Why It Matters
Healthy plants and animals are essential to a safe, reliable food supply and a strong agricultural economy. Diseases, invasive pests, changing climate conditions, and other emerging threats can reduce agricultural productivity, harm crops and livestock, and increase costs for producers and consumers.
America’s land-grant and public universities help farmers and ranchers prevent, detect and respond to these challenges through research, education, and Cooperative Extension. In collaboration with plant and animal health experts, state and federal partners, and other stakeholders, they develop and deliver practical solutions that strengthen the nation’s ability to protect plant and animal health.
→ Key Takeaway
Land-grant universities help farmers and ranchers remain productive and profitable by preventing, detecting, and responding to plant and animal health threats.
By the Numbers
- U.S. farmers plant more than 250 million acres of food and fiber crops worth more than $115 billion annually, resources that plant pests and diseases can put at risk.
Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service
- USDA APHIS estimated in 2025 that screwworm-prevention investments have saved the U.S. cattle industry $2.3 billion annually.
Source: Congressional Research Service - New World Screwworm: Current Issues
- The ongoing outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the United States has resulted in cumulative poultry losses surpassing 200 million birds (2022 to 2026).
Source: aviNes.com
- Postharvest insect losses to U.S. corn and wheat alone can total as much as $2.5 billion annually.
Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service
CEOs' Perspectives
Protecting Plant Health
“An important link between land-grant universities and the fresh produce and floral industry is the next generation plant breeding technologies and tools for integrated pest management. Simply put, the work that happens in academia has a direct impact on the tools used by many in the fruit and vegetable community today, and we need more of these tools and solutions.”
Protecting Animal Health
"Land‑grant universities are leading important work on the future of cattle and beef production...[to] help producers do more with less in a resource‑constrained world. Right now, however, the most urgent challenge is finding new ways to combat the New World Screwworm. Land‑grant researchers are essential partners in developing innovative control methods, and Cooperative Extension plays a critical role in educating producers about prevention and detection."
Photo courtesy of K-State Agriculture.
In the Spotlight: Land-Grant Impacts
Understanding the Genetics of Immunity and Resistance to Avian Diseases
University of Arkansas, Auburn University, University of California, Davis, University of Delaware, University of Georgia, University of Illinois, Iowa State University, University of Maryland, North Carolina State University, The Ohio State University, West Virginia University, Western University, and USDA-ARS
Working together on a Multistate Research Project, scientists at land-grant universities are shedding light on poultry genetics; identifying ways to improve poultry immunity and resistance to disease; and sharing findings, tools, and methods with producers, breeders, vaccine developers, veterinarians, and others.
Funding: Hatch Multistate Research Fund
Supporting Meat and Dairy Industries
Montana State University, University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Puerto Rico
Research and Extension professionals at land-grant institutions support livestock and related industries through education on economically efficient production practices and research that protects and improves animal health, food safety, and food quality.
Funding: Smith-Lever (3b&c) Capacity Funds, Evans-Allen Capacity Funds, USDA Competitive Funds, State Appropriations, and Others
New Bacterial Test Helps Protect the Billion-Dollar Poultry Industry
Mississippi State University
Scientists with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station developed a rapid, low-cost onsite test for the bacterium responsible for necrotic enteritis. The disease causes an estimated $6 billion in annual poultry-industry losses, and the new test provides accurate results using minimal equipment.
Funding: Hatch Capacity Funds and State Appropriations
Advancing Food Security Through Sustainable Livestock and Crop Innovations
Central State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Research at 1890 land-grant universities addresses critical challenges in animal and plant production. These projects support sustainable food systems and food security by improving livestock and crop health, reducing reliance on agrochemicals, and increasing production efficiency.
Funding: Evans-Allen Capacity Funds and Others
Research Helps Increase Specialty Crop Profitability
Land-grant universities support specialty crop growers with research and educational resources that improve profitability and help producers make informed decisions. Featured examples include work with apples, grapes, strawberries, and blueberries across the country.
