7 USC 3152 - Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences education

Collapse to view only § 3152. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences education

§ 3151. Grants to enhance research capacity in schools of veterinary medicine
§ 3151a. Veterinary medicine loan repayment
§ 3151b. Veterinary services grant program
§ 3152. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences education
§ 3153. National Agricultural Science Award
§ 3154. Repealed.
§ 3155. Agricultural and food policy research centers
§ 3156. Education grants to Alaska Native serving institutions and Native Hawaiian serving institutions
§ 3157. Competitive, special, and facilities research grants
§ 3158. Next generation agriculture technology challenge
§ 3159. Land-grant designation

§ 3151. Grants to enhance research capacity in schools of veterinary medicine

(a) Competitive grant program

(1) In general

(2) Matching requirement

(b) Preference

Except with respect to the States of Alaska and Hawaii, the Secretary shall give preference in awarding grants to States which file, with their application for funds under this section, assurances satisfactory to the Secretary that—

(1) the State has established a veterinary medical training program with one or more States without colleges of veterinary medicine which consists of appropriate cooperative agreements providing for a sharing of curriculum and costs by the individual States;

(2) the clinical training of the school to be improved shall emphasize care and preventive medical programs for food animals and companion animals (including horses) which support industries of major economic importance; and

(3) the Secretary may set aside a portion of funds appropriated for the award of grants under this section and make such amounts available only for grants to eligible colleges and universities that the Secretary determines have unique capabilities for achieving the objective of full participation of minority groups in research in the Nation’s schools of veterinary medicine.

Notwithstanding clause (1) of this subsection, no State which the Secretary determines has made a reasonable effort to establish appropriate cooperative agreements shall be denied a grant or otherwise prejudiced because of its failure to establish such cooperative agreements.

Funds appropriated to carry out this section for any fiscal year shall be apportioned and distributed as follows:

(1) Five per centum shall be retained by the Department of Agriculture for administration, program assistance to eligible States, and program coordination.

(2) The remainder shall be apportioned and distributed by the Secretary to those States which have applied for funds under this section on such basis as the Secretary may deem appropriate.

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1415, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 993; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 1417, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1305; Pub. L. 99–198, title XIV, § 1410, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1547; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1607(a), (b), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3716; Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7128(b)(1)(A), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 878; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7614(b)(1)(A), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4833.)

§ 3151a. Veterinary medicine loan repayment

(a) Program

(1) Service in shortage situations

(2) Service to Federal Government in emergency situations

(A) In general

(B) Requirements

Agreements entered into under this paragraph shall include the following:

(i) A veterinarian shall not be required to serve more than 60 working days per year of the agreement.

(ii) A veterinarian who provides service pursuant to the agreement shall receive a salary commensurate with the duties and shall be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses as appropriate for the duration of the service.

(b) Determination of veterinarian shortage situations

In determining “veterinarian shortage situations”, the Secretary may consider—

(1) geographical areas that the Secretary determines have a shortage of veterinarians; and

(2) areas of veterinary practice that the Secretary determines have a shortage of veterinarians, such as food animal medicine, public health, epidemiology, and food safety.

(1) Authority

(2) Breach remedies

(A) In general

(B) Amounts recovered

(3) Waiver

(4) Amount

The Secretary shall develop regulations to determine the amount of loan repayment for a year of service by a veterinarian. In making the determination, the Secretary shall consider the extent to which such determination—

(A) affects the ability of the Secretary to maximize the number of agreements that can be provided under the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program from the amounts appropriated for such agreements; and

(B) provides an incentive to serve in veterinary service shortage areas with the greatest need.

(5) Qualifying educational loans

Loan repayments provided under this section may consist of payments on behalf of participating individuals of the principal and interest on government and commercial loans received by the individual for attendance of the individual at an accredited college of veterinary medicine resulting in a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or the equivalent, which loans were made for—

(A) tuition expenses;

(B) all other reasonable educational expenses, including fees, books, and laboratory expenses, incurred by the individual; or

(6) Repayment schedule

(7) Tax liability

(8) Priority

(d) Use of funds

(e) Regulations

(f) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1415A, as added Pub. L. 108–161, § 2, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2014; amended Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7105(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1216; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7105(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1977.)

