USFCR Blog

Video games, according to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), are one of the most beloved pastimes in the United States, keeping over 62 percent of adults and 76 percent of kids engaged through various gaming mediums (mobile, console, PC, VR, etc).¹ Also, a majority of players have stated the various benefits of playing video games, including expanding social circles through a welcoming and inclusive environment, introducing people to new friends and relationships, creating accessible experiences for those with different physical abilities, and being a way for parents to spend time with their children.²

“Animal models are essential for several biomedical research fields such as cancer biology and therapeutics, neuroscience, pharmacology and toxicology, neurobiology of diseases, endocrinology, public health, palliative medicine, also, in studies in human and animal biology and for the discovery and testing of new drugs, vaccines, and other biologicals [...] Currently, these models address current research priorities, considered as those imposing major global threats to human and animal health.”
– Adriana Domínguez-Olivia, et al., 2023¹

The  National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is supporting biomedical research projects to improve the rigor, reproducibility, and translatability of animal models via the development and implementation of broadly applicable technologies, tools, and resources. This opportunity stresses that the proposed studies, resources, models, or technologies must either explore multiple organ systems or be applicable to diseases and processes impacting many organ systems and must address research interests of multiple NIH Institutes & Centers (IC’s).

The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has called for the recruitment and training of EMS personnel to address issues regarding substance use disorders (SUDs) and co-occurring disorders (COD) substance use and mental disorders in rural communities. Roughly 46 million U.S. citizens live in rural areas and are met with significant health challenges, including “higher rates of chronic disease and suicide, worse maternal health, and limited access to care.” ¹

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), is offering over $123 million towards an expansion program related to meat and poultry processing.

According to the USDA’s 99th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, there was an estimated 3.09 billion pounds of total beef exports expected to decline. Also, commercial beef production was forecasted to decline by 6 percent, to 26.5 billion pounds.¹ The Processing Expansion Program will assist meat and poultry producers in expanding their current capacity and ensure that the proper safety measures are followed in accordance with the USDA.

"A grove of giant redwood or sequoias should be kept just as we keep a great and beautiful cathedral."
—Theodore Roosevelt   

The USDA Forest Service will be offering funds towards the conservation of open spaces and community forests through its Community Forest Program (CFP). These areas must be protected in order to provide various environmental, educational, recreational, and economic benefits within the targeted communities. 

Ecological restoration has been defined as “the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.” Traditional perspectives and TEK provide insights into hidden or lost ecological diversity and relationships that tribes have had with their environments.
— Jonathan W. Long, et. al; Ecopsychology ¹

The U.S. The Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is offering a program to promote rural economic communities and climate-resilient landscapes. It will focus on specialty crop issues on the regional and national levels in the areas of food safety, marketing and promotion, research, investigations on pests and diseases, and crop-specific projects addressing various common issues. No federal cost sharing or matching is required.

Marine mammals are important indicator species of ocean health. When they show signs of illness, they may be signaling changes in the marine environment that will be important to human health and the overall health of our ocean ecosystems. Monitoring the health of marine mammals, especially during a UME, can reveal emerging threats, potential impacts of human activities, and the effectiveness of management actions.
— National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries (1)   

The number of wildfires occurring in the United States over recent years has led to great destruction of land and properties, and risked the lives of people located in susceptible areas. According to the Congressional Research Service, there was an average of 61,410 wildfires and 7.2 million acres of land burned across the United States from 2013 to 2022. (1)

Rural areas across the country are facing issues of aging and declining infrastructure, buildings, and equipment that have widespread consequences for both the economy and the environment. For many farmers and small business owners, energy-inefficient equipment and infrastructure can drastically raise the cost of doing business, placing a further burden on these firms to be financially successful.