Federal Grant Award Summary

The Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station (NAES) received a $974,084 Formula Grant award from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations Under the Hatch Act program (CFDA 10.203), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. This award supports comprehensive agricultural research addressing five critical priorities in Nevada: sustainable dryland agriculture, natural and environmental resources management, horticulture and food systems, health and nutrition/food safety, and community economic development. The funding enables NAES to conduct applied research on topics including pest management, efficient irrigation systems, sustainable range management, drought and heat-tolerant crop and animal breed development, and alternative crop production in high-desert conditions.

The research program emphasizes Nevada-specific environmental challenges, including wildfire management, water quantity and quality monitoring, watershed and riparian management, invasive species control, and wildlife habitat conservation. NAES will investigate water usage, storage, and reclamation strategies while studying production practices designed to increase agricultural yields under the state's arid climate conditions. As a land-grant institution and 1862 Land Grant College, NAES operates as part of the Nevada System of Higher Education and leverages these funds to fulfill its mission as a "fully engaged" institution addressing the ecological and agricultural needs unique to Nevada's landscape and supporting the state's agricultural economy.