Rockefeller Foundation, OpenAI Foundation Announce $50 Million Partnership to Help Cities Improve Public Services Through AI

The Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation launched Cities Deliver: AI Solutions for Public Services, a $50 million initiative to support organizations that help cities around the world use artificial intelligence to better anticipate and meet residents’ needs. Through a globalopen call, the initiative will identify and support eligible nonprofit and civil society institutions working with city governments to improve public health, economic mobility, environmental resilience, and civic engagement. Cities Deliver will award grants ranging from $500,000 to $2 million, aiming to reach up to 100 million city residents globally. Applications open on October 14 and close on November 29, 2026.

2026 New Administrators Orientation: Leading with Conviction, Courage, and Confidence

December 8-10, 2026 | Alexandria, VA

Presented by the APLU Office of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR), the New Administrators Orientation (NAO) is designed to help new administrators build the knowledge, connections, and leadership skills needed to succeed in their roles.

The program is intended for individuals who are new to administrative leadership positions within colleges and programs related to food, agriculture, natural resources, and the life sciences, including deans, associate deans, department heads, directors, experiment station leaders, and Extension administrators.

No matter your administrative position, NAO provides practical guidance for navigating the responsibilities and opportunities of academic administration.

Through discussions, expert perspectives, and peer engagement, participants will explore topics such as leadership and organizational culture, employee engagement, strategic communication, decision-making, and managing change. Participants will also gain a deeper understanding of the Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA), including its policy, advocacy, and communications activities, and will have opportunities to engage directly with leaders from USDA.

By the end of the program, participants will have strengthened their leadership capabilities, expanded their professional network, and gained practical insights they can apply immediately to support their institutions' teaching, research, Extension, and service missions.

See more information about the NAO and register here.

NIFA Soliciting FY27 Commodity Board Topics

NIFA is inviting commodity board organizations to propose research topics for potential co‑funding through future AFRI competitive grant programs. To qualify, boards must align their topics with AFRI’s priority areas and meet federal or state definitions of a commodity board. Topics must be submitted by Nov. 19 and will then be reviewed for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2027 AFRI Foundational and Applied Science funding opportunity, while later submissions may be considered in future years. Boards must use NIFA’s online submission form and email the completed topic to the agency, which will confirm receipt. FAQs and additional guidance are available on the NIFA website. Findmore information here.

Texas A&M Discovery Leads to Citrus Greening Treatment

Texas A&M AgriLife Research has developed a spinach‑derived antimicrobial peptide treatment that protects citrus trees from citrus greening disease, and it has now received full EPA registration. The technology, commercialized by Silvec Biologics, uses a modified, naturally occurring citrus tristeza virus strain to prompt trees to produce the protective peptide. The approval reflects extensive safety data and marks a major step toward offering growers a new tool against a disease that has devastated U.S. citrus production. The breakthrough stems from long‑term collaborations among Texas A&M, the University of Florida, and citrus industry partners, supported in part by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Read more about the project here.

LEAD21 Applications Open Until November 15, 2026

LEAD21 is currently accepting applications for Class 23 (2027-2028). The primary purpose of LEAD21 is to develop leaders in land-grant institutions and their strategic partners to link research, academics and extension to lead more effectively in an increasingly complex environment, either in their current position or as they aspire to new roles.

The LEAD21 Board of Directors (BOD) consists of representatives from the various Board of Agriculture Assembly Section's Committees on Organization and Policy (headquartered at APLU) and strategic partners. More information and the link to apply is found here.

https://lead-21.org/apply/instructions/

The ECOP appointees to LEAD21 BOD are Program Chair Amy Loader, University of New Hampshire, and Andrew Turner, Cornell University.

New Technologies for Ag Extension Funding Opportunity

The Extension Foundation (EXF) is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for Incubation and Accelerated projects across the Cooperative Extension System (CES). This funding opportunity is made available through NTAE (New Technologies for Ag Extension), a grant from USDA-NIFA (United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture) to fund new and high impact potential projects within CES. Projects should have focus areas that lead to local impact and align with USDA Research Priorities. Project leaders can apply for one of the two types of projects this grant will support: Incubation and Acceleration.

Applications are due November 11, 2026.

See the full announcement.

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.

Corey Rosenbusch, President and CEO, The Fertilizer Institute

Corey Rosenbusch serves as The Fertilizer Institute’s (TFI) President and CEO, where he is responsible for leading efforts to advance the fertilizer industry. Since joining TFI in 2020, Rosenbusch has spearheaded several initiatives aimed at strengthening TFI’s voice with the agriculture community and increasing member value through innovative programs, such as the Biostimulant Certification and low-carbon ammonia manufacturing standard.

