USDA/NIFA GRANT

NAITC is funded through the USDA/NIFA grant supporting the agriculture in the K-12 classroom program area called, “Increasing Agriculture in K-12 Education”. It is a 4-year, recurring grant typically budgeted at $1 million support per fiscal year but was reduced by 50% for FY24.

These grant funds make the following reduced rates possible for NAITC Members:

  • Membership rates for state level Agriculture in the Classroom programs

  • National conference registration fee (currently $475, would increase to $700)

  • Website services provided by the National Center of Agricultural Literacy (currently $400/year, would increase to $7,500/year)

There is now $249,000 less to provide the following to NAITC Program Areas:

  • Grants to state and territory Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) programs and teachers.

  • Program and professional development support for state and territory AITC programs and teachers

  • Teacher scholarships to attend the National Conference and teacher awards given at the National Conference.

  • The National Curriculum Matrix, a database full of free lesson plans and resources for teachers.

  • The NAITC website houses the Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix and other valuable resources utilized by state level programs.

  • The National Center for Agricultural Literacy develops the programming and curriculum found through NAITC.

If FY2025 funding does not return to the recommended $1 million, there will be no other option than to reduce funding across all NAITC program areas, including the National Conference and
the National Center for Agricultural Literacy.