- § 3101. Purposes of agricultural research, extension, and education
- § 3102. Additional purposes of agricultural research and extension
- § 3103. Definitions
- § 3104. Agriculture research; declaration of policy; duties of Secretary of Agriculture; use of existing facilities
- § 3105. Agricultural research; authorization of additional appropriations; administrative expenses; availability of special research fund
§ 3101. Purposes of agricultural research, extension, and educationThe purposes of federally supported agricultural research, extension, and education are to—
(1) enhance the competitiveness of the United States agriculture and food industry in an increasingly competitive world environment;
(2) increase the long-term productivity of the United States agriculture and food industry while maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base on which rural America and the United States agricultural economy depend;
(3) develop new uses and new products for agricultural commodities, such as alternative fuels, and develop new crops;
(4) support agricultural research and extension to promote economic opportunity in rural communities and to meet the increasing demand for information and technology transfer throughout the United States agriculture industry;
(5) improve risk management in the United States agriculture industry;
(6) improve the safe production and processing of, and adding of value to, United States food and fiber resources using methods that maintain the balance between yield and environmental soundness;
(7) support higher education in agriculture to give the next generation of Americans the knowledge, technology, and applications necessary to enhance the competitiveness of United States agriculture;
(8) maintain an adequate, nutritious, and safe supply of food to meet human nutritional needs and requirements; and
(9) support international collaboration that leverages resources and advances priority food and agricultural interests of the United States, such as—
(A) addressing emerging plant and animal diseases;
(B) improving crop varieties and animal breeds; and
(C) developing safe, efficient, and nutritious food systems.
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1402, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1602(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3705; amended Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 801, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1156; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7101, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4779.)
§ 3102. Additional purposes of agricultural research and extension
The purposes of this chapter are to—
(1) establish firmly the Department of Agriculture as the lead agency in the Federal Government for the food and agricultural sciences, and to emphasize that agricultural research, extension, and teaching are distinct missions of the Department of Agriculture;
(2) undertake the special measures set forth in this chapter to improve the coordination and planning of agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs, identify needs and establish priorities for these programs, assure that national agricultural research, extension, and teaching objectives are fully achieved, and assure that the results of agricultural research are effectively communicated and demonstrated to farmers, processors, handlers, consumers, and all other users who can benefit therefrom;
(3) increase cooperation and coordination in the performance of agricultural research by Federal departments and agencies, the States, State agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, and user groups;
(4) enable the Federal Government, the States, colleges and universities, and others to implement needed agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs, through the establishment of new programs and the improvement of existing programs, as provided for in this chapter;
(5) establish a new program of grants for high-priority agricultural research to be awarded on the basis of competition among research workers and all colleges and universities;
(6) establish a new program of grants for facilities and instrumentation used in agricultural research; and
(7) establish a new program of education grants and fellowships to strengthen research, extension, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences, to be awarded on the basis of competition.
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1403, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 983; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 1403, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1296; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1602(b), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3705.)
§ 3103. DefinitionsWhen used in this chapter:
(1) The term “Advisory Board” means the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.
(2) The term “agricultural research” means research in the food and agricultural sciences.
(3) The term “aquaculture” means the propagation and rearing of aquacultural species, including, but not limited to, any species of finfish, mollusk, or crustacean (or other aquatic invertebrate), amphibian, reptile, ornamental fish, or aquatic plant, in controlled or selected environments.
(4)College and university.—
(A)In general.—The terms “college” and “university” mean an educational institution in any State which (i) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate, (ii) is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education, (iii) provides an educational program for which a bachelor’s degree or any other higher degree is awarded, (iv) is a public or other nonprofit institution, and (v) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association.
(B)Inclusions.—The terms “college” and “university” include a research foundation maintained by a college or university described in subparagraph (A).
(5)Cooperating forestry school.—
(A)In general.—The term “cooperating forestry school” means an institution—
(i) that is eligible to receive funds under Public Law 87–788 (commonly known as the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act; 16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.); and
(ii) with respect to which the Secretary has not received a declaration of the intent of that institution to not be considered a cooperating forestry school.