"Land-grant universities are essential partners in advancing solutions that help producers remain competitive while meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing agricultural landscape. The greatest opportunities exist where research, education, and implementation come together." - Corey Rosenbusch

Read the full interview.

USDA NASS to Host Virtual Data Users’ Meeting for Public Input on Statistical Programs

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will hold its biannual Data Users’ Meeting virtually Oct. 14 from Noon to 4 p.m. ET. The event is free and open to the public. The meeting provides updates on recent and pending changes to statistical programs and invites feedback from stakeholders on programs important to agriculture. The agenda includes agency updates followed by a question-and-comment session. Find detailed agenda and registration information here.

ERS Releases Publication on Cooperative Extension

In mid-September, the Economic Research Service released a study titled "Cooperative Extension in Transition: Trends Through 2024.” The study discusses funding, personnel, and allocation of resources across program areas. The ECOP National Office consulted with the authors in 2024.

 

Innovation Proposals Being Accepted for Ag Outlook Forum

Innovation proposals for USDA-funded projects are now being accepted for the 2027 Agricultural Outlook Forum’s Science Innovation Exhibits, taking place Feb. 18–19 in Arlington, VA. Applicants must submit a one‑page proposal by Oct. 9 describing their innovation, its alignment with USDA priorities, its USDA funding support, and its current and projected impact. Send proposals to Dr. Rich Derksen (rich.derksen@usda.gov) and include the subject line 2027 AOF Science Innovation Proposal.

 

ECOP National Office on Capitol Hill

As a part of the Annual NCFAR Fly-In, Bill Hoffman met with staff from three Congressional offices:

• Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL)
• Rep. April McClain-Delaney (D-MD)
• Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA)

These were three of 39 visits conducted by NCFAR members. APLU was one of five event sponsors.

 

Save the Date for the 2027 National Extension Director and Administrator Annual Meeting

The 2027 NEDA meeting will take place the week of September 13 in Charlotte, NC. The planning committee meets for the first time today!

ECOP Gavel Passed from Townson to Stone, Hadley on Deck

At last week’s National Extension Director and Administrator meeting in Seattle, Lisa Townson concluded her year as ECOP Chair. During her tenure, she co-led the Health Tiger Team, led the development of strategic communications with Adaptive Roots Consulting, and kept Cooperative Extension issues at the forefront of our partnership with Lewis-Burke. As he accepted the gavel, Cody Stone told the participants about himself, including how 4-H influenced him as he grew up in a small Texas town, and his commitment to choosing the most important actions to pursue ECOP’s priorities. Gregg Hadley will bring his considerable national leadership to bear, including chairmanship of the ECOP Professional Development Committee and the Extension Foundation Board. 

Thank you Jon, Welcome Jake!

Rotating off ECOP from the Western region, Jon Borne concludes a long tenure of service to the system. Jake DeDecker will capably represent the region after national service on the ECOP Health Tiger Team.

Thank you Bev, Welcome Quentin!

Beverly Durgun concluded her service to ECOP from the North Central region at last week’s annual meeting, which included a year as ECOP Chair and stalwart support for increased capacity funding. Quentin Tyler will represent the region, drawing on his experience serving on the Board on Agriculture Assembly Board of Directors.

No First Friday in October

ECOP will not conduct an October “First Friday.” The next First Friday will take place November 6 at 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

USDA, Cooperative Extension, & APLU Award Top Honors in Extension Excellence

Washington, DC – The US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Cooperative Extension, and the Association of Public and Land-grant University (APLU) announce the following winners for the 2026 national Excellence in Extension awards. These awards are given annually and recognize Cooperative Extension individuals and teams demonstrating outstanding community leadership, innovative programming, and measurable impact. This year’s winners are as follows:

Excellence in Extension Award for an Individual: Mr. Paul Goeringer, University of Maryland

Excellence in Extension Team Award: Resilient Engaged Active Community Health (REACH), West Virginia University

Excellence in Extension for Innovative Programming that Addresses New Audience Award:
Ms. Mynda Tracy, University of Illinois- Urbana Campaign

“This year’s awardees truly reflect the strength and dedication of the Cooperative Extension System. Their leadership shows how powerful it can be when universities and communities work side‑by‑side to share knowledge and put it into action,” said USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Director Dr. Jaye Hamby. “Together, they’re creating meaningful, lasting change across the country.”

