AG RESEARCH Act

This bill invests in fixing and modernizing agricultural research buildings and equipment so research can keep up and stay competitive. It creates a competitive grant program at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and in some cases the federal government could cover up to 100% of a project’s cost. It responds to big backlogs in repairs at schools of agriculture and aims to keep U.S. farm research strong.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Agricultural research facilities and their research equipment.
• What changes: Grants can fund construction, modernization, renovation, remodeling, or acquiring needed equipment for research. Proposals will be reviewed with input from National Institute of Food and Agriculture peer review panels.
• How funds are shared: Money must be spread fairly across regions, institution types, areas of study, and facility sizes. No more than 20% of the total can go to any one state.
• How much money: $500 million is automatically provided each year on October 1 from 2025 through 2029, with up to $1 billion more authorized each year for 2026–2030.
• Why now: Studies show large, growing maintenance needs at schools of agriculture, and Congress says investing in these facilities is needed to stay globally competitive in agricultural research.