USDA Opens FY 2026 Grant Opportunity to Upgrade Agricultural Research Infrastructure
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon recently welcomed leaders from several land-grant universities to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a roundtable discussion focused on strengthening agricultural research infrastructure.
During the meeting, officials also announced the Fiscal Year 2026 funding opportunity for the Research Facilities Act Program.
The initiative, backed by the administration of Working Families Tax Cuts, provides $125 million annually to help modernize agricultural research facilities and address years of deferred maintenance at universities across the country.
“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.”
"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.
“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,” stated McMahon.
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture will oversee the competitive grant program, which supports planning, renovation, expansion, and construction projects that improve research capabilities.
Funding ranges from $100,000 planning grants to as much as $30 million for large-scale research complexes. Applicants must provide matching non-federal cash contributions, and each eligible institution may receive support for only one project at a time.
Applications for the FY 2026 Research Facilities Act Program must be submitted by July 17, 2026. To learn about Research Facilities Act Program, visit at https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/research-facilities-act-program-rfap.
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