USDA Opens $125M Research Funding for Ag Facilities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a new annual investment of $125 million to modernize agricultural research infrastructure at land-grant universities, with funding applications for fiscal year 2026 now open.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced the funding opportunity during a roundtable discussion with land-grant university leaders at USDA on June 15.

According to the USDA, the funding comes through the Research Facilities Act program and is intended to address aging agricultural research buildings and deferred maintenance while supporting upgrades and expansion projects tied to agricultural innovation.

USDA said the investment is designed to strengthen agricultural research that supports farmers and ranchers through new technology, scientific advancements and solutions to production challenges.

The funding opportunity, administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), will support renovations, expansions and new construction projects intended to improve research capacity at eligible institutions.

Applicants must provide a dollar-for-dollar non-federal cash match, and eligible entities may only receive funding for one project at a time.

“A nation that cannot feed itself is not secure and for too long, many of our land-grant universities have faced aging facilities and mounting deferred maintenance costs that threaten their ability to conduct world-class agricultural research,” said Secretary Rollins. “Today we are announcing a $125 million investment to ensure America’s farmers and ranchers continue to benefit from the innovation that secures our vital U.S. agriculture industry and allows us to feed, clothe, and fuel not only our nation but the world.”

Funding Levels Available

USDA outlined four funding categories under the Research Facilities Act program.

• Level I planning grants will range from $100,000 to $200,000 and may be used for needs assessments, site surveys, preliminary designs and cost estimates.
• Level II funding for small facility upgrades will range from $250,000 to $2 million for projects including renovations and laboratory modernization.
• Level III awards will range from $2 million to $10 million for larger expansions, specialized research wings and major retrofits.
• Level IV funding, the largest category, ranges from $10 million to $30 million and may support new buildings, specialized laboratories and controlled-environment research facilities.

Focus on Long-Term Agricultural Innovation

USDA officials said the funding is intended to strengthen agricultural research capacity and ensure facilities remain equipped to address future production challenges.

"Agricultural advancement is not an accident of history; it is the product of generations of Americans’ hard work and ingenuity," said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. "Our land-grant universities have driven agricultural development for more than a century – advancing critical scientific breakthroughs, pioneering cutting-edge technologies and cultivating dedicated Americans who have strengthened America’s food and farming systems. Thanks to President Trump, today’s investment ensures these institutions continue to anchor American strength at home while leaded the world in competitiveness."

“Agricultural innovation has enabled our nation to feed millions, eradicate emerging threats and maintain one of the safest food supplies in the world,” said USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics and Chief Scientist Dr. Scott H. Hutchins. “The Research Facilities Act program will ensure that future food and agricultural research is conducted in state-of-the-art facilities equipped with cutting-edge tools. This program is a win for American agriculture and for the next generation of scientists and producers.”

NIFA Director Dr. Jaye L. Hamby said the program continues USDA’s long-standing partnership with agricultural universities.

“For 164 years, USDA has partnered with America’s great land-grant and agricultural universities to produce the discoveries, service, and education needed to keep the nation fed and to fuel U.S. agricultural progress around the world,” said NIFA Director Dr. Jaye L. Hamby. “This investment reaffirms our commitment to that valued partnership and to the next generation of agriculturists. We are excited to see the tremendous impact this program will have to accelerate research from the lab to the marketplace and the fields to improve profitability for our farmers, ranchers and producers and secure our nation’s food supply.”

Applications are due by July 17, 2026.