The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recognizes there are many outstanding contributions that our partners in the Land-Grant Universities and other cooperating institutions and organizations have achieved. To recognize these achievements, the Partnership Awards Program was established in 2007.

NIFA invites all Land-Grant Universities and cooperating institutions and organizations supported by NIFA to submit nominations for the 2017 NIFA Partnership Awards Program. This program recognizes outstanding contributions, aligned with NIFA strategic goals, in support of the USDA mission. Awards for this year will recognize excellence in:

• Mission Integration of Research, Education, and Extension
• Multistate Efforts
• Innovative Programs and Projects
• Effective and Efficient Use of Resources
• Program Improvement through Global Engagement

Nominations can be submitted for individuals or teams of up to 20 members. Each institution may submit up to two nominations (combined total across all categories), meaning the entire institution including research, education, and extension functions.

Specific instructions and other information regarding this awards program are in the 2017 NIFA Partnership Awards Criteria. Nominations must be submitted via the NIFA Partnership Awards Nomination Form located on the NIFA web site. All signed nomination forms must be submitted by July 31, 2017, via email using scanned files that have been saved as .pdf or .jpg files to performance@ars.usda.gov according to instructions in the Awards Criteria.

Winning nominations will be recognized at the NIFA Day of Appreciation scheduled for October 2017. NIFA will pay travel expenses for one person from each winning nomination, whether it is an individual or team award.

Nominations should include only individuals or teams who have performed truly distinguished service. NIFA asks that Deans, Directors, and Administrators thoroughly review each submission for validity of accomplishments before signing his or her approval on the nomination form.

Funded by a grant from the USDA, the Xerces Society partnered with Oregon Tilth to develop and launch the Bee Better Certified program. The project received a $350,000 Conservation Innovation Grant in 2016 from the NRCS which Xerces matched to develop and test the first-of-its-kind program.
After piloting the program with 13 farmers over the past few months, Xerces and Oregon Tilth are now opening it to farmers nationwide.

Bee Better is open to farms of all types and sizes. Those interested submit an application to Oregon Tilth, which inspects the farm and certifies if it meets standards.

Certified farmers are able to use the Bee Better seal on their farmstands. Manufacturers can also use the seal on products that contain Bee Better Certified ingredients.

Farmers can learn more about Bee Better here. Farmers interested in NRCS conservation practices should contact their local USDA service center.

EPA’s final test guidelines, 810.3900 – Laboratory Product Performance Testing Methods for Bed Bug Pesticide Products, provides recommendations for the design and execution of laboratory studies to evaluate the performance of pesticide products intended to be effective against bed bugs. The guidance also includes directions for data reporting.
This guidance applies to products to be applied for a pesticidal purpose such as to attract, repel, or kill bed bugs. It does not apply to repellent products applied to human skin, and does not apply to products exempt from Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act registration under 40 CFR 152.25.

EPA’s test guidelines are intended for use in the testing of pesticides and toxic substances and development of data for submission to the EPA. The test guidelines are organized by series number https://www.epa.gov/test-guidelines-pesticides-and-toxic-substances/final-test-guidelines-pesticides-and-toxic.

Under FIFRA, all companies wishing to register a pesticide product for use against public health pests, such as bed bugs, must submit pesticide product performance data that demonstrate that the pesticide product works against the pests for which the product is intended. The data generated to support pesticide product label claims against public health pests are required to be submitted when applying for registration to help inform the Agency’s regulatory decisions during the registration process.

Go to www.regulations.gov, docket# EPA-HQ-OPPT-2009-0150 to view the series 810.3900 test guidelines.

Go to www.regulations.gov, docket# EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-1017, to view the Federal Register Notice for this action.