USDA opens applications for $125 million agricultural research facilities program 

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon met with leaders from several land-grant universities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and announced the opening of the fiscal year 2026 funding opportunity for the Research Facilities Act program. 

The program provides $125 million in annual funding for agricultural research facility projects and is intended to address deferred maintenance and modernization needs at land-grant institutions. 

Rollins said many land-grant universities have struggled with aging facilities and rising maintenance costs that can affect their research capabilities. 

“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,” Rollins said. 

McMahon said land-grant universities have played a significant role in agricultural research, technology development and workforce training for more than a century. 

 “Today’s investment ensures these institutions continue to anchor American strength at home while leading the world in competitiveness.,” McMahon said. 

USDA Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics and Chief Scientist Scott H. Hutchins said the funding will support research conducted in modern facilities equipped with updated technologies. 

“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,” Hutchins said. 

Grant details 

The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture will administer the competitive grant program. Funding may be used for facility renovations, expansions, and new construction projects intended to strengthen agricultural research capacity. 

Applicants must provide a dollar-for-dollar nonfederal cash match. Eligible institutions may receive funding for only one project at a time. 

The program includes four funding categories: 

• Level I — Planning Grants: $100,000 to $200,000 for activities such as needs assessments, site surveys, preliminary designs, and cost estimates.  

• Level II — Small Facility Upgrades: $250,000 to $2 million for renovations, laboratory modernization and similar projects.  

• Level III — Mid-Scale Construction or Expansion: $2 million to $10 million for facility expansions, specialized research wings and major retrofits.  

• Level IV — Large-Scale Research Complex: $10 million to $30 million for new buildings, specialized laboratories and controlled-environment research facilities.  

NIFA Director Jaye L. Hamby said the investment continues USDA’s longstanding partnership with land-grant and agricultural universities. 

“This investment reaffirms our commitment to that valued partnership and to the next generation of agriculturists,” Hamby said. 

Applications are due July 17. Additional information is available on the Research Facilities Act Program page on the NIFA website or by email at [email protected] 

Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].