Below is a breakdown of the fiscal year 2011 awards: 80 awards totaling $7,707,840 (includes loan and tax payments) Average award: $96,348 (includes loan and tax payments) Average eligible debt for repayment: $106,742 74 percent of recipients received the maximum payment of $25,000 per year (plus taxes) 63 percent of awards went to those who obtained their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine within the last three years 34 states, Puerto Rico, and other federal lands will fill at least one shortage area through VMLRP Montana will fill six shortage areas Nebraska and Texas will fill five shortage areas Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico and New York will fill four shortage areas Shortage type breakdown Type 1 (at least 80 percent private practice): 18 awards Type 2 (at least 30 percent private practice): 51 awards Type 3: (at least 49 percent public practice): 11 awards Participants are required to serve in one of three types of shortage situations. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. When taken together, this is a distressing trend. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting NIFA director. “First, many rural areas already face a critical shortage of access to veterinary services. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today 80 awards to American veterinarians to help repay a portion of their veterinary school loans in return for serving areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 1, 2012–The U.S. And second, many veterinarians, when faced with student debt, choose to work in locations that offer higher pay than rural America, denying their talents to those most in need. With this assistance, veterinarians will be able to return to rural America—to their hometowns or regions—where they can provide needed services to our rural communities, improve the health of livestock, and help ensure a safe food supply.” Veterinarians are critical to America’s food safety and food security, and to the health and well-being of both animals and humans. Type 3 shortage areas are dedicated to public practice up to 49 percent of the time. The National Institutes of Health Division of Loan Repayment provided their expertise in service to NIFA during the applicant review process by reviewing loan documents submitted by the applicants. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. Loan repayment benefits are limited to payments of the principal and interest on government and commercial loans received for attendance at an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited college of veterinary medicine resulting in a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or the equivalent. Recipients are required to commit to three years of veterinary service in a designated veterinary shortage area. The awards, totaling more than $7.7 million, were made by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and will benefit 34 states, Puerto Rico, and other federal lands. Loan repayments made by the VMLRP are taxable income to participants. Also included in the award is a federal tax payment equal to 39 percent of the loan payment made directly to the award recipient’s IRS tax account to offset the increase in income tax liability. In fiscal year 2011, NIFA received 159 applications, a success rate of 50.3 percent.   “With the assistance awarded today, USDA is helping to overcome two major challenges in rural veterinarian medicine,” said Dr. USDA Loan Repayment Awards Help Deliver Veterinarian Services to Underserved Rural Communities Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 WASHINGTON, Feb. Major studies indicate significant and growing shortages of food supply veterinarians and veterinarians serving in certain other high-priority specialty areas.  A leading cause for this shortage is the heavy cost of four years of professional veterinary medical training, which can average between $100,000 and $140,000. Type 1 shortage areas are private practices dedicated to food animal medicine at least 80 percent of the award recipient’s time. Type 2 shortages are private practices in rural areas dedicated to food animal medicine up to 30 percent of the time. But these awards will help. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

And second, many veterinarians, when faced with student debt, choose to work in locations that offer higher pay than rural America, denying their talents to those most in need. Under the proposal, if the serogroups O26, O103, O45, O111, O121 and O145 are found in raw ground beef or its precursors, those products will be prohibited from entering commerce. This knowledge will then be used to find practical and effective STEC risk mitigation strategies. This research will help us to understand how these pathogens travel throughout the beef production process and how outbreaks occur, enabling us to find ways to prevent illness and improve the safety of our nation’s food supply.” Dr. “As non-O157 STEC bacteria have emerged and evolved, so too must our regulatory policies to protect the public health and ensure the safety of our food supply. Also included in the award is a federal tax payment equal to 39 percent of the loan payment made directly to the award recipient’s IRS tax account to offset the increase in income tax liability. In fiscal year 2011, NIFA received 159 applications, a success rate of 50.3 percent. Dr. 1, 2012–The U.S. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. This project will help improve our understanding of these strains in addition to O157 strains. Keen’s team includes researchers from the University of Arkansas, University of California-Davis, University of California-Tulare, University of Delaware, Kansas State University, New Mexico State University, North Carolina State University, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and a research consortium comprised of government, academic and industry scientists and food safety professionals. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. AFRI food safety grants promote and enhance the scientific discipline of food safety, with an overall aim of protecting consumers from microbial, chemical, and physical hazards that may occur during all stages of the food chain, from production to consumption. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is scheduled to award the $25 million grant to the UNL-lead research team today at the university in Lincoln. “Shiga toxin-producing E. Loan repayment benefits are limited to payments of the principal and interest on government and commercial loans received for attendance at an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited college of veterinary medicine resulting in a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or the equivalent. USDA Awards Grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for E. The team will also work collaboratively with several consumer groups, cattlemen groups and meat processor associations, along with numerous industry partners and technology providers, to improve the safety of the beef supply. Through the President's Food Safety Working Group, USDA and its federal partners have been working on a new, public health-focused approach to food safety based on the principles of prevention, strengthening surveillance and enforcement, and improving response. But these awards will help. Type 2 shortages are private practices in rural areas dedicated to food animal medicine up to 30 percent of the time. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.   “With the assistance awarded today, USDA is helping to overcome two major challenges in rural veterinarian medicine,” said Dr. 23, 2012–The U.S. Type 3 shortage areas are dedicated to public practice up to 49 percent of the time. The National Institutes of Health Division of Loan Repayment provided their expertise in service to NIFA during the applicant review process by reviewing loan documents submitted by the applicants. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. Most of what is known about STEC comes from outbreak investigations and studies of E. “First, many rural areas already face a critical shortage of access to veterinary services. The non-O157 STEC strains are not nearly as well understood, partly because outbreaks due to them are rarely identified. coli O157. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it has awarded a research grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to help reduce the occurrence and public health risks from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli are a serious threat to our food supply and public health, causing more than 265,000 infections each year,” said Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting NIFA director. USDA Loan Repayment Awards Help Deliver Veterinarian Services to Underserved Rural Communities Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 WASHINGTON, Feb. USDA will launch a testing program to detect these dangerous pathogens and prevent them from reaching consumers. The coordinated agricultural project grant announced today is through USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and administered through NIFA. