June 14, 2023

Congressional Hearing on University Research under the Farm Bill

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has been advocating on behalf of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) with the upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Bill. The University of California Riverside, a HACU-member HSI was among those testifying at a Congressional Hearing on June 14, 2023. Kathryn Uhrich, Ph.D., dean of UCR’s College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences testified during an in-person congressional hearing on the importance of agriculture research at HSACUs and Land-grant Universities under the federal Farm Bill.

Uhrich shared priorities for the Farm Bill from an HSI perspective, such as increasing the authorization for the USDA-HSI grant program to $100 million per fiscal year, and how research at UCR has benefited from Title VII agricultural research programs. “From disease and stress tolerant and resilient plant research to combating citrus greening disease to saving avocado orchards from lethal fungal disease to a creating community space to facilitate public engagement and workforce programs in sustainable, controlled-environment, and high-tech agriculture, the 2023 Farm Bill is an opportunity to support and protect our country's food supply,” she said.

Clint Krehbiel, Ph.D., dean of the Davis College of agricultural sciences and natural resources at Texas Tech University, another HACU-member HSI, also testified at the hearing, highlighting the need for public funding to benefit all. “I believe that the data clearly indicate that the U.S. needs a concerted effort and investment in the research and outreach necessary to enhance U.S. agricultural output productivity and competitiveness, and that we must be cognizant of the influences that different funding sources may have on our ability to consistently deliver high-quality research that serves all of U.S. agriculture.”

Also testifying at the hearing were: Carrie Billy, president and CEO of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium; Bernard Engel, Ph.D., senior associate dean and director of agricultural research and graduate education, Purdue University; Alan L. Grant, Ph.D., dean of the college of agriculture and life sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; and Moses T. Kairo, Ph.D., dean of the school of agricultural and natural sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore. To view a video of the hearing, click here.

The Farm Bill is an omnibus, multiyear law that governs an array of agricultural and food programs, developed, enacted and overseen by Congress. The reauthorization provides an opportunity for policymakers to comprehensively address agricultural and food issues by strengthening HSIs and HSACUs with programs that attract, retain and graduate students qualified to enter the food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences fields.

HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores previously gave testimony advocating for funding for agricultural-related educational programs and opportunities for Hispanic students during the Minority-Serving Institution Agriculture Colleges and Universities Congressional Briefing as part of the Farm Bill reauthorization hearings.