§ 3151b. Veterinary services grant program

(a) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Qualified entityThe term “qualified entity” means—

(A) a for-profit or nonprofit entity located in the United States that, or an individual who, operates a veterinary clinic providing veterinary services—

(i) in a rural area, as defined in section 1991(a) of this title; and

(ii) in a veterinarian shortage situation;

(B) a State, national, allied, or regional veterinary organization or specialty board recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association;

(D) a university research foundation or veterinary medical foundation;

(E) a department of veterinary science or department of comparative medicine accredited by the Department of Education;

(F) a State agricultural experiment station; or

(G) a State, local, or tribal government agency.

(2) Veterinarian shortage situation

(b) Establishment

(1) Competitive grants

(2) Eligibility requirementsA qualified entity shall be eligible to receive a grant described in paragraph (1) if the entity carries out programs or activities that the Secretary determines will—

(A) substantially relieve veterinarian shortage situations;

(B) support or facilitate private veterinary practices engaged in public health activities; or

(C) support or facilitate the practices of veterinarians who are providing or have completed providing services under an agreement entered into with the Secretary under section 3151a(a)(2) of this title.

(1) Application, evaluation, and input processesIn administering the grant program established under this section, the Secretary shall—

(A) use an appropriate application and evaluation process, as determined by the Secretary; and

(B) seek the input of interested persons.

(2) Coordination preference

(3) Consideration of available funds

(4) Nature of grants

(d) Use of grants to relieve veterinarian shortage situations and support veterinary services

(1) In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), a qualified entity may use funds provided by a grant awarded under this section to relieve veterinarian shortage situations and support veterinary services for any of the following purposes:

(A) To promote recruitment (including for programs in secondary schools), placement, and retention of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students of veterinary medicine, and students of veterinary technology.

(B) To allow veterinary students, veterinary interns, externs, fellows, and residents, and veterinary technician students to cover expenses (other than the types of expenses described in section 3151a(c)(5) of this title) to attend training programs in food safety or food animal medicine.

(C) To establish or expand accredited veterinary education programs (including faculty recruitment and retention), veterinary residency and fellowship programs, or veterinary internship and externship programs carried out in coordination with accredited colleges of veterinary medicine.

(D) To provide continuing education and extension, including veterinary telemedicine and other distance-based education, for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other health professionals needed to strengthen veterinary programs and enhance food safety.

(E) To provide technical assistance for the preparation of applications submitted to the Secretary for designation as a veterinarian shortage situation under this section or section 3151a of this title.

(F) To expose students in grades 11 and 12 to education and career opportunities in food animal medicine.

(2) Qualified entities operating veterinary clinicsA qualified entity described in subsection (a)(1)(A) may only use funds provided by a grant awarded under this section to establish or expand veterinary practices, including—

(A) equipping veterinary offices;

(B) sharing in the reasonable overhead costs of such veterinary practices, as determined by the Secretary; or

(C) establishing mobile veterinary facilities in which a portion of the facilities will address education or extension needs.

(e) Special requirements for certain grants

(1) Terms of service requirements

(A) In general

(B) ConsiderationsIn establishing a term of service under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider only—

(i) the amount of the grant awarded; and

(ii) the specific purpose of the grant.

(2) Breach remedies

(A) In general

(B) Waiver

(i) be credited to the account available to carry out this section; and

(ii) remain available until expended without further appropriation.

(f) Prohibition on use of grant funds for constructionExcept as provided in subsection (d)(2), funds made available for grants under this section may not be used—

(1) to construct a new building or facility; or

(2) to acquire, expand, remodel, or alter an existing building or facility, including site grading and improvement and architect fees.

(g) Regulations

(h) Authorization of appropriations

(1) In general

(2) Priority

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1415B, as added Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7104, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 866; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7106, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4783.)

