Hatch Act of 1887

– **Overview of the Hatch Act of 1887**
– Established agricultural experiment stations
– Provided federal funds to state land-grant colleges
– Initial funding was $15,000 each
– Focus on soil minerals and plant growth research
– Named after Congressman William Hatch

– **Impact of the Hatch Act**
– Created foundations for state cooperative extension services
– Many stations linked to land-grant state colleges
– Supported research in agriculture
– Led to advancements in agricultural practices
– Contributed to the dissemination of new information

– **Amendments to the Hatch Act**
– 1955 amendment added formula for fund allocation
– Formula considers rural and farm population factors
– States required to provide at least 100% matching funds
– Hatch Act funds constitute 10% of total funding for each station
– Continues to support agricultural experiment stations

– **Related Legislation**
– Adams Act of 1906
– Purnell Act of 1925
– Bankhead–Jones Act of 1935
– Acts that complement the Hatch Act
– Contributed to the development of agricultural research

– **External Resources**
– Hatch Act of 1887 as amended (PDF/details) in the GPO Statute Compilations collection
– National Institute of Food and Agriculture
– Impacts of the Hatch Act on the Science of Plant Pathology
– Abridged List of Federal Laws Applicable to Agriculture
– Resources for further understanding and research