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. 

ECOP First Friday Update Available

On April 3^rd, ECOP held an informative First Friday Update.

• Lisa Townson discussed the progress of the Nutrition and Health Tiger Team
• Gregg Hadley provided an update from the Professional Development Committee, which included information on expanded recognition of Extension awardees at the September NEDA Meeting
• Tom Dobbins shared information about future Program Committee investments in the Program Action Teams
• Justin Rhinehart gave an update on the newly formed Artificial Intelligence Program Action Team
• APLU’s Doug Steele and Lewis Burke’s Dominique Foster provided a briefing on recent happenings in Washington, DC.

Webinar: A Comprehensive Overview of "A Study of Land-grant University Federal Capacity Funding"

Thursday, April 9 | 4:00-5:15 pm ET

This webinar is designed for individuals who have not yet had the opportunity to hear Wendy Fink’s presentation on the Tripp Umbach, Phase 1 report on federal capacity funding and would like to learn more about the Board on Agriculture Assembly's Federal Capacity Funding Initiative. The analysis and key findings are based upon survey results from 94 capacity-eligible institutions. The webinar will cover:

• What are USDA Capacity Funding Grant Programs?
• What does Capacity Funding Enable?
• BAA’s Capacity Initiative’s Three Phases​
• Phase One: Key Takeaways​
• What Can You Do to Help with This Effort?

Welcome:
Christopher Daubert, Chair, BAA’s Administrative Heads Section
Vice Chancellor and Dean
College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
University of Missouri 

James Pritchett, Chair, BAA’s Communications and Marketing Committee
Vice President for Engagement and Extension
Colorado State University

Presenters:
Wendy Fink
Executive Director - Academic Programs Section, BAA and
Associate Vice President, Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources 
APLU

Marcus Glassman
Executive Director, Council on Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET)
Director, Governmental Affairs
APLU

Register here.

USDA NIFA Releases 2027 President’s Budget

USDA NIFA released the 2027 President’s Budget Request. The line by line is available here (see pages 21-42, 21-43, and 21-44). A full analysis is currently being conducted by Lewis Burke and will be available later this week. 

USDA General Terms & Conditions Update, NIFA GT&Cs Webinar Scheduled for April 15

NIFA will host a webinar on Wednesday, April 15 at 1:00 p.m. CDT to introduce the newly established USDA General Terms and Conditions and discuss updates to NIFA’s agency‑specific Terms and Conditions. 

Register here: USDA’s New General Terms and Conditions and NIFA’s Updated Requirements: A Comprehensive Overview

National AI Legislative Framework Calls Out Land-grant Institutions

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.