The National Excellence in Extension Award for an Individual is awarded annually to one Cooperative Extension professional who demonstrates outstanding scientific programming, visionary leadership, and positive impact in their community. Over the course of his career, he has built a nationally recognized Extension outreach program centered on plain-language legal education, covering farm leasing, succession planning, environmental law, right-to-farm laws, employment law, renewable energy contracting, and other issues affecting Maryland producers.

The National Excellence in Extension Team Award recognizes an Extension team performing work above and beyond their peers in research, technical assistance, and outreach education. Coordinated by Penn State University, Resilient Engaged Active Community Health (REACH), is a five-state partnership that addresses critical behavioral health challenges, including substance use disorders, opioid overdose, mental health concerns, stigma, and limited access to evidence-based services.

The Excellence in Extension for Innovative Programming that Addresses New Audience Award distinguishes a group or individual for significant achievement in Extension outreach to underserved communities. Lead by Mynda Tracy, the Extension Dual Credit & Credentialing Pathway demonstrates how Cooperative Extension can drive systemic change that expands access to college and career readiness opportunities. In Illinois, rural and under-resourced schools often face barriers to offering dual credit courses and industry-recognized credentials due to shortages of qualified instructors, limited Career and Technical Education (CTE) infrastructure, and fragmented connections among educational institutions and workforce partners. University of Illinois Extension sought to overcome these challenges by building educator capacity and creating new opportunities.

NIFA, Cooperative Extension, and APLU will also present four regional awards to individuals. This year’s recipients are:

·         1890s Region: Dr. Niki Whitley is an Extension Specialist at Fort Valley State University and serves producers across Georgia as the State Small Ruminant Specialist. With 26 years of Cooperative Extension experience at three 1890 land-grant universities, she has developed collaborative programs in small ruminants, beef cattle, pasture pork, rabbit production, equine health, and parasite management. Her work emphasizes practical, research-based solutions for small-scale and limited-resource livestock producers.

·         Southern Region: Dr. Daryl Brian Arnall is a Professor and Extension Precision Nutrient Management Specialist in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Oklahoma State University, where he also serves as the Sitlington Endowed Chair and Director of the Soil Research Services Laboratory. Throughout his career, he has advanced science based nutrient management by helping producers improve profitability while enhancing nutrient use efficiency and environmental stewardship through precision agriculture.

·         North Central Region: Dr. Timothy McDermott is an Extension Educator and Assistant Professor, Agriculture and Natural Resources, in the Department of Extension, College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State University. His Urban agriculture/Local food production teaching focused on agricultural workforce development, controlled environment agriculture, soil health, specialty crops, family food security, and economic sustainability.

·         Western Region: Dr. Steven Worker is a 4-H Youth Development Advisor with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. In the San Francsico north Bay, Dr. Worker has cultivated a STEM Learning Ecosystem that expands equitable access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning.

“Extension professionals work hard every day to make a difference in the lives of people they work with.  It is such an honor to celebrate excellence in this work and recognize Extension professionals as changemakers in their communities,” said 2026 ECOP Chair Lisa Townson. “We are pleased to recognize this year’s winners and humbled by their dedication to the land grant mission.”

 

Pre-NEDA First Friday: Overview of Beyond Ready, Capacity, Health Tiger Team

The purpose of this “First Friday” webinar was to brief Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators about three topics that will be discussed at their national conference this week. However, many others in the Cooperative Extension system could benefit from hearing these messages. 

Please follow this link to view the recording (Passcode: U9#s!iQ0). 

2026 New Administrators Orientation: Leading with Conviction, Courage, and Confidence
December 8-10, 2026 | Alexandria, VA

Presented by the APLU Office of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR), the New Administrators Orientation (NAO) is designed to help new administrators build the knowledge, connections, and leadership skills needed to succeed in their roles.

The program is intended for individuals who are new to administrative leadership positions within colleges and programs related to food, agriculture, natural resources, and the life sciences, including deans, associate deans, department heads, directors, experiment station leaders, and Extension administrators.

No matter your administrative position, NAO provides practical guidance for navigating the responsibilities and opportunities of academic administration.

Through discussions, expert perspectives, and peer engagement, participants will explore topics such as leadership and organizational culture, employee engagement, strategic communication, decision-making, and managing change. Participants will also gain a deeper understanding of the Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA), including its policy, advocacy, and communications activities, and will have opportunities to engage directly with leaders from USDA.

