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.

NIFA & APLU Seek Nominations for Knapp Lecture

This year, NIFA and APLU are seeking nominations for the prestigious Knapp Lecture. The lecture commemorates the efforts of Seaman A. Knapp, considered by many to be the founder of the Cooperative Extension System. He pioneered a demonstration system for teaching farmers about modern, research-based agricultural techniques, laying the groundwork for Extension as we know it today.  

We are seeking an insightful topic and a dynamic speaker who can provoke discussion among meeting participants and prepare a formal lecture to be presented prior to the APLU Annual Meeting. While we seek recommendations from those within the Land-grant University system, we also encourage you to share this information with colleagues outside of the research, education, and Extension system, including stakeholders, foundations, or public interest groups. Nominations are encouraged from all sources. 

Recommendations should include the name of the nominee, title, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and topic that could be discussed. Please submit your potential topic and/or presenter on or before June 5, 2026. Recommendations should be submitted electronically using this form. A committee will review submissions and select a lecturer.

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.

Colin Woodall, Chief Executive Officer, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Colin Woodall is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and leads the country’s oldest and largest national trade association for cattle producers in being the trusted voice and definitive leader of the beef industry.

"Land‑grant universities are leading important work on the future of cattle and beef production...[to] help producers do more with less in a resource‑constrained world. Right now, however, the most urgent challenge is finding new ways to combat the New World Screwworm. Land‑grant researchers are essential partners in developing innovative control methods, and Cooperative Extension plays a critical role in educating producers about prevention and detection." - Colin Woodall

Read the full interview.

  

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.

Early Bird Deadline Approaching for PILD Conference – APLU President to Speak

Take the opportunity to save $100 and register for the JCEP Public Issues Leadership Development Conference by March 15. Hotel reservations must be made separately. APLU President Wadded Cruzado is scheduled to speak on day two of the conference. President Cruzado gave a great speech recently at the Council on Agriculture Research, Education, and Teaching conference.

North American Agricultural Advisory Network Multi-Language Connection

Join the North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN) from 10-11 a.m. MDT on Thursday, March 12 for the CONVERSATION on NAAAN CONNECT with Mexico. Moderated by Luis Martinez, Counselor for Agricultural Affairs at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington D.C., this session will feature a Group of Native Maize Producers from Acaxochitlán sharing about their experiences. The producers are part of a “Territorial Development of Indigenous Peoples Safeguarding Native Maize Races of Mexico” project through Mexico’s department of agriculture – AGRICULTURA. The goal of this project is to strengthen capacity, add value, and promote fair commercialization of native maize varieties.

This session will be conducted in Spanish with Wordly translation available in English and French. We look forward to seeing you there – register to join us!

Growing Together: Conversation with Krysta Harden, President and CEO, U.S. Dairy Export Council

Krysta Harden's journey from being a student at University of Georgia to become a national agricultural leader shows the power of 4‑H roots and a land‑grant education.  As president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), she leverages her experience with agriculture, sustainability, food policy, and the federal government to help fulfill USDEC’s mission to promote dairy exports and enrich the well-being of people, communities, and the planet.  Learn about Harden's perspectives at Growing Together: Conversation with Krysta Harden, President and CEO, U.S. Dairy Export Council.

NIFA seeking input on FY 2026 Research Facilities Act Program

NIFA will be holding a virtual listening session on Feb. 5 at noon EST to solicit public input on the implementation of the FY 2026 Research Facilities Act Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (RFAP). The RFAP program aims to assist Land-grant Institutions with the construction, modification, acquisition, modernization, refurbishment, or remodeling of agricultural research facilities to conduct research in the food and agricultural sciences.

In reauthorizing the program last year, Congress increased its annual funding level to $125 million in mandatory spending. In addition to the listening session, NIFA Program staff will also accept written comments before Feb. 12. Visit the NIFA website for more information.

ECOP has outlined its position on this issue, which includes the following:

“It is vital that stakeholders, particularly but not exclusively farmers and ranchers, achieve the maximum benefit from this historic investment. While every institution is different, for most institutions this will mean balancing research facility investments on campus and off campus. These off-campus facilities are an important part of demonstrating an innovation’s relevance to local conditions, including soil types, weather patterns, and ecosystems. They provide context specific knowledge that can directly lead to the next logical adoption step, on-operation trial. Investment in these off-campus facilities has the added benefit of widening the perceived value to a broader cross section of the state’s or territory’s citizenry.

Further, as we invest in off-campus research facilities, it is important that these investments include state of the art Extension facilities, capable of demonstrating innovations in the most effective possible manner. Any investment in research facilities without a clear vision and plan to ultimately communicate the resulting innovation to producers would be short-sighted.”

The ECOP National Office will communicate its position through the above and other channels.

GROWING TOGETHER: CONVERSATIONS WITH CEOS – Ducks Unlimited

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.

Adam Putnam, Chief Executive Officer, Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam is a fifth-generation Floridian and a graduate of the University of Florida where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Food and Resource Economics. He has also been awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and served as a Rodel Fellow at the Aspen Institute. In 2010, he was the E.T. York Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Florida. Putnam and his wife of 20 years, Melissa, reside in Memphis, Tenn. with their four children.

He is a hunter, angler, conservationist, and third-generation farmer who owns Putnam Groves Inc. Putnam Groves is a family owned and operated citrus farm and cattle ranch located in Central Florida.

“I consider myself to be a land grant baby – I was a 10-year 4-H'er, grew up on a family farm, got a degree from the University of Florida, and truly benefited from all three legs of the stool - teaching, research, and Extension. I truly believe the U.S. land grant model should be replicated around the world.” 

Specifically, regarding Cooperative Extension: DU is exploring much more work understanding social and economic values of conservation practices for landowners and to work to tailor conservation programs to best suit the needs of producers. There is enormous collaborative potential to explore these topics with Cooperative Extension.
Read the full interview.

USDA Launches New Online Portal for Reporting Foreign-Owned Agricultural Land Transactions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching a new online portal to streamline reporting of transactions involving U.S. agricultural land by foreign persons, which can include businesses and governments, under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). The new online portal is part of a broader effort to strengthen enforcement and protect American farmland as USDA continues its implementation of the National Farm Security Action Plan (PDF, 1.2 MB).