Secretaries Rollins & McMahon Host Land-grant University Presidents; APLU Hails $125 Million Investment in Agricultural Research Facilities

Washington, DC – Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) President Waded Cruzado today applauded the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon for announcing the opening of an application period for $125 million in grants to address decades of deferred maintenance and accelerate modernization of agricultural research facilities. The announcement came following a meeting the cabinet secretaries hosted yesterday at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s headquarters with APLU leaders and more than two dozen land-grant university presidents. During the meeting, the university and government officials had a positive and constructive conversation about a myriad of agriculture and higher education issues, including the need for more federal support to address deferred maintenance at agricultural research facilities.

“We greatly appreciate U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Education McMahon for hosting a roundtable for public and land-grant university leaders and for their efforts to advance agricultural innovation at land-grant universities across the country,” said APLU President Waded Cruzado. “Public and land-grant universities have been engines of agricultural innovation for generations – helping producers tackle challenges, improve yields, and outcompete global challengers. We look forward to continuing to work with the administration and congressional champions to secure further investments in the nation’s agricultural research infrastructure that helps American farmers feed the country and world.”

“A nation that cannot feed itself is not secure and for too long, many of our land-grant universities have faced aging facilities and mounting deferred maintenance costs that threaten their ability to conduct world-class agricultural research,” said Secretary Rollins. “Today we are announcing a $125 million investment to ensure America’s farmers and ranchers continue to benefit from the innovation that secures our vital U.S. agriculture industry and allows us to feed, clothe, and fuel not only our nation but the world.

“Agricultural advancement is not an accident of history; it is the product of generations of Americans’ hard work and ingenuity,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Our land-grant universities have driven agricultural development for more than a century – advancing critical scientific breakthroughs, pioneering cutting-edge technologies, and cultivating dedicated Americans who have strengthened America’s food and farming systems. Thanks to President Trump, today’s investment ensures these institutions continue to anchor American strength at home while leaded the world in competitiveness.”

“Agricultural innovation has enabled our nation to feed millions, eradicate emerging threats, and maintain one of the safest food supplies in the world,” said USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics and Chief Scientist Dr. Scott H. Hutchins. “The Research Facilities Act program will ensure that future food and agricultural research is conducted in state-of-the-art facilities equipped with cutting-edge tools. This program is a win for American agriculture and for the next generation of scientists and producers.”

“For 164 years, USDA has partnered with America’s great land-grant and agricultural universities to produce the discoveries, service, and education needed to keep the nation fed and to fuel U.S. agricultural progress around the world,” said NIFA Director Dr. Jaye L. Hamby. “This investment reaffirms our commitment to that valued partnership and to the next generation of agriculturists. We are excited to see the tremendous impact this program will have to accelerate research from the lab to the marketplace and the fields to improve profitability for our farmers, ranchers, and producers and secure our nation’s food supply.”

For additional details on the investment in agricultural research infrastructure across America, please read the United States Department of Agriculture’s press release.