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today 80 awards to American veterinarians to help repay a portion of their veterinary school loans in return for serving areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources. Type 1 shortage areas are private practices dedicated to food animal medicine at least 80 percent of the award recipient’s time. coli as adulterants in non-intact raw beef. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). The awards, totaling more than $7.7 million, were made by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and will benefit 34 states, Puerto Rico, and other federal lands. Major studies indicate significant and growing shortages of food supply veterinarians and veterinarians serving in certain other high-priority specialty areas.  A leading cause for this shortage is the heavy cost of four years of professional veterinary medical training, which can average between $100,000 and $140,000. AFRI supports work in six priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation's future. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting NIFA director. In September 2011, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced a proposal to declare six additional serogroups of pathogenic E. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). The project will focus on identifying hazards and assessing exposures that lead to STEC infections in cattle and on developing strategies to detect, characterize and control these pathogens along the beef chain. coli Research to Help Reduce Public Health Risks Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. With this assistance, veterinarians will be able to return to rural America—to their hometowns or regions—where they can provide needed services to our rural communities, improve the health of livestock, and help ensure a safe food supply.” Veterinarians are critical to America’s food safety and food security, and to the health and well-being of both animals and humans. AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. This work will include the O104 strain that caused the recent outbreak in Germany. The five main objectives of the project include: Detection: develop and implement rapid detection technologies for pre-harvest, post-harvest and consumer environments. Biology: characterize the biological and epidemiological factors that drive outbreaks of STEC in pre-harvest, post-harvest, retail and consumer settings. Interventions: develop effective and economical interventions to lessen STEC risk from cattle, hides, carcasses, and ground and non-intact beef and compare the feasibility of implementing these interventions for large, small and very small beef producers. Risk analysis and assessment: develop a risk assessment model for STEC from live cattle to consumption to evaluate mitigation strategies and their expected public health impacts. Risk management and communication: translate research findings into user-friendly food-safety deliverables for stakeholders, food safety professionals, regulators, educators and consumers.   Most STEC outbreaks are caused by ingestion of contaminated food and contact with fecal material from cattle and other ruminant animals. Below is a breakdown of the fiscal year 2011 awards: 80 awards totaling $7,707,840 (includes loan and tax payments) Average award: $96,348 (includes loan and tax payments) Average eligible debt for repayment: $106,742 74 percent of recipients received the maximum payment of $25,000 per year (plus taxes) 63 percent of awards went to those who obtained their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine within the last three years 34 states, Puerto Rico, and other federal lands will fill at least one shortage area through VMLRP Montana will fill six shortage areas Nebraska and Texas will fill five shortage areas Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico and New York will fill four shortage areas Shortage type breakdown Type 1 (at least 80 percent private practice): 18 awards Type 2 (at least 30 percent private practice): 51 awards Type 3: (at least 49 percent public practice): 11 awards Participants are required to serve in one of three types of shortage situations. coli (STEC) along the entire beef production pathway. Recipients are required to commit to three years of veterinary service in a designated veterinary shortage area. When taken together, this is a distressing trend. Loan repayments made by the VMLRP are taxable income to participants. James Keen at UNL, along with a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary team of researchers, educators and extension specialists, will use the $25 million grant to improve risk management and assessment of eight strains of STEC in beef.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today 80 awards to American veterinarians to help repay a portion of their veterinary school loans in return for serving areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources. USDA Awards Grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for E. These projects reflect the growing need to reduce the impacts of more frequent and intense droughts and provide alternative sources of water for irrigated agriculture and other agricultural uses under conditions of shrinking water availability. USDA Loan Repayment Awards Help Deliver Veterinarian Services to Underserved Rural Communities Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 WASHINGTON, Feb. And second, many veterinarians, when faced with student debt, choose to work in locations that offer higher pay than rural America, denying their talents to those most in need. Type 1 shortage areas are private practices dedicated to food animal medicine at least 80 percent of the award recipient’s time. During the past two years, USDA’s conservation agencies—NRCS, FSA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding 26 grants for research, education and extension efforts that will help to inform science-based decision-making on water-related issues in communities across the United States. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. “These research projects will help farmers, ranchers and community leaders enhance local economies and environments in agricultural and rural communities. coli (STEC) along the entire beef production pathway. More information is at www.nifa.usda.gov. USDA will launch a testing program to detect these dangerous pathogens and prevent them from reaching consumers. The coordinated agricultural project grant announced today is through USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and administered through NIFA. coli O157. coli as adulterants in non-intact raw beef. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Loan repayment benefits are limited to payments of the principal and interest on government and commercial loans received for attendance at an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited college of veterinary medicine resulting in a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or the equivalent. Projects were funded in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas and include: University of California, Riverside, Calif., $500,000 Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo., $499,815 University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $486,451 University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, $499,912 Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $492,797 Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $495,888, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb., $500,000 Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $498,649, Texas A& M University, College Station, Texas, $496,335   AFRI is NIFA's flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is scheduled to award the $25 million grant to the UNL-lead research team today at the university in Lincoln. “Shiga toxin-producing E. Loan repayments made by the VMLRP are taxable income to participants. When taken together, this is a distressing trend. coli Research to Help Reduce Public Health Risks Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. Below is a breakdown of the fiscal year 2011 awards: 80 awards totaling $7,707,840 (includes loan and tax payments) Average award: $96,348 (includes loan and tax payments) Average eligible debt for repayment: $106,742 74 percent of recipients received the maximum payment of $25,000 per year (plus taxes) 63 percent of awards went to those who obtained their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine within the last three years 34 states, Puerto Rico, and other federal lands will fill at least one shortage area through VMLRP Montana will fill six shortage areas Nebraska and Texas will fill five shortage areas Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico and New York will fill four shortage areas Shortage type breakdown Type 1 (at least 80 percent private practice): 18 awards Type 2 (at least 30 percent private practice): 51 awards Type 3: (at least 49 percent public practice): 11 awards Participants are required to serve in one of three types of shortage situations. The non-O157 STEC strains are not nearly as well understood, partly because outbreaks due to them are rarely identified. