Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. You are subscribed to Funding Opportunities for USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. November 2, 2018 Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program The Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Program provides grants to non-profits to increase the number of military veterans gaining knowledge and skills through comprehensive, hands-on and immersive model farm and ranch programs offered regionally that lead to successful careers in the food and agricultural sector. The program encourages the development of training opportunities specifically designed for military veterans. AgVets projects will offer onsite, hands-on training and classroom education leading to a comprehensive understanding of successful farm and ranch operations and management practices. Projects may also offer workforce readiness and employment prospects for service-disabled veterans. Ensuring there are pathways for military veterans interested in pursuing careers in agriculture — regardless of age or production choice — strengthens agricultural production and rural economies across the United States. NIFA requests applications for the AgVets for fiscal year 2019 (FY19) to provide grants to nonprofit organizations for training programs and services to establish and enhance farming and ranching opportunities for military veterans. Who is eligible to apply: AgVets applicants must be nonprofit organizations. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, 2 CFR part 200, defines the term “nonprofit organization” as follows: Nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization, not including institutions of higher education (IHEs), that: (a) Is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest; (b) Is not organized primarily for profit; and (c) Uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operations of the organization. Request for Applications Apply for Grant Posted Date: Thursday, November 1, 2018 Closing Date: Thursday, January 10, 2019 Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-OP-006669 Estimated Total Program Funding: $4,797,500 Stay Connected with USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe All  |  Help This email was sent to whoughto@nmsu.edu using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture ·800 9th St SW · Washington, DC 20024

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. You are subscribed to Funding Opportunities for USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. November 2, 2018 Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program The Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Program provides grants to non-profits to increase the number of military veterans gaining knowledge and skills through comprehensive, hands-on and immersive model farm and ranch programs offered regionally that lead to successful careers in the food and agricultural sector. The program encourages the development of training opportunities specifically designed for military veterans. AgVets projects will offer onsite, hands-on training and classroom education leading to a comprehensive understanding of successful farm and ranch operations and management practices. Projects may also offer workforce readiness and employment prospects for service-disabled veterans. Ensuring there are pathways for military veterans interested in pursuing careers in agriculture — regardless of age or production choice — strengthens agricultural production and rural economies across the United States. NIFA requests applications for the AgVets for fiscal year 2019 (FY19) to provide grants to nonprofit organizations for training programs and services to establish and enhance farming and ranching opportunities for military veterans. Who is eligible to apply: AgVets applicants must be nonprofit organizations. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, 2 CFR part 200, defines the term “nonprofit organization” as follows: Nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization, not including institutions of higher education (IHEs), that: (a) Is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest; (b) Is not organized primarily for profit; and (c) Uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operations of the organization. Request for Applications Apply for Grant Posted Date: Thursday, November 1, 2018 Closing Date: Thursday, January 10, 2019 Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-OP-006669 Estimated Total Program Funding: $4,797,500 Stay Connected with USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe All  |  Help This email was sent to whoughto@nmsu.edu using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture ·800 9th St SW · Washington, DC 20024

USDA CXO Dashboards Declared “Innovation of the Year

USDA CXO Dashboards Declared “Innovation of the Year”
CIO Gary Washington Receives Federal Leadership Award

(Washington, D.C., November 2, 2018) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Chief Executive Officer (CXO) Dashboard Project has been recognized by FedScoop Magazine as the Federal Government’s Innovation of the Year for creating the first comprehensive suite of administrative data dashboards. In addition, USDA’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) Gary Washington has been recognized for USDA's Information Technology (IT) modernization strategy with the Federal Leadership Award.

Each year Fed Scoop Magazine recognizes outstanding achievements across the federal government. Since being sworn in as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue has made it USDA’s goal to become the most effective, most efficient, and most customer-focused department in the entire federal government.

“No doubt, data-driven decisions lead to more effective outcomes for the USDA, our customers, and the American public as a whole. I am proud of our entire office of the CIO for their focus on IT modernizations and for demonstrating dynamic, innovative organizational leadership,” said Secretary Perdue. “These FedScoop Awards give the USDA family additional validation that we are well on the way to becoming the best managed agency in the entire Federal government.”

Background:

Recently, USDA’s Chief Data Officer, Ted Kaouk interviewed with Government Matters about the CXO Dashboard Project. You may click HERE or on the image below to watch the interview.

WTO Members Support Policy Approaches to Enable Innovation in Agriculture

WTO Members Support Policy Approaches to Enable Innovation in Agriculture

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2018 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the United States has joined with 12 other nations to support policies that enable agricultural innovation, including genome editing. The International Statement on Agricultural Applications of Precision Biotechnology was released in Geneva at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

“Precision biotechnologies such as genome editing hold great promise for both farmers and consumers around the world. These tools can play a critical role in helping farmers address many of the production challenges they face while improving the quality and nutritional value of foods available to consumers worldwide,” said Perdue.

“Unfortunately, such technologies too often face regulatory roadblocks that are based on misinformation and political posturing.  Therefore, it’s gratifying to see Argentina and other allies come together under the WTO umbrella to publicly embrace science-based regulatory systems that will allow us to unlock the huge potential of these new technologies.”

Countries and organizations supporting the statement, to date, are: Argentina, which led this effort, as well as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jordan, Paraguay, the United States, Uruguay, Vietnam and the Secretariat of the Economic Community of West African States.

The text of the joint statement, which is being updated as additional countries sign on, is available on the WTO website.