Have a Joyous MLK Day!

This message and its accompanying email were preset to be distributed today.

Registration Open for PILD

Registration is now open for the Public Issues Leadership Development conference. The early bird registration deadline (saves $100) for April 20-22 conference is March 15. Lodging reservations must be made separately.

USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum Registration Open

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that registration is now open for the 102nd Agricultural Outlook Forum. The event will be held at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott on Feb. 19-20, 2026, and all Forum sessions will be livestreamed on a virtual platform.

4-H Council to Hold Winter 2026 Q&A

The National 4-H Council will hold its winter 2026 Q&A Session on January 27 at 3:00 pm. Topics will include:

·       Celebration of their and the Extension System’s collective work on the Beyond Ready initiative,

·       Resources available to you as a result of that initiative, and

·       An Outline of the next steps for Landmark Gift investments.

When you register, you can also share any additional items you'd like to discuss or questions you have for Jill Bramble. 

Register for the Board on Health and Human Sciences Spring Meeting  

Registration is now open for the 2026 Board on Health and Human Sciences (BHHS) Spring Meeting, hosted by the College of Health and Human Sciences at Colorado State University, March 24-26 in Denver, CO. Held at the CSU Spur Campus, a national hub for collaboration at the intersection of health, food, water, and community, the meeting’s setting reflects BHHS’s commitment to interdisciplinary solutions and public impact. This year's keynote address features Dr. Temple Grandin, internationally renowned professor, author, and innovator. Dr. Grandin’s work—spanning systems thinking, neurodiversity, and applied problem-solving—offers powerful insights into translating research and lived experience into meaningful, real-world outcomes. 

Event Locations:

• Colorado State University Spur Campus: 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216
• Vīb Hotel by Best Western Denver RiNo: 2560 Brighton Boulevard, Denver, CO 80216 (Lodging will also be at this hotel)

Follow this link to register, find information on accommodations and transportation, and explore the agenda. We look forward to seeing you there! 

 

USDA Standardizes Grant and Cooperative Agreement Requirements

On December 31, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins signed a Secretary’s Memorandum (PDF, 87.3 KB) directing all USDA agencies and staff offices to immediately adopt and implement the first-ever set of USDA General Terms and Conditions for all future awards.  

USDA administers an expansive grant and cooperative agreement portfolio, spanning 21 agencies and staff offices. In FY2025 alone, the Department distributed over $145 billion through 287 programs, resulting in nearly 38,000 new awards to farmers, ranchers, foresters, families, rural communities, small businesses, universities, and various other entities. Currently, there are 50,979 active awards across the entire USDA enterprise, underscoring the critical need for consistent oversight and accountability.  

Under this new directive, all USDA grant, cooperative agreement, and mutual interest agreement programs will utilize the same terms and conditions, and award recipients and cooperators will only need to navigate 50 or less pages of requirements. 

This action is a step toward the implementation of USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan (PDF, 1.2 MB) and Executive Order 14332, Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking, as well as various other Executive Orders and Secretary’s Memorandums that have been signed this year to establish a return to American principles and align the Department’s focus towards its original objectives. 

Secretary Rollins Announces New Priorities for Research and Development in 2026

On December 30, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, signed a Secretary’s Memorandum (PDF, 909 KB) that puts forth a focused effort to establish new priorities for future research and development activities funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen national security, protect U.S. agriculture, and support American farmers and consumers.

New Research and Development Priorities:

Moving forward, new research and development activities funded by USDA will be focused on projects that address one or more of the following priorities:

• Increasing Profitability of Farmers and Ranchers
• Expanding Markets and Creating New Uses of U.S. Agricultural Products
• Protecting the Integrity of American Agriculture from Invasive Species
• Promoting Soil Health to Regenerate Long-Term Productivity of Land
• Improving Human Health through Precision Nutrition and Food Quality

Webinar on the National Impacts Database Available

On December 5, the ECOP Professional Development Committee sponsored a Learning for Leaders Session titled: Telling the Extension Story - making sure your institution is well represented in the National Impacts Database. The recording of the webinar is now available for asynchronous viewing.

The National Impacts Database (NIDB) is an important platform for documenting and demonstrating the collective impacts of land-grant university teaching, research, and Extension.

As 2025 comes to a close, the BAA Communications and Marketing Committee request that each institution begin planning and finalizing their 2025 submissions.

In early 2026, a group of land-grant university communicators will review all 2025 submissions and create educational materials highlighting exemplary impact statements.

To be included for consideration in this team's efforts, please submit your statements by Thursday, January 15, 2026. Any statements received after this date will be considered for the 2027 materials.

