---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 361c"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "361c"
heading: "Authorization of appropriations and allotments of grants"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/361c"
units:
  - "Chapter 14 — Agricultural Experiment Stations"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §361c. Authorization of appropriations and allotments of grants

- (a) **Authorization—** There are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of sections [361a](/usc/7/361a.md) to [361i](/usc/7/361i.md) of this title such sums as Congress may from time to time determine to be necessary.
- (b) **Allotments to States; authorization of appropriations for Virgin Islands and Guam; limitation—**
  - (1) Out of such sums each [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) shall be entitled to receive annually a sum of money equal to and subject to the same requirement as to use for marketing research projects as the sums received from Federal appropriations for [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) agricultural experiment stations for the fiscal year 1955, except that amounts heretofore made available from the fund known as the “Regional research fund, Office of Experiment Stations” shall continue to be available for the support of cooperative regional projects as defined in [subsection (c)(3)](#c-3), and the said fund shall be designated “Regional research fund, [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) agricultural experiment stations,” and the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) of Agriculture shall be entitled to receive annually for the administration of sections [361a](/usc/7/361a.md) to [361i](/usc/7/361i.md) of this title, a sum not less than that available for this purpose for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1955: Provided, That if the appropriations hereunder available for distribution in any fiscal year are less than those for the fiscal year 1955 the allotment to each [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) and the amounts for Federal administration and the regional research fund shall be reduced in proportion to the amount of such reduction.
  - (2) There is authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973, and for each fiscal year thereafter, for payment to the Virgin Islands and Guam, $100,000 each, which sums shall be in addition to the sums appropriated for the several [States](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) of the United States and Puerto Rico under the provisions of this section. The amount paid by the Federal Government to the Virgin Islands and Guam pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed during any fiscal year, except the fiscal years ending June 30, 1971, and June 30, 1972, when such amount may be used to pay the total cost of providing services pursuant to sections [361a](/usc/7/361a.md) to [361i](/usc/7/361i.md) of this title, the amount available and budgeted for expenditure by the Virgin Islands and Guam for the purposes of such sections.
- (c) **Allotment of additional sums—** Any sums made available by the Congress in addition to those provided for in [subsection (b)](#b) of this section for [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) agricultural experiment station work shall be distributed as follows:
  - (1) Twenty per centum shall be allotted equally to each [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5);
  - (2) Not less than 52 per centum of such sums shall be allotted to each [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), as follows: One-half in an amount which bears the same ratio to the total amount to be allotted as the rural population of the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) bears to the total rural population of all the [States](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) as determined by the last preceding decennial census current at the time each such additional sum is first appropriated; and one-half in an amount which bears the same ratio to the total amount to be allotted as the farm population of the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) bears to the total farm population of all the [States](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) as determined by the last preceding decennial census current at the time such additional sum is first appropriated;
  - (3) Not less than 25 percent shall be allotted to the [States](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) for cooperative research employing multidisciplinary approaches in which a [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) agricultural experiment station, working with another [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) agricultural experiment station, the Agricultural Research Service, or a college or university, cooperates to solve problems that concern more than 1 [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5). The funds available under this paragraph, together with the funds available under [subsection (b)](#b) for a similar purpose, shall be designated as the “Multistate Research Fund, [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) Agricultural Experiment Stations”.
  - (4) Three per centum shall be available to the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) of Agriculture for administration of sections [361a](/usc/7/361a.md) to [361i](/usc/7/361i.md) of this title. These administrative funds may be used for transportation of scientists who are not officers or employees of the United States to research meetings convened for the purpose of assessing research opportunities or research planning.
- (d) **Matching funds—**
  - (1) **Requirement—** Except as provided in [paragraph (4)](#d-4), no allotment shall be made to a [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) under subsection [(b)](#b) or [(c)](#c), and no payments from the allotment shall be made to a [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), in excess of the amount that the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) makes available out of non-Federal funds for agricultural research and for the establishment and maintenance of facilities for the performance of the research.
  - (2) **Failure to provide matching funds—** If a [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) fails to comply with the requirement to provide matching funds for a fiscal year under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) of Agriculture shall withhold from payment to the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) for that fiscal year an amount equal to the difference between—
    - (A) the amount that would be allotted and paid to the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) under subsections [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c) (if the full amount of matching funds were provided by the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5)); and
    - (B) the amount of matching funds actually provided by the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5).
  - (3) **Reapportionment—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) of Agriculture shall reapportion amounts withheld under [paragraph (2)](#d-2) for a fiscal year among the [States](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) satisfying the matching requirement for that fiscal year.
    - (B) **Matching requirement—** Any reapportionment of funds under this paragraph shall be subject to the matching requirement specified in [paragraph (1)](#d-1).
  - (4) **Exception for insular areas and the District of Columbia—**
    - (A) **In general—** Effective beginning for fiscal year 2003, in lieu of the matching funds requirement of [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the insular areas of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands of the United States and the District of Columbia shall provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in an amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the formula funds distributed by the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) to each of the insular areas, respectively, and the District of Columbia under this section.
    - (B) **Waivers—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) may waive the matching fund requirement of [subparagraph (A)](#d-4-A) for any fiscal year if the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) determines that the government of the insular area or the District of Columbia will be unlikely to meet the matching requirement for the fiscal year.
- (e) **“Administration” defined—** “Administration” as used in this section shall include participation in planning and coordinating cooperative regional research as defined in [subsection (c)(3)](#c-3).
- (f) **Adjustment of payments—** In making payments to [States](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) of Agriculture is authorized to adjust any such payment to the nearest dollar.
- (g) **Reductions and reapportionments—** If in any year the amount made available by a [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) from its own funds (including any revenue-sharing funds) to a [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) agricultural experiment station is reduced because of an increase in the allotment made available under sections [361a](/usc/7/361a.md) to [361i](/usc/7/361i.md) of this title, the allotment to the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) agricultural experiment station from the appropriation in the next succeeding fiscal year shall be reduced in an equivalent amount. The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) shall reapportion the amount of such reduction to other [States](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) for use by their agricultural experiment stations.
- (h) **Peer review—** Research carried out under [subsection (c)(3)](#c-3) shall be subject to scientific peer review. The review of a project conducted under this subsection shall be considered to satisfy the merit review requirements of [section 7613(e) of this title](/usc/7/7613.md?p=e).
- (i) **Integration of research and extension—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not less than the applicable percentage specified under [paragraph (2)](#i-2) of the Federal formula funds that are paid under sections [361a](/usc/7/361a.md) to [361i](/usc/7/361i.md) of this title and subsections (b) and (c) of [section 343 of this title](/usc/7/343.md) to colleges and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 503, chapter 130; [7 U.S.C. 301](/usc/7/301.md) et seq.), during a fiscal year shall be expended for activities that integrate cooperative research and extension (referred to in this subsection as “integrated activities”).
  - (2) **Applicable percentages—**
    - (A) **1997 expenditures on multistate activities—** Of the Federal formula funds that were paid to each [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) for fiscal year 1997 under sections [361a](/usc/7/361a.md) to [361i](/usc/7/361i.md) of this title and subsections (b) and (c) of [section 343 of this title](/usc/7/343.md), the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) of Agriculture shall determine the percentage that the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) expended for integrated activities.
    - (B) **Required expenditures on multistate activities—** Of the Federal formula funds that are paid to each [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) for fiscal year 2000 and each subsequent fiscal year under sections [361a](/usc/7/361a.md) to [361i](/usc/7/361i.md) of this title and subsections (b) and (c) of [section 343 of this title](/usc/7/343.md), the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) shall expend for the fiscal year for integrated activities a percentage that is at least equal to the lesser of—
      - (i) 25 percent; or
      - (ii) twice the percentage for the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) determined under [subparagraph (A)](#i-2-A).
    - (C) **Reduction by Secretary—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) of Agriculture may reduce the minimum percentage required to be expended by a [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) for integrated activities under [subparagraph (B)](#i-2-B) in a case of hardship, infeasibility, or other similar circumstance beyond the control of the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2).
  - (3) **Applicability—** This subsection does not apply to funds provided—
    - (A) by a [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) or local government pursuant to a matching requirement;
    - (B) to a [1994 Institution](/usc/7/7614.md?p=7) (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–382; [7 U.S.C. 301](/usc/7/301.md) note)); or
    - (C) to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or Guam.
  - (4) **Relationship to other requirements—** Federal formula funds described in [paragraph (1)](#i-1) that are used by a [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) for a fiscal year for integrated activities in accordance with [paragraph (2)(B)](#i-2-B) may also be used to satisfy the multistate activities requirements of [subsection (c)(3)](#c-3) of this section and [section 343(h) of this title](/usc/7/343.md?p=h) for the same fiscal year.