By the end of the program, participants will have strengthened their leadership capabilities, expanded their professional network, and gained practical insights they can apply immediately to support their institutions' teaching, research, Extension, and service missions.

See more information about the NAO and register here.

Meet “JD:" John Deere’s New AI Assistant for Operations Center (From AgWeb Daily)

Designed as a conversational partner, the artificial intelligence assistant answers farmers’ questions in real time using customized insights generated from their own field, machine and operational data.

September 2026, ECOP approved an Artificial Intelligence Program Action Team. That PAT will give an ECOP report at the National Extension and Administrators Conference this week in Seattle, Washington.

NIFA Application Status Dashboard

Stakeholders can use the NIFA Application Status Dashboard to check the status of their grant applications. NIFA created the dashboard to enhance NIFA stakeholder customer experience. To use the tool, applicants will need to input their Grants.gov tracking number.

EPA Office of Pesticide Programs Seeks PPDC Appointees

 The Office of Pesticide Programs is in the process of seeking nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC). I am writing to seek your assistance with both nominating individuals and spreading the word about the open nominations to your relevant stakeholders.

The PPDC is chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide policy advice, information and recommendations to the EPA on a wide variety of pesticide regulatory development and reform initiatives, evolving public policy and program implementation issues, and policy issues associated with evaluating and reducing risks from pesticide use.

For additional information about the PPDC, please visit the PPDC website here. Please note, a FederalRegister Notice announcing the request for nominations was published on August 17^th, which contains nominating instructions. Nominations are due on September 16th. If you have any questions, please contact Jeffrey Chang at chang.jeffrey@epa.gov.

Why Extension is the Right Partner for Health

The Extension Health Tiger Team identified five reasons that Cooperative Extension is the right partner for Health. Extension’s value in community health is not theoretical. It is demonstrated and durable:

• Unmatched national infrastructure. Extension operates in every state, U.S. territory, and nearly every county. It is the only educational system with geographic reach and local trust needed to deliver consistent, evidence-based health programming at the national scale, including in rural and other communities that federal programs and health systems often struggle to reach.
• Trust that drives lasting behavior change. Extension educators are embedded in communities for years — often decades. That depth of relationship produces the kind of sustained, longitudinal engagement that drives real behavior change at the individual and population level. No federal campaign, app, or episodic clinical program can replicate it.
• Proven federal partnerships at scale. Extension has partnered with CDC through EXCITE — reaching nearly 2.8 million individuals and forming 196 health partnerships — and has demonstrated effective, scalable delivery of the National Diabetes Prevention Program through PreventT2. These are not pilots. They are proof points.
• Lifespan reach and holistic, integrated programming. Extension’s health work spans prenatal nutrition to healthy aging. It integrates food systems, agriculture, community development, financial well-being, and youth development through 4-H — the kind of cross-sector, whole-person approach that produces durable community health outcomes that isolated health programs cannot offer.
• A research foundation that is second to none. Every program Extension delivers is evidence-based, continuously evaluated, and grounded in the latest science — from precision nutrition and food safety to mental health and chronic disease prevention.

The work of the Tiger Team will be one of three major topics discussed at the NEDAmeeting in Seattle. 

Hechinger Op-Ed on AI Workforce Readiness

While written from an academic programs perspective, the AI workforce readiness piece below is highly applicable to youth and adult education. 

OPINION: AI workforce readiness cannot remain a campus-by-campus experiment built around isolated pilot programs

Thursday NEDA Programming in Seattle

On Thursday morning, September 17, outgoing ECOP Chair Lisa Townson will provide a report on ECOP progress on strategic goals over the past 12 months. Additionally, incoming ECOP Chair, Cody Stone, will review the feedback provided by the regions. Following these presentations, the Extension Foundation will provide an update. This plenary session will take place from 8 to 10 am.

This plenary session will follow an optional breakout meeting of those interested in the National Urban Research and Extension Network, which will take place from 7 to 8 am.

To view the most up to date agenda, follow this link. 

USDA Asks Partners to Develop AI Solutions to Accelerate Crop Innovation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking steps to speed up progress in plant science by calling on universities and stakeholders to help build new AI tools that can translate the huge amount of germplasm data the agency collects.

Through the Genesis Mission and the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA), USDA is expected to launch an Agricultural National Science & Technology Challenge later this year. The Challenge will ask innovators to create practical solutions that pull together different types of information—like images, field data, and lab results—so scientists can quickly spot important plant and seed traits and develop crops that are more resilient and productive.

