Please save the dates May 11-14, 2026, for the National Urban Extension Conference hosted in Detroit, MI by Michigan State University Extension. This upcoming event’s focus will be on Driving Innovation Ahead. The event will take place at The Westin Book Cadillac at 1114 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226. Registration and room block information will be released in late 2025. Please visit canr.msu.edu/nuec for updates. You can also sign up to get email updates about the conference at...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2024— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it has invested a total of $124 million in Business Builder grants to support small and mid-sized farm and food businesses by funding projects that increase business viability, develop regional market opportunities, and expand value chain capacity. The Business Builder grants are being offered through USDA’s 12 Regional Food Business Centers (RFBC) and is a part of their work to support a more resilient,...

Reviewing and Evaluating Transdisciplinary and Engaged Research Projects: Perspectives from Funding Programs Date : December 11, 2024 @ 1pm ET Registration : https://www.nifa.usda.gov/events/reviewing-evaluating-transdisciplinary-engaged-research-projects-perspectives-funding Description : As more research funding agencies begin to support the use of transdisciplinary and engaged research practices in their programs, to help generate tangible, positive societal impacts, we can take advantage...

The NUEL Professional Development Action Team will wrap up the series of webinars focused on the 4Ps this Thursday (11/14/24). Join our panelists – Julie Fox (OH), Kristina Hains (KY), and Alyssa Bowers (WA) to explore Personnel in the urban context. No pre-registration is required for the webinar which starts at 3:30 p.m. EST. Join Zoom bit.ly/3PRNhjo All webinar recordings are hosted on the YouTube channel If you need webinar assistance, email ramona.m.hector@ufl.edu or bgrogers@ufl.edu

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2024 – Urban and innovative agriculture producers will be able to more easily participate in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs as a result of acreage reporting improvements. These improvements, implemented by USDA’s Farm Service Agency, provide more flexibility for reporting acreage on a smaller scale and identifying innovative planting practices like multi-level planting or vertical farming practices. READ MORE HERE

As more research funding agencies begin to support the use of transdisciplinary and engaged research practices in their programs, to help generate tangible, positive societal impacts, we can take advantage of opportunities to learn from programs that have been early adopters of these modes of research. The increased emphasis on engagement throughout the research process is helping to shine a light on the importance of partnerships, relationships, and trust in moving research into practice...

Join us for a webinar looking at how Land-grant University administration can support faculty and staff in adopting transdisciplinary approaches and leverage the power of engagement. We’ll hear from top University administrators about the challenges of such work and the opportunities to overcome them, and discuss how to navigate multifaceted projects that support inclusivity and diverse perspectives to address the complex challenges facing food and agricultural systems today. Register here.

Improving the quality of life in smaller, and older (legacy) cities (like Springfield, Mass) is something I have been working on for many years with my students as part of my Urban Extension work at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Photo: Springfield, Massachusetts downtown Placemaking project.

The AgriProspects Workforce Development Network, a collaborative effort of the Extension Foundation (EXF), the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) Economic & Workforce Development and Urban Ag & Food Systems Program Action Teams, and USDA-NIFA, aims to bolster the Extension system’s capacity to meet the evolving workforce demands within the food and agriculture sector. To further its mission, AgriProspects is seeking proposals for Round 1 of its Mini-grant Program.

Hi Everyone, I’m happy to share that our next installment in the Transdisciplinary Webinar Series is open for registration ! Details are below. Registration Link: https://www.nal.usda.gov/events/transdisciplinary-approaches-webinar-may2024 Title : Tribal Research Partnerships: Indigenous Agroforestry, Food Security and Sovereignty Date : Weds. May 29, 2024. 2:00pm-3:30pm ET Description : Join us for a webinar series highlighting opportunities and challenges of transdisciplinary approaches...

It's not too late to register for the National Urban Extension Conference in Nashville, TN, May 28-31, 2024. A great lineup of speakers and workshops has been planned for your professional development. Check out the registration link below. Register Here

Interest in keeping backyard poultry for personal and family food security has steadily increased over the past decade. Many cities and municipalities require a certificate for residents to keep backyard poultry. Increased numbers of youth are raising chickens and turkeys for 4-H livestock projects. Maybe you just want to learn more about the keeping of a backyard flocks. Whatever your reason, OSU Extension has you covered with this Backyard Poultry Certification Course that discusses...