In 2015, APLU’S Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA) and our 115 member institutions put a bold vision into action: To substantially increase federal support of agricultural research infrastructure. On July 4, 2025, this became a reality with the signing of the Reconciliation bill that provides $1.125 billion ($125 million annually for 9 years) of mandatory funding for the Research Facilities Act (RFA). This monumental federal investment resulted from the land-grant community’s very clear and impactful message, focused national advocacy campaign, tremendous engagement from members and stakeholders, and a commitment to the prosperity and success of American agriculture.
This federal funding is a testament to the outstanding research, Extension and academic programs of BAA member institutions.
WHAT IS THE RFA?
The RFA is a program that provides funds for construction, alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, or remodeling of the agricultural research facilities at 1862, 1890, 1994, and insular land-grant and non-land-grant colleges of agriculture.
The USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) administers RFA as part of their extramural support of land-grant and public colleges of agriculture, natural resources and life sciences.
According to USDA NIFA, the purpose of the Research Facilities Act Program (RFAP) is to assist qualifying institutions with the costs related to constructing, purchasing, updating, renovating, or modifying agricultural research buildings to conduct research in the areas of agriculture and food sciences. The proposed agricultural research facility must expand the institution's capacity for long-term impactful research and must be the result of thorough strategic planning. Awards may be used to fund the construction of buildings or sites for agricultural research facilities or other facilities that store agricultural research experimental samples or specimens, as well as the purchase of real estate or durable equipment. Source: Research Facilities Act Program | NIFA
WHY DOES RFA MATTER?
Public and land-grant universities’ colleges of agriculture advance 21st-century world-class science in buildings constructed in the 1950s and 1960s. 69% of facilities at the colleges of agriculture are at the end of their useful life cycles.
Moving forward, RFA’s investment in agricultural research infrastructure will accelerate important breakthroughs, solve critical challenges, and create economic opportunities. With tomorrow’s high-tech agricultural research facilities, U.S. public and land-grant universities will continue to foster excellence and deliver innovations and results.
NATIONAL LAND-GRANT IMPACTS DATABASE (NIDB) EXAMPLES
Land-grant universities’ agricultural research, education, and Extension develop and disseminate critical, innovative, and cost-effective solutions that strengthen regional and national key priorities including:
Digital agriculture enhances production, monitoring capabilities
Data modeling, automated machinery and drones are just a few of the technologies that are powering improved efficiencies in livestock and crop production. Land-grant universities are at the forefront of researching and applying these technologies, paving the way for increased productivity, better disease management and optimized harvest timing.
Learn about other impacts from Central State University, Mississippi State University, University of Idaho, University of New Hampshire
Land-grant university research, outreach support beef production
The United States is the world’s top producer of beef, contributing to about 20% of the world’s production. In 2023, the U.S. beef industry had an estimated value of $102 billion. Land-grant universities are supporting the beef industry through research, Extension and education, ensuring producers remain economically viable and are able to safely meet changing market demands.
Learn about other impacts from Oklahoma State University, Texas A&M University, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Missouri
The Research Facilities Act is more than an investment in bricks and mortar – it is an investment in the nation’s future. This funding will equip the nation’s land-grant universities with state-of-the-art infrastructure to drive breakthrough discoveries, boost the profitability of farmers and ranchers, fortify national security through greater food independence, improve people’s health, and strengthen communities. Through the integrated mission of research, education, and Extension, America’s land-grant institutions are building a prosperous and resilient future.
SOCIAL MEDIA
SAMPLE POSTS
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH
Before, during, and after disasters, @SCHOOL Extension is here to help. Explore our research-based resources for STATE to better prepare our communities for [natural disasters and/or public health emergencies]: LINK #PreparednessStartsAtHome
NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
In honor of #HispanicHeritageMonth, @SCHOOL celebrates the achievements of NAME for THEIR contributions to the advancement of agricultural research: PROJECT
NATIONAL FARM SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK
.@SCHOOL is dedicated to farm safety and health. From providing mental health resources to conducting hands-on equipment trainings, we strive to protect the well-being of STATE agricultural workers: LINK #NFSHW
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 2024 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 agcomms@aplu.org or use #AgIsAmerica.
HASHTAGS AND HANDLES
HASHTAGS
#LandGrantUniversities
#AgIsAmerica
HANDLES
Ag is America |
@AgIsAmerica |
APLU Ag |
@APLU_Ag |
USDA |
@USDA |
USDA National Institute of Food & Ag |
@USDA_NIFA |
APLU |
@APLU_News |
CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER HOLIDAYS
MONTHS
National Chicken Month, #NationalChickenMonth
National Hispanic Heritage Month, #HispanicHeritageMonth (September 15 – October 15)
National Mushroom Month, #NationalMushroomMonth
National Potato Month, #NationalPotatoMonth
National Preparedness Month, #PreparednessStartsAtHome
National Rice Month, #NationalRiceMonth
Whole Grains Month, #WholeGrainMonth
WEEKS
September 8-14: National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, #HSIsWeek
September 21-27: National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, #HBCUWeek
September 22-27: National Farm Safety and Health Week, #NFSHW
DAYS
September 1: Labor Day, #LaborDay
September 2: World Coconut Day, #WorldCoconutDay
September 4: National Wildlife Day, #WildlifeDay
September 13: National Peanut Day, #PeanutDay, #EatMorePeanuts
September 15: National Online Learning Day, #OnlineLearningDay
September 16: National Guacamole Day, #NationalGuacamoleDay
September 22: Autumnal Equinox, #AutumnalEquinox, #FirstDayofFall
September 25: National Lobster Day, #NationalLobsterDay
September 28: World Rivers Day, #WorldRiversDay
September 29: National Coffee Day, #NationalCoffeeDay
September 29: World Heart Day, #WorldHeartDay