Employment Opportunity: agInnovation South Executive Director

agInnovation South seeks a visionary and collaborative leader to serve as its next Executive Director. The Executive Director provides strategic leadership for one of the nation's five regional associations of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors, working with member universities to advance agricultural research through regional collaboration, national engagement, and strong partnerships. The position serves as the principal advocate for the Southern Region's research enterprise while guiding the Southern Multistate Research Program and fostering initiatives that strengthen the impact of public agricultural research.

Reporting to the Chair of agInnovation South, the Executive Director serves the Agricultural Experiment Station Directors of the fifteen member institutions across the Southern Region. The Executive Director will be located at one of the member universities by mutual agreement.

Read the full position description.

Dr. Paul Coreil to Deliver 2026 Seaman Knapp Memorial Lecture

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Director Dr. Jaye Hamby has announced that Dr. Paul Coreil, retired chancellor for the Louisiana State University of Alexandria, will deliver the 2026 Seaman Knapp Memorial Lecture Sunday, Nov. 15 at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) annual meeting in San Antonio, TX.  

The lecture is one of three rotating lectures presented by NIFA and APLU that honor three historic Land-grant University figures: William Henry Hatch, Seaman A. Knapp and Justin Smith Morrill.

Nominated by Adam Knapp, Knapp’s great-great grandson, Dr. Coreil is recognized and respected as a leader in Extension and higher education. This honor recognizes his outstanding career and his continuing vision for Extension’s future to serve the people, improve agriculture and enhance the lives and livelihoods of America’s farmers.

Coreil’s 43-year career in the Louisiana State University (LSU) system is marked by sustained leadership, collaboration and service to Louisiana’s communities. His work across LSU AgCenter, Louisiana 4-H and LSU Alexandria, strengthened education, youth development and natural resource stewardship statewide. 

Read the full release.

"Taking it to the Street” 2026: Showcasing Extension Action Toward Resilient Communities and Lands

Join Extension colleagues nationwide for a virtual convening to showcase the accomplishments of four national working groups focused on Resilient Communities and Lands. Explore new Extension tools and resources, share ideas with colleagues across the country, and help identify national gaps and priorities that will shape the next phase of this work.

Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. CT (1-4 ET, 11-2 MT, 10-1 PT)
Location: Zoom
Format: Interactive Virtual Convening
Register here: https://extension.zoom.us/meeting/register/5t8ql4ONSG-d7QRzfjP8zw#/registration

This convening is for: Anyone interested in what Cooperative Extension is doing to engage administrators, policymakers, and other decision-makers on a broad range of resilience issues. Anyone who would like to contribute their programs or ideas for supporting resilient communities and lands.

What you’ll gain

• Fresh tools to use with your programs and communities
• Inspiration from colleagues in many Extension disciplines
• Opportunities to connect, co-create, and build momentum for the next steps

Can’t come for the whole time? That’s OK! Here are two parts from which you can choose:

• Part 1 (12-12:50 p.m. CT): If you are unfamiliar with this work and simply want an overview, we suggest you come for the first hour. If you’re interested in digging deeper, we encourage you to stay for Part 2.
• Part 2 (1-3 p.m. CT): We invite you to stay for the second half if you are interested in digging deeper. We will explore the collaborations, next steps, and national gaps.

Board on Health and Human Sciences (BHHS) Award Nominations Open

Nominations for the Board on Health and Human Sciences (BHHS) Awards are now open and will continue to be accepted until October 1, 2026. Recipients of these prestigious national awards will be recognized at a special luncheon at the BHHS Spring Meeting hosted by Florida State University in March 2027. 

See additional information on the awards and instructions for submitting a packet.

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.

Terry Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Society of American Foresters

Terry Baker is the CEO of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). He oversees all of SAF’s programs and collaborates with his Board of Directors to establish a strategic vision committed to the scientific sustainable management of America’s forests. Prior to his selection as SAF CEO in September 2018, Baker served in various roles within the USDA Forest Service. His almost 20-year federal career started in his home state of Florida on the Apalachicola National Forest.

"The Society of American Foresters (SAF) accredits forestry, urban forestry, and natural resource programs. This relationship represents our four-way handshake with land-grant universities: Universities, students and their families, employers, and SAF. This handshake represents our commitment to each other, ensuring that students build the necessary skills during their studies to meet the ever-changing needs of our forests and communities." - Terry Baker

Funding Opportunity: Community Cooking Demonstrations

You may be asked to partner with or write a letter of support for a funding opportunity with an August 17 application deadline.  

