Agriculture is part of our history, and certainly we want to protect it to feed, clothe, and house future generations. Many of our Farmer Veterans are fortunate to have grown up farming.
However, the portion of our population that has that opportunity is rapidly shrinking. Exposing students of all ages to agriculture, specifically to careers in farming and other agricultural pursuits, is key to refilling and building the capabilities of the U.S. to continue to produce the food, fuel, and fiber that we all need.
As both the number of privately owned farms and the amount of total farmland acreage in the U.S. continues to decrease, agricultural education will be critical to produce experts in all aspects of agriculture and natural resource management who can develop and innovate improvements in agriculture to continue to expand production for a growing population on a shrinking land base.
The average age of a U.S. farm producer in 2022 was 58.1 years, up 0.6 years from the 2017 National Ag Statistical Survey. Producers also tend to be experienced; they have been farming an average of 23.4 years.
A large generational shift is coming as farmers retire. It is imperative that as a country we train the next generation of agricultural professionals not to only feed the population of our own country, but to continue the strong leadership of the United States in agricultural production throughout the world.
The Morrill Act was introduced by Justin Smith Morrill from Vermont on May 5, 1862, and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in July of the same year. Eventually this act placed at least one land grant institution in every state and territory of the United States. The land grant concept was established to offer advanced instruction to the working class, to educate farmers, and to assist with the success and growth of agriculture as well as to educate future engineers to assist industry and encourage economic development through scientific research.
Some of the results of the Morrill Act include:
- Chartering major universities: The act chartered universities such as Cornell, Nebraska, Washington State, and Clemson.
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities were added to the land grant university system in 1890 through the Second Morrill Act. This act established historically Black universities and colleges such as Alabama A&M, Prairie View A&M University, and Tuskegee University.
- Reserving land for public schools: the act reserved one square mile in each township for public schools.
- With the Equity in Educational Land Grant status Act of 1994 there were 36 federally recognized tribal colleges and universities added to fulfill the original mission work.
Beyond the original land grants, each land grant college receives annual federal appropriations for research and extension work on the condition that those funds are matched by state funds. However, in recent decades there has been a notable decline in public funding, necessitating a greater dependence on private funding and competitive grants.
Not just land grant universities, but agricultural schools in general are currently facing budget cuts. There are several reasons why schools are facing these budget cuts:
- Declining enrollment: Fewer high school graduates are going straight to college. When students leave the public school system, districts receive less state and federal money.
- Expiration of federal aid: The expiration of one-time federal COVID recovery funds has contributed to budget shortfalls.
- Lack of state funding: The legislatures’ failure to increase the basic allotment.
- Inflation. Inflation and other cost pressures have contributed to budget shortfalls.
- Fixed costs. Salaries and benefits make up about 80% of the typical budget. All operational costs are rising.
Budget cuts to land grant universities impact the future of agriculture in several ways, including:
- Fewer resources for programs. Grant universities rely on federal and state funding for core functions like student services, faculty salaries, and infrastructure maintenance. When funding decreases, universities may need to find alternative sources of revenue.
- Skewed missions. When universities seek alternative revenue sources, they may partner with agricultural companies or private donors. These partnerships can lead to universities prioritizing research areas that align with the interest of their donors, which can skew their mission.
- Inequalities. The competitive nature of grant funding can lead to inequalities between land grant universities. Larger universities with more resources are more likely to secure grants, leaving smaller universities underfunded.
- Aging facilities. Land grant universities often have aging facilities that need significant investment. Creative strategies are needed to renew these facilities while preserving the character of the campuses.
- Equity. Historically Black land grant colleges and universities have been underfunded for decades. Federal law requires states to distribute funds equally between Black and white land grant universities, but states have not always complied.
It is an understatement to say that much lies in the balance. With the number of cuts that we are seeing across the country the situation is very uncertain and is becoming critical.
A critical piece to this funding is the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill includes programs that support agricultural education and research, which help train the next generation of farmers and ensure food security.
The 2018 Farm Bill was extended by Congress in November 2023 to allow authorized programs to continue through the end of this month. With this being an election year, I am afraid our wait will continue. Soon it will be decided one way or another and we will all need to continue to work together to figure out the best way to move forward.
Sincerely,
Jeanette
References:
https://www.city-journal.org/article/the-future-of-land-grant-universities
https://radio.wpsu.org/2024-04-15/penn-state-extension-positions-unfilled-balance-budget
Erasing History? Budget Cuts Threaten to Gut Ag History at Iowa State University
