Letter
April 24, 2023
Dear Chairwoman Stabenow, Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Boozman, and Ranking Member Scott,
Thank you for your support for agricultural research, education, Extension, and innovation. As you consider compelling initiatives to support rural America and investments in the agricultural economy, we strongly urge you to support $5 billion in mandatory funding over five years through the Research Facilities Act within Title VII of the next Farm Bill. This catalytic investment would advance the critical work being done at public colleges of agriculture, veterinarian, forestry, and natural resources across the country. Updated facilities would support American jobs, enable the recruitment of diverse workforce talent, address agricultural production challenges, and ensure U.S. leadership in food and agricultural innovation.
Modern agricultural research and education facilities are the foundation of the nation’s cutting-edge research and applied science solutions. A 2021 report by Gordian assessed the state of facilities at U.S. colleges and schools of agriculture and reported that 70 percent of these buildings are at the end of their useful life. The report estimated the cost to upgrade deferred maintenance at $11.5 billion, and the cost to replace the dilapidated facilities at $38.1 billion. It further stated that strategic federal investment in these facilities at 1862, 1890, 1994, insular land-grant and non-land-grant schools of agriculture would create 200,000 new jobs nationwide. This investment would also contribute to the critical need for the U.S. to recruit and graduate 60,000 new U.S. students with agricultural expertise every year.
Challenges related to crop and livestock diseases, soil health and quality, supply chain efficiencies, and agricultural markets demonstrate that the research, education, and Cooperative Extension outreach performed by America’s colleges of agriculture have never been more relevant. The U.S. cannot rebuild our agricultural research prominence or keep up with international competitors with facilities built in the 1950s and 1960s.
An investment of $5 billion in agricultural research infrastructure at colleges of agriculture would be a significant step in an overall strategy to ensure that the U.S. remains globally competitive. With this once-in-a-generation investment in research facilities at colleges of agriculture, we can spur new economic opportunities and innovations for farmers, ranchers, and producers in every state.
Thank you for your support and consideration.
National
AgInnovation (State Agricultural Experiment Stations)
Agricultural & Applied Economics Association
American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges
American Cranberry Growers Association
American Institute of Biological Sciences
American National Cattle Women, Inc.
American Pulse Association
American Quarter Horse Association
American Seed Trade Association
American Society for Horticultural Science
American Society for Nutrition
American Society of Animal Science
American Society of Plant Biologists
AmericanHort
Aquatic Plant Management Society
Associated Milk Producers Inc.
Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities
Beef Improvement Federation
Brewers Association
Corn Refiners Association
Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST)
Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding
Cranberry Institute
Dairy Farmers of America
Dairy Farmers of America
Ecological Society of America
Glades Crop Care, Inc.
Hop Growers of America
Hormel Foods
International Fresh Produce Association
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization
National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants
National Aquaculture Association
National Association of Plant Breeders
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)
National Barley Growers Association
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
National Grange
National Grazing Lands Coalition
National Pork Producers Council
National Sunflower Association
Noble Research Institute, LLC
North American Blueberry Council
North American Millers’ Association
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
Stantec
The Fertilizer Institute
The National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy
U.S. Canola Association
USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council
USA Rice
Weed Science Society of America
Regional
AgCountry Farm Credit Services
American Plant Products & Service, Inc.
American Sugar Cane League
Association of 1890 Research Directors
Belstra Milling Co., Inc.