The purpose of the Community Cooking Demonstrations cooperative agreement is to establish and implement a nationwide cooking and nutrition education initiative. Through a coordinated network of regional and local implementation partners, the initiative will deliver recurring community cooking demonstrations and hands-on nutrition education designed to help individuals and families develop practical skills for selecting, preparing, and enjoying nutritious meals aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Department of Health and Human Services plans to make three awards of $3 million each.

Through this cooperative agreement, OASH/ODPHP anticipates making three awards. Each recipient will establish and coordinate a network of regional and local implementation partners to conduct a minimum of 600 community cooking demonstrations during a 15-week national activation period by conducting one demonstration per week in each of at least 40 geographic locations. Collectively, recipients will conduct a minimum of 1,800 cooking demonstrations nationwide.

 Link to Application: https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/363453

NAAAN Connect

Join the North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN) from 10-11 a.m. MDT on Wednesday, August 19 for the CONVERSATION on NAAAN CONNECT! Laura Mock, Director of Cultivator Powered by Conexus and Mandy Harle, Senior Manager, Investment & Business Growth at Economic Development Regina, will share about how Regina is a hub for agricultural innovation. You’ll hear more about how Cultivator is helping accelerate ag-tech startups and innovations across Canada while also driving deeper into the 2027 NAAAN Convening in Regina. The meeting will be conducted in English with translation options in French and Spanish. Register to join!

Stopgap funding bill seeks delay of Trump’s science funding plan (from thehill.com)

Senate Republicans are supporting a provision in the stopgap funding bill that would delay the Trump administration’s controversial plan to put political appointees in charge of hundreds of billions of dollars in federal grants. 

The provision marks a rare rebuke of the Trump administration by congressional Republicans. But the government funding bill only runs through Dec. 11, and the proposed rule can still take effect after that time. 

Extension Foundation’s Karl Bradley to Keynote at Seattle NEDA Meeting

Navigating Uncertainty will be the keynote address at the National Extension Directors and Administrators meeting in Seattle, Washington, delivered by Karl Bradley. Karl connects with people through many roles—as a teacher, musician, football coach, yoga instructor, veteran, and leadership junkie. Originally from Branson, Missouri, Karl holds a bachelor’s in education from Arizona State University and a master’s in education from The University of Northern Colorado. Over his career, he has led teams ranging from 5 to 250 and held leadership positions in public relations, operations, fundraising, finance, human resources, corporate training, and procurement. He joined the Extension Foundation in 2020.

Register for the National Extension Director and Administrators meeting here. 

Making a Difference 4-H'ers Create Quilts for Display in Washington, D.C.

Young people in 4-H from Alaska, New Jersey, Utah and West Virginia collaborated with nationally known textile artist Susie Brandt to create two quilts. Brandt assembled quilt blocks made by the youths into large, finished pieces, now displayed at the American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery. The quilts are part of the “4-H Interaction of Color Quilts Project” and featured in the exhibition “State Fairs: Growing American Craft” through Sept. 7. 

Read more about this multistate 4-H project.

Secretary Rollins Announces Continued Growth of USDA’s Product of USA Label with Six Additional Companies Joining Initiative

On Friday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced six additional meat and poultry companies have adopted USDA’s voluntary Product of USA (POTUSA) label, continuing the strong momentum behind the Trump Administration’s efforts to help consumers easily identify products that are truly born, raised, harvested, and processed in the United States.

The newest companies to adopt USDA’s Product of USA label include:

• Creekstone Farms – Kansas
• Caviness Beef Packers
• CS Beef Packers – Texas
• Greener Pastures – Texas
• Lone Star Beef Processors – Texas
• Claxton Poultry Farms – Georgia

Senate finalizes funding patch that would block Trump’s grant overhaul

Senate appropriators released text Sunday of a stopgap funding bill to avert a shutdown come Oct. 1 and punt broader government funding negotiations until after the midterms. Language is included to delay the president’s move to put political appointees in charge of grant approval.

Under the bipartisan plan, federal agencies would be funded through Dec. 11 at current levels, with some exceptions. Senate leaders have set an initial procedural vote for Monday night and want to pass the bill by the end of the week — just before senators are scheduled to leave town for a five-week recess.

Read the full article here. 

