Nominations are now open for two of Farm Foundation’s flagship Next Generation programs: the January 2027 Cultivators Program and the 2027 Agricultural Scholars Program. Both programs connect promising students with agricultural leaders, researchers, and decision-makers while giving them opportunities to take their work beyond the classroom.

Faculty, advisors, and university staff have an important role to play. Even if you aren’t the person who can officially submit a nomination, you may be the first to recognize a student who would thrive in one of these programs. We encourage you to share these opportunities with students and colleagues and help ensure outstanding emerging leaders are considered.

Nominations for both programs are open September 1 through October 13, 2026.

January 2027 Cultivators Program

The Cultivators Program gives undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to step beyond the classroom and into conversations shaping the future of agriculture.

Selected Cultivators will attend the Farm Foundation Round Table meeting in Jacksonville, Florida, January 11–15, 2027, where they will present original research to an audience of approximately 200 senior leaders from across the food and agriculture sector.

Beyond presenting their work, Cultivators gain firsthand exposure to industry conversations, build their professional networks, and engage with leaders whose decisions influence agriculture and the food system.

Students must be nominated by a dean, director, or department chair. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Learn more about the Cultivators Program and nomination process

2027 Agricultural Scholars Program

For graduate students interested in the intersection of agricultural research, economics, and public policy, the Agricultural Scholars Program offers a year-long professional development experience.

Over 12 months, selected Scholars are paired with an economist from the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), providing an opportunity to learn from experts working at the intersection of research and agricultural policy. Scholars also participate in Farm Foundation events and experiences in locations including Washington, D.C., Toronto, and Philadelphia, expanding their networks while learning how research can inform real-world decisions.

The program is fully funded and designed for graduate students studying agricultural economics or related fields. Applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled at an accredited North American university and must be nominated by their dean or department head.

Learn more about the Agricultural Scholars Program and nomination process

Help Us Find the Next Generation of Agricultural Leaders

Great candidates are often identified because a professor, advisor, dean, or colleague recognized their potential and encouraged them to pursue an opportunity.

If you know a student whose research, curiosity, and leadership potential deserve a bigger stage, now is the time to put these programs on their radar—and, if you are eligible to nominate them, put their name forward.

Nominations for the January 2027 Cultivators Program and the 2027 Agricultural Scholars Program close October 13, 2026.

Help us get the next generation of agricultural leaders in the room.

The post Nominations Now Open for Farm Foundation’s 2027 Next Generation Programs appeared first on Farm Foundation.

 

WASHINGTON — The stopgap spending bill supported by an overwhelming majority of U.S. senators does not address tens of billions in expiring transportation funding, leaving states facing a massive effective budget cut starting Oct. 1.

The 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, which authorized highway and transit programs for five years, expires Sept. 30. Roughly $38.6 billion per year in extra federal transportation funding is set to expire with it, even if the continuing resolution the Senate advanced 89-4 Monday becomes law.

The stopgap measure, a version of which has also passed the House, would keep the government funded mostly at current levels, and reauthorize highway and transit programs through Dec. 11.

But it would not renew the advance appropriations that provided $184 billion over five years for a host of transportation programs under the infrastructure law President Joe Biden signed in his first year in office.

Ben Gilsdorf, an associate legislative director for transportation at the National Association of Counties, said in a Tuesday interview that the advance appropriations funded many of the group’s top transportation priorities.

“It’s not all of the programs under (the infrastructure law) that would stop without an extension,” he said. “But for us, it’s several of the most impactful ones.”

The National Association of Counties was part of a broad range of advocacy groups representing business, labor, cities, state departments of transportation and every mode of transportation that signed a letter last month asking Congress to extend the supplemental funding.

Funding for Transportation Department programs makes up a bit more than half of the total advance appropriations in the infrastructure law, which also includes major funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Energy Department and telecommunications program.

The total advance appropriations for fiscal 2026 were about $66.2 billion, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Bridges, airports, transit and more

The DOT funding largely flows to state departments of transportation.

Returning to pre-2021 baseline infrastructure spending would leave every state with less federal funding to cover varied transportation needs.

About 30%, $10.8 billion per year, of the extra transportation funding is determined by formula, meaning the amounts sent to each state vary based on population, highway miles and other factors.

California is the only state that would lose 10 figures worth of funding, at nearly $1.1 billion.

But even Vermont, the state with the lowest total funding lost, would see $55.6 million less in formula funds if the funding is not extended, according to data Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray of Washington sent to her fellow Democratic senators last month.

A total of 10 formula programs representing different modes of transportation would be affected, according to the fact sheet from Murray’s office.

