Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension is a unique partnership established by Congress in 1914. It is a national educational network designed to meet the need for research, knowledge and educational programs that enable people to make practical decisions.

This publicly funded, non-formal collaborative educational network combines the expertise and resources of federal, state, and local governments. It includes the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the 106 land-grant universities (in every state and territory) and more than 3,000 county/city offices.

Through the local/county and state offices, staff provide research-based information, nonformal educational programs and technical advice directly to individuals, families and communities that enable them to be self reliant and improve their lives. Historically, these efforts have been described in various ways - as major projects, programs, areas, or core programs.

Some current major programs include:

• Agriculture
• Community Resource and Economic Development
• Family Development and Resource Management
• 4-H Youth Development
• Leadership and Volunteer Development
• Natural Resources and Environmental Management
• Nutrition, Diet and Health

In addition, Cooperative Extension provides leadership in areas of critical concern for the people of the United States. These programs bring the resources of Cooperative Extension together to provide information, research, education and assistance to families and communities. Such critical issues have included Managing Change in Agriculture; Food Safety and Quality; Workforce Preparation; Healthy People, Healthy Communities; and Child Care.

Learn more about Cooperative Extension at the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) Web site.