University of Maryland. Photo courtesy of Preston Keres, USDA.
JANUARY 2025 TOOLKIT
The Unique Power of the Land-grant University System:
Accelerating Discovery, Developing the Workforce, and Delivering Solutions
Through world-class research, education, and Extension, land-grant universities are uniquely equipped to tackle many of our nation’s most pressing challenges. They foster progress by building upon their historic mission (see brief history below) and transformative achievements. Together, these institutions drive advancements to build a strong and resilient future for individuals, families, communities, and the nation.
COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES IN ACTION
Aid Southeast Farmers, Families, and Communities in Hurricane Recovery and Support Producers Year-Round
As our nation faces the extensive devastation resulting from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Southeast now begins the long process of recovering and rebuilding. The public and land-grant university system are dedicated to helping the Southeast region’s families, farmers, ranchers, and communities.
Advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emerging Technologies
Public and land-grant universities play a crucial role in developing and implementing AI and emerging technologies. These breakthroughs are revolutionizing agriculture by enhancing efficiency, productivity, and sustainability.
Fortify Food Security and Protect National Security
Land-grant universities address long-term challenges that impact domestic and international food security and national security issues. Global food security is a critical U.S. national security concern because regional violence arises when people do not have access or cannot afford food. Universities are key partners with the U.S. government’s efforts to increase domestic and global food security.
Prevent or Minimize Avian Influenza
Public and land-grant universities are at the forefront of research, education, and Extension efforts to develop and disseminate research findings that can prevent or minimize avian influenza outbreaks. Examples include advancing surveillance, early detection, and effective biosecurity control practices that block disease from entering farms or poultry flocks.
Advance Ag Workforce Development
There is currently a strong demand and low supply for prepared college graduates with interest and expertise in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and the environment. Land-grant universities are preparing students to launch and advance impactful careers in a range of professions. These workforce development initiatives also support employers’ needs and drive economic competitiveness.
Increase Producers’ Productivity and Profits
Land-grant universities accelerate scientific progress, offer world-class education, and deliver practical solutions in support of our nation’s food producers. Farmers and ranchers are confronted with rapidly evolving, complex challenges as they work to provide safe, affordable, ample, and nutritious food supply. Land-grant universities help producers improve their operations, lower expenses, and boost profitability to benefit their bottom lines.
Agricultural Systems: Increasing profitability and productivity for farmers, ranchers, and sustainable food and fiber production systems by using innovative and time-tested methods.
Energy and Bioproducts: Leading the way in energy technologies such as bioproducts, biofuels, biomass, and other energy technologies and techniques for a cleaner energy future.
Environmental Stewardship: Building a sustainable future for people and the natural environment through stewardship of the ecosystem, energy conservation, and water management.
Food Security: Ensuring that everyone has safe, ample, affordable, accessible, and nutritious food.
Nutrition and Health: Strengthening public health by advancing and promoting nutrition, genomics, physical activity, wellness, and disease management.
Youth, Family, and Communities: Creating engaged citizens for our future through economic and community development, leadership, and youth development opportunities.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
A land-grant college or university is a higher education institution designated by its state legislature or Congress to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862, 1890, or the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994.
Senator Justin Smith Morrill from Vermont sponsored and secured the passage of the first Morrill Act (1862). The original land-grant mission, as set forth in the First Morrill Act, was to teach agriculture, military tactics, mechanic arts, domestic arts and sciences, and classical studies so members of the working classes could obtain a practical education that had direct relevance to their daily lives. This land-grant legislation resulted from a growing demand for agricultural and technical education since higher education at the time focused on study of the classics and was mostly unavailable to all but the elite in the United States.
The Agricultural Experiment Stations created by the Hatch Act (1887) are key components of the land-grant system. The Hatch Act authorized federal grant funding to each state to establish an Agricultural Experiment Station, a scientific research center that investigates potential improvements related to agriculture, in connection with its land-grant institution. The specific purpose of Hatch Multistate Research Fund is to conduct research by institutions within a state and by institutions in multiple states to solve problems that concern more than one state.
The second Morrill Act (1890) extended access to higher education by providing additional endowments for all land-grants, but prohibited distribution of money to states that made distinctions of race in admissions. However, states that provided a separate land-grant institution for black people were eligible to receive the funds. The institutions that were founded or designated the land-grant for black people in each of the then segregated Southern states are known as “the 1890 land-grants.”
The Smith-Lever Act (1914) created the Cooperative Extension Service associated with each land-grant institution to disseminate information developed from the Agricultural Experiment Stations’ research.
The Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 conferred land-grant status to 36 Native American tribal colleges. These colleges are called the “1994 land-grants” in reference to the year they were granted land-grant status.
There is at least one land-grant institution in every U.S. state, six territories and the District of Columbia. Some states have more than one land-grant institution due to the second Morrill Act and the Equity in Education Land-grant Status Act of 1994.
Today, land-grant universities improve the quality of lives and are integral to the overall economic vitality of their communities, states, regions, and the nation.
SOCIAL MEDIA
SAMPLE POSTS
RESEARCH
From [precision agriculture and AI] to [fortifying food security], @UNIVERSITY is driving research that transforms lives. Explore our latest advancements: LINK #LandGrantUniversities
EDUCATION
Through innovative education programs, @COLLEGE equips students with the skills to tackle today's challenges and lead tomorrow's solutions. Learn more about our programs: LINK #LandGrantUniversities
EXTENSION
.@EXTENSION programs at @UNIVERSITY connect cutting-edge science with local communities, empowering individuals and solving real-world problems. See how we're making a difference: LINK #LandGrantUniversities
Looking for pre-made stories to feature? Check out:
- Land-grant Impacts
Scroll down to "View by Institution" and click your university's name. Only institutions who submitted impacts to the National Impacts Database in 2023 are listed. This page features research and Extension impacts. - Multistate Research Funds Impacts
Scroll down to "Filter by Institution" on the sidebar and click your university's name. This page features research impacts.
Feel free to reach out to us with specific posts that you would like @AgIsAmerica to share. Please email your request to Kim Scotto at [email protected] or use #AgIsAmerica.
HASHTAGS AND HANDLES
HASHTAGS
#LandGrantUniversities
#AgIsAmerica
HANDLES
|
Ag is America |
@AgIsAmerica |
|
APLU Ag |
@APLU_Ag |
|
Sec. Vilsack (Secretary of Agriculture) |
@SecVilsack |
|
USDA |
@USDA |
|
USDA National Institute of Food & Ag |
@USDA_NIFA |
|
APLU |
@APLU_News |
CALENDAR
DECEMBER HOLIDAYS
MONTHS
National Soup Month, #NationalSoupMonth
WEEKS
January 21-24: International Hoof Care Week, #InternationalHoofCareWeek
January 26 - February 2: National Meat Week, #MeatWeek
DAYS
January 5: National Bird Day, #NationalBirdDay
January 6: National Bean Day, #NationalBeanDay
January 9: National Apricot Day, #NationalApricotDay
January 11: National Milk Day, #NationalMilkDay
January 20: Martin Luther King Jr Day, #MLKDay
January 20: National Cheese Lover’s Day, #CheeseLoversDay
January 23: National Pie Day, #NationalPieDay
January 24: National Peanut Butter Day, #PeanutButterDay
Source: January - National Day Calendar
