Science Policy Report

Address all comments to the Science Policy Office at:
sciencepolicy@sciencesocieties.org

06 January 2021

In This Issue:

Policy News

Science and Society News

International Corner

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

Policy News

For 2021, the ASA, CSSA, SSSA Congressional Visits Day will be a VIRTUAL event! VCVD participants will be put into small groups to meet with Members of Congress and their staff and advocate for USDA research funding. All participants will receive policy, communication, and advocacy training to prepare you to effectively work with members of Congress and their staff. VCVD is an exciting opportunity to use your voice and your skills to help shape federal science policy. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA members at any career stage can apply to participate. Award application deadline to participate in VCVD has been extended to January 15. Don’t miss this opportunity to represent our sciences. Apply today!

The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a rule to limit what research it can use to craft public health protections, a move opponents argue is aimed at crippling the agency’s ability to more aggressively regulate the nation’s air and water. The “Strengthening Transparency in Pivotal Science Underlying Significant Regulatory Actions and Influential Scientific Information” rule, which the administration began pursuing early in President Trump’s term, would require researchers to disclose the raw data involved in their public health studies before the agency could rely upon their conclusions. Read the full story.

When the documentary Kiss the Ground was released on Netflix earlier this year, it introduced the concepts of regenerative agriculture and soil health to a mainstream audience. Produced by the nonprofit organization of the same name, the film has won a slew of awards. And the trailer alone has been viewed over 8 million times. And yet, the film has also frustrated and alienated a number of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in the food and agriculture world who say it all but excludes their voices and completely ignores their ancestors’ contributions to the regenerative movement. Read the full story.

Eleven workers, from the factories and farms to the highways and supermarkets, tell how they got themselves – and us – through a catastrophic year. Read the full story.

Science and Society News

Recognize colleagues and students with an award scholarship nomination. Nominate for awards by March 11. Students apply for scholarships by March 17. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA honor the achievements of those in our sciences to recognize excellence & leadership in research, education, industry achievement, and mentorship.  In addition, we offer both graduate and undergraduate scholarships recognize students’ academic achievements and leadership.  ASA, CSSA, and SSSA also seek and encourage nominations to reflect the diversity of our membership. Contact 608-273-8080 or email awards@sciencesocieties.org with any questions. Read the full story.

Authors of a recent Crop Science article argue that scientists must engage in politics of constructive collective action to effectively meet agriculture's grand challenges in the 21st century. These challenges include increasing nutritional security worldwide, providing climate solutions and otherwise enhancing agriculture's environmental effects, and improving equity and justice in agricultural and food systems. Read the full story.

Authors of a recent Crop Science article argue that scientists must engage in politics of constructive collective action to effectively meet agriculture's grand challenges in the 21st century. These challenges include increasing nutritional security worldwide, providing climate solutions and otherwise enhancing agriculture's environmental effects, and improving equity and justice in agricultural and food systems. Read the full story.

The 1,500 Jersey cows that Nathan Chittenden and his family raise in upstate New York seem to lead carefree lives. Animal rights activists have a markedly different take on farms like Mr. Chittenden’s that satiate the nation’s appetite for milk, cheese and yogurt. To them, dairy farmers are cogs in an inhumane industrial food production system that consigns these docile ruminants to a lifetime of misery. Read the full story.

Join us Tuesday, January 19 for Assessing Soil Health: On-farm Economics webinar. Measuring and assessing soil health are critical for understanding how changes in agronomic management practices affect the capability of soil to support cropping systems. In this presentation, the Soil Health Institute will present an evaluation of the economics of adopting Soil Health Management Systems developed from 125 interviews with farmers and accounting for changes in management. This presentation will focus on how financial outcomes of adopting Soil Health Management Systems compare to more conventional production practices. This Soil Science Society of America webinar is produced in partnership with The Soil Health Institute and sponsored by The Walton Family Foundation. Register here.

Well‐trained soil scientists are important to meet many of the challenges facing our modern world. There has been considerable interest in the status of soil science education in the USA over the last 20 years. However, there is no comprehensive list of university programs that provide soil science training in the USA, which makes it difficult to determine if we are losing, gaining, or holding steady with regards to these programs. In an article recently published in the Soil Science Society of America Journal, researchers evaluated the bachelor's degree offerings of all of the regionally accredited colleges and universities in the USA. The research team identified a total of 92 soil science preparatory degree programs at 86 universities (six universities offered two degree programs that met the established standards). Read the full story.