New Farm Journal Foundation Report Outlines “The Mean Sixteen” 

A new Farm Journal Foundation Report was released last week: THE MEAN SIXTEEN – Major Biosecurity Threats Facing U.S. Agriculture and How Policy Solutions Can Help (By Dr. Stephanie Mercier). The threats include threats to livestock, aquaculture, row crops, and horticulture crops. In addition to the Mean Sixteen, the report also list dozens of “Dishonorable Mentions” and calls for greater investment in public research and development, including education for Cooperative Extension Agents.

Extension Foundation Releases National AI Report Highlighting Systemwide Priorities for Cooperative Extension and agInnovation 

The Extension Foundation has released the 2025 National AI Report, presenting a comprehensive picture of how Cooperative Extension and agInnovation leaders across the Land-grant system are preparing for artificial intelligence. The report synthesizes a national landscape assessment, virtual focus groups, and an in-person convening in 2025, engaging leaders across the Land-grant system. 

Read more.

Growing Together: Conversations with CEOs 

APLU’s Board of Agriculture’s interview series “Growing Together: Conversations with CEOs” showcases Presidents and CEOs of national agricultural associations, commodity groups, and other organizations and explores their powerful synergies with land-grant universities.

Adam Putnam, Chief Executive Officer, Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam is a fifth-generation Floridian and a graduate of the University of Florida where he obtained a bachelor's degree in food and resource economics. He has also been awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and served as a Rodel Fellow at the Aspen Institute. In 2010, he was the E.T. York Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Florida. Putnam and his wife of 20 years, Melissa, reside in Memphis, Tenn. with their four children.

He is a hunter, angler, conservationist, and third-generation farmer who owns Putnam Groves Inc. Putnam Groves is a family owned and operated citrus farm and cattle ranch located in Central Florida.

“I consider myself to be a land grant baby – I was a 10-year 4-H'er, grew up on a family farm, got a degree from the University of Florida, and truly benefited from all three legs of the stool - teaching, research, and Extension. I truly believe the U.S. land grant model should be replicated around the world.”  - Adam Putnam 

Read the full interview.

National Impacts Database (NIDB) Call for Submissions

The National Impacts Database (NIDB) is an important platform for documenting and demonstrating the collective impacts of land-grant university teaching, research, and Extension.

As 2025 comes to a close, we request that each institution begin planning and finalizing their 2025 submissions. 

In early 2026, a group of land-grant university communicators will review all 2025 submissions and create educational materials highlighting exemplary impact statements. 

To be included for consideration in this team's efforts, please submit your statements by Thursday, January 15, 2026. Any statements received after this date will be considered for the 2027 materials.

Please see these resources for inputters:

• 2025 Inputter Training Presentation | Recording
• Impact Writing Resources
• 2025 Priority Topic Areas
• Full Call for Submissions

Please contact Kim Scotto at agcomms@aplu.org with questions or authorized inputter update requests.

APLU Food Systems Leadership Award Nominations Open

The Association for Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) Food Systems annually recognizes a leader who has made an extraordinary impact on the food system through leadership and service and who exemplifies the core principles established by the Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI), including personal leadership, organizational leadership, and food systems leadership. The award also recognizes the leadership, innovation, engagement, and service that APLU promotes through its programs.

The APLU Food Systems Leadership Award will be presented at the APLU Annual Meeting held in November. The recipient will be invited to address the current cohort of FSLI Fellows during one of the webinar sessions.

The criteria for the award, the directions for submitting it, and the nomination form can be found on the FSLI website here. To get a sense of the caliber of the person who would be competitive for this award, you can visit the FSLI website.

The deadline for submittal is February 27, 2026.

Please don't hesitate to contact Dr. Sarah Kotzian, FSLI Program Manager, with any questions. Sarah can be reached by email at sarah_kotzian@ncsu.edu.

Dates Set for CARET & JCEP/PILD Meetings

The dates for two spring annual Washington, DC based meetings have been set.

Council for Agriculture Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET)/BAA Washington Conference: February 22-25, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington DC

Joint Council of Extension Professionals Public (JCEP) Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference: April 20-22, Bethesda, MD. 

USDA Ag Outlook Forum is requesting exhibitors, one page proposal due December 5

Do you have an Innovation that you want to feature at the next Agricultural Outlook Forum?

Does it benefit farmers, or directly impact consumers?

The breadth and timeliness of the Ag Outlook Forum’s programs have consistently drawn a diverse group of farmers and ranchers, food and ag industry representatives, policymakers, government officials and non-governmental organizations. Each year, over 1,700 people attend the Forum in person and thousands more online from all over the U.S. and around the world.

One page proposal should include:

• A description of the innovation
• Describe how the innovation links to the USDA mission of maximizing and promoting American agriculture, en-suring a safe, nutritious and secure food supply, enhancing rural prosperity, and protecting our National Forests
• Description of items brought for display
• to fit on a table or within a 6ft x 5ft space
• Link to USDA – How was the research funded or conducted by USDA Scientists?
• Current and projected impact

Submissions are due by December 5, 2025, via email to Melanie.Abley@usda.gov