Research | Education | Extension | Frequently Asked Questions

Although CSREES does not directly serve or interact with the general public, the goal of all its activities is to improve the lives of American citizens. CSREES provides funding and program efforts to support research, education, and extension activities conducted by educational and other institutions and individuals. Those activities result in more nutritious and safer food; better health; stronger, more stable youth and communities; a cleaner environment; and technological or other improvements in agriculture, biotechnology, or pest management that make life better in countless ways for everyone.

Research

CSREES is an “extramural” research agency. This means its staff does not actually conduct research but rather funds others to do so. Over the past 5 years, CSREES has disbursed an average of $465 million annually for purely research activities across the country. Over the same time period, CSREES disbursed approximately $38 million annually for so-called integrated projects, which combine research with education or extension components.

Most of CSREES' research dollars go to scientists at the nation's 100+ land-grant colleges and universities, with which CSREES has a unique statutory relationship. CSREES also disburses millions of dollars in Congressionally appropriated formula funds to these land-grant schools each year, much of which is devoted to research activities.

Here are some ways to find out more about CSREES research-related activities:

• Research Quick Link – provides an overview of the agency's research activities.
• Emphasis Areas – the link hub for CSREES' 59 subject-matter programs, each of which details the agency's research, education, and extension activities focused on a major scientific or social problem or issue.
• Funding Opportunities – allows users to explore all of CSREES competitive funding opportunities.

Education

CSREES funding also supports teaching activities within the U.S. Land-Grant University System, schools and colleges, and other education-related organizations. Over the past 5 years, CSREES provided about $23 million annually to approximately 150 educational institutions to support activities that strengthen agricultural and science literacy in grades K-12 and direct students' career choices toward agriculture.  Improvements to postsecondary education included updating curricula, expanding faculty competencies, revitalizing instruction with new technology, and recruiting and retaining new faculty and a diverse student body through scholarships and graduate fellowships.

Here are some ways to explore CSREES education-related activities:

• Education Quick Link – provides an overview of the agency's education activities.
• Youth Education Program – one of the agency's 59 program areas, it acts as a clearinghouse for youth education activities across the agency.
• Program Portfolio – other programs contain education components and activities not noted in Youth Education.

Extension

Not only does CSREES support researchers and classroom educators at the nation's land-grant institutions, but it also works closely with extension educators who serve the public directly. They work out of some 3,000 local and regional extension offices throughout the United States. Each state's one or more land-grant institutions administer these extension offices with the help of formula funds from CSREES. Over the past 5 years, CSREES has distributed an average of $424 million in extension-targeted formula funds each year. In addition, national program leaders and others in CSREES are actively involved in designing and implementing various extension programs related to their areas of expertise.

The Cooperative Extension System traditionally provides answers to practical consumer questions in a variety of ways—Web sites, printed educational materials, videos, teleconferences, the telephone—on the county, regional, or state level.

Here are some ways to explore CSREES' extension-related activities:

• Extension Quick Link
• State and National Partners
• Local Extension Offices

Frequently Asked Consumer Questions

CSREES does not itself produce consumer-related information. However, because of our close relationship with the Cooperative Extension Service, consumers sometimes do contact us seeking popular information. The following Q&As address the questions we most frequently receive:

Q - Where can I get information about controlling insects and other home pests?

A - See your nearest extension office to find out about insects and other home pests that are common your area.

Q - Where can I obtain building plans?

A - Check with the Midwest Plan Service at Iowa State University, 122 Davidson Hall, Ames, IA 50011-3080 (toll free: 800-562-3618; customer service phone: 515-294-4337; fax: 515-294-9589; e-mail: mwps@iastate.edu) for assistance.

Q - How can I find out about personal financial management classes?

A - Check with your nearest extension office for such classes. These offices are also listed in the blue pages of your phone book.

Q - Where can I obtain information about writing wills?

A - Wills may be discussed during financial management classes given by extension personnel. CSREES does not offer specific information about how to write a will.