Cooperative Living July 2022 - 37

FARMLIFE
Farming is
considered one
of the most
dangerous jobs
in the U.S.
Public support has dropped to 1970 levels, USDA report says
Investment in Agriculture R&D
is Lagging
by Steven Johnson, Staff Writer
G
overnment backing for research and development
in farm life has dropped dramatically at a time when
other nations have maintained or increased their
agricultural R&D interests, according to a report from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Analysts at the USDA's Economic Research Service say
U.S. public agricultural R&D expenditures, even accounting
for the rising cost of conducting research, have declined by
about one-third since they peaked in 2002, from $7.6 billion
to $5.2 billion.
Adjusted for infl tion, U.S. public R&D spending
on agriculture in 2019 stood about where it was in 1970,
they note.
In the meantime, China has emerged as the largest
supporter of agricultural R&D in the world, while India and
Brazil, two countries with large agricultural bases, also have
bumped up their contributions.
Th authors of the report, released in early June, caution
that private sector spending might offset some of the decline
in public U.S. spending.
" Nonetheless, present trends may affect the U.S. role as a
global leader in agricultural sciences and could lead to reduced
U.S. agricultural trade competitiveness if U.S. agricultural
productivity growth slows compared with other countries, "
write Kelly P. Nelson and Keith Fuglie.
WHY IT MATTERS
The federal government funds about 64% of the total
amount spent on public agricultural R&D, with state
government and non-government sources accounting for
the rest, Nelson and Fuglie say.
Most of the federal funds go through the USDA for
agency dispersal or grants to universities and other
institutions. Th study says that public R&D investment
co-opliving.com
is the main factor in long-term productivity growth in
U.S. agriculture, with $20 in benefits for every $1 spent,
based on long-term statistics.
" In addition to increasing farm productivity, public
agricultural R&D investment also supports improvements
in natural resources and forestry management, helps advance
rural development, enhances food safety and quality, and
informs markets and policy, " the authors say.
MONEY OUTCOMES
Though the federal government supplies most of the
money, non-federal institutions such as land-grant universities,
conduct the bulk of the research - about 70%. That research
tends to be centered on commodity and resource problems
of greatest interest to their states.
Th USDA's agencies, such the Forest Service, perform
the other 30% of research.
" University research also plays a vital role in training
the next generation of agricultural scientists, " the report says.
" USDA agency research, on the other hand, focuses on issues
of national or regional importance, provides critical research
infrastructure such as plant genetic resource conservation,
and supports the regulatory and program functions of
USDA agencies. "
Land-grant universities and their state agricultural
experimental stations account for more than half of total
public agricultural R&D expenditures. State forestry and
veterinary schools together accounted for 5% of public
agricultural R&D in 2019.
Th authors do not recommend any specific corrective
action, though they note that some areas of public agricultural
R&D are increasing, with slight upticks for historically
Black colleges and universities, and universities outside the
land-grant system. 
July 2022 ● Cooperative Living ●
35
PHOTO BY BOB NICHOLS, USDA
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living July 2022

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