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.