This talk will focus on opportunities for agricultural sensors through USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Dr. Melnick is the USDA NIFA lead for the joint NSF/NIFA program Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems as well as manages the Plant Production and Protection – Engineering program are for the USDA Small Business Innovation Research program. The USDA SBIR program offer competitively awarded grants to qualified small businesses to support high quality research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefits. The program stimulates technological innovations in the private sector and strengthens the role of federal research and development in support of small businesses. The need to increase agricultural production while reducing the environmental impacts of has led to new and innovative technologies. Smart sensors are a key to precision agricultural production and ensure the security and safety of our food and fiber systems from field to fork.