Agricultural Experiment Stations and Branch Stations in the United States

Abstract

In 1887, Congress passed the Hatch Act, which formally established and provided a funding mechanism for agricultural experiment stations in each state and territory in the United States. The main purpose of agricultural experiment stations is to conduct agricultural research to meet the needs of the citizens of the United States. The objective of our article is to inform the public and policymakers of the extensive and powerful agricultural research capacity found in agricultural experiment stations around the country. A map was created and is online at http://www.colostate.edu/programs/wcrc/US_Map; the map shows each state’s agricultural experiment station and their branch stations. The map provides a visual presentation of this powerful agricultural research system that permeates the entire country. Agricultural experiment stations have branch stations that are located in each state at locations where they can best serve local needs. More than 600 main experiment stations and branch stations are currently operating in the United States. These main agricultural experiment stations and branch stations have become one of the greatest research networks in history. They are a valuable national resource given the research, outreach, and technological contributions that have been developed at them since the late 1800s.