Why Democrats Are Pushing for More Agricultural Research Funding
Supporters of Democratic policy say public farm research pays for itself through better yields and lower costs. Critics respond that the budget is limited and the payoff is not guaranteed.
Why does public research funding matter?
Public research produces knowledge that no single company has a reason to share: how to manage a pest, stretch irrigation water or keep a herd healthy. Land-grant universities and federal labs do much of that work and pass it through extension to farmers.
Supporters of the Democratic approach say that funding for this work has not kept up with the needs of farmers, and that more money would help keep American agriculture competitive. You can find federal research information at the National Agricultural Library and USDA.
Another way to see the case: research in one place often helps farmers somewhere else, so no state can fund all of it alone. That spillover is the usual economic argument for national funding, and supporters lean on it heavily.
What do supporters want to fund?
Their list typically includes crop and livestock research, soil and water science, climate adaptation, plant and animal disease, and research that serves small and beginning farmers. They also want money for the facilities and graduate students who do the work.
Competitive grants and formula funds for universities are both part of the picture. Supporters also point to SARE and extension as ways to carry results to farmers.
For more on the Democratic stance on priorities, there is a companion piece on research priorities on this site. Supporters add that research workers are part of the farm economy. Lab technicians, field crews and extension agents are jobs in rural towns, and cuts to research can mean cuts to those communities.
- Crop and livestock research
- Soil, water and climate science
- Disease and pest control
- Research for small and beginning farms
The Colorado connection
Colorado State University and its extension network are central to farm research in the state, with work on water, grazing, crops and livestock. Supporters say steady funding keeps that work reaching producers in places like Pueblo County.
Find programs through CSU Extension and state resources at the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The crop planning guide shows how research shapes planting decisions.
Funding for buildings and equipment gets less attention than grants, but many universities say old facilities are a limit on what they can study. Supporters want money for both.
What do critics say?
Critics, including many Republican lawmakers and budget groups, respond that federal spending is already high and that private firms conduct much of the research that reaches farms. They worry about waste and want proof of results.
Some critics point to past federal research that did not pay off, and others argue that money should go to near-term problems rather than long-term science. Supporters respond that basic research takes time and that most of the benefits show up years later.
The disputed facts include rates of return on research. Economists at USDA ERS and farmdoc daily discuss these questions. A reasonable approach to the debate is to ask what the research would do for an operation like yours and to look at examples of past projects that changed practice.
How can a farmer use research?
Go to extension field days and read the bulletins. Ask your agent for results from trials on soil and conditions like yours. Look at local data before trying a new practice, and try it on a small piece first.
The small farm guide offers a starting point, and numbers from USDA NASS give context on yields and acreage.
Some farmers also take part in on-farm trials, which let them test ideas on their own ground with help from researchers. Ask your agent whether any trials are looking for volunteers.
Keep reading
For farm news and economics, see farm.FM news and farm.FM farming. A related story is a farm.FM piece on research funding.
Budget numbers change each year, so check Congress.gov for the current picture.
If you hear a large claim about returns to research, ask for the source and the years it covers. Extension offices in Colorado also host field days where researchers and farmers swap notes. Check the schedule near you, since talking with the people behind a result is often the quickest way to see whether it fits your operation, and a good question from a farmer can steer the next round of research.
Sources and further reading
- National Agricultural Library: agricultural research library
- USDA: U.S. Department of Agriculture
- SARE: sustainable agriculture research and education
- CSU Extension: Colorado State extension
- Colorado Department of Agriculture: state agriculture agency
- USDA Economic Research Service: farm economy data and analysis
Ask locally: A CSU Extension agent can tell you which research findings apply to your fields or herd.