On October 4th the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced grants totaling $19.2 million for Land-grant Universities to be used for undergraduate scholarships.
Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture noted, “The 1890 Land-grant Universities have been critical partners in building the next generation of agricultural leaders including here at USDA. This scholarship program is an important resource for students as they pursue their dreams and set out to make their mark on the world.”
The program is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the grants will complement the 1890 National Scholars Program.
The Second Morrill Act of 1890 established Land-grant status to designated historically black colleges and universities and over the past 134 years, USDA has contributed to research extension and teaching at these institutions.
Under the 2018 Farm Bill, the NIFA has donated $92 million to support 3,274 scholarships at 19 colleges and universities.