§ 3152. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences education

(a) Higher education teaching programs

(b) Grants

The Secretary may make competitive grants (or grants without regard to any requirement for competition) to land-grant colleges and universities (including the University of the District of Columbia), to colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences, and to other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences, for a period not to exceed 5 years—

(1) to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, to respond to identified State, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development;

(2) to attract and support undergraduate and graduate students in order to educate the students in national need areas of the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development;

(3) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between two or more eligible institutions, or between eligible institutions and units of State government or organizations in the private sector, to maximize the development and use of resources such as faculty, facilities, and equipment to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs, or teaching programs emphasizing rural economic, community, and business development;

(4) to design and implement food and agricultural programs, or programs emphasizing rural economic, community, and business development, to build teaching, research, and extension capacity at colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments;

(5) to conduct undergraduate scholarship programs to meet national and international needs for training food and agricultural scientists and professionals, or professionals in rural economic, community, and business development; and

(6) to conduct graduate and postdoctoral fellowship programs to attract highly promising individuals to research or teaching careers in the food and agricultural sciences.

In awarding grants under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give priority to—

(1) applications for teaching enhancement projects that demonstrate enhanced coordination among all types of institutions eligible for funding under this section; and

(2) applications for teaching enhancement projects that focus on innovative, multidisciplinary education programs, material, and curricula.

(d) Eligibility for grants

(1) In general

(2) Minority groups

(3) Research foundations

(e) Food and agricultural education information system

From amounts made available for grants under this section, the Secretary may maintain a national food and agricultural education information system that contains—

(1) information on enrollment, degrees awarded, faculty, and employment placement in the food and agricultural sciences; and

(2) such other similar information as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(f) Evaluation of teaching programs

(g) Continuing education

(h) Transfers of funds and functions

(i) National Food and Agricultural Sciences Teaching, Extension, and Research Awards

(1) Establishment

(A) In general

(B) Minimum requirement

(2) Funding

(j) Secondary education, 2-year postsecondary education, and agriculture in the K–12 classroom

(1) Definitions

In this subsection:

(A) Institution of higher education

(B) Secondary school

(2) Agriscience and agribusiness education

The Secretary shall—

(A) promote and strengthen secondary education and 2-year postsecondary education in agriscience and agribusiness in order to help ensure the existence in the United States of a qualified workforce to serve the food and agricultural sciences system; and

(B) promote complementary and synergistic linkages among secondary, 2-year postsecondary, and higher education programs in the food and agricultural sciences in order to promote excellence in education and encourage more young Americans to pursue and complete a baccalaureate or higher degree in the food and agricultural sciences.

(3) Grants

The Secretary may make competitive or noncompetitive grants, for grant periods not to exceed 5 years, to public secondary schools, institutions of higher education that award an associate’s degree, other institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations, that the Secretary determines have made a commitment to teaching agriscience and agribusiness—

(A) to enhance curricula in agricultural education;

(B) to increase faculty teaching competencies;

(C) to interest young people in pursuing higher education in order to prepare for scientific and professional careers in the food and agricultural sciences;

(D) to promote the incorporation of agriscience and agribusiness subject matter into other instructional programs, particularly classes in science, business, and consumer education;

(E) to facilitate joint initiatives by the grant recipient with other secondary schools, institutions of higher education that award an associate’s degree, and institutions of higher education that award a bachelor’s degree to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve agriscience and agribusiness education;

(F) to support other initiatives designed to meet local, State, regional, or national needs related to promoting excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education; and

(G) to support current agriculture in the classroom programs for grades K–12.

(k) Administration

(l) Report

(m) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out this section—

(1) $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1990 through 2013; and

(2) $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1417, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 996; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 1418, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1305; Pub. L. 99–198, title XIV, § 1412, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1548; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1608, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3716; Pub. L. 102–237, title IV, § 402(6), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1863; Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 805, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1160; Pub. L. 105–185, title II, § 223, title III, § 301(a)(1), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 539, 562; Pub. L. 105–244, title I, § 102(a)(1)(B), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1617; Pub. L. 107–110, title X, § 1076(c), Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 2091; Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7102, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 431; Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, §§ 7106–7109(c), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1217, 1218; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, §§ 7106–7109(c), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1978, 1979; Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7105, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 869; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(ll), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2175; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7107, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4783; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(35), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4309.)