## Source credit

(Mar. 2, 1887, ch. 314, § 3, 24 Stat. 441; Aug. 11, 1955, ch. 790, § 1, 69 Stat. 671; Pub. L. 92–318, title V, § 506(l), June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 351; Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1466, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1018; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 1442(a), Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1321; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1618(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3733; Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 869, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1175; Pub. L. 105–185, title I, § 104, title II, §§ 203(a), 204(a), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 529, 533, 535; Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(a) [title VII, § 753(d)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681, 2681–33; Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7213(a), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 448; Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7404(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1246; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7404(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2008; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7612(b)(1), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4832.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Act of July 2, 1862, referred to in subsec. (i)(1), is act July 2, 1862, ch. 130, 12 Stat. 503, popularly known as the “Morrill Act” and also as the “First Morrill Act”, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 301 et seq.) of chapter 13 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 301 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Prior to being amended generally by act Aug. 11, 1955, ch. 790, § 1, 69 Stat. 671, section 3 of act Mar. 2, 1887, which comprises this section, consisted of two sentences. The first sentence was classified to former section 368 of this title. The second sentence was superseded by act Feb. 24, 1925, ch. 308, § 3, 43 Stat. 971, which was classified to former section 366 of this title and was repealed by act Aug. 11, 1955, ch. 790, § 2, 69 Stat. 674.

