On March 20, the White House released its National AI Legislative Framework via an Executive Order. The Executive Order mentioned the Land-grant system’s role in creating an artificial intelligence ready work force.
“Congress should bolster capabilities at land-grant
institutions to provide technical assistance, launch demonstration projects,
and develop AI youth development programs.”
In a post on X, APLU
featured the Executive Order:
“APLU thanks the @WhiteHouse for recognizing the mission of land-grant institutions in its AI policy proposal. Cooperative Extension programs provide trusted, practical education to help communities solve problems, develop skills, & build a better future.”
NIFA Director Hamby Comments on NIFA’s Role in USDA’s
Recently Released Research Priorities
From the March 18 NIFA Update:
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins recently
introduced priorities for future USDA funded research and development. These
priorities reflect a focused effort to strengthen national security, protect
U.S. agriculture and support American farmers, ranchers and consumers.
USDA’s Research, Education and Economics Mission (REE) area
and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) form the heart of
this effort. While our fellow REE agency, the Agricultural Research Service,
conducts intramural research, NIFA is the extramural funding agency that
partners with Land-grant Universities (LGUs) and others to conduct research
across the nation that is locally relevant and applied.
NIFA serves as the bridge between federal investments and
on-the-ground impact, supporting the scientists, Extension experts and
producers who turn research into results for American agriculture.
Agriculture is a cornerstone of national security, rural
prosperity and food security. The work funded and coordinated by NIFA ensures
that research is not just theoretical, but practical and responsive to the
needs of farmers, ranchers and producers.
The Secretary’s priorities provide a clear path forward for
how NIFA-funded research, education and outreach will move America forward.
Details on NIFA’s role in the five priorities below can be
found in the March 18 NIFA Update:
- Increasing the profitability of farmers and ranchers
- Expanding markets and creating new uses for U.S. agricultural products
- Protecting the integrity of American agriculture from invasive species and disease
- Promoting soil health to regenerate long-term productivity of the land
- Improving human health through precision nutrition and food quality
USDA General Terms & Conditions Update, NIFA
GT&Cs Webinar Scheduled for April 15
On December 31, 2025, USDA released the first set of USDA General
Terms and Conditions (GT&Cs) for all future awards. Per the Secretarial Memorandum establishing this change, USDA agencies had 45 days to begin
implementation of the new GT&Cs for all new awards and significant
modifications to existing awards. APLU’s Office of Food, Agriculture, &
Natural Resources (FANR) and Office of Government Affairs (OGA) have been
coordinating internally and with other stakeholders to better understand
impacts of the new GT&Cs for our community. Numerous questions have arisen,
and for the last several weeks APLU has engaged with USDA and Capitol Hill to
share these questions and seek clarifications.
Most recently, NIFA released in its March 18th newsletter NIFA-specific terms and conditions that, “will be applied
to all awards supporting research, education, Extension or integrated
activities which are issued or significantly modified on or after March 18,
2026.” A webinar on these new NIFA GT&Cs is scheduled for April 15th at 1:00 PM (CDT).
Please click the March 18th newsletter link above for the entire T&C paragraph from the NIFA newsletter.
APLU will review the new NIFA GT&Cs and continue to engage with USDA and Capitol Hill about both the GT&Cs and the NIFA GT&Cs. We encourage you to consult with your research officers to understand implications of the new terms and conditions and continue to share questions and concerns with us.