§ 3153. National Agricultural Science Award

(a) Establishment

(b) Amount and term

(d) Categories

Awards under this section shall be made in each fiscal year in two categories as follows:

(1) to a scientist in recognition of outstanding contributions to the advancement of the food and agricultural sciences; and

(2) to a research scientist in early career development or a graduate student, in recognition of demonstrated capability and promise of significant future achievement in the food and agricultural sciences.

(e) Nominating and selection committees

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1418, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 997; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 1420(a), Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1306.)

§ 3154. Repealed. Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7110(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1218, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7110(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1980

§ 3155. Agricultural and food policy research centers

(a) In general

Consistent with this section, the Secretary shall, acting through the Office of the Chief Economist, make competitive grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, policy research centers described in subsection (b) to conduct research and education programs that are objective, operationally independent, and external to the Federal Government and that concern the effect of public policies and trade agreements on—

(1) the farm and agricultural sectors (including commodities, livestock, dairy, and specialty crops);

(2) the environment;

(3) rural families, households, and economies; and

(4) consumers, food, and nutrition.

(b) Eligible recipients

An entity eligible to apply for funding under subsection (a) is a State agricultural experiment station, college or university, or other public research institution or organization that has a history of providing—

(1) unbiased, nonpartisan economic analysis to Congress on the areas specified in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a); or

(2) objective, scientific information to Federal agencies and the public to support and enhance efficient, accurate implementation of Federal drought preparedness and drought response programs, including interagency thresholds used to determine eligibility for mitigation or emergency assistance.

In making awards under this section, the Secretary shall give a preference to policy research centers that have—

(1) extensive databases, models, and demonstrated experience in providing Congress with agricultural market projections, rural development analysis, agricultural policy analysis, and baseline projections at the farm, multiregional, national, and international levels; or

(2) information, analysis, and research relating to drought mitigation.

(d) Activities

Under this section, funding may be provided for disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and education concerning policy research activities consistent with this section, including activities that—

(1) quantify the implications of public policies and regulations;

(2) develop theoretical and applied research methods;

(3) collect, analyze, and disseminate data for policymakers, analysts, and individuals; and

(4) develop programs to train analysts.

(e) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1419A, as added Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 807, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1162; amended Pub. L. 105–185, title II, § 224, title III, § 301(a)(3), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 540, 562; Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, §§ 7103, 7216, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 432, 449; Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7111, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1219; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7111, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1980; Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7106, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 869; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7108, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4783.)

§ 3156. Education grants to Alaska Native serving institutions and Native Hawaiian serving institutions

(a) Education grants program for Alaska Native serving institutions

(1) Grant authority

(2) Use of grant funds

Grants made under this section shall be used—

(A) to support the activities of consortia of Alaska Native serving institutions to enhance educational equity for under represented students;

(B) to strengthen institutional educational capacities, including libraries, curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, in order to respond to identified State, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agriculture sciences;

(C) to attract and support undergraduate and graduate students from under represented groups in order to prepare them for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural resource systems of the United States, beginning with the mentoring of students at the high school level including by village elders and continuing with the provision of financial support for students through their attainment of a doctoral degree; and

(D) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between two or more Alaska Native serving institutions, or between Alaska Native serving institutions and units of State government or the private sector, to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs.

(3) Authorization of appropriations

(b) Education grants program for Native Hawaiian serving institutions

(1) Grant authority

(2) Use of grant funds

Grants made under this section shall be used—

(A) to support the activities of consortia of Native Hawaiian serving institutions to enhance educational equity for under represented students, including permitting consortia to designate fiscal agents for the members of the consortia and to allocate among the members funds made available under this section;

(C) to attract and support undergraduate and graduate students from under represented groups in order to prepare them for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural resource systems of the United States, beginning with the mentoring of students at the high school level and continuing with the provision of financial support for students through their attainment of a doctoral degree; and

(D) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between two or more Native Hawaiian serving institutions, or between Native Hawaiian serving institutions and units of State government or the private sector, to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs.

