Hatch, Animal Health, & McIntire-Stennis Research Projects
The Hatch Act, which was passed by congress in 1887, allocates federal funds, of which a major portion must be matched with state dollars, for research involving agriculture, food, the environment, and related fields to be conducted by land-grant institutions alongside the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This research, which takes place as part of the agricultural experiment station program, can be focused on issues of local, state, regional, or national concern. "A land-grant institution is the title given to an institution in the United States that has been designated by its state legislature or Congress to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862, 1890, and 1994" (www.aplu.org/about-us/history-of-aplu/what-is-a-land-grant-university).
In addition to Hatch funds, OSU receives federal formula funding for Animal Health research and McIntire‐Stennis for forestry research.
A commitment to partnership with the USDA, the state of Ohio, and other land grant institutions is integral to the heart of the Hatch, Animal Health, and McIntire-Stennis programs. OSU faculty in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, and selected Departments in the College of Education and Human Ecology who have a research appointment of 20 percent or more are required to submit a five-year plan of research, called the Plan of Work. The Plan of Work is reviewed annually by administration within CFAES and submitted to USDA-NIFA for final review and approval.
Hatch project initiations, annual reports, and final reports are managed electronically via the NIFA Reporting System (NRS). "NRS currently contains the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) Plans of Work, Annual Reports of Accomplishments and other capacity grant data for research projects and Extension programs. Primary NRS users include Land-Grant Universities, other partner institutions, cooperating state institutions, and agency staff. To access the NRS application, click the NRS Website button below, which will require users to complete e-Authentication prior to navigating to NRS." (USDA-NIFA Website). CFAES administration is responsible for submitting new Hatch projects through NRS, for the quality of reporting submitted to USDA-NIFA, and for ensuring that OSU faculty members comply with Hatch peer-review procedures, but it is the responsibility of CFAES faculty members to prepare online and submit an Annual Progress Report plus a Final Report at the end of the 5-year period.