Education Freedom Tax Credit

Beginning in 2027, taxpayers in many states will be eligible for a new federal tax credit of up to $1700 for contributions made to K-12 Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs).  SGOs are nonprofits that accept qualified contributions from individuals and use the funds to provide scholarships for education-related services at private or public schools, including tuition, fees, academic tutoring, and classroom supplies. Has your state opted-in to participate? Does your Cooperative Extension Service work with a non-profit organization that would qualify as an SGO through the US Treasury and is on your state’s participant list?

USDA Asks Partners to Develop AI Solutions to Accelerate Crop Innovation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking steps to speed up progress in plant science by calling on universities and stakeholders to help build new AI tools that can translate the huge amount of germplasm data the agency collects.

Through the Genesis Mission and the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA), USDA is expected to launch an Agricultural National Science & Technology Challenge later this year. The Challenge will ask innovators to create practical solutions that pull together different types of information—like images, field data, and lab results—so scientists can quickly spot important plant and seed traits and develop crops that are more resilient and productive.

More details on the Challenge are forthcoming. Proposing teams are encouraged to read the full Genesis Mission Executive Order and bring their best ideas to advance America’s future in germplasm innovation. Read the full release regarding this matter here. 

New Director & Administrator Training at National Extension and Administrator Orientation in Seattle

Arrive early to take advantage of the New Director & Administrator Training that will take place at the Sheraton Grand Seattle Hotel. More experienced Directors & Administrators attending the training will enrich the experience for the target audience. Please be ready to join the orientation at 3:30 – 5:00 Pacific Time.

Be sure to register for NEDA and book your hotel room before August 24, 2026!  

Extension Foundation's AgriProspects Funds an Additional $1 million in Extension Workforce Development Projects Around AI and Credentialing.

The AgriProspects Workforce Development Network, a national program of the Extension Foundation, is pleased to announce the awarding of an additional $1 million for the second round of AgriProspects grants made possible by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)-National Extension Clearinghouse for Industry and the Workforce, project award no. 2023-67037-40533, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Read more about the awarded programs here.



Updated Research Security Terms for USDA General Terms and Conditions

USDA has issued an optional deviation to the USDA General Terms and Conditions (GT&Cs) for Federal Awards effective June 3. The deviation incorporates updates to terms relating to research security; foreign ownership, control, and influence; malign foreign talent recruitment programs; and related definitions. This deviation incorporates feedback from stakeholders regarding the language for such terms in the USDA GT&Cs effective December 31, 2025.

It provides an interim solution until a fuller update to the overall GT&Cs can be released. All requirements for incorporation of GT&Cs in new awards and significant modifications remain in place. NIFA will automatically incorporate the deviation text by reference into all awards supporting research, education, Extension, or integrated activities which are newly issued or significantly modified on or after June 8, 2026. Recipients of active NIFA awards that reference the USDA GT&C may request incorporation into their award by sending an email to awards@usda.gov. Recipients of NIFA Capacity Program funding will have the deviation automatically incorporated into the 4th Quarter distribution release.

Direct questions regarding the USDA General Terms and Conditions and the NIFA General (Research, Education, Extension) Terms and Conditions to NIFA.Policy.Support@usda.gov.



Senate Agriculture Chairman Boozman Releases Farm Bill Discussion Draft

On June 23, Senator John Boozman, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released a discussion draft of the Agricultural Act of 2026, or “Farm Bill 2.0.” This discussion draft is the latest progress of the long-delayed Farm Bill and comes as a compliment to the House version, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, which passed the House in April.

Much like in the House version, Title VII—the research title—of the Senate version largely reflects the requests made by APLU. In a statement, APLU President Waded Cruzado, said “APLU appreciates Chairman Boozman’s ongoing support of the critical role that research, education, and Cooperative Extension play in advancing American agriculture innovation. Public and land-grant universities have been engines of agricultural innovation for generations – helping producers tackle challenges, improve yields, and outcompete global challengers. As the legislative process moves forward, bipartisan compromise and action will be needed to ensure passage of another five-year Farm Bill later this year.”

APLU will share additional updates and bill analysis.

Additional resources on the Senate discussion draft are available:
Legislative text.
Title-by-title summary.
Section-by-section.
Overview.