(3) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1419B, formerly Pub. L. 106–78, title VII, § 759, Oct. 22, 1999, 113 Stat. 1172; renumbered Pub. L. 95–113, § 1419B, and amended Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7112, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1219, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7112, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1980; Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7107, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 870; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7109, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4783.)

§ 3157. Competitive, special, and facilities research grants

(a) Establishment of grant program

(1) In order to promote research in food, agriculture, and related areas, a research grants program is hereby established in the Department of Agriculture.

(2)Short Title.—This section may be cited as the “Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act”.

(b) Agriculture and food research initiative

(1) Establishment

(2) Priority areasThe competitive grants program established under this subsection shall address the following areas:

(A) Plant health and production and plant productsPlant systems, including—

(i) plant genome structure and function;

(ii) molecular and cellular genetics and plant biotechnology;

(iii) conventional breeding, including cultivar and breed development, selection theory, applied quantitative genetics, breeding for improved food quality, breeding for improved local adaptation to biotic stress and abiotic stress, and participatory breeding;

(iv) plant-pest interactions and biocontrol systems;

(v) crop plant response to environmental stresses;

(vi) unproved nutrient qualities of plant products; and

(vii) new food and industrial uses of plant products.

(B) Animal health and production and animal productsAnimal systems, including—

(i) aquaculture;

(ii) cellular and molecular basis of animal reproduction, growth, disease, and health;

(iii) animal biotechnology;

(iv) conventional breeding, including breed development, selection theory, applied quantitative genetics, breeding for improved food quality, breeding for improved local adaptation to biotic stress and abiotic stress, and participatory breeding;

(v) identification of genes responsible for improved production traits and resistance to disease;

(vi) improved nutritional performance of animals;

(vii) improved nutrient qualities of animal products and uses;

(viii) the development of new and improved animal husbandry and production systems that take into account production efficiency, animal well-being, and animal systems applicable to aquaculture;

(ix) the research and development of surveillance methods, vaccines, vaccination delivery systems, or diagnostic tests for pests and diseases, including—(I) epizootic diseases in domestic livestock (including deer, elk, bison, and other animals of the family Cervidae); and(II) zoonotic diseases (including bovine brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis) in domestic livestock or wildlife reservoirs that present a potential concern to public health; and

(x) the identification of animal drug needs and the generation and dissemination of data for safe and effective therapeutic applications of animal drugs for minor species and minor uses of such drugs in major species.

(i) microbial contaminants and pesticides residue relating to human health;

(ii) links between diet and health;

(iii) bioavailability of nutrients;

(iv) postharvest physiology and practices; and

(v) improved processing technologies.

(D) Bioenergy, natural resources, and environmentNatural resources and the environment, including—

(i) fundamental structures and functions of ecosystems;

(ii) biological and physical bases of sustainable production systems;

(iii) soil health;

(iv) minimizing soil and water losses and sustaining surface water and ground water quality;

(v) the effectiveness of conservation practices and technologies designed to address nutrient losses and improve water quality;

(vi) global climate effects on agriculture;

(vii) forestry; and

(viii) biological diversity.

(E) Agriculture systems and technologyEngineering, products, and processes, including—

(i) new uses and new products from traditional and nontraditional crops, animals, byproducts, and natural resources;

(ii) robotics, energy efficiency, computing, and expert systems;

(iii) new hazard and risk assessment and mitigation measures;

(iv) water quality and management; and

(v) tools that accelerate the use of automation or mechanization for labor-intensive tasks in the production and distribution of crops.

