2018 Farm Bill Primer: Agricultural Research and Extension

2018 Farm Bill Primer: Agricultural Research and Extension

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September 24, 2019
2018 Farm Bill Primer: Agricultural Research and Extension
Congress reauthorizes, amends, and adds new programs and
2018 Farm Bill Provisions: Land-Grant
requirements to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Institutions
research, education, and extension activities through Title
Several provisions in the 2018 farm bill address aspects of
VII of the 2018 farm bill (Agriculture Improvement Act of
the land-grant university system, which includes three
2018, P.L. 115-334). Provisions in Title VII of the 2018
institutional categories known as the 1862, 1890, and 1994
farm bill focus primarily on extramural activities. For a
Institutions, named for the year of the acts establishing
complete list of provisions, see CRS Report R45525, The
them: 1862 refers to the original, 1890 to the historically
2018 Farm Bill (P.L. 115-334): Summary and Side-by-Side
black, and 1994 to the tribal land-grant colleges and
Comparison. Title VII amends four major federal statutes:
universities.
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-113 §§1401-1491);
1890 Institutions
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1980
Section 7115 addresses a discrepancy in how 1890 and
(P.L. 101-624); the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
1862 land-grant institutions can manage federal research
Education Reform Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-185); and the
and extension capacity funds. It removes a prohibition on
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-
1890 Institutions carrying over unexpended funds from one
234).
fiscal year to the next, which may facilitate longer-term
planning. This change aligns carryover allowances for 1890
USDA Research and Extension
and 1862 Institutions. Another provision (§7116) addresses
USDA supports extramural (or externally conducted)
disparities in state matching funds for federal capacity
research, education, and extension activities at universities
grants provided to 1890 and 1862 Institutions. In some
and other facilities. USDA also supports intramural (or
cases, matching requirements for 1890 Institutions can be
internally conducted) research done by federal scientists
waived, whereas they cannot be waived for most 1862
and researchers at USDA facilities.
Institutions. This means that some 1890 Institutions may
not receive 100% matching funds from their states. The
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
2018 farm bill provision requires USDA to report annually
(NIFA) manages extramural programs. These include
on federal capacity awards and state matching funds
competitive grants, awarded to specific projects based on a
provided to 1890 and 1862 Institutions. Another provision
peer-review process, and capacity grants, awarded to states
(§7117) authorizes $40 million in total mandatory and $10
based on formulas in statute. Some grants focus only on
million in annual discretionary funds to establish a grant
institutions in the land-grant university system (see CRS
program for 1890 Institutions. These grants are to provide
Report R45897, The U.S. Land-Grant University System:
scholarships to students who intend to pursue careers in
An Overview). Others may include additional eligible
food and agricultural sciences. The 2018 farm bill (§7213)
entities, including non-land-grant universities and
also calls for USDA to name at least three Centers of
community organizations. Figure 1 shows total funding
Excellence at 1890 Institutions focused on one or more of
amounts awarded by NIFA for research, extension, and
six identified areas. Centers are authorized annual
integrated (combining research and extension) activities.
appropriations of $10 million per year through FY2023.
Figure 1. NIFA Funds Awarded by Type and Year
Tribal Students
Section 7120 authorizes USDA to make competitive grants
to land-grant institutions, including 1994 (tribal)
Institutions, to support tribal students. Institutions may use
the funds to support recruiting, tuition, experiential
learning, and student services for tribal students.
Institutions must provide 100% matching funds. Congress
authorized $5 million annually in appropriations through
FY2023.
2018 Farm Bill Provisions: New
Programs and Initiatives
Section 7132 establishes a pilot initiative under the USDA
Office of the Chief Scientist. The Agriculture Advanced
Source: CRS from NIFA data gateway (https://nifa.usda.gov/data).
Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) targets
Notes: Data reflect awards made, which may differ from authorized
long-term and high-risk research and development in
or appropriated funding levels. Values are in $mil ions.
agriculture and food that private industry is unlikely to
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2018 Farm Bill Primer: Agricultural Research and Extension
undertake. Modeled after authorities at other agencies,
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
The Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research
(DARPA), the provision gives AGARDA non-competitive
(FFAR) is a nonprofit corporation established in the 2014
hiring authorities and authority to receive funds from
farm bill (Agricultural Act of 3014, P.L. 113-79) to
royalties and other sources. Congress authorized $50
leverage private funding with federal dollars to support
million annually in appropriations through FY2023 in
public agricultural research. It awards competitive research
addition to funds AGARDA may receive through its
and development grants to university, government, and
authorized non-federal sources.
other entities with federal funds and 100% matching funds
from non-federal sources. The 2014 farm bill authorized
The 2018 farm bill also authorizes a new Urban, Indoor,
$200 million in initial mandatory funding. The 2018 farm
and Emerging Agricultural Production, Research,
bill amends aspects of FFAR and its board and requires
Education, and Extension Initiative (§7212). The provision
FFAR to submit a strategic plan to Congress identifying a
authorizes USDA to make competitive research and
path to self-sustainability (§7603). The 2018 farm bill
extension grants to facilitate development of urban and
authorized $185 million of additional mandatory funding to
indoor agricultural production systems and emerging
be available after Congress receives the strategic plan.
harvesting, packaging, and distribution systems and new
markets. Grants may be awarded to universities, federal
Selected Farm Bill Provisions Supporting
agencies, and other types of organizations and individuals
Agricultural Research and Extension
as defined in statute (7 U.S.C. §3157). The provision
authorizes $10 million annually in discretionary
Land-Grant Institutions
appropriations through FY2023 and $10 million in
 §7115. Extension and Agricultural Research at 1890
mandatory funds for FY2019. Additionally, USDA is to
Land-Grant Col eges, Including Tuskegee University
conduct a census to collect data on urban, indoor, and other
 §7116. Reports on Disbursement of Funds for
emerging agricultural production. Congress authorized
Agricultural Research and Extension at 1862 and 1890
appropriations of $14 million total for FY2019-FY2021 for
Land-Grant Col eges, Including Tuskegee University
this census.
 §7117. Scholarships for Students at 1890 Institutions
2018 Farm Bill Provisions: Other Existing
 §7213. Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions
Programs and Initiatives
 §7120. New Beginnings for Tribal Students
Several provisions in the 2018 farm bill amend extramural
New Programs and Initiatives
programs and initiatives that a broad range of institutions
and facilities may conduct and/or manage.
 §7132. Agriculture Advanced Research and
Development Authority Pilot
NIFA Competitive Grants
 §7212. Urban, Indoor, and Other Emerging Agricultural
The 2018 farm bill reauthorizes USDA’s flagship
Production Research, Education, and Extension Initiative
competitive research program, the Agriculture and Food
Other Existing Programs and Initiatives
Research Initiative (AFRI, §7504). It adds soil health;

