URBANA, Ill. — Yesterday, faculty from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign spoke as invited witnesses to an Illinois House Agriculture and Conservation Committee hearing on the impacts of the USDA funding freeze, tariffs, and the delayed Farm Bill on Illinois agriculture.
Shelly Nickols-Richardson, associate dean and director of Illinois Extension, and Jonathan Coppess, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, joined officials from Illinois government agencies, Illinois commodity groups, farm advocacy organizations, food policy and community service groups, and farmers to underscore the importance of USDA support, including Smith-Lever and SNAP - Education funds, to Illinois communities.
“Illinois Extension depends on USDA support for 43% of its budget, with 19% from Smith-Lever and 23% from SNAP-Ed,” Nickols-Richardson said. “Reductions would shift the burden onto state and local resources and significantly disrupt program delivery across Illinois’ 102 counties.”
She added that Extension puts USDA funds to use directly in Illinois communities to support educators, coordinators, and staff, as well as critical initiatives like farmdoc, 4-H youth programs, Annie’s Project for women in agriculture, urban and rural farming initiatives, pesticide safety, farm mental health, and conservation efforts. Illinois Extension also assists state agencies by implementing programs such as IL-EATS and school nutrition training.
“These programs equip farmers, families, and communities with essential knowledge and practical solutions,” Nickols-Richardson said.
A recent economic analysis of Illinois Extension showed a 10-to-1 return on investment, which means that reductions in funding result in a ten-fold reduction in economic benefits for communities across the state. Nickols-Richardson concluded by urging the committee to support USDA funding to maintain Titles IV (nutrition) and VII (research and extension) of the Farm Bill to ensure continued education, innovation, and economic resilience for Illinois communities.
In a panel on food policy and community services, Coppess highlighted...
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University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.