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. The awards, totaling more than $7.7 million, were made by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and will benefit 34 states, Puerto Rico, and other federal lands. Forest Service—have delivered technical assistance and implemented restoration practices on public and private lands. At the same time, USDA is working to better target conservation investments to embrace locally driven conservation and entering partnerships that focus on large, landscape-scale conservation. AFRI supports work in six priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities. This program supports research projects and programs that address critical water resource issues in agricultural, rural and urban ecosystems. 20, 2012–Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced today that the U.S. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). At the same time, drought preparedness and the consideration of novel sources of water will help cities, communities and rural areas across the nation and around the globe adapt to the effects of changing climate on water quality and quantity and better understand water’s role in agro-ecosystems.” In the first category, 17 grants totaling more than $9 million were awarded by NIFA through the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP), which aims to solve water resource problems by advancing scientific knowledge about water quality. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. The project will focus on identifying hazards and assessing exposures that lead to STEC infections in cattle and on developing strategies to detect, characterize and control these pathogens along the beef chain. Dr. This work will include the O104 strain that caused the recent outbreak in Germany. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. Under the proposal, if the serogroups O26, O103, O45, O111, O121 and O145 are found in raw ground beef or its precursors, those products will be prohibited from entering commerce. Recipients are required to commit to three years of veterinary service in a designated veterinary shortage area. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting NIFA director. 23, 2012–The U.S. “As non-O157 STEC bacteria have emerged and evolved, so too must our regulatory policies to protect the public health and ensure the safety of our food supply. Funded projects also use the new knowledge gained to develop and disseminate science-based decision making and management practices that improve the surface and groundwater quality in the nation’s watersheds. Projects funded this year include: Cal Poly Corporation, San Luis Obispo, Calif., $234,865 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $365,000 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $149,000 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $17,000 University of Delaware, Newark, Del., $595,000 University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $398,800 University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $395,000 University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., $567,000 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Ill., $595,000 Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $395,000 Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, $595,000 Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., $570,000 Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Miss., $445,000 Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont., $598,500 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., $595,000 University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc., $2,400,000 University of Rhode Island, Kingstown, R.I., $495,000   Additionally, in Fiscal Year 2011, NIFA, in cooperation with USDA’s Farm Service Agency, solicited proposals for three interrelated projects that address nitrogen cycling in agricultural watersheds. USDA Awards Research Grants to Ensure the Sustainability and Quality of America�s Water Supply Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 WASHINGTON, Jan. With this assistance, veterinarians will be able to return to rural America—to their hometowns or regions—where they can provide needed services to our rural communities, improve the health of livestock, and help ensure a safe food supply.” Veterinarians are critical to America’s food safety and food security, and to the health and well-being of both animals and humans. This project will help improve our understanding of these strains in addition to O157 strains. Keen’s team includes researchers from the University of Arkansas, University of California-Davis, University of California-Tulare, University of Delaware, Kansas State University, New Mexico State University, North Carolina State University, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and a research consortium comprised of government, academic and industry scientists and food safety professionals. All three projects funded through this special emphasis area are expected to work collaboratively in developing solutions for improving water quality in agricultural watersheds. The grants are funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). “American communities and rural areas depend upon a safe and reliable water supply,” said Merrigan. The team will also work collaboratively with several consumer groups, cattlemen groups and meat processor associations, along with numerous industry partners and technology providers, to improve the safety of the beef supply. Through the President's Food Safety Working Group, USDA and its federal partners have been working on a new, public health-focused approach to food safety based on the principles of prevention, strengthening surveillance and enforcement, and improving response. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).   “With the assistance awarded today, USDA is helping to overcome two major challenges in rural veterinarian medicine,” said Dr. AFRI supports work in six priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation's future. But these awards will help. This knowledge will then be used to find practical and effective STEC risk mitigation strategies. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it has awarded a research grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to help reduce the occurrence and public health risks from Shiga toxin-producing E. Type 2 shortages are private practices in rural areas dedicated to food animal medicine up to 30 percent of the time. In 2011, USDA enrolled a record number of acres of private working lands in conservation programs, working with more than 500,000 farmers and ranchers to implement conservation practices that clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and prevent soil erosion. Type 3 shortage areas are dedicated to public practice up to 49 percent of the time. The National Institutes of Health Division of Loan Repayment provided their expertise in service to NIFA during the applicant review process by reviewing loan documents submitted by the applicants. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. The grants, totaling $13.4 million, are split into two major categories: 17 grants will support integrated research, education and extension work to improve the quality of the nation’s surface and groundwater resources in agricultural, rural and urbanizing watersheds; and nine research grants will address critical water resource issues, including drought preparedness and water reuse in agriculture. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). Also included in the award is a federal tax payment equal to 39 percent of the loan payment made directly to the award recipient’s IRS tax account to offset the increase in income tax liability. In fiscal year 2011, NIFA received 159 applications, a success rate of 50.3 percent. 