Hatch Act celebrated in Western Farm Press

The act of Congress that created agricultural experiment stations at universities across the nation, known as the Hatch Act of 1887, was memorialized in a Western Farm Press article published today.

Many stations founded under the Hatch Act later became the foundation for state cooperative extension services under the Smith-Lever Act of 1914. In the Hatch Act, Agricultural Experiment Stations were charged with conducting original research on plants and animals, diseases to which they are subject, feed composition, potential new crops, soil and water analysis and more.

According to a Oklahoma State Web site, quoted in the story, "Breakthroughs resulting directly from Hatch Act funding have literally benefited every man, woman, and child in the United States and much of the world.”

In the article, reporter Ron Smith profiled four land-grant universities; one is UC Davis.

Dean of the UC Davis College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Neal Van Alfen told the reporter that one of the great success stories of the 20th century was the ability of agriculture to keep ahead of the food needs of the world's growing population.

"Much of the credit for this success must be given to the land-grant system of higher education," he was quoted. "The agricultural experiment stations of each state were the key drivers of the research that served as the foundation of this amazing success story."

The Farm Press story, titled "150 years of ag innovations," seemed to be pegged to an anniversary, but 2010 marks 123 years since the Hatch Act's passage. (Perhaps the writer was referring to the Morrill Act of 1862 - 148 years ago.) Nevertheless, the article is a welcome remembrance of U.S. agricultural history, and an early reminder about the upcoming 100th anniversary of cooperative extension. (Established by the Smith-Lever Act of 1914.)

For more information on UC Cooperative Extension, visit the Web sites of the local offices that serve every county in California.

Neal Van Alfen signs ag research agreement with Chilean and California leaders.