The purpose of the smith-lever 3(B) and 3(C) funding is to conduct agricultural extension work

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska $10,864,386 on October 1, 2025, under the Smith-Lever Extension Funding program (CFDA 10.511) to conduct agricultural extension work through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR).

IANR delivers cooperative extension programming focused on food production, environmental stewardship, human nutrition, business development, and youth engagement. The institute integrates research, teaching, and extension to develop workforce capacity in agriculture and natural resources, with emphasis on addressing food security, climate adaptation, resource scarcity, waste reduction, economic opportunity, and inclusive workforce development. Nebraska's agricultural and agribusiness sectors account for one in four jobs statewide; IANR programming supports expanded employment and economic growth in this sector.

The award funds a five-year strategic direction launched in 2024 that positions IANR at the intersection of food, energy, and water systems to meet global and regional agricultural challenges. Work is performed in Lincoln, Nebraska, with subordinate extension activities across Nebraska counties and regional field stations.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030.

The cooperative extension programs at 1862 land-grant institutions is aligned with the USDA strategic plan and the USDA science and research strategy. Activities to be performed: the university of nebraska-lincoln (UNL) institute of agriculture and natural resources (IANR) is committed to people and the food, water and natural resources that sustain them. IANR innovation in research, teaching, and extension places nebraska on the leading edge of food production, environmental stewardship, human nutrition, business development, and youth engagement. IANR strives to integrate research, education and extension and partner with stakeholders to develop a diverse next generation workforce ready to tackle current and emerging challenges related to agriculture, natural resources, climate, and human health while ensuring an inclusive environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. Faculty from across IANR's departments and academic centers focus on areas of relevance and strengths that the institution as a whole can build upon. A 5-year strategic direction was launched in 2024 to ensure nebraska's competitiveness in a world of change and challenge. This visioning process determined how IANR would C ontribute to the critical need of doubling the world's food supply to feed over 9 billion people; address the shifting climate and environmental conditions; respond to the increasing need for fiber, feed and energy sources under dwindling natural resources; reduce waste; create a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment; and consider how to help increase economic income opportunities for communities and thus the long-term economic growth for nebraska. In nebraska, one in four jobs is directly tied to agriculture or agribusiness, and the state strives to increase job opportunities in this field of expertise. IANR is positioned squarely at the nexus of food, energy, water, health, and community. In nebraska, these sectors are inseparably linked and they are vital to nebraska's ability to thrive. True to our land-grant mission, IANR works with nebraskans to increase access to a powerful combination of learning, research, and extension. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the capacity funding IANR receives is allocated within two key, critical issues to address the above focus areas. Resilient food production and ecological systems: this program focuses on using basic and applied research in the life/agricultural sciences to generate knowledge critical to maximizing productivity in animal/plant agriculture, engineering, natural resources, climate, and sustainable energy. Extension programs continue to transfer new knowledge to producers, helping them optimize productivity while ensuring financial and environmental sustainability of nebraska's farms/ranches. Undergraduate/graduate education programs support research and extension efforts, ensuring a highly educated workforce essential to modern agriculture. Fostering healthy and productive people: this program focuses on using basic and applied research in the life/agricultural sciences to generate knowledge critical to maximizing productivity in food sciences; business/community vitality; entrepreneurship; healthy living; and development and success of young children, youth, and families. Extension programs will engage clientele by translating existing and new research to nebraskans that optimize productivity and likelihood of success. These efforts will be supported by undergraduate/graduate education designed to contribute to the state's long-term economic growth. For a comprehensive list of all outcomes, we welcome the review of IANR's annual report of accomplishments and results. Beneficiaries: as nebraska's residents are the primary beneficiaries and stakeholders, there is an ongoing, two-way dialogue to ensure that IANR's priorities reflect the needs of the state.