1, 2012–The U.S. These projects include the University of Illinois, Iowa State University and the University of Rhode Island. In the second category, nine grants totaling $4.4 million were awarded by NIFA through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Agricultural Water Sciences foundational program. James Keen at UNL, along with a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary team of researchers, educators and extension specialists, will use the $25 million grant to improve risk management and assessment of eight strains of STEC in beef. This research will help us to understand how these pathogens travel throughout the beef production process and how outbreaks occur, enabling us to find ways to prevent illness and improve the safety of our nation’s food supply.” Dr. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. In the past three years, USDA has worked with state and local governments and private landowners to conserve and protect our nation’s natural resources–helping preserve our land and clean our air and water. In 2010, President Obama launched the America’s Great Outdoors initiative to foster a 21st century approach to conservation that is designed by and accomplished in partnership with the American people. Major studies indicate significant and growing shortages of food supply veterinarians and veterinarians serving in certain other high-priority specialty areas.  A leading cause for this shortage is the heavy cost of four years of professional veterinary medical training, which can average between $100,000 and $140,000. In September 2011, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced a proposal to declare six additional serogroups of pathogenic E. “First, many rural areas already face a critical shortage of access to veterinary services. Most of what is known about STEC comes from outbreak investigations and studies of E. The five main objectives of the project include: Detection: develop and implement rapid detection technologies for pre-harvest, post-harvest and consumer environments. Biology: characterize the biological and epidemiological factors that drive outbreaks of STEC in pre-harvest, post-harvest, retail and consumer settings. Interventions: develop effective and economical interventions to lessen STEC risk from cattle, hides, carcasses, and ground and non-intact beef and compare the feasibility of implementing these interventions for large, small and very small beef producers. Risk analysis and assessment: develop a risk assessment model for STEC from live cattle to consumption to evaluate mitigation strategies and their expected public health impacts. Risk management and communication: translate research findings into user-friendly food-safety deliverables for stakeholders, food safety professionals, regulators, educators and consumers.   Most STEC outbreaks are caused by ingestion of contaminated food and contact with fecal material from cattle and other ruminant animals. AFRI food safety grants promote and enhance the scientific discipline of food safety, with an overall aim of protecting consumers from microbial, chemical, and physical hazards that may occur during all stages of the food chain, from production to consumption. coli are a serious threat to our food supply and public health, causing more than 265,000 infections each year,” said Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting NIFA director.

AFRI supports work in six priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation's future. All three projects funded through this special emphasis area are expected to work collaboratively in developing solutions for improving water quality in agricultural watersheds. USDA Awards Research Grants to Ensure the Sustainability and Quality of America�s Water Supply Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 WASHINGTON, Jan. AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. Type 3 shortage areas are dedicated to public practice up to 49 percent of the time. The National Institutes of Health Division of Loan Repayment provided their expertise in service to NIFA during the applicant review process by reviewing loan documents submitted by the applicants. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. Focused on integrated approaches to food safety, NIFSI projects combine research at colleges and universities, education in the classroom, and outreach to a variety of groups, including consumers, foodservice workers, teachers, federal agencies, and farmers. “As non-O157 STEC bacteria have emerged and evolved, so too must our regulatory policies to protect the public health and ensure the safety of our food supply. When taken together, this is a distressing trend. Also included in the award is a federal tax payment equal to 39 percent of the loan payment made directly to the award recipient’s IRS tax account to offset the increase in income tax liability. In fiscal year 2011, NIFA received 159 applications, a success rate of 50.3 percent. More information is at www.nifa.usda.gov. Dr. This project will help improve our understanding of these strains in addition to O157 strains. Keen’s team includes researchers from the University of Arkansas, University of California-Davis, University of California-Tulare, University of Delaware, Kansas State University, New Mexico State University, North Carolina State University, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and a research consortium comprised of government, academic and industry scientists and food safety professionals. coli as adulterants in non-intact raw beef. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is scheduled to award the $25 million grant to the UNL-lead research team today at the university in Lincoln. “Shiga toxin-producing E. 7, 2011–Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan visited Michigan State University today to announce that USDA has awarded 17 grants to improve the safety of the food supply in the United States through research, education and extension. This knowledge will then be used to find practical and effective STEC risk mitigation strategies. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today 80 awards to American veterinarians to help repay a portion of their veterinary school loans in return for serving areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. “Primarily, we expect that the research and education spurred by these grants will find solutions to some pressing food safety issues. The non-O157 STEC strains are not nearly as well understood, partly because outbreaks due to them are rarely identified. In fiscal year 2011, NIFA awarded $10.4 million to 17 projects in 13 states: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala., $100,000 University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., $542,969 Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Ga., $100,000 University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., $535,725 University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass., $424,878 Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $542,824 Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $543,000 Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $1,809,934 North Carolina State University, Raleigh., N.C., $541,621 Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $1,864,665 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla., $543,000 Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa., $542,607 Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., $542,999 Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn., $100,000 University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., $542,977 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, $540,326 University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., $541,313 A full list of awardees can be found online at: www.nifa.usda.gov/newsroom/news/2011news/nifsi_awards.html.  Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future.  More information is at www.nifa.usda.gov. coli Research to Help Reduce Public Health Risks Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. The grants, totaling $13.4 million, are split into two major categories: 17 grants will support integrated research, education and extension work to improve the quality of the nation’s surface and groundwater resources in agricultural, rural and urbanizing watersheds; and nine research grants will address critical water resource issues, including drought preparedness and water reuse in agriculture. And second, many veterinarians, when faced with student debt, choose to work in locations that offer higher pay than rural America, denying their talents to those most in need. 20, 2012–Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced today that the U.S. coli O157. The five main objectives of the project include: Detection: develop and implement rapid detection technologies for pre-harvest, post-harvest and consumer environments. Biology: characterize the biological and epidemiological factors that drive outbreaks of STEC in pre-harvest, post-harvest, retail and consumer settings. Interventions: develop effective and economical interventions to lessen STEC risk from cattle, hides, carcasses, and ground and non-intact beef and compare the feasibility of implementing these interventions for large, small and very small beef producers. Risk analysis and assessment: develop a risk assessment model for STEC from live cattle to consumption to evaluate mitigation strategies and their expected public health impacts. Risk management and communication: translate research findings into user-friendly food-safety deliverables for stakeholders, food safety professionals, regulators, educators and consumers.   