NEDA Speaker Named: Mary Snapp

Taking advantage of NEDA 2026’s Seattle location, the National 4-H Council dinner on Monday evening will feature a longtime technology executive. Mary Sapp brings her experience and perspective from over 35 years at Microsoft to lead strategic initiatives. She formerly led the team responsible for Microsoft’s philanthropic efforts, which seeks to invest the company’s strongest assets – technology, money, employee talent, and its voice – to partner with nonprofits and communities to create lasting positive impact. Prior to Microsoft Philanthropies, Mary was Deputy General Counsel leading legal support for engineering and services. She led legal support for Bing as a start-up and Microsoft Windows as an established operating system. Mary is an active board leader and community volunteer for nonprofit organizations in Seattle and around the country. She currently serves on the board of directors of the YWCA of Seattle, King, and Snohomish Counties, the Seattle Art Museum, the National 4-H Council, the Farm Foundation, and Emerging Prairie. She also serves on National FFA's Corporate Sponsors' Board and in the President’s Advisory Group for her alma mater, the University of Michigan. Mary joined Microsoft in 1988 as the company's fourth attorney, and its first female attorney.
Register for the NEDA Conference today!

4-H Helping to Boost Trust in Public Universities

As trust and public confidence in higher education recently hit a record low of 36%, university presidents and chancellors are focusing on how to ensure their value to students and communities remains strong. The low confidence is attributed to rising tuition costs and perceptions that colleges fail to teach relevant work skills.

Not long ago, Jill Bramble, President and CEO of the National 4-H Council, joined university presidents at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) Council of Presidents Summer meeting to discuss how 4-H is driving college and career readiness. Jill is appreciative to APLU President Waded Cruzado for her vision in advancing this conversation forward.

She is grateful for the opportunity to speak with three 4-H alumni: Dr. Tracy M. Cook President of Alcorn State University; Dr. Gordon Gee President Emeritus of West Virginia University and Chair of National 4-H Council's Emeritus Council; and Richard Maltsbarger, National 4-H Council Trustee, and Executive in Residence at the University of Central Florida. Their stories reflect the long-term impact of investing in young people.

Read more about the event here.

Five for Five Reminder

At last year’s joint agInnovation and Extension conference in St. Louis, the Five for Five program was featured.

As a reminder, Five for Five is a physical activity ad-on curriculum designed to easily integrate movement into existing educational programming. The curriculum provides engaging, evidence-informed activities that help youth and adults increase physical activity while enhancing the learning process. Five for Five has been successfully implemented across a variety of settings and has been well received by educators and participants alike.

To help your Extension team get started, the Five for Five team has developed an interactive one-hour virtual training that introduces educators to the curriculum, demonstrates how it can be integrated into current programs, and provides practical implementation strategies. We would be excited to offer this training to Extension faculty and staff within your state.

Another benefit of Five for Five is its accessibility. Nearly the entire curriculum is available free of charge, at the following QR Code:

The only materials available at cost are the player cards, which have consistently been one of the most popular and highly rated components of the curriculum. Participants and educators alike enjoy the interactive nature of the cards, and we currently have a healthy inventory of player card decks available for purchase.

APLU Webinar Seeking Feedback on OMB Uniform Guidance

Please join APLU for a webinar on July 6, 3:30-4:30pm ET to discuss a response to the White House Office for Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed rule on “Uniform Guidance.”

APLU has been working throughout the organization to develop its comment letter and retained Ropes & Gray to support us in this work. APLU wants to ensure that our response represents the views and concerns of member institutions to the maximum extent practicable. Please join us for a presentation on our analysis of the proposal and the association’s preliminary plans for a response. The association will welcome feedback from participants.

 

Understandably, since the release of the proposal on May 29, many questions and concerns have emerged on implications to public and land-grant universities. The proposed rule would establish baseline requirements for federal programs governing how grant awards are issued, approved, managed, monitored, or canceled. Comments are due by Monday, July 13 at 11:59 pm EDT. OMB indicated it would like to issue a final rule that would put the proposal into effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year on October 1, 2026. 

Introduction by: Waded Cruzado, President, APLU

Debbie Altenburg, Vice President, Research Policy and Advocacy

Presentation by: Leslie A. Thornton, Counsel, Ropes & Gray

Stephen D. Sencer, Counsel, Ropes & Gray

Additional background information:

APLU Key Issues Document

APLU, AAU, and COGR Summary

To facilitate an open dialogue the webinar will only be open to the councils on Academic Affairs, Governmental Affairs, Legal Affairs, Presidents, and Research. No substitution will be permitted, nor will the webinar be recorded.

Register Here

Nutrition and Health Tiger Team Informational Webinar Recording Available

On June 26, ECOP held an informative webinar on the Nutrition and Health Tiger Team recommendations, ongoing actions, and next steps. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions and invited to provide feedback and ideas on the Tiger Team report.