Key Information:
- Impact statements can be submitted at any time, however, the deadline to be considered for inclusion in the NIDB comms team’s 2027 materials is Thursday, January 15, 2026.
- 2026 NIDB Training will take place virtually on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Register here.
- The session will be recorded, so please register even if you are unable to attend live.
- A priority topic list was generated by the NIDB Communications Team by cross-referencing national-level priorities and initiatives and with the input of representatives on the APLU’s Communications and Marketing Committee.
- To get access to the database or add/remove editors, please contact your Institutional Administrator. If you don’t have an IA listed, email Kim Scotto at agcomms@aplu.org.
The NIDB is open year-round for impact statement submissions from assigned inputters at LGUs. We continue to welcome/encourage inputters to submit your institution’s strongest impact statements related to the NIDB’s six core focus areas. Every submission is an important contribution to the NIDB.
In addition, we are seeking strong impact statements on select topics that align with national initiatives and priorities.
Impact statements submitted between January 16, 2026 – January 15, 2027 will be considered for inclusion in feature stories and summaries developed by the NIDB Communications Teams. Impact statements submitted after January 15, 2027 will be considered for 2028 materials. Your submissions are always available in the database regardless of whether they are included in feature stories or summaries.
Land-grant Impacts Database Focus Areas
The NIDB always welcomes impact statements related to the six core focus areas.
In early 2027, the NIDB Communications Team will develop overview documents and stories that include examples of LGU research, Extension, and teaching in these areas.
- Agricultural Systems: Increasing profitability and productivity of farming and ranching by reducing inputs, improving efficiency, and advancing automation.
- Energy & Bioproducts: Leading the way in advanced bioproducts, biofuels, biomass, and other energy technologies to expand U.S. commodity markets and fuel the future.
- Environmental Stewardship: Ensuring long-term land productivity and natural resource conservation by enhancing soil health, managing invasive species, and increasing water-use efficiency.
- Food Security: Ensuring that everyone has access to affordable, safe, abundant, and nutritious food.
- Nutrition & Health: Improving human health by advancing and promoting precision nutrition, disease prevention, physical activity, and wellness.
- Youth, Families & Communities: Strengthening families, growing local economies, and investing in positive youth development to build resilient communities nationwide.
Priority Topics for 2027
The following priority topics were identified by the NIDB Communications Team by cross-referencing national-level priorities and initiatives and with the input of representatives on the APLU’s Communications and Marketing Committee.
In early 2027, the NIDB Communications Team will develop special summaries for these topics. Institutions are encouraged to submit impact statements related to these topics so that many excellent examples can be included in the summaries.
The table below lists the priority topics along with additional information about subtopics, specific messages and story types, and key metrics. This additional information provides insight into what makes a strong impact statement submission for a given topic. For example, you can use the information about “specific messages and story angles” to better align your submitted statements with national-level messaging. You can use the “key metrics” information to understand what kinds of impacts stakeholders/audiences are looking for and what impacts to highlight in your submissions. Your submitted impact statements are NOT required to include the listed information. If the information is not helpful or useful to you as you are selecting and inputting your institution’s impact statements, please simply ignore it.
| Subtopics, Specific Messages, and Story Angles | Suggested Key Metrics of Impact |
|---|---|
| National Security | |
| Food and agriculture (and ag research and Extension) are critical to national and global food security and economic stability | |
| LGU system helps the U.S. ag industry compete globally | |
| LGU system ensures U.S. ag R&D keeps pace with other countries | |
| LGU system helps prevent and mitigate agroterrorism/biological threats | |
| Emerging Technology | |
| LGUs leverage artificial intelligence to enhance research, Extension, and impact | improved efficiency, reduced labor time/cost, wider reach, higher resolution data |
| Extension helps producers and communities learn to use artificial intelligence tools | number reached, skills/knowledge learned, adoption of new tools |
| How research and Extension are facilitating development and adoption of precision technology and mechanized and automated systems | improved efficiency, addressing labor shortages, reduced labor time/costs, improved safety, reduced stress, reduced injuries, creation of new higher-paying jobs |
| Economic Development | |
| Entrepreneurship | number of people trained; number of businesses started |
| Small businesses | number, value |
| Rural employment | number of new employers/jobs; improved employment rates |
| Supply Chain | |
| Any/all stages of the food system, including inputs, production, manufacturing, transport, storage, processing, retail | improved efficiency, reduced waste, greater resilience |
| Response to disruptions (e.g., trade wars, input shortages, fuel prices, recalls) | |
| Thriving Rural Areas | |
| Community development | new resources; new infrastructure; improved safety, wellness |
| Improving rural prosperity | |
| Increasing broadband access | |
| Rural community mental health, including farmer mental health | number residents/farmers reached, number new providers/services, reduced stress, lower suicide rates |
| Natural Disasters | |
| Prevention and risk reduction strategies, including research and new technology | BRIC index; acres/counties/people served; amounts donated/distributed; volunteer hours |
| Response and recovery | |
| Stories about collaboration/partnerships | |
| Wildfire | |
| Prevention, detection, and risk reduction strategies, including integrated management practices | number of acres protected |
| Protecting crops and livestock | number of acres/animals |
| Farmer Profitability | |
| Using fewer inputs/using inputs more efficiently | percent reduction; dollar amount of cut costs |
| Reduced environmental impacts due to agrochemical runoff/leaching | reduced spending on mitigation |
| Increasing mechanization and automation | increased output per acre; percent increase in efficiency; reduction in labor costs |
| Financial management trainings | number of farmers participating; estimated value of trainings |