Coalition of Arizona/New Mexico Counties
Compeer Financial
North Central Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors
North Central Weed Science Society
Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (NERA)
Northeastern Weed Science Society
Northwest Alfalfa Seed Growers Association
Northwest Horticultural Council
Pacific Coast Cranberry Research Foundation
Snake River Sugarbeet Growers Association
Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors
Southern Weed Science Society
Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors
Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA)
Western Society of Weed Science
States/Territories
Alabama
Alabama Cattlemen’s Association
Arkansas
Agricultural Council of Arkansas
Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association
Arkansas Farm Bureau
Arkansas Rice Federation
The Poultry Federation
Arizona
Arizona Aquaculture Association
Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association
California
Association of California Egg Farmers
California Agriculture Irrigation Association
California Alfalfa and Forage Association
California Association of Wheat Growers
California Bean Shippers Association
California Cherry Growers and Industry Association
California Citrus Mutual
California Cotton Alliance
California Farm Bureau
California Grain and Feed Association
California Pear Growers Association
California Pork Producers Association
California Seed Association
California State Beekeepers Association
California State Floral Association
California Sweet Potato Council
California Warehouse Association
California Women for Agriculture
Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)
Olive Oil Commission of California
Pacific Coast Renderers Association
Pacific Egg and Poultry Association
Pacific Seed Association
Plant California Alliance
Colorado
Colorado Cattlemen’s Association
Colorado Livestock Association
Colorado Potato Legislative Association
Florida
Florida Aquaculture Association
Florida Cattlemen’s Association
Florida Citrus Mutual
Florida Forestry Association
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
Florida Peanut Producers Association
Florida Strawberry Growers Association
Florida Tropical Fish Farms Association
Georgia
Georgia Agribusiness Council
Georgia Cattlemen’s Association
Georgia Cotton Commission
Georgia Department of Agricuture
Georgia Green Industry Association, Inc.
Georgia Milk Producers
Georgia Pecan Growers Association
Georgia Poultry Federation
Guam
Farmers Cooperative Association of Guam
Hawaii
Alluvion, Inc.
BEI Hawaii
County of Maui
Grace Flowers Hawaii
Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts
Hawaii Avocado Association
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Hawaii Export Nursery Association
Hawaii Farm Bureau
Hawaii Floriculture Nursery Association (HFNA)
Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers
Ma’alahi Farm
Mahiku A’o Mai
Mala Kaluulu Cooperative
Maris Gardens LLC
Maui County
Maui County Farm Bureau
Pacific International Center for High Technology Research
Puna Flower Power
Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council
Idaho
Idaho Wheat Commission
Idaho Wool Growers Association
Illinois
Illinois Farm Bureau
Illinois Pork Producers
Illinois Soybean Association
Kansas
Kansas Bankers Association
Kansas Cooperative Council
Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association
Kansas Livestock Association
Kansas Livestock Association
Kansas Pork Association
McCracken Livestock
Porter Cattle Co.
Kentucky
Community Inspired Lexington
Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association
Louisiana
Louisiana Forestry Association
Louisiana Rice Research Board
Louisiana Soybean & Grain Research & Promotion Board
Massachusetts
Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association
Massachusetts Food System Collaborative
Maryland
Delmarva Chicken Association
Horizon Farm Credit
J R Frazee Strategic Consulting, LLC
Maryland Farm Bureau
Sustainable Chesapeake
Maine
Maine Farm Bureau Association
Maine Grown by Vets
Maine Landscape and Nursery Association
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Maine Potato Board
Pierson Nurseries Inc.
Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine
Michigan
Bear Creek Organic Farm
Brevant Seeds
Cherry Marketing Institute
Michigan Agri-Business Association
Michigan Allied Poultry Industries
Michigan Apple Association
Michigan Association of Conservation Districts
Michigan Bean Commission
Michigan Blueberry Commission
Michigan Cattlemen’s Association
Michigan Corn Growers Association
Michigan Crop Improvement Assn.
Michigan Farm Bureau
Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS)
Michigan Greenhouse Growers Council
Michigan Milk Producers Association
Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association
Michigan Pork Producers Association
Michigan Processing Apple Growers
Michigan Processing Asparagus Growers
Michigan Sheep Producers Association
Michigan Soybean Association
Michigan State Horticultural Society
Michigan Tree Fruit Commission
Michigan Turfgrass Foundation
Michigan Vegetable Council
Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc.
Village of L’Anse
VitaPlus
West Michigan Food Processing Association
White Pine Winery & Vineyards LLC
Minnesota
Davis Family Dairy
Holden Farms
Minneapolis Saint Paul Economic Development
Minnesota Corn Growers Association
Minnesota MIlk
Minnesota Pork Producers Association
Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association
Rosen’s Diversified, Inc
Twin Eagle Dairy
Missouri
Missouri Soybean Association
Northern Mariana Islands
Kagman Agricultural Farms and Producers Association Inc.