(F) Agriculture economics and rural communitiesMarkets, trade, economics, and policy, including—

(i) strategies for entering into and being competitive in domestic and overseas markets;

(ii) farm efficiency and profitability, including the viability and competitiveness of small and medium-sized dairy, livestock, crop and other commodity operations;

(iii) new decision tools for farm and market systems;

(iv) choices and applications of technology;

(v) the economic costs, benefits, and viability of producers adopting conservation practices and technologies designed to improve water quality;

(vi) technology assessment;

(vii) new approaches to rural development, including rural entrepreneurship; and

(viii) barriers and bridges to entry and farm viability for young, beginning, socially disadvantaged, veteran, and immigrant farmers and ranchers, including farm succession, transition, transfer, entry, and profitability issues.

(3) Term

(4) General administrationIn making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall—

(A) seek and accept proposals for grants;

(B) determine the relevance and merit of proposals through a system of peer and merit review in accordance with section 7613 of this title;

(D) solicit and consider input from persons who conduct or use agricultural research, extension, or education in accordance with section 7612(b) of this title;

(E) in seeking proposals for grants under this subsection and in performing peer review evaluations of such proposals, seek the widest participation of qualified individuals in the Federal Government, colleges and universities, State agricultural experiment stations, and the private sector; and

(F) establish procedures, including timelines, under which an entity established under a commodity promotion law (as such term is defined under section 7401(a) of this title) or a State commodity board (or other equivalent State entity) may directly submit to the Secretary for consideration proposals for requests for applications that specifically address particular issues related to the priority areas specified in paragraph (2).

(5) Allocation of fundsIn making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall allocate funds to the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative to ensure that, of funds allocated for research activities—

(A) not less than 60 percent is made available to make grants for fundamental research (as defined in subsection (f)(1) of section 6971 of this title), of which—

(i) not less than 30 percent is made available to make grants for research to be conducted by multidisciplinary teams; and

(ii) not more than 2 percent is used for equipment grants under paragraph (6)(A); and

(B) not less than 40 percent is made available to make grants for applied research (as defined in subsection (f)(1) of section 6971 of this title).

(6) Special considerationsIn making grants under this subsection, the Secretary may assist in the development of capabilities in the agricultural, food, and environmental sciences by providing grants—

(A) to an institution to allow for the improvement of the research, development, technology transfer, and education capacity of the institution through the acquisition of special research equipment and the improvement of agricultural education and teaching, except that the Secretary shall use not less than 25 percent of the funds made available for grants under this subparagraph to provide fellowships to outstanding pre- and post-doctoral students for research in the agricultural sciences;

(B) to a single investigator or coinvestigators who are beginning research careers and do not have an extensive research publication record, except that, to be eligible for a grant under this subparagraph, an individual shall be within 5 years of the beginning of the initial career track position of the individual;

(C) to ensure that the faculty of small, mid-sized, and minority-serving institutions who have not previously been successful in obtaining competitive grants under this subsection receive a portion of the grants;

(D) to improve research, extension, and education capabilities in States (as defined in section 3103 of this title) in which institutions have been less successful in receiving funding under this subsection, based on a 3-year rolling average of funding levels;

(E) to eligible entities to carry out the specific proposals submitted under procedures established under paragraph (4)(F) only if such specific proposals are consistent with a priority area specified in paragraph (2); and

(F) to an institution to carry out collaboration in biomedical and agricultural research using existing research models.

(7) Eligible entitiesThe Secretary may make grants to carry out research, extension, and education under this subsection to—

(A) State agricultural experiment stations;

(B) colleges and universities;

(D) other research institutions and organizations;

(E) Federal agencies;

(F) national laboratories;

(G) private organizations, foundations, or corporations;

(H) individuals; or

(I) any group consisting of 2 or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (H).

(8) Construction prohibited

(9) Matching funds

(A) Equipment grants

(i) In general

(ii) Waiver

(B) Contribution requirement for commodity promotion grants

(i) In general

(ii) Availability of funds(I) In general(II) Administration(III) Restriction(IV) Remaining funds(V) Indirect costs

(10) Program administration

(11) Authorization of appropriations

(A) In generalThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $700,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2023, of which—

(i) not less than 30 percent shall be made available for integrated research pursuant to section 7626 of this title; and

(ii) not more than 5 percent may be retained by the Secretary to pay administrative costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this subsection.

