The Smith–Lever Act of 1914 is a

United States federal law The law of the United States comprises many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the nation's Constitution, which prescribes the foundation of the federal government of the United States, as well as ...

that established a system of

cooperative extension service The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) was an extension agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), part of the executive branch of the federal government. The 1994 Department Reorganization Act, ...

s, connected to

land-grant universities A land-grant university (also called land-grant college or land-grant institution) is an institution of higher education in the United States designated by a state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890. Signed by Abraha ...

, intended to inform citizens about current developments in

agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people t ...

home economics Home economics, also called domestic science or family and consumer sciences, is a subject concerning human development, personal and family finances, consumer issues, housing and interior design, nutrition and food preparation, as well as texti ...

, public policy/government, leadership,

4-H 4-H is a U.S.-based network of youth organizations whose mission is "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development". Its name is a reference to the occurrence of the initial letter H four times i ...

, economic development, coastal issues (

National Sea Grant College Program The National Sea Grant College Program is a program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. It is a national network of 34 university-based Sea Grant programs involved in scientific r ...

), and related subjects. The Act helped farmers learn new agricultural techniques by the introduction of home instruction. The budgeting appropriation for cooperative extension is shared between the states based on an established formula. Once the historic amount that has been allocated for "special needs" programs is set aside and an additional 4% is reserved for USDA administrative costs, the remaining funds are allocated: * 20% shared by all States in equal proportions; * 40% shared in the proportion that the rural population of each bears to the total rural population of the several States as determined by the census; * 40% shared in the proportion that the farm population of each bears to the total farm population of the several States as determined by the census. Except for the "1994 Land-grant colleges" for Native Americans, each state must match its Federal cooperative extension funds. In addition, an amount no less than 6% of the total Smith-Lever Act appropriation is allocated for the extension programs of the "1890 Land-grant colleges" (historically black colleges). These funds are also shared between the 1890 colleges by the 20/40/40% formula, with Alabama A&M and Tuskegee University treated as though they were in different states. In 1964, a US stamp was issued honoring homemakers for the 50th anniversary of the Smith–Lever Act.

References

External links

Information about the Act from csrees.usda.gov

Text of the Act
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith-Lever Act Of 1914 1914 in law 1914 in the United States Presidency of Woodrow Wilson Progressive Era in the United States United States federal agriculture legislation United States federal education legislation

See also

References

External links