(B)Termination of declaration.—A declaration of the intent of an institution to not be considered a cooperating forestry school submitted to the Secretary shall be in effect until September 30, 2018.
(6) The term “cooperative extension services” means the organizations established at the land-grant colleges and universities under the Smith-Lever Act of May 8, 1914 (38 Stat. 372–374, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 341–349), and section 209(b) of the Act of October 26, 1974 (88 Stat. 1428, as amended; D.C. Code, sec. 31–1719(b)).
(7) The term “Department of Agriculture” means the United States Department of Agriculture.
(8) The term “extension” means the informal education programs conducted in the States in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture.
(9)Food and agricultural sciences.—The term “food and agricultural sciences” means basic, applied, and developmental research, extension, and teaching activities in food and fiber, agricultural, renewable energy and natural resources, forestry, and physical and social sciences, including activities relating to the following:
(A) Animal health, production, and well-being.
(B) Plant health and production.
(C) Animal and plant germ plasm collection and preservation.
(D) Aquaculture.
(E) Food safety.
(F) Soil, water, and related resource conservation and improvement.
(G) Forestry, horticulture, and range management.
(H) Nutritional sciences and promotion.
(I) Farm enhancement, including financial management, input efficiency, and profitability.
(J) Home economics.
(K) Rural human ecology.
(L) Youth development and agricultural education, including 4–H clubs.
(M) Expansion of domestic and international markets for agricultural commodities and products, including agricultural trade barrier identification and analysis.
(N) Information management and technology transfer related to agriculture.
(O) Biotechnology related to agriculture.
(P) The processing, distributing, marketing, and utilization of food and agricultural products.
(10)Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities.—
(A)In general.—The term “Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities” means colleges or universities—
(i) that qualify as Hispanic-serving institutions;
(ii) that offer associate, bachelors, or other accredited degree programs in agriculture-related fields; and
(iii) with respect to which the Secretary has not received a declaration of the intent of a college or university to not be considered a Hispanic-serving agricultural college or university.
(B)Exception.—The term “Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities” does not include 1862 institutions (as defined in section 7601 of this title).
(C)Termination of declaration of intent.—A declaration of the intent of a college or university to not be considered a Hispanic-serving agricultural college or university submitted to the Secretary shall be in effect until September 30, 2018.
(11)Hispanic-serving institution.—The term “Hispanic-serving institution” has the meaning given the term in section 1101a of title 20.
(12)Insular area.—The term “insular area” means—
(A) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(B) Guam;
(C) American Samoa;
(D) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
(E) the Federated States of Micronesia;
(F) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
(G) the Republic of Palau; and
(H) the Virgin Islands of the United States.
(13) The term “land-grant colleges and universities” means those institutions eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 503–505, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 301–305, 307 and 308), or the Act of August 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 417–419, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 321–326 and 328), including Tuskegee University.
(14) NLGCA institution; non-land-grant college of agriculture.—
(A)In general.—
(i)Definition.—The terms “NLGCA Institution” and “non-land-grant college of agriculture” mean a public college or university offering a baccalaureate or higher degree in the study of agricultural sciences, forestry, or both in any area of study specified in clause (ii).
(ii)Clarification.—For purposes of clause (i), an area of study specified in this clause is any of the following:(I) Agriculture.(II) Agricultural business and management.(III) Agricultural economics.(IV) Agricultural mechanization.(V) Agricultural production operations.(VI) Aquaculture.(VII) Agricultural and food products processing.(VIII) Agricultural and domestic animal services.(IX) Equestrian or equine studies.(X) Applied horticulture or horticulture operations.(XI) Ornamental horticulture.(XII) Greenhouse operations and management.(XIII) Turf and turfgrass management.(XIV) Plant nursery operations and management.(XV) Floriculture or floristry operations and management.(XVI) International agriculture.(XVII) Agricultural public services.(XVIII) Agricultural and extension education services.(XIX) Agricultural communication or agricultural journalism.(XX) Animal sciences.(XXI) Food science.(XXII) Plant sciences.(XXIII) Soil sciences.(XXIV) Forestry.(XXV) Forest sciences and biology.(XXVI) Natural resources or conservation.(XXVII) Natural resources management and policy.(XXVIII) Natural resource economics.(XXIX) Urban forestry.(XXX) Wood science and wood products or pulp or paper technology.(XXXI) Range science and management.(XXXII) Agricultural engineering.(XXXIII) Any other area, as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(B)Designation.—Not later than 90 days after Feb. 7, 2014, the Secretary shall establish an ongoing process through which public colleges or universities may apply for designation as an NLGCA Institution.