More than half of the formula funding, $5.5 billion, is slated for the Federal Highway Administration’s bridge repair program.

Airport construction funds represent the next-greatest funding at $3 billion per year. The Federal Transit Administration’s grant program to maintain transit system infrastructure would lose $950 million and state transportation departments would lose another $900 million in federal funding for electric vehicle charging stations.

Other affected programs are for highways in Appalachian states, truck safety inspections, ferry boats and terminals, FTA grants for senior passengers and those with disabilities and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration programs.

In addition to formula funds, the remaining 70% of advance appropriations is distributed via 25 competitive grant programs, according to the Murray document.

Grant programs to fund ports, large highway and rail projects, transit station upgrades, roadway safety and other projects would be among those losing funding.

Complicating spending negotiations

While the law that initiated the additional funding was bipartisan, there are indications an extension could be a more partisan issue.

Murray said ahead of the Senate floor vote Monday that Republicans did not “agree to our efforts to extend critical advance appropriations for infrastructure” and vowed to continue pursuing the additional funds.

Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, did not reference advance appropriations in a press release announcing a deal on the stopgap bill.

Republicans, who hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, may prefer to settle the future of the funding through a long-term surface transportation bill or full-year appropriations measure, Gilsdorf said.

Even if the Senate bill is enacted, there will be an opportunity when it expires to revisit the issue, he said.

“There’d be another bite at the apple,” he said.

A person familiar with negotiations who was not authorized to speak on the record said Tuesday that the advance appropriations in the 2021 law were meant to be one-time funding, and that extending them in a stopgap measure meant to preserve the status quo would be inappropriate.

The funding is part of a larger policy debate than is usually considered in a continuing resolution, the person said.

The issue could hang over negotiations for full-year spending bills, likely to begin in earnest after November’s elections.

Senate appropriators have not reached a deal for top-line spending levels for fiscal 2027.

Republicans, at President Donald Trump’s urging, are seeking a massive boost to defense programs.

Democrats historically seek parity between non-defense and defense spending, but have relaxed that stance while the extra infrastructure funds have been flowing. Without that additional funding, Democrats might be less amenable to compromise.

A federal commission voted Tuesday in favor of a Trump administration proposal to rescind requirements that larger employers report the demographics of their workers — information that’s used to help enforce racial and gender antidiscrimination laws.

Most employers with 100 or more workers have been required to submit data annually on staff sex, race and ethnicity since 1966 to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Earlier this summer, the administration submitted a proposed rule that would eliminate that reporting requirement for companies as well as for state and local governments. 

The EEOC contends that demographics reporting requirements place an “impermissible focus on ‘minorities’ and women.” The commission argues the forms “may encourage employers to discriminate against employees who are not considered ‘minorities.’” The proposed rule will be posted to the Federal Register for a public comment period of 30 days, and a public hearing will be held Aug. 11, with requests to testify due Aug. 7.

Bloomberg Law reported that the commission voted 2-1 along party lines to advance the plan.  

Since President Donald Trump took office, the administration has been focused on eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The new proposal, if finalized, would roll back federal oversight and limit employer transparency, experts say. 

If the federal requirements end, states might step in to create their own requirements, said Alexandra Garrison Barnett, a partner at the law firm Alston & Bird in Atlanta, Georgia.

“We might see more states imposing those kinds of requirements in the absence of a federal requirement, or we could see states banning or prohibiting employers from collecting (demographic information),” said Barnett, a labor and employment attorney who helps employers evaluate their DEI policies and strategies.

A handful of states already have requirements that employers collect and report on workplace demographic information, she noted. 

The commission’s vote comes on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. Tuesday marks how far into the year Black women must work to equal the average pay earned by a white man by the end of the previous year.

The lack of demographic data will hinder accountability for employers, said labor economist Valerie Rawlston Wilson, director of the Economic Policy Institute’s Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy.

“(The proposal) is consistent with the general anti-equity push of this administration to eliminate pretty much all of the infrastructure that have been in place for equal employment in this country,” Wilson said. “We have laws in place that prohibit discrimination, but the effectiveness of those laws is really dependent on our ability to enforce those laws. And the enforcement of those laws is facilitated by having consistent reliable data.”

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research reports that Black women make 64 cents for every dollar paid to white men — across all education levels and positions, including leadership positions. 

Broken down by state, the gap widens: In Idaho, for example, Black women make 36 cents for every dollar white men make, across all workers with earnings.

The rule, Wilson said, would “severely hinder the ability of the EEOC to carry out its enforcement responsibilities.”

Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanen@stateline.org.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s guidelines to states on how to request funding under counterterrorism grant programs include potentially illegal demands related to election administration, Democrats on the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee said Thursday.

The Department of Homeland Security, which includes FEMA, sent states last month notices of available federal funding for non-disaster grants under the Homeland Security Grant Program, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and the Transit Security Grant Program.

Those notices included “blatant attempts to force communities to comply with the Trump administration’s political demands” or risk losing $200 million in federal funds, the letter said.

“As we approach the 25th anniversary of September 11th, it is deeply alarming that DHS and FEMA, under Donald Trump, continue to manipulate the very funding born out of a national tragedy,” they wrote. “Playing political games with counterterrorism funding undermines public safety and deprives first responders of the resources they need to do their jobs.”

The panel’s 15 Democrats, led by ranking member Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, signed the letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting FEMA Administrator Robert Fenton.

Spokespeople for DHS, FEMA and the committee’s Republicans did not immediately return messages seeking comment late Thursday. A White House spokesperson referred a request for comment to DHS.

SAVE computer system

The department is withholding up to 20% of the programs’ congressionally appropriated grant funding unless states and cities update their election laws, the Democrats wrote. The administration wants states to use the department’s powerful SAVE computer system to verify the citizenship of every voter, among other demands, the letter said.

The department also continues to retain more than $600 million in 2025 funding, the lawmakers said.

Some of the administration’s demands are unworkable or illegal under federal court decisions or state law, they said.

For example, two days before the notice went to states, a federal judge ruled that states could not use the SAVE system to check voter eligibility.

“It is unclear how or why DHS and FEMA published (notice of funding opportunity) guidance that would deliberately conflict with a court ruling,” they wrote. “To date, FEMA has not provided a revised (notice) that complies with court orders on the use of the SAVE system.”

‘Costly and impossible’ for states

Several requirements, demanded barely five months before midterm elections in November and one month before grant applications are due, “are costly and impossible to achieve on the unrealistic timeline dictated by the administration,” the letter said.

Other criteria were unclear, such as a requirement to “reconcile voters and ballots using a methodology the Secretary has not disclosed,” the Democrats wrote. The department has also not said how post-election manual audits must be conducted.

The lawmakers asked the administration to revert to 2024 guidance, which would remove confusion about the grant programs’ requirements and their legality, release materials that informed the department’s decision to tie the grant funding to election security and to immediately release all holds “explicit or de facto” on last year’s grants.

Constitutional mandate 

The changes would “very likely harm” states’ election integrity, David Becker, the executive director and founder of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research, said in a media briefing earlier Thursday. 

Becker predicted that the order would be “very easy to block” in court.

The department’s requirements are not authorized by Congress or the Constitution, which empowers states to administer elections, Becker said.

“This administration continues to either fail to understand or openly defy the constitutional mandate that gives authority to run elections to the states,” he said.

Applications are now open for FarmPath, a national, multi-year program designed to make farming more accessible and achievable for aspiring and beginning farmers across the United States.

The program is supported by The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems and The PepsiCo Foundation whose investments reflect a shared focus on helping to strengthen the next generation of farmers and build a more resilient food system.

FarmPath is grounded in a simple reality: as many U.S. farmers approach retirement, the sector needs a new generation of skilled producers. Yet beginning farmers often face barriers including limited access to land, capital, business planning skills, agronomic knowledge, and mentorship.

By investing in these new farmers, FarmPath helps support stronger rural, urban, and suburban economies, strengthens food security, and builds a more diverse and resilient agricultural community.

The free, three-year program provides practical education in best practices for resilient agriculture and farm management, access to experienced mentors, and connection to a national network of professionals working across food and agriculture. FarmPath integrates training in production skills with in-depth instruction on the systems, markets, and decisions that shape long-term success.

“American agriculture is entering a new era, with generational shifts, growing interest in diversification, and new market opportunities, including regenerative production and regional food systems,” said Shari Rogge-Fidler, President and CEO of Farm Foundation. “Through structured business training, mentorship, professional networks, and up to $10,000 in implementation funding, FarmPath is Farm Foundation’s direct investment in a new generation of farmers prepared to meet this moment in American agriculture.”

The Mosaic Company executes its mission to help the world grow the food it needs by delivering critical crop nutrient products to customers in 40 countries around the globe. The company is committed to advancing global food security through coordinated action and strong collaboration with partners and stakeholders. For over two decades, The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems has partnered with local organizations, farmers and communities in the U.S., Brazil and India to identify and maximize their potential, emphasizing sustainability, resilience, and entrepreneurship.

