$18.9 million in USDA grants available to aid agriculture education

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture said a total of $18.9 million in funding is available to eligible higher education facilities under the 1890 Facilities Grant Program.

The grant money, which is available to land-grant colleges and universities, can be used to obtain or improve agricultural or food science equipment and facilities, a release posted by the Idaho Farm Bureau said. The 1890 Facilities Grant Program is designed to educate future workers for jobs in the agriculture, food or human sciences fields, the release said.

NIFA said 19 universities eligible for the funds, including Alabama A&M, Alcorn State University, Central State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Langston University, Lincoln University, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University, South Carolina State University, Southern University, Tennessee State University, Tuskegee University, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Virginia State University and West Virginia State University, the release said.

The 1890 land-grant institutions are historically black universities, established under the Second Morill Act of 1890. The designated institutions may apply for grants to cover construction or renovation of buildings used in the teaching of food and agricultural sciences, including libraries. Applications can be submitted by eligible institutions until the grant deadline of March 21, the release said.