Rosalind Morris led an extraordinary life that ended 26 Mar. 2022, just shy of her 102 birthday. Her legacy lives on, not just through her scientific and professional accomplishments, but also thanks to a generous donation she made to the Agronomic Science Foundation (ASF), the philanthropic arm of ASA, CSSA, and SSSA. Donations to ASF enable a wide range of programming, such as awards, lectureships, and service initiatives and help to sustain the value and relevance of the Societies into the future.

This week, ASA, CSSA, and SSSA offered comments to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) regarding implementation of funding received through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to support climate-smart agriculture and conservation that reflect the boots-on-the-ground realities facing producers enrolling and implementing conservation programs. We likewise were pleased to provide input from the scientific community on innovative means to quantify outcomes and tackle these challenges.

Here’s what you’ll find in this newsletter: 

1. A few big things happening in Washington, DC and beyond.

2. Hot off the press statements and activities from the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA science policy office.

3. Engagement opportunities to help you build advocacy skills. Look for the  for other calls to action throughout the newsletter.

Here’s what you’ll find in this newsletter: 

1. A few big things happening in Washington, DC and beyond.

2. Hot off the press statements and activities from the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA science policy office

3. Engagement opportunities to help you build advocacy skills. Look for the plant symbol for other calls to action throughout the newsletter.

The American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) represent nearly 8,000 scientists in academia, industry, and government. We also support a nationwide network of more than 13,300 Certified Crop Advisers (CCA) and over 700 Certified Professional Soil Scientists (CPSS) who work directly with farmers, many as technical service providers (TSPs).

House Science Committee requests more information on open access

Congress Responds to OSTP Memo:

White House announces fertilizer grants, hunger and nutrition roadmap

What’s new: The U.S.

The House Agriculture Committee’s piece of the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package will include billions of dollars for USDA to manage national forests, upgrade biofuel infrastructure, and conduct climate research. The bill includes a massive $7.75 billion investment in agriculture climate research and infrastructure, including $500 million for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), $380 million for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authori

Seeing the rapidly increasing focus on agriculture as a climate solution, ASA, CSSA, and SSSA released a new climate solutions position statement, Advancing Resilient Agriculture: Recommendations to Address Climate Change, which outlines concrete actions policymakers can take right now to help U.S. agriculture mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects.

The House Appropriations Committee is moving forward with its fiscal year (FY) 2022 spending bills, releasing all twelve bills over the past few weeks. The Agriculture bill provides $3.3 billion for USDA Research, Education, and Economics – $321 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.