Federal award purpose and activities to be performed

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the Regents of the University of Minnesota $19,301,226.39 on October 1, 2025, under the Smith-Lever Extension Funding program (CFDA 10.511) to conduct cooperative agricultural extension activities through the University of Minnesota Extension.

University of Minnesota Extension will deliver research and extension education addressing five long-term critical issues: advancing crop and plant production; building strong youth, families, and rural economies; enhancing nutritious food development; improving animal and livestock systems; and stewarding soil, water, and natural resources. The extension expects to reach over 613,000 adults and youth through direct education and over 1 million participants via 1,888 partnerships. Extension volunteers will contribute 1.2 million or more service hours. Deliverables include website content accessed approximately 13.4 million times annually, along with podcasts, videos, and social media content. Intended beneficiaries span rural, suburban, urban, and tribal stakeholders at county, regional, state, and national levels, including youth and families, farmers, forest and shoreland owners, producers of food and fuel, small business owners, homeowners, gardeners, military families, and research and education partners.

The award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. Place of performance is Minnesota. The assistance type is a formula grant.

University of minnesota extension conducts research and delivers extension education designed to address five long-term critical issues: 1) advancing crop and plant production, 2) building strong youth, families and rural economies, 3) enhancing nutritious food development, 4) improving animal and livestock systems, 5) stewarding soil, water and natural resources. Deliverables and expected outcomes. Extension brings minnesotans together to build a better future through university science-based knowledge, experience and training. As in 2024, extension expects to reach over 613,000 adults and youth through direct education, as well as over 1 million participants via its 1,888 partnerships. Extension volunteers will continue to commit 1.2 million + service hours. Extension will deliver needed information through website content approximately 13.4 million times and provide podcasts, videos and social media. Intended beneficiaries include rural, suburban, urban and tribal stakeholders involved in the critical issues at county, regional, state and national levels. Specific audiences include youth and families; farmers, forest and shoreland owners; other producers of food, fuel, and textiles; small businesses and local leaders; homeowners and renters; gardeners and cottage foods producers; military families; and partners in research and education.