| Value-added agriculture (production or manufacturing processes, marketing or services that increase the economic value of primary agricultural commodities by responding to consumer trends/desires) | competitive advantage; higher prices resulting in higher returns |
| Soil | |
| Better soil health/fertility | increased soil organic matter; increased water-use and fertilizer efficiency resulting in reduced inputs/costs; increased output per acre |
| Reducing soil erosion | percent/amount decrease in soil erosion and associated reductions in air/waterway contamination, landslides, etc. |
| Precision technology, such as soil moisture sensors | |
| Soil remediation | increased amount of safe, productive urban and rural land |
| Cover crops to improve soil health; LGU capacity to test varieties | number varieties developed/identified, acres planted, improvements in soil health and associated improvements in crop yield/quality |
| Crops | |
| Reducing inputs and improving input efficiency | percent/dollar/amount reduced |
| Increasing yield | output per acre |
| Profitability through diversification | additional revenue |
| Bioproducts | |
| Biofuels | lower cost, more efficient, or more environmentally friendly biofuels, including sustainable jet fuel; amount of methane captured from animal production and the energy savings and profit when producers use the energy to power farms or sell it |
| Biobased products create new uses for crops | new markets, increased demand for those crops, and diversified income streams for farmers |
| Biobased products recycle agricultural wastes | reduced disposal costs/risks, new income streams for producers |
| Livestock | |
| Feed efficiency | effect on feed use/costs, effects on animal health and growth, reduction in methane and phosphorous outputs |
| Precision animal agriculture | improved efficiency; improved productivity; reduced time/labor needs |
| Genetics and breeding | tools that make genetics/breeding faster/easier; animals with improved traits, disease immunity/resistance |
| Animal disease prevention and management; biosecurity | reduced disease spread; reduced disease rates, animal death; lower disease management costs |
| Invasive Species | |
| New World screwworm (research discoveries, partnerships, readiness, reach/capacity of LGU system) | number farmers/inspectors trained; number diagnoses made; number test kits distributed; number of livestock protected; containment rate; reduction in infections/spread; improvements in yield/quality; reduced management costs |
| Other emerging diseases/pests of regional or national importance, including but not limited to spotted lanternfly, Asian longhorn tick, bird flu/HPAI, feral swine, rice delphacid, citrus greening | |
| Water Use Efficiency | |
| Reducing crop loss from drought and flooding | acres protected |
| Conserving freshwater through improved irrigation efficiency and recycling water | percent more efficient, number of gallons saved, dollar amount producers saved, reduced strain on water sources |
| Water Quality | |
| Reducing/remediating agrochemicals (nutrients, pathogens, pesticides), sediment, forever chemicals, and/or microplastics | amount/percent reduced and associated improvements in water quality, impacts on users (farmers, surrounding communities, etc.) |
| Food as Medicine | |
| Preventing/managing chronic disease (stories that focus on specific conditions) | change in healthy habits; measured health outcomes |
| Reducing healthcare system strain through improved individual/community health | fewer hospital visits, lower healthcare expenses |
| Developing novel, nutrient-dense varieties and higher quality foods | |
| Allergens | |
| Food safety | reduced foodborne illness incidents/outbreaks |
| Education/workshops | measured change in knowledge/behavior/health |
| Research/programs that focus on young people | |
| Physical Health | |
| Farmer health and safety | number reached, number farms/acres served, reduction in injuries/illnesses and related expenses |
| Older adults | change in fall rates, behaviors, costs |
| Workplace safety | reduced risks, fewer injuries |
| Research/programs that focus on young people | healthy behaviors/skills adopted |
| Youth Development | |
| Stories that emphasize 4-H is part of land-grant system | |
| Financial literacy | improved knowledge/skills, change in behavior |
| Workforce development | improved knowledge/skills; internships/jobs secured |
| Next Generation of Agriculture Professionals and Scientists | |
| Recruiting, educating, and training students for ag careers | number of participants, number of counties/states involved |
| Training ag industry (e.g., pesticide applicators, food safety training, nutritionists/health professionals) | certificates, credentials, or other clear outcomes |
| Programs that are addressing a specific critical workforce need (i.e., not a general summer STEM camp for kids in one county) | number of participants, number of counties/states involved |
| Global Collaborations and Impacts | |
| Study abroad programs and international partnerships that strengthen the ag workforce pipeline | |
| Providing improved varieties/practices to other countries | |
| International collaboration that allows U.S. researchers and farmers to trial solutions in harsher climates | |
| Protecting U.S. food supply from diseases/pests emerging across borders/seas | |
| Rebuilding agriculture in conflict and high-risk regions | |
| Addressing cross-border water challenges | |
| Capacity-Funded Projects | |
| Capacity funds support salaries, facilities, equipment, etc. that make research possible and increase research competitiveness | |
| Capacity funds expand Extension's reach | |
| Capacity funds are critical support for programs that drive workforce and community development | |
| The Best of the Best from Your Institution | |
| Stories you want your institution to be known/recognized for | |
| Your institution's most exciting, unique, and impactful research and programs | |
| Special expertise/facilities/tech that are supporting ag innovation and impact | |
| Stories about how your institution collaborates with other LGUs, industry, etc. | |
2026 Inputter Training
Authorized users in the NIDB are communicators, evaluators, and administrators at land-grant universities who have received impact writing training. Impact training is offered every virtually each fall.
2026 NIDB Virtual Training
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 2:00-3:00pm ET
Join our upcoming virtual training for administrators and new and returning inputters.
Led by NIDB Communications Team Co-Chairs Frankie Gould (LSU AgCenter) and Sara Delheimer (Multistate Research Fund Impacts), the session will cover the basics of the NIDB, how submitted statements are used, and how to write effective impact statements.
This webinar will be recorded. A copy will be sent to all registrants after the training.