“We’re excited to support a program that puts practical, farmer‑focused learning front and center. Our work with young and smallholder farmers in India and Brazil shows that when farmers build skills, confidence, and resilience in the face of a changing landscape, they’re better equipped to thrive long term.” Ben Pratt, president of The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems.

As one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, PepsiCo’s business is rooted in agriculture with more than 50 crops and ingredients sourced from over 60 countries. To help support the farmers that grow these crops, the PepsiCo Foundation has worked alongside Farm Foundation through previous partnerships including Field to Future. Now, to continue helping farmers thrive, the PepsiCo Foundation is building on previous work with Farm Foundation through FarmPath.

Monica Bauer, SVP Social Impact, PepsiCo, said, “As the backbone of our communities, farmers play a vital role in driving local economies and helping families access nutritious and affordable food. Alongside Farm Foundation, we’re excited to support the next generation of farmers who will continue to help strengthen food systems for generations to come. Together, we can help expand access to the resources needed to support long-term success for new farmers.”

How to Apply

FarmPath is open to participants from a wide range of backgrounds, including farm-raised innovators, urban and community growers, career changers, those curious about farming as a career path, and early-stage farmers seeking to diversify or strengthen their operations. The program includes a flexible virtual learning model and an online peer community designed to accommodate various schedules nationwide.

Applications are open through March 23, 2026. This application cycle is the only entry point into the current three-year program. Up to 300 participants will be selected for Year One, with competitive progression into Years Two and Three. Participants must complete Year One to be eligible for advancement.

Additional information, eligibility details, and the application are available at FarmPath.org

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About the Partners

The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems supports well-defined, transformational investments in food and nutrition security, sustainable agricultural productivity growth, and community development located in India, Brazil, and the United States. The Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation is funded through contributions from The Mosaic Company.

The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we’re focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and workforce development opportunities. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsicofoundation.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

The post FarmPath Seeks 300 New and Aspiring Farmers for Free, National Program appeared first on Farm Foundation.

Farm Foundation announces two new cohorts that reflect its continued investment in developing future leaders across food, agriculture, and agricultural policy. The January 2026 Cultivators cohort and the 2026 USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) Agricultural Scholars cohort represent students from institutions nationwide who will engage with Farm Foundation programs in distinct yet complementary ways.

The Cultivator Program provides an exclusive opportunity for outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in agriculture to engage directly with senior leaders and policy discussions shaping the future of the food and agriculture system. Cultivators attend the Round Table and present their research alongside industry, government, and nonprofit executives.

Farm Foundation offers two Cultivators cohorts each year, with each cohort aligned to one of the organization’s biannual Round Table meetings. The January 2026 Cultivators cohort will participate in the Farm Foundation Round Table held January 14–16, 2026, in El Paso, Texas.

January 2026 Cultivators Cohort

• Freweyni Abrha– University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Vera Adabrah-Danquah – Kansas State University
• Dawood Atta – University of Florida
• Jacob Lionberger – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Menglin Liu – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Marisol Olivas – New Mexico State University
• Kimberly Okpah – University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Yi Wang – Purdue University

Through the Cultivator Program, participants gain exposure to high-level dialogue on emerging agricultural issues while building professional networks with leaders across the public and private sectors.

Learn more about the Cultivator Program

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2026 USDA Economic Research Service Agricultural Scholars

Farm Foundation, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS), also announces the 2026 Agricultural Scholars cohort. This fully funded, 12-month professional development program is designed for graduate students pursuing agricultural economics or related agricultural policy fields.

The Agricultural Scholars Program provides immersive, hands-on exposure to applied policy and economic analysis. Scholars work closely with ERS senior analysts while developing a deeper understanding of agricultural policy, commodity markets, agricultural finance, and related disciplines.

Scholar Experience

During the program year, Scholars will:

• Partner with an ERS senior analyst for year-long mentorship
• Conduct and present capstone research to ERS economists and receive expert feedback
• Participate in Farm Foundation Forums held virtually throughout the year
• Engage with senior leaders across agribusiness, government, and trade associations

Scholars will also attend several flagship events, including:

• Farm Foundation Round Table – January 14–16, 2026 (El Paso, TX)
• USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum – February 19–20, 2026
• AAEA Annual Meeting – July 26–28, 2026 (Kansas City, MO)
• WASDE/Capstone Trip – October/November 2026 (Washington, D.C.), including visits to USDA, Capitol Hill, agribusinesses, and commodity groups

2026 Agricultural Scholars Cohort

• Eric Belleville – The Ohio State University (AEDE)
• Hence Duncan – Oklahoma State University
• Elizabeth Dworkin – Iowa State University
• Parthu Kalva – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Asa Dolbow Vann – Purdue University

The Agricultural Scholars Program seeks to deepen participants’ understanding of production agriculture, agribusiness, and government, strengthening the pipeline of future agricultural economists and policy leaders.

