US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

7 U.S.C. § 3101

Purposes of agricultural research, extension, and education

The purposes of federally supported agricultural research, extension, and education are to—
(1)
enhance the competitiveness of the United States agriculture and food industry in an increasingly competitive world environment;
(2)
increase the long-term productivity of the United States agriculture and food industry while maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base on which rural America and the United States agricultural economy depend;
(3)
develop new uses and new products for agricultural commodities, such as alternative fuels, and develop new crops;
(4)
support agricultural research and extension to promote economic opportunity in rural communities and to meet the increasing demand for information and technology transfer throughout the United States agriculture industry;
(5)
improve risk management in the United States agriculture industry;
(6)
improve the safe production and processing of, and adding of value to, United States food and fiber resources using methods that maintain the balance between yield and environmental soundness;
(7)
support higher education in agriculture to give the next generation of Americans the knowledge, technology, and applications necessary to enhance the competitiveness of United States agriculture;
(8)
maintain an adequate, nutritious, and safe supply of food to meet human nutritional needs and requirements; and
(9)
support international collaboration that leverages resources and advances priority food and agricultural interests of the United States, such as—
(A)
addressing emerging plant and animal diseases;
(B)
improving crop varieties and animal breeds; and
(C)
developing safe, efficient, and nutritious food systems.

Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1402Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1602(a)104 Stat. 3705Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 801110 Stat. 1156Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7101132 Stat. 4779(, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 140291 Stat. 981Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 140295 Stat. 1294Pub. L. 99–198, title XIV, § 140299 Stat. 1542Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1601(f)(1)(A)104 Stat. 3704A prior section 3101, , , ; , , ; , , , stated Congressional findings, prior to repeal by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–3342018—Par. (9). added par. (9).

Pub. L. 104–1271996— amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions which set out six purposes of federally funded agricultural research and extension programs.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–465, § 1118 Stat. 3882

section 5925 of this title“This Act [enacting sections 3123a, 7712a, and 8321 of this title, amending , and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1621 and 5925 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2003 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–161, § 1117 Stat. 2014

section 3151a of this title“This Act [enacting ] may be cited as the ‘National Veterinary Medical Service Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1985 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–198, title XIV, § 140199 Stat. 1542

section 3222 of this titlesection 2281 of this title“This title [enacting sections 1632, 3224, 3292, 3319a to 3319d, and 4701 to 4710 of this title, amending this section and sections 178c, 342, 343, 390 to 390d, 390f, 390h, 390i, 390j, 2266, 2662, 2663, 3103, 3121 to 3123, 3124a, 3125, 3151, 3152, 3157, 3194 to 3196, 3221 to 3223, 3291, 3311, 3312, 3318, 3319, 3322, 3324, 3335, and 3336 of this title, repealing sections 390e, 390g, 3174, 3177, 3301 to 3304, and 3323 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 343, 390, 390c, 3157, 3173, 3292, 3311, 3312, and 4701 of this title, amending provisions set out as a note under , and repealing provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1981 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 140195 Stat. 1294

section 5315 of Title 5section 2668 of this title“This title [enacting sections 2271, 2661 to 2667, 3124a, 3223, 3317 to 3319, 3321 to 3324, and 3331 to 3336 of this title, amending this section and sections 322, 361c, 390c, 3102, 3103, 3121 to 3124, 3125 to 3128, 3151 to 3154, 3157, 3175, 3177, 3191, 3192, 3194 to 3196, 3221, 3222, 3263, 3282, 3291, 3311, and 3312 of this title, , Government Organization and Employees, sections 582a, 582a–1, and 582a–3 to 582a–5 of Title 16, Conservation, section 483 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, and sections 6651 and 8852 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, repealing sections 2670 and 3176 of this title, omitting , and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2281 and 3176 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1981’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1935 Amendment

Act June 29, 1935, ch. 33849 Stat. 436, (see Tables for classification), is popularly known as the “Agricultural Research Act” and also as the “Bankhead-Jones Act”.

Short Title

Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 140191 Stat. 981

section 6651 of Title 42section 390k of this title“This title [enacting this chapter and sections 2669 and 2670 of this title, amending sections 341, 342, 343, 361c, 390 to 390j, 1923, 1942, 2662, 2663, 2667, 3104, and 3157 of this title and , The Public Health and Welfare, and repealing ] may be cited as the ‘National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977’.”
, , , provided that:

Review of Agricultural Research Service

Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7404116 Stat. 457Pub. L. 108–11, title II, § 2101(b)117 Stat. 589Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7511(c)(7)122 Stat. 1267Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7506132 Stat. 4823, , , as amended by , , ; , , ; , title VII, § 7511(c)(7), , , 2029, which provided for the establishment of a task force to review the Agricultural Research Service and to evaluate the merits of establishing one or more National Institutes related to food and agricultural science, was repealed by , , .