(C)Exclusions.—The terms “NLGCA Institution” and “non-land-grant college of agriculture” do not include any institution designated under—
(i) the Act of July 2, 1862 (commonly known as the “First Morrill Act”; 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.);
(ii) the Act of August 30, 1890 (commonly known as the “Second Morrill Act”) (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.); or
(iii) the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note).
(15) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States.
(16)State.—The term “State” means—
(A) a State;
(B) the District of Columbia; and
(C) any insular area.
(17) The term “State agricultural experiment stations” means those institutions eligible to receive funds under the Act of March 2, 1887 (24 Stat. 440–442, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 361a–361i).
(18) The term “State cooperative institutions” or “State cooperative agents” means institutions or agents designated by—
(A) the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), commonly known as the First Morrill Act;
(B) the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), commonly known as the Second Morrill Act, including Tuskegee University;
(C) the Act of March 2, 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.), commonly known as the Hatch Act of 1887;
(D) the Act of May 8, 1914 (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), commonly known as the Smith-Lever Act;
(E) the Act of October 10, 1962 (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.), commonly known as the McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962;
(F)section 3192 of this title; and
(G) subchapters VI, XI, and XII of this chapter.
(19) The term “sustainable agriculture” means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long-term—
(A) satisfy human food and fiber needs;
(B) enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends;
(C) make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls;
(D) sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and
(E) enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.
(20)Teaching and education.—The terms “teaching” and “education” mean formal classroom instruction, laboratory instruction, and practicum experience in the food and agricultural sciences and matters relating thereto (such as faculty development, student recruitment and services, curriculum development, instructional materials and equipment, and innovative teaching methodologies) conducted by colleges and universities offering baccalaureate or higher degrees.
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1404, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 983; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 1404, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1297; Pub. L. 99–198, title XIV, § 1403, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1544; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1603, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3705; Pub. L. 102–237, title IV, § 402(3), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1863; Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, §§ 802(b)(1), 815(b), 820(a), 853(b)(1), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1159, 1167, 1168, 1172; Pub. L. 105–185, title II, §§ 221, 226(c)(1), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 537, 543; Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7502(a), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 463; Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7101(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1212; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7101(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1973; Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, §§ 7101, 7111(b)(1), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 862, 873; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7102(a), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4779.)
§ 3104. Agriculture research; declaration of policy; duties of Secretary of Agriculture; use of existing facilities
It is declared to be the policy of the Congress to promote the efficient production and utilization of products of the soil as essential to the health and welfare of our people and to promote a sound and prosperous agriculture and rural life as indispensable to the maintenance of maximum employment and national prosperity. It is also the intent of Congress to assure agriculture a position in research equal to that of industry which will aid in maintaining an equitable balance between agriculture and other sections of our economy. For the attainment of these objectives, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to conduct and to stimulate research into the laws and principles underlying the basic problems of agriculture in its broadest aspects, including but not limited to: Research relating to the improvement of the quality of, and the development of new and improved methods of the production, marketing, distribution, processing, and utilization of plant and animal commodities at all stages from the original producer through to the ultimate consumer; research into the problems of human nutrition and the nutritive value of agricultural commodities, with particular reference to their span of vitamins, minerals, amino and fatty acids, and all other constituents that may be found necessary for the health of the consumer and to the gains or losses in nutritive value that may take place at any stage in their production, distribution, processing, and preparation for use by the consumer; research relating to the development of present, new, and extended uses and markets for agricultural commodities and byproducts as food or in commerce, manufacture, or trade, both at home and abroad, with particular reference to those foods and fibers for which our capacity to produce exceeds or may exceed existing economic demand; research to encourage the discovery, introduction, and breeding of new and useful agricultural crops, plants, and animals, both foreign and native, particularly for those crops and plants which may be adapted to utilization in chemical and manufacturing industries; research relating to new and more profitable uses for our resources of agricultural manp
(June 29, 1935, ch. 338, title I, § 1, 49 Stat. 436; Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title I, § 101(1), 60 Stat. 1082; Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1446, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1011; Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 253, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 707.)