(B) AvailabilityFunds made available under this paragraph shall—

(i) be available for obligation for a 2-year period beginning on October 1 of the fiscal year for which the funds are first made available; and

(ii) remain available until expended to pay for obligations incurred during that 2-year period.

(1) The Secretary of Agriculture may make grants, for periods not to exceed 3 years—

(A) to State agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals for the purpose of conducting research, extension, or education activities to facilitate or expand promising breakthroughs in areas of the food and agricultural sciences of importance to the United States; and

(B) to State agricultural experiment stations, land-grant colleges and universities, research foundations established by land-grant colleges and universities, colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962 (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.), and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine for the purpose of facilitating or expanding ongoing State-Federal food and agricultural research, extension, or education programs that—

(i) promote excellence in research, extension, or education on a regional and national level;

(ii) promote the development of regional research centers;

(iii) promote the research partnership between the Department of Agriculture, colleges and universities, research foundations, and State agricultural experiment stations for regional research efforts; and

(iv) facilitate coordination and cooperation of research, extension, or education among States through regional grants.

(2)Limitations.—The Secretary may not make a grant under this subsection for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.

(3)Matching Funds.—Grants made under this subsection shall be made without regard to matching funds.

(4)Set Asides.—Of amounts appropriated for a fiscal year to carry out this subsection—

(A) ninety percent of such amounts shall be used for grants for regional research projects; and

(B) four percent of such amounts may be retained by the Secretary to pay administrative costs incurred by the Secretary to carry out this subsection.

(5)Review requirements.—

(A)Research activities.—The Secretary shall make a grant under this subsection for a research activity only if the activity has undergone scientific peer review arranged by the grantee in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary.

(B)Extension and education activities.—The Secretary shall make a grant under this subsection for an extension or education activity only if the activity has undergone merit review arranged by the grantee in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary.

(6)Reports.—

(A)In general.—A recipient of a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary on an annual basis a report describing the results of the research, extension, or education activity and the merit of the results.

(B)Public availability.—

(i)In general.—Except as provided in clause (ii), on request, the Secretary shall make the report available to the public.

(ii)Exceptions.—Clause (i) shall not apply to the extent that making the report, or a part of the report, available to the public is not authorized or permitted by section 552 of title 5 or section 1905 of title 18.

(d) Extension design and demonstration initiative

(1) Purpose

(2) GrantsThe Secretary shall award grants each fiscal year on a competitive basis—

(A) for the design of 1 or more extension and education prototype systems—

(i) that leverage digital platforms or other novel means of translating, delivering, or demonstrating agricultural research; and

(ii) to adapt, apply, translate, or demonstrate scientific findings, data, technology, and other research outcomes to producers, the agricultural industry, and other interested persons or organizations; and

(B) to demonstrate, by incorporating analytics and specific metrics, the value, impact, and return on the Federal investment of a prototype system designed under subparagraph (A) as a model for use by other eligible entities described in paragraph (3) for improving, modernizing, and adapting applied research, demonstration, and extension services.

(3) Eligible entitiesAn entity that is eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (2) is—

(A) a State agricultural experiment station (as defined in section 3103 of this title);

(B) a cooperative extension service (as defined in such section); and

(4) Requirement

(5) Term

(6) Authorization of appropriations

(e) Inter-Regional Research Project Number 4

(1) The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish an Inter-Regional Research Project Number 4 (hereinafter referred to in this subsection as the “IR–4 Program”) to assist in the collection of residue and efficacy data in support of—

(A) the registration or reregistration of pesticides for minor agricultural use and for use on specialty crops (as defined in section 3 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note)), under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.); and

(B) tolerances for residues of minor use chemicals in or on raw agricultural commodities under sections 346a and 348 of title 21.

