USDA investing more than $15 million in next generation of agricultural scientists

Dec 29, 2014

Undergraduate students are eligible for the first time

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) declared an availability of over $15 million to be used in helping the future’s bright minds tackle the challenges surrounding the agricultural world.

NIFA supports the Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences Education and Literary Initiative through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). AFRI’s goal is to provide support to students dedicated to tackling agriculture and natural resource and food issues.

Specifically, the funding will go to towards researching areas including food, security, water, climate change, food safety, sustainable bioenergy, and preventing childhood obesity.

Pre-, post-doctoral, and for the first time, undergraduate students are eligible for the funding.

“As we look to the future and addressing challenges such as food and nutritional security, environmental sustainability, and health, we will need highly skilled scientists to address these concerns,” said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director. “Fellowships at this level are an excellent way to give tomorrow’s leaders the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to be successful and make a difference.”

The undergraduate students will receive hands-on experience and training, mentoring and other tools to help them join the workforce or continue their studies.

The funding hopes to groom the pre- and post-doctoral candidates into tomorrow’s leaders in facing agricultural challenges.

Applications for pre- and post-doctoral investments are due February 11, 2015. Undergraduate students must submit a letter of intent by February 18, and a full application by May 6, 2015.

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.