§ 3105. Agricultural research; authorization of additional appropriations; administrative expenses; availability of special research fund
(a) In order to carry out further research on utilization and associated problems in connection with the development and application of present, new, and extended uses of agricultural commodities and products thereof authorized by section 3104 of this title, and to disseminate information relative thereto, and in addition to all other appropriations authorized by this title,1
1 See References in Text note below.
there is authorized to be appropriated the following sums:(1) $3,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1947, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(2) An additional $3,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1948, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(3) An additional $3,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1949, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(4) An additional $3,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1950, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(5) An additional $3,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1951, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(6) In addition to the foregoing, such additional funds beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1952, and thereafter, as the Congress may deem necessary.
The Secretary of Agriculture, in accordance with such regulations as he deems necessary, and when in his judgment the work to be performed will be carried out more effectively, more rapidly, or at less cost than if performed by the Department of Agriculture, may enter into contracts with such public or private organizations or individuals as he may find qualified to carry on work under this section without regard to the provisions of section 6101 of title 41, and with respect to such contracts he may make advance progress or other payments without regard to the provisions of section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31. Contracts under this section may be made for work to continue not more than four years from the date of any such contract. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 5 of the Act of June 20, 1874, as amended (31 U.S.C. 713),1 any unexpended balances of appropriations properly obligated by contracting with an organization as provided in this subsection may remain upon the books of the Treasury for not more than five fiscal years before being carried to the surplus fund and covered into the Treasury. Research authorized under this subsection shall be conducted so far as practicable at laboratories of the Department of Agriculture. Projects conducted under contract with public and private agencies shall be supplemental to and coordinated with research of these laboratories. Any contracts made pursuant to this authority shall contain requirements making the results of research and investigations available to the public through dedication, assignment to the Government, or such other means as the Secretary shall determine.
(b) In order to carry out further the purposes of section 3104 of this title, other than research on utilization of agricultural commodities and the products thereof, and in addition to all other appropriations authorized by this title,1 there is authorized to be appropriated for cooperative research with the State agricultural experiment stations and such other appropriate agencies as may be mutually agreeable to the Department of Agriculture and the experiment stations concerned, the following sums:
(1) $1,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1947, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(2) An additional $1,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1948, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(3) An additional $1,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1949, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(4) An additional $1,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1950, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(5) In addition to the foregoing such additional funds beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1951, and thereafter, as the Congress may deem necessary.
(c) The Secretary may incur necessary administrative expenses not to exceed 3 per centum of the amount appropriated in any fiscal year in carrying out this section, including the specific objects of expense enumerated in section 427b 1 of this title.
(d) The “Special research fund, Department of Agriculture,” provided by section 427c 1 of this title, shall continue to be available solely for research into laws and principles underlying basic problems of agriculture in its broadest aspects; research relating to the improvement of the quality of, and the development of, new and improved methods of production of, distribution of, and new and extended uses and markets for, agricultural commodities and byproducts and manufactures thereof; and research relating to the conservation, development, and use of land and water resources for agricultural purposes. Such research shall be in addition to research provided for under other law (but both activities shall be coordinated so far as practicable) and shall be conducted by such agencies of the Department of Agriculture as the Secretary of Agriculture may designate or establish.
(e) Appropriations for research work in the Department of Agriculture shall be available for accomplishing such purposes by contract through the means provided in subsection (a) of this section.
(June 29, 1935, ch. 338, title I, § 10, as added Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title I, § 101(2), 60 Stat. 1085; amended July 28, 1954, ch. 591, 68 Stat. 574.)