/wp-content/uploads/page-bg-internal.jpg
Our Work
Home > Policy & Advocacy > Agriculture & Natural Resources

Agriculture & Natural Resources

APLU, through the Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA), advocates yearly on behalf of agricultural research, extension, and education funding. The BAA is also heavily involved in advocating for beneficial language regarding university priorities in each Farm Bill. The BAA also maintains vigilance over federal agency implementation of relevant legislation. The BAA also responds to legislative and administrative issues as they arise.

APLU also advocates yearly on behalf of natural resources research and outreach funding through its Boards on Natural Resources (BNR) and Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate (BOAC). Additionally, these Boards advocate for reauthorization of relevant programs such as the National Sea Grant College Program or the Water Resources Research Act. Finally, these Boards keep an eye out for administrative issues of relevance to their fields.

Issues

Much of the funding for agricultural research, extension, and education comes through USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The BAA, through its advocacy group, Cornerstone Government Affairs, provides advocacy documents and up-to-date detailed information on the appropriations process for NIFA. Additionally, the Council on Government Affairs provides a broad overview of the primary appropriations lines of concern. To view the advocacy reports and documents, please check the BAC’s website at www.land-grant.org.

In addition to federal appropriations, the BAA closely follows the regulatory actions of USDA. To see more on the BAA’s actions with regard to USDA regulations, please see www.aplu.org/baa.

APLU’s work on each Farm Bill can be broken into three pieces: 1) Discussion of what may be needed in the next Farm Bill, 2) Advocacy to pass the Farm Bill, and 3) Implementation of the Farm Bill. The BAA, through the Committee on Legislation and Policy and its advocacy group, Cornerstone Government Affairs, provides information on the development and/or implementation of the Farm Bill.To view the advocacy reports related to the Farm Bill, please check the BAC’s website at www.land-grant.org.

The BAA also follows international regulations and treaties related to agriculture. To see the most recent actions of the BAA in this arena, please see www.aplu.org/baa.

USGS programs, such as the Wildlife Cooperative Research Units, the Water Resources Research Institutes, and the Cooperative Geological Mapping, all provide extramural funding to universities. APLU, through the BNR advocates for USGS appropriations and authorization legislation for relevant programs and comments on administrative implementation of those programs.

NOAA provides both observational data and extramural funding critical to university researchers. APLU, through the BOAC advocates for NOAA appropriations and authorization legislation for relevant programs and weighs in on administrative implementation of those programs.

EPA provides extramural funding to university researchers and students through programs such as the Science to Achieve Results, P3, Fellowships, and Research Centers. APLU, through the BNR, advocates for EPA Science and Technology appropriations and comments on administrative implementation of those programs.