Mississippi
Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association
Montana
Montana Farmers Union
Montana Grain Growers Association
North Carolina
North Carolina Agricultural Consultants Association
North Carolina Blueberry Council
North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association
North Carolina Certified SweetPotato Seed Growers Association
North Carolina Dairy Producers Association
North Carolina Peach Growers’ Society
North Carolina Peanut Growers Association
North Carolina Pork Council
North Carolina Poultry Federation
North Carolina Small Grain Growers Association
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
North Carolina State Grange
North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission
North Carolina Tomato Growers Association
North Carolina Winegrower’s Association
North Dakota
North Dakota Stockmen’s Association
New Hampshire
Butternut Farm LLC
D.S. Cole Growers
DeMeritt Hill Farm LLC
New Hampshire Farm Bureau
New Hampshire Fruit Growers’ Association
New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire (NOFA-NH)
Poverty Lane Orchards
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests
Stuart Farm LLC
Town of Durham, New Hampshire Agricultural Commission
New Jersey
Chairman of New Jersey Blueberry Cranberry Research Council, Paul Galletta
Joseph J White, Inc
New Jersey Blueberry Advisory Council
New Jersey Department of Agriculture
New Jersey Farm Bureau
Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey
New Mexico
Alpers Resource Managment
Dairy Producers of New Mexico
New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts
New Mexico Beef Council
New Mexico Cattle Growers
New Mexico Chile Association
New Mexico Cotton Growers Association
New Mexico Crop Production Association
New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau
New York
Atwater Farms LLC
Nevada
Nevada Association of Conservation Districts
Nevada Cattlemen’s Association
Nevada Farm Bureau Federation
Ohio
Ohio Aquaculture Association
Ohio Cattlemen’s Association
Ohio Farmers Union
Oklahoma
Krehbiel Farms LLC
Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association
Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council, Inc.
Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts
Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives
Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association
Oklahoma Cotton Council
Oklahoma Farm Bureau
Oklahoma Farm Bureau
Oklahoma Genetics Inc.
Oklahoma Grain & Feed Association
Oklahoma Pork Council
Oklahoma Sorghum Growers
Oklahoma Soybean Association
Oklahoma Wheat Commission
Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association
Oregon
Oregon Cattlemen’s Association
Pennsylvania
Adams County Nursery, Inc
Ag Alumni Society Member/ Council Member
Blommer Chocolate
Blossom Hollow Farm, LLC
Clearfield County PSU Extension Executive Council
Colebrook Manor Animal Hospital
Elm Ridge Farm
HMS Haven Farms
Indiana County Farm Bureau
Keystone IFT, Penn State Cooperative Extension Council
Lawrence Co Social Services
Northeast Equipment Dealers Association
Penn State Ag Alumni Society
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts
Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association
Pennsylvania Corn Growers Association
Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Assn.
Pennsylvania Livestock Association
Ranck & Associates LLC
Sylvan Inc.
Valley Mobile Veterinary Service
South Carolina
Palmetto Agribusiness Council
South Carolina Corn and Soybean Association
Tennessee
Tennessee Cattleman’s Association
Texas
Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Texas International Produce Association
Texas Nursery & Landscape Association
Texas Pecan Growers Association
Texas Vegetable Association
Utah
Utah Cattlemen’s Association
Virginia
Virginia Agribusiness Council
Virginia Cattlemen’s Association
Virginia Poultry Federation
Virgin Islands
St. Croix Farmers in Action Inc.
We Grow Food Inc.
Washington
Washington Association of Wheat Growers
Washington Cattle Feeders Association
Washington Grain Commission
Washington Mint Growers
Washington Red Raspberry Commission
Washington Seed Potato Commission
Washington State Potato Commission
Washington State Tree Fruit Association
Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
Washington Wine Institute
Western Washington Agricultural Association
Willapa-Grays Harbor Oyster Growers Association
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association
Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association
West Virginia
West Virginia Conservation Agency
West Virginia Department of Agriculture
West Virginia Farm Bureau
West Virginia Forestry Association
Wyoming
Wyoming Stock Growers Association
