NIFA Research Facilities Act Program

TL;DR: H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, authorizes a competitive grant program for agricultural research facilities administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The provision targets aging university and federal lab infrastructure, with grants supporting construction, renovation, and modernization of research buildings.

Key takeaway

Farm Bill 2.0 creates a NIFA-run competitive grant program to repair and modernize aging agricultural research facilities at land-grant universities and partner institutions.

What happened

H.R. 7567 includes a Research Facilities Act program administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The program authorizes competitive grants to address deferred maintenance and outdated infrastructure at agricultural research facilities.

The provision responds to long-documented concerns that a large share of agricultural research buildings at land-grant universities are past their useful design life. Eligible projects include construction, alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, and remodeling of research facilities.

Eligible applicants generally include land-grant colleges and universities, state agricultural experiment stations, and other research institutions partnered with USDA. Specific authorization amounts and matching requirements are to be confirmed against the enrolled bill text. See the full bill summary for the research title structure.

The research provisions build on the framework carried over from the prior reauthorization, with adjustments detailed in the changes versus the 2018 farm bill.

What it means

The program is intended to give universities and research partners a dedicated federal funding stream to repair and replace aging lab space. Deferred maintenance has been cited as a constraint on research capacity in crop science, animal health, food safety, and biosecurity.

Key features as written in H.R. 7567:

• Administering agency: USDA NIFA
• Eligible uses: construction, renovation, modernization, and remodeling of agricultural research facilities
• Eligible applicants: land-grant institutions, state agricultural experiment stations, and partner research entities
• Funding mechanism: competitive grants, with matching requirements to be confirmed

For university administrators and ag research deans, the program offers a competitive path to capital funding that has historically been hard to secure through annual appropriations. For the broader sector, modern facilities are framed as a national security and food security priority, consistent with the bill's title. Compare the dollar allocations across titles in the funding breakdown.

What's next

As of June 16, 2026, the Research Facilities Act program depends on enactment of H.R. 7567 and subsequent appropriations. Authorization in the farm bill sets the policy framework, but actual grant dollars require funding through the annual appropriations process.

If enacted, NIFA would likely publish a request for applications with eligibility criteria, scoring rubrics, and match requirements before any grants are awarded. That rulemaking and notice process typically takes months after a bill becomes law.

Track the bill's progress through the chamber in the Senate status page and the overall timeline and status of H.R. 7567.

Frequently asked questions

What is the NIFA Research Facilities Act program in Farm Bill 2.0?

The NIFA Research Facilities Act program in H.R. 7567 is a competitive grant program administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. It funds construction, renovation, and modernization of agricultural research facilities. The program targets aging lab infrastructure at land-grant universities and partner research institutions. Specific authorization amounts are to be confirmed against the enrolled bill text.

Who can apply for NIFA research facilities grants?

Eligible applicants generally include land-grant colleges and universities, state agricultural experiment stations, and other research institutions partnered with USDA. The grants are competitive, meaning applicants submit proposals that NIFA scores against published criteria. Exact eligibility language and any matching fund requirements will be confirmed once the enrolled text and NIFA's request for applications are released.

What can the research facilities grants pay for?

The grants can pay for construction, alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, and remodeling of agricultural research facilities. The program is designed to address deferred maintenance and outdated buildings that constrain research in areas such as crop science, animal health, food safety, and biosecurity. The funds are capital-focused rather than for ongoing research operations or salaries.

Is the research facilities program funded yet?

Not yet. As of June 16, 2026, the program is an authorization within H.R. 7567, which means it sets policy but still requires both enactment of the farm bill and funding through the annual appropriations process. No grants can be awarded until the bill becomes law and NIFA issues a request for applications with eligibility and scoring criteria.

Why does Farm Bill 2.0 fund agricultural research facilities?

Farm Bill 2.0 funds research facilities because a large share of agricultural research buildings at land-grant universities are past their design life, which limits research capacity. The bill, formally the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, frames modern research infrastructure as a food security and national security priority, reflected in its title and research provisions.

Sources

• Congress.gov , H.R. 7567 bill text and status, dated 2026-06-16.