Washington Update - Prepared for the Board on Agriculture Assembly by Lewis-Burke Associates

 In this edition:

• FY 2027 Agriculture Appropriations: House Advances, Senate Delays
• Senate Farm Bill Outlook
• House and Senate Agriculture Committees Hold Oversight Hearings with Secretary Rollins
• Senate Agriculture Committee Holds Hearing with Forest Service Leadership

 Read the full report.

Scoops of Science: APLU Hosts Capitol Hill Reception Showcasing the Impact of Public Universities’ Agriculture Programs

APLU hosted a Capitol Hill reception on June 2 showcasing the joys and real-world impact of public and land-grant university creameries. The reception featured ice cream and cheese products from public and land-grant university colleges of agriculture, highlighting the societal benefit of university-based research, teaching, and Extension in food and agricultural sciences. Nearly 1,000 congressional staff, members of Congress, and other stakeholders attended the event. View a roundup of photos from the event.

Lawmakers and congressional staff had the opportunity to sample ice cream and cheese from 20 university creameries. The showcase included classics like cookies and cream and flavors highlighting state agricultural products. such as muscadine from Mississippi, pecans from New Mexico, and even sweet corn from Iowa and Nebraska all spun into bite-sized scoops.

Read the full press release.

Research Facilities Act Program (RFAP)

The RFAP is listed in the Assistance Listings under number 10.246. RFAP is designed to provide financial assistance to qualifying institutions for the construction, alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, or remodeling of agricultural research facilities to conduct research in the fields of food and agricultural sciences (as defined in 7 U.S.C. 3103, see Appendix III for definition). Download the NOFO.

USDA Terms and Conditions Update

On June 3rd, the United States Department of Agriculture issued a three-page supplement to their general terms and conditions. APLU will be preparing a short analysis of these changes but some institutions have already relaxed previous draw down restrictions.

Key Issues within OMB Uniform Guidance Revision Proposal

On May 29th, the Office for Management and Budget (OMB) released a proposed rule to update the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards or Uniform Guidance (found at 2 C.F.R. § 200). This proposed rule would establish baseline requirements for federal programs including research grants. These requirements will govern how 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. 

A June 1st APLU analysis of these revisions is available here. There will be a webinar hosted by a consulting company on this topic on June 8 at 12 EDT. The actual relationship between the consulting company and the OMB is currently unclear. However, there does not appear to be a registration fee associated with this webinar.

The Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA) is hosting a New Administrators Orientation on December 8-10, 2026 in the D.C. metro area

This event is intended for individuals on the Board on Agriculture Assembly and their supporting administrators or faculty, who have entered an administrative position recently and any others who would like to learn more about APLU, the Land-Grant University System and the BAA. Information presented will be particularly useful to administrative heads, deans/directors, and associate/assistant deans/directors. More details and draft agenda will be available soon.

Recording Now Available of Recent Terms and Conditions Webinar

A captioned recording is now available of the recent webinar introducing the newly established USDA General Terms and Conditions and highlighting key updates to NIFA’s agency specific requirements. The webinar also covered practical guidance on using SciENcv—equipping applicants, awardees and research administrators with the tools they need to confidently navigate these changes. Find the video here. 

Fund IRL (In Real Life) – Deadline March 29

Across the country, attorneys general are taking action against social media companies for designing platforms that maximize engagement at the expense of young people’s well-being and safety. Like prior litigation against tobacco and opioid companies, these cases may result in significant payouts or settlement funds intended to address widespread public harm. Early outcomes in a few states demonstrate that these resources are beginning to materialize. At the same time, past public health settlements have shown that without clear safeguards, funds can be diverted away from the populations most directly affected. This is where we come in.

Fund IRL aims to ensure potential settlement funds are invested in the population most impacted: children and youth. More specifically, funds should be invested in programs that facilitate connection “in real life” and support a young person’s social and emotional development. This includes after-school and out-of-school time programs, school- and community-based mental health services, and youth development initiatives that provide safe, healthy alternatives to excessive social media use. This could be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fund programs and supports for youth, so advocacy is crucial.
Every voice can and will make a difference. Here are ways you can engage with the coalition:

• Complete this survey if you want to engage with others in your state to support Fund IRL's goals 
• Use the Fund IRL Promotional Toolkit for key messaging and advocacy resources including a template coalition letter for Attorneys General
• For state coalition members, we have an Advocacy Grant opportunity for $10,000 to $15,000 to integrate youth into Fund IRL advocacy. The application deadline is Friday, May 29th. These grants intend to connect youth and/or parents to Fund IRL advocacy and can support activities ranging from meetings, speaking opportunities, surveys/polls, and consultants for related projects. 

Reminder: ASAP Unavailable Last Four Days of Month 

NIFA uses Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) to quickly and securely transfer money to its grant recipients. The ASAP system is temporarily unavailable during the last four business days of each month to perform required account reconciliation activities. Recipients are unable to make drawdowns in this period. 

Drawdown requests can be submitted again after the suspension ends, typically the first business day of the following month.  

Recipients should plan ahead. If funds are needed during the end-of-month suspension, request them before the suspension period begins. Learn more about ASAP here. 

2026 Knapp Lecture Nominations Close June 5

Nominations for the Seaman A. Knapp Lecture will close Friday, June 5. The Knapp Lecture is part of a Memorial Lecture series sponsored by NIFA and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. 

Reminder: National Extension Award for Innovative Programming that Addresses New Audiences

The purpose of this award is for Extension efforts that go above and beyond in reaching new audiences. It recognizes innovative teaching models and techniques that ensure Extension programs reach all audiences, especially new and those that have not been participating in traditional Extension education. The programming should reflect how a systematic needs assessment identified the audience and influenced teaching methods, created mutual respect among audiences, promoted acceptance, fostered teamwork, and improved overall effectiveness of the programming.

Nominations must be submitted online by June 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

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.

Christy Seyfert, President and CEO, Farm Credit Council

Christy Seyfert serves as President & CEO of the Farm Credit Council, the national trade association representing the nation’s leading provider of credit and financial services to agriculture and rural America in good times and bad.

"Growing up, 4-H helped me develop confidence in public speaking and appreciation for those who build up individuals and communities. My 4-H agent was one of my favorite people, and the broader team of Extension agents remain both friends and resources to my farm family in Georgia. Fast forward to some years later when I met my future in-laws, I was pleased to learn my father-in-law provided that same support as an Extension agent in Kansas." - Christy Seyfert

Read the full interview.

Save the Date: 2026 National Extension Directors & Administrators Annual Meeting

The 2026 NEDA meeting is scheduled for September 15-17 in Seattle, WA. Monday, September 14 will be a travel day for those attending the ECOP meeting on Tuesday, September 15. New administrator orientation will take place the afternoon of Tuesday, September 15, followed by a reception and dinner featuring a 4-H speaker.