This method of funding assures high quality, merit reviewed research, and is an excellent funding approach for basic research to achieve national priorities and goals. A matching fund requirement on national-goal programs diverts state funds from state and local projects which could otherwise enhance the development and adaptation opportunities flowing from the fundamental research. Base program funding is important to maintain the cooperative partnership between USDA and Universities and to provide a coordination framework that helps achieve national as well as state and local research and education goals. These funds help sustain the intellectual capacity of the university based agricultural research and education system as well as support the infrastructure necessary to address important national, state, and local issues. Reductions in base program funding would reduce the capacity of the system.
Special grants are an important funding mechanism to address regional and technology directed goals.
Unfortunately, due to reductions in core program funding and lower funding in many states, pressures have mounted to use federal special grant funds to address many state and local goals. While these projects are meritorious, in my view, federal funds would be more wisely invested in multi-state, regional projects and programs and in ways that encouraged effective cooperation among research and education institutions. Some problems of a strictly local nature might be of such national importance to justify federal funds but, in my view, these would be rare and would be prime candidates for a matching fund requirement. The reauthorization of the Farm Bill Research and Extension Title will set the funding landscape for agricultural research, extension and higher education for at least the next decade. The agriculture and food industry that this research supports is commonly estimated at 15-18 percent of the nation's domestic economic output.