International Corner

Mexico's main agricultural lobby on Saturday criticized the government's decision to ban genetically modified corn, while organic growers hailed the move that should protect smaller farmers. Mexico will "revoke and refrain from granting permits for the release of genetically modified corn seeds into the environment," stated a decree issued Thursday evening, which also mandated the phase out of GMO corn imports by 2024. Proponents of GMO corn say the ban on domestic cultivation would limit the options of Mexican farmers, while phasing out its importation could imperil the food chain. Read the full story.

Ghana has joined the list of countries with specific laws protecting the right of plant breeders — a move that is expected to spur scientific innovation and support food security in the West African nation. “It will have a great impact on Ghana’s agriculture,” predicted Dr. Akoto Owusu Afriyie, Minister for Food and Agriculture, after the legislature adopted the Plant Variety Protection Bill in late 2020. Read the full story.

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is a USDA-funded program administered by WVDA that provides money for research projects that will benefit an industry or a group. It is not intended as a source of start-up or scale-up funding for individual farms. The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).” Grant are on a two-year cycle in West Virginia and the maximum amount for any grant is $100,000. Deadline: January 19. Read the full announcement.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is seeking applications for its Community Grants to support collaborative projects between local communities and the SFI network to increase understanding of the values and benefits provided by sustainably managed forests. Deadline: February 5. Read the full announcement.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka the 2018 Farm Bill) reauthorized the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and provides mandatory funds for which supports education, mentoring, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers. Deadline: March 25. Read the full announcement.

The purpose of the Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants Program (ARME), is to educate agricultural producers about the full range of risk management activities. These activities include futures, options, agricultural trade options, crop insurance, cash forward contracting, debt reduction, production diversification, marketing plans and tactics, farm resources risk reduction, and other appropriate risk management strategies. The program places special emphasis on risk management strategies, education, and outreach specifically targeted at: (A) beginning farmers or ranchers; (B) legal immigrant farmers or ranchers that are attempting to become established producers in the United States; (C) socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; (D) farmers or ranchers that (i) are preparing to retire; and (ii) are using transition strategies to help new farmers or ranchers get started; and (E) new or established farmers or ranchers that are converting production and marketing systems to pursue new markets. The Agriculture Risk Management Education (ARME) program brings the existing knowledge base to bear on risk management issues faced by agricultural producers and expands the program throughout the Nation on a regional and multi-regional basis. Deadline: January 21. Read the full announcement.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is now accepting proposals for project ideas as part of the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) for 2021. Approximately $1.5 million is expected to be available to agriculture industry associations, producer groups, processors, commodity commissions, non-profits, for-profits, and local government agencies in Oregon. Funding for Oregon’s program is contingent upon federal funding for the SCBGP. Specialty crops are defined as commonly recognized fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. Oregon ranks in the top ten nationwide in the production of specialty crops. Deadline: January 29. Read the full announcement.

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Borlaug CAST Communication Award, an honor that recognizes professionals actively working in the agricultural, environmental, or food sectors who are promoting agricultural science in the public policy arena. This award has become an influential component in the efforts to keep agricultural issues and programs in the public eye and in front of national and world policymakers. Deadline: February 1. Read the full announcement.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is a participating state in the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). FDACS will accept applications for the 2021 SCBGP, evaluate the applications for compliance with the SCBGP program guidelines and fit with state and industry priorities, and administer any resulting awards. Proposals will be accepted from non-profit organizations, producer organizations, government agencies, universities, and other organizations related to Florida’s specialty crop industry. Individuals, individual producers, for-profit businesses, or commercial entities may submit proposals. However, the project must focus on research, education, or demonstration and must benefit the specialty crop industry in a manner that can be replicated by other organizations. Deadline: February 5. Read the full announcement.

The Texas Department of Agriculture is accepting proposals to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Project priorities are food safety, marketing, nutrition, plant health, and value added/industry development. Proposals will be accepted from Texas state agencies, universities, institutions, and producer, industry, or community-based organizations involved with, or that promote specialty crops. Proposals for grant funds should describe how the project potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual. Deadline: February 11. Read the full announcement.