Most STEC outbreaks are caused by ingestion of contaminated food and contact with fecal material from cattle and other ruminant animals. Michigan State University was awarded three grants in total. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting NIFA director. Under the proposal, if the serogroups O26, O103, O45, O111, O121 and O145 are found in raw ground beef or its precursors, those products will be prohibited from entering commerce.   “With the assistance awarded today, USDA is helping to overcome two major challenges in rural veterinarian medicine,” said Dr. USDA Awards Grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for E. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Additionally, we want to help American consumers, restaurant employees, and teachers put new food safety principles into practice. AFRI food safety grants promote and enhance the scientific discipline of food safety, with an overall aim of protecting consumers from microbial, chemical, and physical hazards that may occur during all stages of the food chain, from production to consumption. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. Ensuring the safety of food is a top priority for USDA, and we will continue to work with our public and private sector partners on developing solutions to decrease potential risks.” NIFA made the awards through the National Integrated Food Safety Initiative (NIFSI), which addresses a broad spectrum of food safety concerns, from on-farm production, post-harvest processing and distribution, to food selection, preparation and consumption. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). With this assistance, veterinarians will be able to return to rural America—to their hometowns or regions—where they can provide needed services to our rural communities, improve the health of livestock, and help ensure a safe food supply.” Veterinarians are critical to America’s food safety and food security, and to the health and well-being of both animals and humans. The project will focus on identifying hazards and assessing exposures that lead to STEC infections in cattle and on developing strategies to detect, characterize and control these pathogens along the beef chain. Major studies indicate significant and growing shortages of food supply veterinarians and veterinarians serving in certain other high-priority specialty areas.  A leading cause for this shortage is the heavy cost of four years of professional veterinary medical training, which can average between $100,000 and $140,000. 23, 2012–The U.S. Type 1 shortage areas are private practices dedicated to food animal medicine at least 80 percent of the award recipient’s time. 1, 2012–The U.S. The awards, totaling more than $7.7 million, were made by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and will benefit 34 states, Puerto Rico, and other federal lands. Loan repayment benefits are limited to payments of the principal and interest on government and commercial loans received for attendance at an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited college of veterinary medicine resulting in a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or the equivalent. During the past two years, USDA’s conservation agencies—NRCS, FSA and the U.S. AFRI supports work in six priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities. “With millions of Americans contracting food-borne illnesses each year, USDA is committed to supporting research that improves the safety of our nation’s food supply,” said Merrigan. In the past three years, USDA has worked with state and local governments and private landowners to conserve and protect our nation’s natural resources–helping preserve our land and clean our air and water. In 2010, President Obama launched the America’s Great Outdoors initiative to foster a 21st century approach to conservation that is designed by and accomplished in partnership with the American people. Forest Service—have delivered technical assistance and implemented restoration practices on public and private lands. At the same time, USDA is working to better target conservation investments to embrace locally driven conservation and entering partnerships that focus on large, landscape-scale conservation. USDA Awards Grants to Universities in 13 States to Improve Food Safety through Research, Education and Extension Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 EAST LANSING, Michigan, Dec. At the same time, drought preparedness and the consideration of novel sources of water will help cities, communities and rural areas across the nation and around the globe adapt to the effects of changing climate on water quality and quantity and better understand water’s role in agro-ecosystems.” In the first category, 17 grants totaling more than $9 million were awarded by NIFA through the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP), which aims to solve water resource problems by advancing scientific knowledge about water quality. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Most of what is known about STEC comes from outbreak investigations and studies of E. Loan repayments made by the VMLRP are taxable income to participants. Projects were funded in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas and include: University of California, Riverside, Calif., $500,000 Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo., $499,815 University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $486,451 University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, $499,912 Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $492,797 Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $495,888, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb., $500,000 Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $498,649, Texas A& M University, College Station, Texas, $496,335   AFRI is NIFA's flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. These projects include the University of Illinois, Iowa State University and the University of Rhode Island. In the second category, nine grants totaling $4.4 million were awarded by NIFA through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Agricultural Water Sciences foundational program. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding 26 grants for research, education and extension efforts that will help to inform science-based decision-making on water-related issues in communities across the United States. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. USDA will launch a testing program to detect these dangerous pathogens and prevent them from reaching consumers. The coordinated agricultural project grant announced today is through USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and administered through NIFA. “These research projects will help farmers, ranchers and community leaders enhance local economies and environments in agricultural and rural communities. “First, many rural areas already face a critical shortage of access to veterinary services. In 2011, USDA enrolled a record number of acres of private working lands in conservation programs, working with more than 500,000 farmers and ranchers to implement conservation practices that clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and prevent soil erosion. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded the grants, totaling $10.4 million, to universities in 13 states to help address a broad spectrum of food safety issues. This research will help us to understand how these pathogens travel throughout the beef production process and how outbreaks occur, enabling us to find ways to prevent illness and improve the safety of our nation’s food supply.” Dr. The grants are funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). “American communities and rural areas depend upon a safe and reliable water supply,” said Merrigan. In September 2011, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced a proposal to declare six additional serogroups of pathogenic E. These projects reflect the growing need to reduce the impacts of more frequent and intense droughts and provide alternative sources of water for irrigated agriculture and other agricultural uses under conditions of shrinking water availability. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). This program supports research projects and programs that address critical water resource issues in agricultural, rural and urban ecosystems. Recipients are required to commit to three years of veterinary service in a designated veterinary shortage area. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). This work will include the O104 strain that caused the recent outbreak in Germany. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. But these awards will help. USDA Loan Repayment Awards Help Deliver Veterinarian Services to Underserved Rural Communities Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 WASHINGTON, Feb. The team will also work collaboratively with several consumer groups, cattlemen groups and meat processor associations, along with numerous industry partners and technology providers, to improve the safety of the beef supply. Through the President's Food Safety Working Group, USDA and its federal partners have been working on a new, public health-focused approach to food safety based on the principles of prevention, strengthening surveillance and enforcement, and improving response. James Keen at UNL, along with a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary team of researchers, educators and extension specialists, will use the $25 million grant to improve risk management and assessment of eight strains of STEC in beef. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it has awarded a research grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to help reduce the occurrence and public health risks from Shiga toxin-producing E. Below is a breakdown of the fiscal year 2011 awards: 80 awards totaling $7,707,840 (includes loan and tax payments) Average award: $96,348 (includes loan and tax payments) Average eligible debt for repayment: $106,742 74 percent of recipients received the maximum payment of $25,000 per year (plus taxes) 63 percent of awards went to those who obtained their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine within the last three years 34 states, Puerto Rico, and other federal lands will fill at least one shortage area through VMLRP Montana will fill six shortage areas Nebraska and Texas will fill five shortage areas Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico and New York will fill four shortage areas Shortage type breakdown Type 1 (at least 80 percent private practice): 18 awards Type 2 (at least 30 percent private practice): 51 awards Type 3: (at least 49 percent public practice): 11 awards Participants are required to serve in one of three types of shortage situations. coli are a serious threat to our food supply and public health, causing more than 265,000 infections each year,” said Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting NIFA director. Funded projects also use the new knowledge gained to develop and disseminate science-based decision making and management practices that improve the surface and groundwater quality in the nation’s watersheds. Projects funded this year include: Cal Poly Corporation, San Luis Obispo, Calif., $234,865 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $365,000 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $149,000 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $17,000 University of Delaware, Newark, Del., $595,000 University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $398,800 University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $395,000 University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., $567,000 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Ill., $595,000 Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $395,000 Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, $595,000 Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., $570,000 Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Miss., $445,000 Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont., $598,500 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., $595,000 University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc., $2,400,000 University of Rhode Island, Kingstown, R.I., $495,000   Additionally, in Fiscal Year 2011, NIFA, in cooperation with USDA’s Farm Service Agency, solicited proposals for three interrelated projects that address nitrogen cycling in agricultural watersheds. coli (STEC) along the entire beef production pathway. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Type 2 shortages are private practices in rural areas dedicated to food animal medicine up to 30 percent of the time.

“With millions of Americans contracting food-borne illnesses each year, USDA is committed to supporting research that improves the safety of our nation’s food supply,” said Merrigan. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. With this assistance, veterinarians will be able to return to rural America—to their hometowns or regions—where they can provide needed services to our rural communities, improve the health of livestock, and help ensure a safe food supply.” Veterinarians are critical to America’s food safety and food security, and to the health and well-being of both animals and humans. Type 1 shortage areas are private practices dedicated to food animal medicine at least 80 percent of the award recipient’s time. USDA Awards Grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for E. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). Forest Service—have delivered technical assistance and implemented restoration practices on public and private lands. At the same time, USDA is working to better target conservation investments to embrace locally driven conservation and entering partnerships that focus on large, landscape-scale conservation. AFRI supports work in six priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation's future. The non-O157 STEC strains are not nearly as well understood, partly because outbreaks due to them are rarely identified. Ensuring the safety of food is a top priority for USDA, and we will continue to work with our public and private sector partners on developing solutions to decrease potential risks.” NIFA made the awards through the National Integrated Food Safety Initiative (NIFSI), which addresses a broad spectrum of food safety concerns, from on-farm production, post-harvest processing and distribution, to food selection, preparation and consumption. Most of what is known about STEC comes from outbreak investigations and studies of E. This work will include the O104 strain that caused the recent outbreak in Germany. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). More information is at www.nifa.usda.gov. Michigan State University was awarded three grants in total. The awards were made by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) as part of the Extension-Military Partnership. “Each year, our military families face unique challenges as their loved ones serve our nation,” said Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting NIFA director. George Washington University in Washington, D.C., received a grant through the Second Language & Culture Exposure for Children and Youth Project, which will develop innovative language and cultural programs for military children. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today 80 awards to American veterinarians to help repay a portion of their veterinary school loans in return for serving areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. USDA Loan Repayment Awards Help Deliver Veterinarian Services to Underserved Rural Communities Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 WASHINGTON, Feb. When taken together, this is a distressing trend. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it has awarded a research grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to help reduce the occurrence and public health risks from Shiga toxin-producing E. The five main objectives of the project include: Detection: develop and implement rapid detection technologies for pre-harvest, post-harvest and consumer environments. Biology: characterize the biological and epidemiological factors that drive outbreaks of STEC in pre-harvest, post-harvest, retail and consumer settings. Interventions: develop effective and economical interventions to lessen STEC risk from cattle, hides, carcasses, and ground and non-intact beef and compare the feasibility of implementing these interventions for large, small and very small beef producers. Risk analysis and assessment: develop a risk assessment model for STEC from live cattle to consumption to evaluate mitigation strategies and their expected public health impacts. Risk management and communication: translate research findings into user-friendly food-safety deliverables for stakeholders, food safety professionals, regulators, educators and consumers.   