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7612(b)(1)(A), amended subsec. (h) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (h) related to peer review and plan of work.

Subsec. (i)(2)(D). Pub. L. 115–334, § 7612(b)(1)(B), struck out subpar. (D). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The State shall include in the plan of work of the State required under section 361g of this title or section 344 of this title, as applicable, a description of the manner in which the State will meet the requirements of this paragraph.”

2008—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7404(a)(1), inserted “and the District of Columbia” after “areas” in heading.

Subsec. (d)(4)(A). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7404(a)(2), inserted “and the District of Columbia” after “United States” and after “respectively,”.

Subsec. (d)(4)(B). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7404(a)(3), inserted “or the District of Columbia” after “area”.

2002—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 107–171 added par. (4) and struck out heading and text of former par. (4). Text read as follows: “In lieu of the matching funds requirement of paragraph (1), the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam shall be subject to the same matching funds requirements as those applicable to an eligible institution under section 3222d of this title.”

1998—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105–185, § 104(b)(1), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to subsection (c)(3) of this section.

Subsec. (c)(1), (2). Pub. L. 105–185, § 104(a)(1)(A), redesignated pars. 1 and 2 as (1) and (2), respectively.

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 105–185, § 104(a)(1)(B), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “Not more than 25 per centum shall be allotted to the States for cooperative research in which two or more State agricultural experiment stations are cooperating to solve problems that concern the agriculture of more than one State. The funds available for such purposes, together with funds available pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for like purpose shall be designated as the ‘Regional research fund, State agricultural experiment stations’;”.

Pub. L. 105–185, § 104(a)(1)(A), redesignated par. 3 as (3).

Subsec. (c)(4), (5). Pub. L. 105–185, § 104(a)(1)(A), redesignated par. 5 as (4).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–185, § 203(a), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which read as follows: “Of any amount in excess of $90,000 available under sections 361a to 361i of this title for allotment to any State, exclusive of the regional research fund, State agricultural experiment stations, no allotment and no payments thereof shall be made in excess of the amount which the State makes available out of its own funds for research and for the establishment and maintenance of facilities necessary for the prosecution of such research: And provided further, That if any State fails to make available for such research purposes for any fiscal year a sum equal to the amount in excess of $90,000 to which it may be entitled for such year, the remainder of such amount shall be withheld by the Secretary of Agriculture and reapportioned among the States.”

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 105–277, § 101(a) [title VII, § 753(d)(1)], substituted “Except as provided in paragraph (4), no” for “No”.

Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 105–277, § 101(a) [title VII, § 753(d)(2)], added par. (4).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–185, § 104(b)(2), substituted “subsection (c)(3)” for “subsection (c)3”.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 105–185, § 104(a)(2), added subsec. (h).

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 105–185, § 204(a), added subsec. (i).

1996—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 104–127 struck out “, and shall be used only for such cooperative regional projects as are recommended by a committee of nine persons elected by and representing the directors of the State agricultural experiment stations, and approved by the Secretary of Agriculture. The necessary travel expenses of the committee of nine persons in performance of their duties may be paid from the fund established by this paragraph” before semicolon at end.

1990—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–624 inserted before period at end “and reapportioned among the States”.

1981—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 97–98 added subsec. (g).

1977—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 95–113, § 1466(a), struck out par. (4) which provided that not less than 20 per centum of any sums appropriated pursuant to subsec. (c) for distribution to States be used for conducting marketing research projects approved by the Department of Agriculture.

Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 95–113, § 1466(b), inserted provision authorizing the use of administrative funds for the transportation of scientists who are not officers or employees of the United States to research meetings convened for the purpose of assessing research opportunities or research planning.

1972—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 92–318 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

1955—Act Aug. 11, 1955, amended section generally to authorize appropriations and to provide for allotment of grants. For provisions which related to advice and assistance by the Secretary of Agriculture, see section 361g of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–277 effective June 23, 1998, see section 101(a) [title VII, § 753(f)] of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as a note under section 343 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–98 effective Dec. 22, 1981, see section 1801 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4301 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–113 effective Oct. 1, 1977, see section 1901 of Pub. L. 95–113, set out as a note under section 1307 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1972 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 92–318 effective after June 30, 1970, see section 506(n) of Pub. L. 92–318, set out as an Effective Date note under section 326a of this title.