By Blake Jackson
A newly signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Council of 1890 University Presidents reinforces federal support for historically Black land-grant universities and highlights their contributions to education, research, and community outreach.
The agreement, signed on March 5, aims to strengthen collaboration with the nation’s 19 institutions created under the Second Morrill Act of 1890, including Kentucky State University.
The partnership is intended to enhance workforce development, institutional capacity, and public engagement through these universities.
The announcement follows the 135th anniversary of the Second Morrill Act, legislation that expanded the land-grant system and ensured access to higher education for Black Americans while establishing a nationwide network focused on teaching, research, and public service.
At Kentucky State University, those principles are reflected in several ongoing initiatives that support communities and agricultural producers throughout the state. Through its Cooperative Extension programs, the university reaches more than 30,000 residents each year and provides technical assistance to over 1,000 small-scale farmers.
The institution has also helped distribute more than $5 million through the Small-Scale Farm Grant Program across 116 of Kentucky’s 120 counties.
One example of direct agricultural support is the university’s hay testing laboratory located at the Barren County Cooperative Extension office.
Opened in May 2025, the facility offers farmers rapid forage analysis and expert interpretation, helping them improve hay quality, marketability, and profitability. In its first eight months, the lab processed nearly 700 samples from more than 120 producers across 26 counties.
“One hundred and thirty-five years after the Second Morrill Act affirmed the importance of institutions like Kentucky State University, this MOU is an important federal recognition of what 1890 land-grant universities have long demonstrated through their work,” said Dr. Koffi C. Akakpo, president of Kentucky State University.
“At Kentucky State, that work takes the form of education that expands opportunity, research that addresses real-world challenges, and Cooperative Extension that delivers practical value across the Commonwealth, by supporting farmers and small producers, preparing students for high-demand careers, and advancing innovation in agriculture, environmental stewardship, and community health.”
The university recently received $1.7 million in Capacity Building Grants from the USDA to expand hands-on student training and provide additional technical support to producers.
“This recognition affirms the importance of the 1890 land-grant model because it is built around results,” said Dr. Marcus Bernard, dean of the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources and director of Land-Grant Programs at Kentucky State University.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Kentucky, Education, Government & Policy