automation; collaboration with biomedical researchers; and
§7504. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
removal of entry barriers for young, beginning, socially
 §7209. High Priority Research and Extension
disadvantaged, veteran, and immigrant farmers and
 §7210. Organic Agriculture Research and Extension
ranchers to existing AFRI priority areas.
Initiative
 §7305. Specialty Crop Research Initiative
Section 7209 addresses high priority research and
extension initiatives administered by NIFA through other
 §7501. Critical Agricultural Materials Act
programs. It adds 10 new areas, including macadamia tree
 §7603. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
health, turf grass, fertilizer management, and cattle fever
tick research. This provision also calls for the USDA Chief
Scientist to enhance USDA pollinator research coordination
Considerations for Congress
with leadership from a new Honeybee and Pollinator
USDA is currently implementing 2018 farm bill provisions.
Research Coordinator.
Congress may continue to track USDA’s progress as part of
its oversight responsibilities. Title VII deadlines include:
Section 7210 reauthorizes the Organic Agriculture Research
and Extension Initiative (OREI) and increases its annual
 USDA is to develop the AGARDA strategic plan and
mandatory funding authorization from $20 million in
make it publicly available by December 15, 2019.
FY2019 to $50 million in FY2023. Section 7305
reauthorizes mandatory and discretionary funding for the
 USDA is to conduct a census of urban, indoor, and
Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), and adds new
emerging agriculture by December 20, 2019.
research and extension topics. OREI and SCRI issue
competitive grants.
 FFAR is to submit a strategic plan to Congress before
new mandatory funds are made available.
Section 7501 specifies hemp as eligible for Supplemental
and Alternative Crops research grants and requires USDA
Genevieve K. Croft, Analyst in Agricultural Policy
to report on the economic viability of hemp production.
IF11319
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2018 Farm Bill Primer: Agricultural Research and Extension

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