Every year, approximately 200,000 service members transition from military service to civilian life. At the same time, American agriculture faces a pressing need for the next generation of producers as the average U.S. farmer approaches retirement age. Across the country, land-grant universities are helping bridge that gap by providing veterans with training, mentorship, community connections, and pathways into agriculture. Why …
Smarter Farms, Better Decisions: How Land-grant Universities are Building the Future of Data-Driven Agriculture
Making the right decision at the right time can make all the difference in farm productivity and profitability. By combining advanced analytics with practical agricultural expertise, land-grant university researchers are helping producers address challenges ranging from labor shortages and weather variability to resource efficiency and food production. This work ensures agricultural innovation responds to producers’ needs while strengthening the food …
Decades of Collaborative Research Deliver Results for Cattle and Sheep Producers
Reproductive inefficiency costs cattle and sheep producers billions of dollars each year. For cattle and sheep producers, reproductive success drives profitability. Every missed pregnancy means fewer calves or lambs to sell, reduced herd productivity, and lower returns. Across the livestock industry, those losses add up to billions of dollars each year. For more than 50 years, researchers at land-grant universities …
Grain Bin Safety: How Farmers and First Responders Can Prevent Tragedies
Agriculture remains one of the nation’s most hazardous industries, and confined spaces such as grain bins and manure pits can become deadly in a matter of seconds. Across the land-grant university system, Cooperative Extension programs are helping producers, agricultural workers, and first responders build the skills needed to prevent tragedies and respond safely when emergencies occur. How Can First Responders …
The Science Behind the Spud
It’s National Potato Day! Whether mashed, baked, roasted, or fried, potatoes and sweet potatoes have long been staples on American tables, supporting farmers and local agricultural economies. Across the land-grant university system, researchers and Extension professionals are helping ensure this important crop continues to thrive. Featured photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center. …
National Farmers Market Week: Growing Opportunity
National Farmers Market Week celebrates the vital role farmers markets play in our nation’s food system. Across the Land-Grant University System, Cooperative Extension programs are helping these markets serve as engines for economic opportunity, food access, and community well-being. Supporting veterans entering the agriculture industry University of Idaho Extension’s Harvest Heroes program provides military veterans with hands-on farming experience, mentorship, and business training as they explore careers …
From Soil Maps to AI Models: Innovations Transforming Soil Science
U.S. farms manage 880 million acres of land, making soil health a critical foundation for agricultural productivity and sustainability. From digital soil maps and interactive visualization tools to AI-driven models, land-grant university researchers are harnessing technology and data to better understand soils, improve decision-making, and support more sustainable agricultural systems across the country. Featured photo courtesy of Dan Donnert/Kansas State …
Celebrating National Pollinator Week
Did you know? More than 80% of flowering plants and about 75% of food crops depend on pollinators, making their health essential to agriculture and our food supply. Growing Pollinator Habitat Creating habitat is one of the most immediate and effective ways to support pollinators. Whether in backyards or across entire landscapes, habitat creation is foundational to pollinator recovery. In …
Preparing the Dairy Workforce of Tomorrow: The Role of Public and Land-Grant Universities
As the dairy industry continues to evolve, so does the need for a skilled, adaptable workforce. Public and land-grant universities are helping meet this demand through on-campus creameries, industry partnerships, youth development opportunities, and more. Across the country, university dairy programs blend science and business, ensuring students not only understand dairy production, but also how to innovate and lead within a rapidly …
From Hive to Habitat: How Land-Grant Universities are Protecting Bees
Bees are essential to our food systems, pollinating many of the fruits, vegetables, and other crops we rely on every day. However, pollinator populations face growing threats, from pests and disease to habitat loss and environmental stress. Across the country, land-grant universities are stepping up to meet these challenges. Through cutting-edge research, on-the-ground Cooperative Extension, and strong community partnerships, land-grant experts are developing …