Sample Impact Statements from USDA-NIFA

Here are some examples of solid research outcomes that have been distributed by NIFA in the past:

Increased profits for the beef producers can be achieved through a higher percentage of cows calving during a more concentrated time frame and earlier in the calving period, as well as an improvement in genetics resulting from use of high accuracy, genetically proven, superior sires. Research programs in 2011 at the University of Florida were aimed developing cow-calf production systems which reduce unit cost of production while still producing high quality beef that meets the demands of today's consumer; developing and integrating reproductive management technologies into management systems. A significant impact from such programs shows that it costs $0.75 to $1.50 per day to raise one post-weaned calf, and 70% of that cost is feed related. In addition, a calf is usually backgrounded for 90 to 120 days. If a supplement during the backgrounding period does not exceed $0.05 per day yet results in a 7% to 8% reduction in feed with no reduction in performance, then cattle producers will save between $3.65 to $9.24 per head during the backgrounding phase (90 to 120 days) or $1.9 to $7.0 million savings to the state of Florida cattle industry each year.

Disease agents such as listeria can cause widespread havoc on ready-to-eat foods, while mold on cheese can cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems. Researchers at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station and Cornell University looked at whether they could combine an alternative to thermal processing of ready-to-eat foods, pulsed-light technology, with natural protectants against listeria and mold on ready-to-eat meat and dairy products. They looked at this technology being used against listeria and mold growth. For listeria, the newly developed treatment showed no significant listeria over 28 days of refrigerated storage. For mold, pulsed light treatment reduced molding by 33-40%. These findings and the recommendations provided, once incorporated into industry standards, will lead to safer, more nutritious food and longer shelf life, saving money (including healthcare costs) for consumers and the food industry both, while protecting invaluable industry reputations.

Current climate models assume that vegetation will soak up much of the extra carbon dioxide we put into the air from fossil fuel burning. A joint research project with the University of Wisconsin and University of Minnesota studied 13 plant species common in U.S. Midwestern states. The researchers added extra carbon dioxide to the plants' environment to discover how, in the higher carbon dioxide world of global warming, the plants would respond. The results suggest that plants' capacity to absorb extra carbon from the atmosphere as carbon dioxide levels rise may be less than expected, implying that today’s carbon cycle models are likely under-predicting the pace of increase of future carbon dioxide levels, and therefore the pace of climate change. This research has major implications for models of future climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.