- Helping Midwest Apple Growers Improve Productivity, Address Challenges
Iowa State University
Funding: Hatch Multistate Capacity Funds; USDA Competitive Funds - Expanding Seedless Table Grape Production in Northern New England
University of New Hampshire
Funding: Hatch Capacity Funds - Wine Grapes: Development and Implementation of Sustainable Pest Management Strategies for Washington Wine Grapes
Washington State University
Funding: Hatch Capacity Funds; Private Grants and Contracts - UC ANR Innovations Cut Fumigation Emissions in Strawberry Production
University of California
Funding: Hatch Multistate Capacity Funds - Exploring How to Support Both Fresh and Frozen Blueberry Economies
University of Maine
Funding: Smith-Lever (3b&c) Capacity Funds; State Appropriations
Tackling Wheat Mosaic Virus in Kansas
Kansas State University
After a severe 2025 wheat mosaic outbreak, K-State Research and Extension helped producers determine that multiple viruses were affecting fields and adjust variety-selection strategies toward broader, multi-virus resistance. Infected fields faced potential yield losses exceeding 80%.
Funding: Smith-Lever 3(b) and 3(c) Capacity Funds and USDA Capacity Research
Integrated Pest Management Reduces Crop Losses in Louisiana
LSU AgCenter
LSU AgCenter integrated pest management practices prevented estimated yield losses of 10% to 40% while reducing insecticide applications. Estimated annual savings reached as much as $10 million in rice, $11 million in sugarcane, $20 million in soybeans, $9 million in corn, and $3 million in cotton.
Funding: Smith-Lever 3(b) and 3(c) Capacity Funds and State Appropriations
Land-grant universities form a uniquely connected national system that leverages cutting-edge research, trusted expertise, and a local presence to quickly address existing and emerging plant and animal health threats. By linking scientific discovery with practical, on-the-ground knowledge, this network develops and delivers solutions that reach producers and communities across the country. Together, research, education and Cooperative Extension help protect agricultural productivity and profitability while strengthening the ability of U.S. agriculture to respond, adapt and thrive.
Impacts by Region
Sample Social Media Posts
America's land-grant universities help producers protect the health of crops and livestock. Through [program name], [institution] delivers practical, research-backed solutions to address emerging threats and strengthen food security: [program link]
Healthy plants and animals are essential to a strong food system. Through [program name], [institution] helps producers prevent, identify, and manage threats that can affect productivity and profitability: [program link]
From invasive pests to livestock diseases, agricultural threats are constantly evolving. Through research and Cooperative Extension, [institution] delivers science-based, practical guidance to help producers protect their operations: [program link]
When plant and animal health challenges emerge, producers need trusted information they can act on quickly. Through Cooperative Extension, [institution] connects research-based expertise with on-the-ground agricultural needs: [program link]
Preventing agricultural threats is often more effective than responding after outbreaks occur. Through [program name], [institution] helps producers detect risks early and adopt strategies that protect [crops/livestock/farm viability]: [program link]
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Have a story for us to share? Email Kim at agcomms@aplu.org.
Holidays
MONTHS
National Native American Heritage Month, #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth
National Pepper Month, #PepperMonth
National Pomegranate Month, #PomegranateMonth
Sweet Potato Awareness Month, #SweetPotatoMonth
World Vegan Month, #WorldVeganMonth
DAYS
November 1: National Cinnamon Day, #CinnamonDay
November 3: One Health Day, #OneHealthDay
November 4: National Candy Day, #NationalCandyDay
November 8: National STEM/STEAM Day, #NationalSTEMDay
November 11: Veterans Day, #VeteransDay
November 14: National Pickle Day, #PickleDay
November 19: National Rural Health Day, #NationalRuralHealthDay, #PowerOfRural | Toolkit
November 23: National Cashew Day, #CashewDay
November 26: Thanksgiving Day, #Thanksgiving
November 27: National Native American Heritage Day, #NativeAmericanHeritageDay
November 27: Maize Day, #MaizeDay