Most STEC outbreaks are caused by ingestion of contaminated food and contact with fecal material from cattle and other ruminant animals. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting NIFA director. These projects reflect the growing need to reduce the impacts of more frequent and intense droughts and provide alternative sources of water for irrigated agriculture and other agricultural uses under conditions of shrinking water availability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. Type 3 shortage areas are dedicated to public practice up to 49 percent of the time. The National Institutes of Health Division of Loan Repayment provided their expertise in service to NIFA during the applicant review process by reviewing loan documents submitted by the applicants. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. In September 2011, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced a proposal to declare six additional serogroups of pathogenic E. The grants are funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). “American communities and rural areas depend upon a safe and reliable water supply,” said Merrigan. “These research projects will help farmers, ranchers and community leaders enhance local economies and environments in agricultural and rural communities. The training resources will better prepare military professionals to meet the needs of military members and their families by focusing on a social service delivery system model to be used by all services. The project will focus on identifying hazards and assessing exposures that lead to STEC infections in cattle and on developing strategies to detect, characterize and control these pathogens along the beef chain. AFRI food safety grants promote and enhance the scientific discipline of food safety, with an overall aim of protecting consumers from microbial, chemical, and physical hazards that may occur during all stages of the food chain, from production to consumption. USDA will launch a testing program to detect these dangerous pathogens and prevent them from reaching consumers. The coordinated agricultural project grant announced today is through USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and administered through NIFA. Dr. The awards, totaling more than $7.7 million, were made by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and will benefit 34 states, Puerto Rico, and other federal lands. USDA and Defense Department Partner to Support Military Families Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 WASHINGTON, Nov. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. coli are a serious threat to our food supply and public health, causing more than 265,000 infections each year,” said Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting NIFA director. Recipients are required to commit to three years of veterinary service in a designated veterinary shortage area. 20, 2012–Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced today that the U.S. Loan repayment benefits are limited to payments of the principal and interest on government and commercial loans received for attendance at an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited college of veterinary medicine resulting in a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or the equivalent. USDA Awards Research Grants to Ensure the Sustainability and Quality of America�s Water Supply Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 WASHINGTON, Jan. This program supports research projects and programs that address critical water resource issues in agricultural, rural and urban ecosystems. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding 26 grants for research, education and extension efforts that will help to inform science-based decision-making on water-related issues in communities across the United States. USDA Awards Grants to Universities in 13 States to Improve Food Safety through Research, Education and Extension Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 EAST LANSING, Michigan, Dec. But these awards will help. Also included in the award is a federal tax payment equal to 39 percent of the loan payment made directly to the award recipient’s IRS tax account to offset the increase in income tax liability. In fiscal year 2011, NIFA received 159 applications, a success rate of 50.3 percent. “Primarily, we expect that the research and education spurred by these grants will find solutions to some pressing food safety issues. Department of Defense (DoD) staff in their efforts to support military families. Additionally, we want to help American consumers, restaurant employees, and teachers put new food safety principles into practice. coli (STEC) along the entire beef production pathway. Focused on integrated approaches to food safety, NIFSI projects combine research at colleges and universities, education in the classroom, and outreach to a variety of groups, including consumers, foodservice workers, teachers, federal agencies, and farmers. James Keen at UNL, along with a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary team of researchers, educators and extension specialists, will use the $25 million grant to improve risk management and assessment of eight strains of STEC in beef. Loan repayments made by the VMLRP are taxable income to participants. Under the proposal, if the serogroups O26, O103, O45, O111, O121 and O145 are found in raw ground beef or its precursors, those products will be prohibited from entering commerce. In fiscal year 2011, NIFA awarded $10.4 million to 17 projects in 13 states: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala., $100,000 University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., $542,969 Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Ga., $100,000 University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., $535,725 University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass., $424,878 Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $542,824 Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $543,000 Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $1,809,934 North Carolina State University, Raleigh., N.C., $541,621 Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $1,864,665 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla., $543,000 Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa., $542,607 Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., $542,999 Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn., $100,000 University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., $542,977 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, $540,326 University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., $541,313 A full list of awardees can be found online at: www.nifa.usda.gov/newsroom/news/2011news/nifsi_awards.html.  Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future.  More information is at www.nifa.usda.gov. During the past two years, USDA’s conservation agencies—NRCS, FSA and the U.S. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is scheduled to award the $25 million grant to the UNL-lead research team today at the university in Lincoln. “Shiga toxin-producing E. At the same time, drought preparedness and the consideration of novel sources of water will help cities, communities and rural areas across the nation and around the globe adapt to the effects of changing climate on water quality and quantity and better understand water’s role in agro-ecosystems.” In the first category, 17 grants totaling more than $9 million were awarded by NIFA through the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP), which aims to solve water resource problems by advancing scientific knowledge about water quality. This project will help improve our understanding of these strains in addition to O157 strains. Keen’s team includes researchers from the University of Arkansas, University of California-Davis, University of California-Tulare, University of Delaware, Kansas State University, New Mexico State University, North Carolina State University, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and a research consortium comprised of government, academic and industry scientists and food safety professionals. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. In 2011, USDA enrolled a record number of acres of private working lands in conservation programs, working with more than 500,000 farmers and ranchers to implement conservation practices that clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and prevent soil erosion. This research will help us to understand how these pathogens travel throughout the beef production process and how outbreaks occur, enabling us to find ways to prevent illness and improve the safety of our nation’s food supply.” Dr. 23, 2012–The U.S. “These awards will increase the military’s ability to assist families during the transitions of military life.” The Extension-Military Partnership was established between USDA and DoD in 2010 to support military service members and their families in their communities. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. The grants, totaling $13.4 million, are split into two major categories: 17 grants will support integrated research, education and extension work to improve the quality of the nation’s surface and groundwater resources in agricultural, rural and urbanizing watersheds; and nine research grants will address critical water resource issues, including drought preparedness and water reuse in agriculture. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. Type 2 shortages are private practices in rural areas dedicated to food animal medicine up to 30 percent of the time. All three projects funded through this special emphasis area are expected to work collaboratively in developing solutions for improving water quality in agricultural watersheds. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded two grants for universities to develop programs to train U.S. coli as adulterants in non-intact raw beef. Below is a breakdown of the fiscal year 2011 awards: 80 awards totaling $7,707,840 (includes loan and tax payments) Average award: $96,348 (includes loan and tax payments) Average eligible debt for repayment: $106,742 74 percent of recipients received the maximum payment of $25,000 per year (plus taxes) 63 percent of awards went to those who obtained their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine within the last three years 34 states, Puerto Rico, and other federal lands will fill at least one shortage area through VMLRP Montana will fill six shortage areas Nebraska and Texas will fill five shortage areas Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico and New York will fill four shortage areas Shortage type breakdown Type 1 (at least 80 percent private practice): 18 awards Type 2 (at least 30 percent private practice): 51 awards Type 3: (at least 49 percent public practice): 11 awards Participants are required to serve in one of three types of shortage situations. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). Major studies indicate significant and growing shortages of food supply veterinarians and veterinarians serving in certain other high-priority specialty areas.  A leading cause for this shortage is the heavy cost of four years of professional veterinary medical training, which can average between $100,000 and $140,000. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). Projects were funded in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas and include: University of California, Riverside, Calif., $500,000 Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo., $499,815 University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $486,451 University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, $499,912 Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $492,797 Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $495,888, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb., $500,000 Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $498,649, Texas A& M University, College Station, Texas, $496,335   AFRI is NIFA's flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. 1, 2012–The U.S. coli O157. AFRI supports work in six priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities. “First, many rural areas already face a critical shortage of access to veterinary services. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. And second, many veterinarians, when faced with student debt, choose to work in locations that offer higher pay than rural America, denying their talents to those most in need. The partnership is focused on cultivating collaborations with educational institutions, non-governmental and community-based organizations, and other groups with expertise in early childhood education, youth development and family studies to support military members and their families. This project will review existing research and program materials and policies related to language and culture opportunities for children (up to age 5), and produce training and program materials that can be used by DoD Child & Youth staff. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. “As non-O157 STEC bacteria have emerged and evolved, so too must our regulatory policies to protect the public health and ensure the safety of our food supply. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded the grants, totaling $10.4 million, to universities in 13 states to help address a broad spectrum of food safety issues. The team will also work collaboratively with several consumer groups, cattlemen groups and meat processor associations, along with numerous industry partners and technology providers, to improve the safety of the beef supply. Through the President's Food Safety Working Group, USDA and its federal partners have been working on a new, public health-focused approach to food safety based on the principles of prevention, strengthening surveillance and enforcement, and improving response. The system will be developed as a virtual online platform, resulting in a reduction in costs associated with face-to-face training. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 7, 2011–Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan visited Michigan State University today to announce that USDA has awarded 17 grants to improve the safety of the food supply in the United States through research, education and extension. This knowledge will then be used to find practical and effective STEC risk mitigation strategies. These projects include the University of Illinois, Iowa State University and the University of Rhode Island. In the second category, nine grants totaling $4.4 million were awarded by NIFA through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Agricultural Water Sciences foundational program. In the past three years, USDA has worked with state and local governments and private landowners to conserve and protect our nation’s natural resources–helping preserve our land and clean our air and water. In 2010, President Obama launched the America’s Great Outdoors initiative to foster a 21st century approach to conservation that is designed by and accomplished in partnership with the American people. coli Research to Help Reduce Public Health Risks Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188 LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. Funded projects also use the new knowledge gained to develop and disseminate science-based decision making and management practices that improve the surface and groundwater quality in the nation’s watersheds. Projects funded this year include: Cal Poly Corporation, San Luis Obispo, Calif., $234,865 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $365,000 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $149,000 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $17,000 University of Delaware, Newark, Del., $595,000 University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $398,800 University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $395,000 University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., $567,000 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Ill., $595,000 Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $395,000 Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, $595,000 Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., $570,000 Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Miss., $445,000 Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont., $598,500 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., $595,000 University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc., $2,400,000 University of Rhode Island, Kingstown, R.I., $495,000   Additionally, in Fiscal Year 2011, NIFA, in cooperation with USDA’s Farm Service Agency, solicited proposals for three interrelated projects that address nitrogen cycling in agricultural watersheds.   “With the assistance awarded today, USDA is helping to overcome two major challenges in rural veterinarian medicine,” said Dr. The University of Arizona in Tucson received a grant through the Military Family Readiness System (MFRS) program, to develop high quality, effective and efficient training resources for Family Center/Family Readiness program staff. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 21, 2011 – The U.S.