Kentucky Ag News
Kentucky State awarded $1.2 million from USDA for research activities
USDA
WASHINGTON - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced 53 grants totaling more than $18 million to support research, teaching, and extension activities at 1890 historically black land-grant colleges and universities through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
"Earlier this year, we celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Second Morrill Act and USDA's historic partnership with 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Colleges and Universities," said Vilsack. "Today's announcement continues our partnership and will help ensure the schools are able to sustain our nation's agricultural sector for another 125 years and beyond. We are pleased to be able to build the capacity of these important institutions and support the next generation of leaders in agriculture."
The awards included $1,194,942 to Kentucky State University in Frankfort for three projects - development of a fast-growing all-male tilapia cross; practical use of high tunnels for fish and plant production; and developing value-added products from Asian carp.
NIFA made the awards through the 1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) program, which focuses on strengthening the partnerships among the universities, USDA, and private industry through food and agricultural science, and advancing cultural diversity in the scientific and professional workforce by attracting more students from underrepresented groups.
NIFA provides support to historically black colleges and universities that were designated as land-grant universities (LGUs) in the Second Morrill Act in 1890. Grants to these universities support research, extension, and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences by building the institutional capacities of these schools. There are currently 19 institutions under the legislation.
