ECOP in Washington, DC to Discuss Health Extension with Potential Partners

Last week, ECOP past chair Lisa Townson and ECOP BLC Chair Rick Avery attended a series of meetings with Lewis-Burke in Washington, DC. The primary focus of the meetings was to follow up on the ECOP Health Tiger Team recommendations, particularly to discuss common ground and potential future partnerships. Organizations Lisa and Rick met with included:  

• Brookings Rural Commission
• National Rural Health Association
• Feeding America
• USDA Office of the Secretary
• National Science Foundation

Future virtual meetings are planned with the American Enterprise Institute, Congressional Agriculture Committee Staff, American Enterprise Institute Rural Commission, NIH Office of Nutrition Research, Fix Our Food, and Health Resources Services Administration Bureau of Primary Health Care. 

Lisa and Rick were accompanied by the following members of the Extension ED&A team: Rich Bonanno, Doreen Hauser-Lindstrom, Bill Hoffman, and Maria Marzullo. 

USDA Seeks Applications for NAREEE Advisory Board and Citrus Disease Subcommittee Membership

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) is soliciting applications for membership to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board and the Citrus Disease Subcommittee (CDS).

NAREEE is the advisory board charged with providing advice to the Secretary of Agriculture and land-grant colleges and universities on top priorities and policies for food and agricultural research, education, extension and economics. Individuals from across the agricultural sector—including scientists, educators, producers, interest group advocates, and other industry experts, are welcome to self-nominate and apply for a vacant position on the Board.

The Board is statutorily required to have 15 appointed members from four categories: Three (3) members from National Farm or Producer Organizations, two (2) members from Academic or Research Societies, five (5) members from Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education, and five (5) members from Industry, Consumer, or Rural Interests.

Visit the NAREEE Advisory Board website: https://nareeeab.ree.usda.gov/membership to review a complete list of the Board and CDS membership categories or learn more about these stakeholder categories.

Be part of a Virginia Tech Extension Impact Focus Group

You are invited to participate in a focus group as part of a project examining how Extension programs identify, evaluate, and share impact statements (IRB #26-757 Exempt Research).

Impact statements play a critical role in demonstrating Extension’s public value, supporting accountability, and strengthening visibility among decision makers. Approaches to selecting, evaluating, and sharing high-quality impact statements vary widely across states and institutions. This project, supported by the APLU BAA Communications and Marketing Committee, will directly benefit Extension programs and lead to the development of supportive resources that could be used by all states/territories to enhance how we capture our impact.

In addition to a structured review of impact statements from the National Impacts Database, the group will convene focus groups with key collaborators (Extension administrators, evaluators, or communicators) to learn more about:

• How your Extension program evaluates and shares impact statements
• Common challenges in capturing and communicating outcomes
• Training or resources currently available, and what additional support could be most helpful
• Opportunities to strengthen impact reporting nationwide

Focus groups will be approximately 60-90 minutes and held via Zoom. We aim to speak with 30-35 Extension professionals in focus groups by region/institution type (1890, Tribal, North Central, Northeast, Southern, Western) with responses summarized at this level.

If you are willing to participate, please indicate your interest in this Qualtrics form. The group will follow up to schedule the focus group sessions with participants.

2027 CARET/BAA Washington Conference

The 2027 CARET/BAA Washington Conference is upon us! 

The meeting will be held March 1-4, 2027, in Washington, DC and bring together CARET delegates, Board on Agriculture Assembly members, land-grant university leaders, and agricultural stakeholders to engage and advance priorities for agricultural research, Extension, education, and the broader land-grant university system. 

This year's theme, "Capacity to Deliver: Investing in America's Land-grant System," will emphasize the importance of sustained federal investment, particularly capacity funding, in enabling universities to maintain investment in research and Extension, support faculty and students, and serve farmers and all communities who benefit from the land-grant mission. 

The conference will strengthen relationships among CARET delegates, AHS members, BAA leaders, and broader stakeholders, and reinforce the value of a coordinated national voice in advocating for the future of the land-grant university system. Attendees will then go to Capitol Hill to communicate the funding requests of the Board on Agriculture Assembly to members of Congress and congressional staff.

Note: The meeting will take place March 1-4 but, consult with your school delegation/the agenda when booking flights. APLU programming concludes the evening of March 3rd.

We look forward to seeing you in DC! See more information and register. 

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!