The Farm Bill

The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the Farm Bill) into law on February 7, 2014.

The 2014 Farm Bill authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) food and agricultural programs through September 30, 2018, and grants NIFA the authority to continue NIFA's flagship competitive grants program, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and advance science in six priority areas:

• Agricultural economics and rural communities
• Agriculture systems and technology
• Animal health, production, and products
• Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment
• Food safety, nutrition, and health
• Plant health, production, and products

In addition to providing the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) the authority to run its grant programs, the Farm Bill restores funding to mandatory programs that were previously supported through the 2008 farm bill:

• Specialty Crop Research Initiative
• Specialty Crop Research Initiative/Citrus Disease Research and Extension 
• Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
• Organic Research and Extension Initiative
• Bioenergy Programs
• Community Food Projects
• Extension Risk Management Education Program
• Biodiesel Fuel Education

NIFA's Current Administrative Actions

NIFA staff ensure that legislative and regulatory measures mandated by the 2014 Farm Bill are applied in direct compliance with requirements.

• Centers of Excellence
• Matching Requirements
• Commodity Boards
• Request for Non-Land Grant College of Agriculture Designation

New 1994 And 1890 Institutions

The latest farm bill identifies new 1994 (Native American tribal institutions) land-grant institutions (LGU) and an 1890 (historically black institutions) LGU.

• Central State University (CSU), in Ohio, has been designated as an 1890 LGU. Under the law, CSU was eligible to receive certain capacity funds in FY 2015 and others in fiscal year 2016.
• College of the Muscogee Nation and Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College are designated as 1994 LGUs and was eligible to receive capacity funds in FY 2015.

What's Next?

Immediately after enactment, USDA established a farm bill implementation team composed of key sub-cabinet officials and experts from every mission area of the Department. This team will put new programs in place and make mandated reforms to existing programs. Significant progress has been made on every title of the Bill. Already underway are:

• Updates to risk management tools
• Modifications to farm loan programs
• Announcements regarding funds available for agricultural research

Find out more

The Agricultural Act of 2014 is important legislation that provides authorization for services and programs that impact every American and millions of people worldwide. The USDA has more information about the 2014 Farm Bill.