Capacity Grants
USDA-NIFA capacity grants are non-competitive, formula-funded allocations provided by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to land-grant institutions to support ongoing agricultural research, education, and extension activities. Learn more about capacity funding from USDA-NIFA.
Capacity programs include:
- Hatch: Funds agricultural research at state agricultural experiment stations. This funding is based on a five-year plan of work that serves as the umbrella for a faculty member’s full research portfolio. CALS faculty with research appointments of 15% or more are required to have an active hatch project. Hatch capacity funds are used to fund faculty salary. Read more about Hatch.
- Hatch Multistate: This is similar to Hatch funding with the additional requirement of including participants from qualifying institutions in other states to solve mutual challenges. Participation in a multistate project is optional. Faculty receive $5000 annually to support the multistate project. Read more about Hatch Multistate.
- Animal Health and Disease Research (AHDR): Promotes animal health research at eligible veterinary colleges and experiment stations. Faculty with AHDR projects don't have to have a Hatch project. Read more about AHDR.
- Smith-Lever (Sections 3(b) and 3(c)): Supports cooperative extension programs to deliver practical agricultural and home economics knowledge. Read more about Smith-Lever.
- McIntire-Stennis: Focuses on forestry research, forest protection, and training future forestry scientists. Read more about McIntire-Stennis.
NRS
NIFA has established the NIFA Reporting System (NRS) to provide data management and reporting for capacity funded research projects and extension programs. NRS currently contains Project Initiations, Results Reports, Statewide Critical Issues, Plans of Work, Annual Reports of Accomplishments and other capacity grant data for research projects and extension programs.
NIFA NRS -
NIFA Reporting System (NRS) User Guide
NIFA Reporting System (NRS) Registration Guide
Hatch Project Initiation Instructions
Multistate Project Initiation Instructions
CALS Entering NRS Results Reports (how-to video 4 min)
CALS Share Your Science - Writing Impact Statements
NC State IRB (Research with Human Subjects)
NC State IACUC (Research with Vertebrate Animals)
Capacity Grant Reporting
The Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) amended the Smith-Lever Act, the Hatch Act, and the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (the funding authorities for Extension and Research activities) to require approved Plans of Work (every five years) and Annual Reports of Accomplishment from Extension and Research in order to receive federal funding.
2025-2029 Reporting Cycle
2025-2029 North Carolina Critical Issues
2025-2029 Federal Plan of Work
2025-2029 Extension Program Initiations
2025 Extension Results Reports
Past Reporting Cycles
Review submitted NIFA reports from past reporting cycles.
Acknowledging NIFA Support
USDA grantees are required use an acknowledgement of funding statement in scientific publications, presentations, posters and related materials.
Guidance for Capacity Funded Projects: Acknowledging NIFA Funding
List of Capacity Projects and Accession Numbers: NC State Capacity Projects
NIMSS - Multistate Projects
The National Information Management and Support System (NIMSS) is a web-based application that will allow participants of Multistate Research Projects and Activities to submit proposals and reports online. Interested parties, stakeholders and cooperators can also query the System for relevant and timely information. NIMSS manages Multistate Research and Activities supported by the State Agricultural Experiment Station (SAES) from the Hatch Multistate Research Fund (MRF) provided by the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
National Information Management & Support System (NIMSS) - Multistate Projects