approach for addressing emerging issues in a new science of integration; forest ecosystem services; human attitude and behaviors; decision making under uncertainty and conflict; technology advancements and applications; new applications for forest products; and urban ecosystems.

The National Academies' Federal Sustainability Research and Development Forum

The Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability recently held a forum to discuss research gaps, needed analytical tools, and opportunities for collaboration among federal research and development programs that focus on selected high-priority challenges to sustainability in the areas of biofuels and ecosystem services. Research, Education, and Economics (REE) agency participants included Dan Kugler, CSREES; Jim Fischer, REE; and Ghassem Asrar and Jeff Steiner, Agricultural Research Service. A report and agency briefings are forthcoming. The forum agenda and PowerPoint presentations are available on the National Academies Web site. Contact Greg Crosby, planning committee and CSREES national program leader for the National Resources and Environment Unit, for more information.

Opportunities

RME Centers Announce Funding Opportunity

The Western, Northeast, North Central, and Southern Centers for Risk Management Education (RME) announced, on November 1, their annual funding opportunity for projects that help farm and ranch families succeed through targeted risk management strategies. Awards fund projects conducted between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009. Grant awards are generally between $5,000 and $50,000, however there is no absolute upper or lower limit on the funds provided to a single project. The joint application is posted on each Regional Center Web Site. Applications are accepted online. The application process is a two-stage process:  pre-proposal and full proposal.  Pre-proposals are due by December 13, 2007, with final awards determined by mid-April 2008 and new projects to commence July 1, 2008.

PMN Makes Resources More Accessible

The Plant Management Network (PMN) recently revamped its Web site homepage making its journals and other electronic resources more readily accessible. This resulted from comments indicating that users were not aware of PMN's full range of content offerings. Direct links to PMN's four peer-reviewed journals and subscription/partnership icons are now prominently displayed on the top navigation bar. PMN publishes journals, search engines, and other e-resources in fulfillment of its mission to provide science-based solutions in agriculture and horticulture, worldwide.

Awards and Recognition

2007 Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Ag Sciences Awards

CSREES Administrator Colien Hefferan and George Cooper, deputy administrator for the Science and Education Resource Development Unit, presented the 2007 Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences Awards at the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges annual meeting, held November 11-13 in New York City. The awards program addresses the national priority of developing human capital for scientific and professional expertise in the food and agricultural sciences. The program recognizes faculty who promote effective and innovative teaching evidenced by successive years of sustained, meritorious, and exceptional teaching. It is designed to focus national attention on the teaching role—one which is fundamental to the development of the scientific and professional expertise essential to the future growth and progress of our nation's food and agricultural system.

This year's awardees:

National Winners

• George Acquaah, Agricultural Sciences, Langston University
• Daniel Civco, Remote Sensing and GIS, University of Connecticut

Regional Winners

• Amin Ahmadzadeh, Animal Science, University of Idaho
• Sarah Ash, Nutrition, North Carolina State University
• W. Stephen Damron, Animal Nutrition and Management, Oklahoma State University
• Thomas Husband, Wildlife Biology, University of Rhode Island
• James Knight, Agricultural Education, University of Arizona
• Donald Liu, Agricultural Economics, University of Minnesota

New Teacher Winners

• Amy Kaleita, Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Iowa State University
• Neil Knobloch, Agriculture Education and Outreach, University of Illinois

Martin 2007 Justin Smith Morrill Lecturer

Michael V. Martin, president of New Mexico State University (NMSU) delivered the Morrill Lecture, "Induced Innovation: The Story of Land-Grant Universities," on November 11 in New York City at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.

The Morrill lecture honors Justin Smith Morrill, the father of the 1862 Morrill Act. Signed by Abraham Lincoln, the act established federal funding for higher education in every state of the country; it is also known as the Land-Grant Colleges Act.

Martin is a recognized leader in New Mexico, being named a powerbroker by the New Mexico Business Weekly in 2006. He has written numerous book chapters and articles for academic journals, trade publications, and the popular press. Named the Outstanding Alumnus of Minnesota State University Mankato in 2006, Martin also received the NMSU Social Justice Award in 2005. Martin completed a bachelor's degree in business and economics and a master's degree in economics at Mankato State College (Minnesota State University). He received his Ph.D. in applied economics from the University of Minnesota in 1977.

Complete lecture text is available on the CSREES Web site.

2007 Award for Excellence in Extension

The Award for Excellence in Extension was presented on November 11 at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges to an individual who has strived throughout his or her career to achieve the benchmarks reflective of excellence in extension educational programming. These include demonstration of high impact of programs; visionary leadership and anticipation of emerging issues for clientele and the system; commitment to diversity; and integration of programs in partnerships with university colleagues and outside clientele. This year's awardees include:

National Award

• Ronald J. Hustedde, Community and Leadership Development, University of Kentucky

Regional Awards

• 1890 - Thelma Sanders-Hunter, Family Life, Tennessee State University
• Northeast - Walter E. Kee, Jr., Vegetable Crops and Agricultural Program Leader, University of Delaware
• North Central - Frederick P. Baxendale, Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Southern - Nancy M. Porter, Family Resource Management, Clemson University
• Western Region - Marcia R. Ostrom, Small Farms Programs

Hart 2007 National Diversity Awardee

Jeff G. Hart, extension education, University of Nebraska-Lincoln received the 2007 National Diversity Award at the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges annual meeting on November 11 in New York City. Hart has had many diverse career experiences. Before joining the University's Cooperative Extension in 1999, he was a public schools educator and counselor, trainer, and federal grant administrator with the Nebraska Department of Labor and the Nebraska Crime Commission, Juvenile Justice. His work with the state included an appointment as a state liaison with Nebraska tribal governments and networking with other state agencies, including the Mexican-American Commission and the Commission on Indian Affairs. Hart received the National 1994 Gould-Wysinger Award for Juvenile Justice and was recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice in 1999 for service and dedication to the youth of Nebraska.

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For a plain text copy of this newsletter, please contact Judy Rude. CSREES UPDATE is published biweekly. The next regular issue is planned for November 28. Submit news items to newsletter@csrees.usda.gov by November 21, 2007.

Editor: Judy Rude, Public Affairs Specialist, CSREES Communications Staff. If you have questions about Update, please contact her at jrude@csrees.usda.gov.

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Back issues of CSREES UPDATE are available on the CSREES Web site.

Colien Hefferan, Administrator

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Last Updated: 11/15/2007