Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to recognize the continuing contributions of the 1890 Land-Grant Universities on the 125^th anniversary of the passage of the Second Morrill Act of 1890. 

As a network of historically black colleges and universities dedicated to providing educational opportunity for all through innovative scientific research and community-minded extension programs, the 1890 Land Grant universities have a long history of successes and contributions in agricultural higher education. Among many other innovative scientific research and community-minded extension programs, these universities are engaging young people through leadership development and 4-H, engaging individuals and communities in environmental stewardship, and enhancing capacity, marketability, profitability, sustainability and diversity in agricultural enterprises for small and limited resource operations. 

“The 1890 Land-Grant Universities were originally created to promote education in agriculture and the mechanic arts while providing educational opportunity for all – specifically young African Americans who had been previously been excluded from land grant universities. Over the years, these universities have stood as pillars in education and continue to provide world-class educational opportunities as well as serve as important institutions for agricultural research and extension programs. I am honored to welcome presidents and other representatives from 18 of the universities at today’s hearing and greatly value their contributions to our society,” said Chairman K. Michael Conaway. 

"I am honored to join Chairman Conaway and Ranking Member Peterson and my counterpart on the research subcommittee, Ranking Member DelBene, to recognize the contributions of the 1890s Land-Grant Universities on the 125th Anniversary of the Second Morrill Act. These universities have made incredible contributions to agriculture research and I look forward to working with them to continue this research and improve the future of agriculture," said Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research.