The purpose of the IR-4 program is to enable the crop protection industry to provide safe, effective, and economical crop protection products for growers and consumers of minor/specialty crops. The crop protection industry cannot justify the costs associated with the research and development, registration, production, and marketing of crop protection products for minor/specialty crops due to the smaller market base and limited sales potential. The IR-4 program provides the assistance needed to ensure that new and more effective crop protection products are developed and made available to minor/specialty crop producers. These efforts require effective collaborations among federal agencies, the crop protection industry, and land-grant colleges and universities. Deadline: February 12. Read the full announcement.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting Fiscal Year 2021 project proposals to protect, restore and enhance Great Lakes fish and wildlife habitat under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (Act). The six goals of the Act are: 1. Restoring and maintaining self-sustaining fish and wildlife resources. 2. Minimizing the impacts of contaminants on fishery and wildlife resources. 3. Protecting, maintaining and, where degraded and destroyed, restoring fish and wildlife habitat, including the enhancement and creation of wetlands that result in a net gain in the amount of those habitats. 4. Stopping illegal activities adversely impacting fishery and wildlife resources. 5. Restoring threatened and endangered species to viable, self-sustaining levels. 6. Protecting, managing and conserving migratory birds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requests interested entities to submit restoration, research and Regional project proposals for the restoration of Great Lakes fish and wildlife resources. The purpose of the Act is to provide assistance to States, Indian Tribes, and other interested entities to encourage cooperative conservation, restoration and management of the fish and wildlife resources and their habitats in the Great Lakes Basin. Supported in part by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, we expect approximately $1.79 million to support projects this fiscal year. The 2016 Reauthorization of the GLFWRA made some significant additions to allowable non-federal match as it relates to time period, land and conservation easements. Deadline: February 16. Read the full announcement.

Tilth Alliance will be accepting applications by farmers seeking financial assistance to support projects that will improve the economic viability, social impacts, or environmental sustainability of their farm businesses. The goal of this grant program is to enhance the operations of farmers practicing responsible and progressive methods such as sustainable soil management, crop diversification, habitat preservation, climate change mitigation and environmentally-safe waste management practices. Deadline: February 19. Read the full announcement.

New Beginning for Tribal Students makes competitive grants to land-grant colleges and universities to provide identifiable support specifically targeted for Tribal students. A land-grant college or university that receives this grant shall use funds for, but not limited to, recruiting; tuition and related fees; experiential learning; student services, including tutoring; counseling; academic advising; and other student services that would increase the retention and graduation rate of Tribal students enrolled at the land-grant college or university. The maximum one state can receive is $500,000 per year. Deadline: March 15. Read the full announcement.

The overall goal of the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is to support the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices. NIFA administers the ORG program by determining priorities in U.S. agriculture through Agency stakeholder input processes in consultation with the NAREEEAB. ORG will continue to prioritize environmental services provided by organic farming systems in the area of soil conservation, pollinator health, and climate change mitigation, including greenhouse gases (GHG), as well as the development of educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices, and development of cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the National Organic Program’s National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. It is expected that all projects will integrate research, education and extension activities, as appropriate to project goals, although some projects may be weighted more heavily than others in one or more of these areas. However, all proposals should have activities and impact in research and at least one of the other areas: education and extension. Deadline: March 15. Read the full announcement.

The purpose of the Crop Protection and Pest Management program is to address high priority issues related to pests and their management using IPM approaches at the state, regional and national levels. The CPPM program supports projects that will ensure food security and respond effectively to other major societal pest management challenges with comprehensive IPM approaches that are economically viable, ecologically prudent, and safe for human health. The CPPM program addresses IPM challenges for emerging issues and existing priority pest concerns that can be addressed more effectively with new and emerging technologies. The outcomes of the CPPM program are effective, affordable, and environmentally sound IPM practices and strategies needed to maintain agricultural productivity and healthy communities. Deadline: March 15. Read the full announcement.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program offers competitively awarded grants to qualified small businesses to support high-quality research addressing important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefits. The program stimulates technological innovations in the private sector and strengthens the role of federal research and development in support of small businesses. The SBIR program also fosters and encourages participation by women-owned and socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses. All Phase II projects must have previously completed a successful USDA Phase I project before applying for a Phase II grant. Deadline: May 3. Read the full announcement.

On January 15, 2-3pm ET, join IARPC and the National Science Foundation for a webinar introducing the latest NSF Navigating the New Arctic Solicitation. NNA seeks innovations in fundamental convergence research across the social, natural, environmental, computing and information sciences, and engineering that address the interactions or connections among natural and built environments and social systems, and how these connections inform our understanding of Arctic change and its local and global effects. Program officers will highlight major changes from the previous solicitation, review goals of the Navigating the New Arctic program, and be available for a Q&A session. Learn more and register here.

Sources: The Washington Post, Civil Eats, The New York Times, Reuters, Cornell Alliance for Science

Vision: The Societies Washington, DC Science Policy Office (SPO) will advocate the importance and value of the agronomic, crop and soil sciences in developing national science policy and ensuring the necessary public-sector investment in the continued health of the environment for the well being of humanity. The SPO will assimilate, interpret, and disseminate in a timely manner to Society members information about relevant agricultural, natural resources and environmental legislation, rules and regulations under consideration by Congress and the Administration.

This page of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA web site will highlight current news items relevant to Science Policy. It is not an endorsement of any position.