 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(October 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act to establish agricultural experiment stations in connection with the colleges established in the several States under the provisions of an act approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and of the acts supplementary thereto. |
|---|---|
| Enacted by | the49th United States Congress |
| Effective | March 2, 1887 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | Pub. L. 49–314 |
| Statutes at Large | 24 Stat. 440, Chapter 314 |
| Codification | |
| Titles amended | 7 U.S.C.: Agriculture |
| U.S.C. sections created | 7 U.S.C. ch. 14 § 361a et seq. |
| Legislative history | |
| |
TheHatch Act of 1887 (ch. 314, 24 Stat. 440, enacted 1887-03-02,7 U.S.C. § 361a et seq.) gave federal funds, initially $15,000 each, to state land-grant colleges in order to create a series ofagricultural experiment stations, as well as pass along new information, especially in the areas of soil minerals and plant growth. The bill was named for CongressmanWilliam Hatch, who chaired theHouse Committee of Agriculture at the time the bill was introduced. State agricultural stations created under this act were usually connected with thoseland-grant state colleges and universities founded under theMorrill Act of 1862, with few exceptions.
Many stations founded under the Hatch Act later became the foundations for statecooperative extension services under theSmith–Lever Act of 1914.
Congress amended the act in 1955 to add a formula that uses rural and farm population factors to allocate the annual appropriation foragricultural experiment stations among the states. Under the2002 farm bill (P.L. 107–171, Sec. 7212), states will continue to be required to provide at least 100% matching funds (traditionally, most states have provided more). On average, Hatch Act formula funds constitute 10% of total funding for each experiment station. (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.).
