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The Hatch Act of 1887 is the federal statute that funds agricultural research at State Agricultural Experiment Stations. It is not the separate Hatch Act provisions on political participation by federal employees (5 U.S.C. 7321 and following). This guide explains how the 1887 law’s funding works: who receives the money, what share must go to cooperative research, how state matching is enforced, what the money may be spent on, and which reports keep an award in good standing. Everything here is as described on the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) program page and in the U.S. Code, checked on 2026-10-29.
What the Hatch Act of 1887 is and who runs it
NIFA, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, describes the Hatch Act funds as supporting agricultural research programs at State Agricultural Experiment Stations. The program covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. insular areas. NIFA lists the research it supports as spanning soil and water, plant and animal health, food safety, forestry, aquaculture, human nutrition and biotechnology, and says the work may address problems of local, state, regional or national concern.
The statute itself is codified at 7 U.S.C. 361a to 361i. Section 361a states the policy of Congress to continue the agricultural research at State agricultural experiment stations. Appropriations under section 361c are stated as such sums as Congress may from time to time determine to be necessary, so the amount available changes with each appropriation rather than being fixed in the law.
Eligibility: which institutions receive funds
Under 7 U.S.C. 361a, a State agricultural experiment station is a department established under the direction of a college or university, using the land-grant arrangement or an equivalent arrangement that the state chooses. Funds therefore flow to those state-designated stations, not to individual investigators. The NIFA page does not describe an eligibility test beyond this structure.
For the broader land-grant picture, see the CASRAI guides on the Morrill Act and the Smith-Lever Act, which cover the college and cooperative extension statutes that sit alongside the Hatch Act.
What the statute funds and requires
Funding rules in 7 U.S.C. 361c
- Cooperative research floor. Of any sums Congress makes available beyond the base allotments, section 361c(c)(3) provides that not less than 25 percent be allotted to the States for multidisciplinary cooperative research in which a station works with another station, the Agricultural Research Service or a college or university on problems that concern more than one State. Together with the base allotment funds used for a similar purpose, this is designated the Multistate Research Fund.
- Federal administration. Section 361c(c)(4) makes 3 percent of those additional sums available to the Secretary of Agriculture for administration, and allows that money to pay travel for non-federal scientists attending research planning meetings.
- State matching. Section 361c(d)(1) provides that no allotment or payment to a state may exceed the non-Federal funds the state makes available for agricultural research and for establishing and maintaining research facilities. If a state falls short, the Secretary withholds the shortfall (d)(2) and reapportions it to states that comply (d)(3).
- Territories and the District. Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia must match at least 50 percent, though the Secretary may waive that requirement (d)(4).
- Integrated research and extension. Section 361c(i)(2)(B) requires each state to spend on integrated research and extension activities a percentage at least equal to the lesser of 25 percent or twice its 1997 percentage, and subparagraph (C) lets the Secretary reduce that minimum in cases of hardship or infeasibility.
The matching rule is the practical constraint: a station’s federal allotment is capped by the state’s own non-federal research spending. See the CASRAI entry on mandatory cost share for how that concept is defined across federal awards.
Allowable uses under 7 U.S.C. 361d
Section 361d lists what the funds may cover. It includes printing and disseminating research results; retirement of employees; administrative planning and direction; the purchase or rental of land and the construction, acquisition, alteration or repair of buildings needed for research; and the costs of planning and coordinating cooperative research under section 361b. The inclusion of land and buildings is unusual among research funding sources and is worth noting when planning a station’s capital needs.
Compliance and reporting steps
NIFA’s page describes a reporting regime rather than a competitive application. Stations keep the award in good standing through programmatic and financial reports:
- Plan of Work. Submit the AREERA Plan of Work through the NIFA Reporting System (NRS).
- Annual Report of Accomplishments. Also submitted through NRS, describing what the program achieved.
- Annual SF-425. Under 2 CFR 200.238, the Federal Financial Report is due annually within 90 calendar days after the reporting period.
- Final SF-425. Due within 120 calendar days after the period of performance ends.
- Submission channel. Financial reports go through the ezFedGrants (eFG) Portal.
For the post-award rules that surround these filings, see the CASRAI entries on 2 CFR 200 Subpart D and closeout costs under 2 CFR 200.344.
Typical timeline phases
| Phase | What happens |
|---|---|
| Planning | The station files its Plan of Work in NRS. |
| Performance | Research proceeds within the allowable uses of 7 U.S.C. 361d, with the state meeting its non-federal match. |
| Annual reporting | An Annual Report of Accomplishments in NRS, and an SF-425 within 90 calendar days after the reporting period. |
| Closeout | A final SF-425 within 120 calendar days after the period of performance ends. |
Only the two day counts above are stated in the sources; specific calendar dates for plans and reports are set by NIFA and are not given on the program page.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the 1887 law with the political-participation Hatch Act. The latter concerns federal employees’ political activity and has no bearing on research funding.
- Treating state match as optional. Section 361c(d) caps the allotment at the non-federal funds the state provides and withholds any shortfall.
- Looking for an application. The NIFA page describes plans of work and reports, not a competitive proposal process.
- Mixing up the two SF-425 deadlines. The annual report is due within 90 days of the reporting period; the final report is due within 120 days after the period of performance ends.
- Assuming facilities are excluded. Section 361d expressly allows land and building costs needed for research.
Related programs
| Program | Where to read more |
|---|---|
| Morrill Act | CASRAI guide: Morrill Act |
| Smith-Lever Act | CASRAI guide: Smith-Lever Act |
| USDA NIFA AFRI | CASRAI guide: USDA NIFA AFRI program areas and how to submit |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hatch Act of 1887 the same as the Hatch Act about political activity?
No. The 1887 act funds agricultural research at State Agricultural Experiment Stations. The other Hatch Act provisions (5 U.S.C. 7321 and following, titled Political participation) are a separate law about political activity by federal employees.
Who receives Hatch Act of 1887 funds?
State Agricultural Experiment Stations in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. insular areas, as described by NIFA. Under 7 U.S.C. 361a, a station is a department under the direction of a college or university.
Do states have to match Hatch funds?
Yes. Under 7 U.S.C. 361c(d), a state’s allotment may not exceed the non-federal funds it makes available for agricultural research, and Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia must match at least 50 percent unless the Secretary waives it.
Can Hatch funds pay for buildings?
Yes, within limits. Section 361d allows the purchase or rental of land and the construction, acquisition, alteration or repair of buildings needed for research.
Sources
- USDA NIFA, The Hatch Act of 1887: nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/capacity-grants/hatch-act-1887 (checked 2026-10-29; page shows last updated March 30, 2026)
- 7 U.S.C. 361a, Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/7/361a (checked 2026-10-29)
- 7 U.S.C. 361c, Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/7/361c (checked 2026-10-29)
- 7 U.S.C. 361d, Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/7/361d (checked 2026-10-29)
- 5 U.S.C. 7321, Political participation, Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/7321 (checked 2026-10-29)