Learn more about the Agricultural Scholars Program and individual profiles

The post Announcing the Farm Foundation January 2026 Cultivators and 2026 Agricultural Scholars Cohorts appeared first on Farm Foundation.

On May 20, 2025, Farm Foundation brought together leaders from across the agriculture sector at our Innovation and Education Campus (IEC) in Libertyville, Illinois, for a critical conversation about the future of our food and agriculture system.

Kicking off the day were two U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture, one Democrat, one Republican, who set the tone for a nonpartisan dialogue grounded in collaboration. Together, farmers, agribusiness leaders, researchers, and policymakers explored how to strengthen the U.S. food and ag system beyond today’s challenges and into the future.

The Summit defined what resilience in food and agriculture truly means:

A resilient food and agriculture system has the ability to produce food, even in the midst of changes and shocks, that sustains the planet and all people through access to safe, affordable, nutritious, and culturally relevant food.

From this shared vision came three key areas for continued collaboration:

1. Creating a policy innovation sandbox to explore new approaches to food and agriculture policy at the local, state, national, and global levels.

2. Advancing rural communities that are vibrant, thriving, and connected to opportunity.

3. Evolving the agricultural extension network to better serve today’s diverse, technology-driven, and rapidly changing sector.

The Summit was not just a conversation; it was a starting point for action. The resulting paper, Toward a Resilient Food and Agriculture Future, authored by Farm Foundation’s Agricultural Economic Fellow Dr. Sunghun Lim, captures the Summit’s insights and lays out a framework for the work ahead.

“The challenges facing agriculture today are deeply interconnected. The Summit was not just about identifying problems, it was about building momentum for actionable solutions,” said Dr. Sunghun Lim.

Now, we invite you to join us in taking the next steps. As we’ve done for the past 90 years, Farm Foundation will continue to organize thought partners and use our think tank/do tank model to drive progress in these three focus areas, sparking ideas and putting them into practice to create real impact.

The Innovation and Education Campus is a gathering place for these vital conversations. A space where anyone in the sector can host meetings, events, and trainings that help shape the future of food and agriculture.

Download the Executive Summary
Read the Full Report
Learn more about hosting an event at the IEC
Watch the video highlighting scenes from the Summit

Join us as we continue this work. Together we can create a more resilient future for food and agriculture.

The post Shaping a Resilient Future for Food and Agriculture appeared first on Farm Foundation.

Farm Foundation is proud to announce the second cohort of students selected for the Careers in Ag and Food Exploration (CAFE) Student Workshop. This immersive program offers undergraduate students from 1890 land-grant institutions an exclusive opportunity to dive into the diverse and evolving world of agriculture and food systems. 

Held at North Carolina A&T State University, the CAFE Workshop equips students with professional development tools, career exploration experiences, and networking connections that extend well beyond the classroom. Over the course of the program, participants engage in hands-on sessions and thought-provoking conversations with leaders across the agri-food value chain—helping them better understand the range of impactful careers available in this vital sector. 

“We are thrilled to welcome this talented group of students to the CAFE Student Workshop,” said Jenna Wicks, program manager at Farm Foundation. “The food and agriculture sector offers a wide range of career opportunities, and we are committed to helping the next generation explore these possibilities.” 

The CAFE Student Workshop is made possible through support from the SAPLINGS (System Approach to Promote Learning and Innovation for the Next GenerationS) grant—an initiative led in collaboration with North Carolina A&T and funded by an $18.1 million award from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 

We are honored to recognize the 2025 CAFE cohort: 

• Randall Gary, South Carolina State University 

• Jeronee Hinton, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 

• Gary Jarvis, North Carolina A&T State University 

• William Johnson, Tuskegee University 

• Sahara McMillan, Virginia State University 

• Jerricah Robinson, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 

• Cameron Shellman, Fort Valley State University 

• Jayla Silver, Tennessee State University 

• Markayla Watts, Tuskegee University 

These students represent a promising future across a variety of industries—bringing curiosity, passion, and a desire to grow.  

To learn more about the CAFE Student Workshop, visit: farmfoundation.org/cafe-student-workshop 

The post Spotlight on the 2025 CAFE Cohort: Discovering Opportunities in Food and Ag  appeared first on Farm Foundation.