Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small confirmed that USDA will support scientific research and extension at Historically Black 1890 Land-Grant Universities.  The announcement followed a tour of 14 institutions.

Funding will be used to support 68 projects that are intended to extend diversity in higher education and equip the 1890 Land-Grant Universities with additional resources.  Projects funded will include curriculum design, faculty development, student recruitment and retention and basic and applied research.

Funding will be made available from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program.

As with all funding programs initiated and administered by the current USDA, it is hoped that there will be accountability and that quantifiable benefits will be derived from the funds applied.  While not begrudging funding for the 1890 Land-Grant universities, it is questioned whether a higher level of diversity, training and productivity could not be achieved by funding scholarships and programs at the various large state land-grant universities?