H.R. 3568: Augmenting Research and Educational Sites to Ensure Agriculture Remains Cutting-edge and Helpful Act

This bill, known as the Augmenting Research and Educational Sites to Ensure Agriculture Remains Cutting-edge and Helpful Act or the AG RESEARCH Act, aims to improve agricultural research facilities across the United States by addressing issues related to deferred maintenance and enhancing funding for such facilities.

Key Findings

• The agriculture sector significantly impacts the U.S. economy, contributing over $1 trillion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and providing approximately 22 million jobs.
• The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) provides substantial funding (over $1.7 billion annually) for agricultural research in U.S. schools.
• A 2015 study indicated that the infrastructure needs from deferred maintenance at agricultural research facilities amounted to $8.4 billion, while a 2021 study showed that this figure had increased to $11.5 billion.
• There is a pressing need for investment in infrastructure to ensure competitiveness in global agricultural research.

Changes to Grant Processes

The bill proposes amendments to existing laws regarding the evaluation and awarding of grants for agricultural research facilities:

• It modifies the evaluation process of grant proposals to include consultation with representatives from NIFA peer review panels.
• A competitive grant program will be established to fund construction, alteration, or modernization of agricultural research facilities and necessary equipment.
• The Secretary of Agriculture can waive certain requirements, allowing for the possibility of covering up to 100% of costs for specific research projects if deemed appropriate.

Grant Distribution and Requirements

Grant distributions will be subject to several requirements to ensure fairness:

• Funds must be equitably distributed geographically and among institutions of various sizes and areas of study.
• A limitation is placed such that no more than 20% of the funds can be awarded to projects within any single state.

Funding Mechanisms

The act outlines two significant funding mechanisms:

• A mandatory annual funding transfer of $500 million from the Treasury to the Secretary of Agriculture for grant programs, starting October 1, 2025, through 2029.
• An authorization for appropriations that allows up to $1 billion for each fiscal year from 2026 to 2030 for agricultural research facility costs.

Overall Purpose

The overarching goal of the AG RESEARCH Act is to ensure that agricultural research facilities in the United States receive the necessary funding and support to remain effective, modern, and competitive on a global scale. This includes the rehabilitation and enhancement of physical infrastructure and equipment necessary for conducting high-quality agricultural research.

Relevant Companies

• None found