(2) The Secretary shall carry out the IR–4 Program in cooperation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, State agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, extension services, private industry, and other interested parties.

(3) In carrying out the IR–4 Program, the Secretary shall give priority to registrations, reregistrations, and tolerances for pesticide uses related to the production of agricultural crops for food use.

(4) As part of carrying out the IR–4 Program, the Secretary shall—

(A) participate in research activities aimed at reducing residues of pesticides registered for minor agricultural use and for use on specialty crops;

(B) develop analytical techniques applicable to residues of pesticides registered for minor agricultural use, including automation techniques and validation of analytical methods;

(D) conduct research to develop the data necessary to facilitate pesticide registrations, reregistrations, and associated tolerances;

(E) assist in removing trade barriers caused by residues of pesticides registered for minor agricultural use and for use on domestically grown specialty crops;

(F) assist in the registration and reregistration of pest management technologies for minor agricultural use and for use on specialty crops; and

(G) coordinate with other programs within the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency designed to develop and promote biological and other alternative control measures.

(5) The Secretary shall prepare and submit, to appropriate Committees of Congress, a report on an annual basis that contains—

(A) a listing of all registrations, reregistrations, and tolerances for which data has been collected in the preceding year;

(B) a listing of all registrations, reregistrations, and tolerances for which data collection is scheduled to occur in the following year, with an explanation of the priority system used to develop this list; and

(6) The Secretary shall submit to Congress not later than November 28, 1991, a report detailing the feasibility of requiring recoupment of the costs of developing residue data for registrations, reregistrations, or tolerances under this program. Such recoupment shall only apply to those registrants which make a profit on such registration, reregistration, or tolerance subsequent to residue data development under this program. Such report shall include:

(A) an analysis of possible benefits to the IR–4 Program of such a recoupment;

(B) an analysis of the impact of such a payment on the availability of registrants to pursue registrations or reregistrations of minor use pesticides; and

(7) There are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1991, and such sums as are necessary for subsequent fiscal years to carry out this subsection.

(f) Record keeping

(g) Limits on overhead costs

(h) Authorization of appropriations

(i) Rules

(j) Application of other laws

(k) Emphasis on sustainable agriculture

(Pub. L. 89–106, § 2, Aug. 4, 1965, 79 Stat. 431; Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1414, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 991; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 1415, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1303; Pub. L. 99–198, title XIV, § 1409, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1546; Pub. L. 101–624, title XIV, § 1497, title XVI, §§ 1615, 1616, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3630, 3729, 3732; Pub. L. 102–237, title IV, § 401, Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1862; Pub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1011(v), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 711; Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 885, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1179; Pub. L. 105–185, title II, §§ 211, 212, title III, § 301(f), title VI, § 606(h), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 536, 563, 604; Pub. L. 107–76, title VII, § 775, Nov. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 746; Pub. L. 107–171, title VI, § 6403(b), title VII, §§ 7136, 7211, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 429, 436, 447; Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, §§ 7101(b)(2), 7406(a), (b)(2), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1213, 1247, 1251; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, §§ 7101(b)(2), 7406(a), (b)(2), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1974, 2009, 2013; Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, §§ 7128(b)(4), 7404, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 879, 895; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, §§ 7504, 7505, 7614(b)(4)(B), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4821, 4822, 4836; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(36), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4309.)

§ 3158. Next generation agriculture technology challenge

(a) In general

(b) Amount

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1419C, as added Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7110, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4784.)

§ 3159. Land-grant designation

(a) Prohibition on designation

(1) In general

(2) 1994 institutions

(3) Extraordinary circumstances

(b) State funding

For purposes of this section, the term “covered program” means agricultural research, extension, education, and related programs or grants established or available under any of the following:

(1) Subsections (b), (c), and (d) of section 343 of this title.

(2) The Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.).

(3) Sections 3221, 3222, and 3222b of this title.

(4)Public Law 87–788 (commonly known as the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act; 16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.).

(d) Rule of construction

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1419D, as added Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7111, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4784.)