Howdy,

As summer continues and we begin looking toward fall, we take great pride in the remarkable progress and achievements of Texas A&M AgriLife Research since March. 

The past few months have brought challenges and opportunities, and our community of faculty, staff, students, and collaborators have risen to the occasion with innovation, commitment, and resilience. We recognize that you might continue to feel concerned about the future of funding opportunities; we are actively monitoring the situation and are here to support you.

Legislative update

The Texas legislative session has ended, and we were fortunate to retain the gains that we received from our previous legislative session, which have been added to our base funding. This ensures that we maintain our statewide mandated increase in base salaries and can continue investing in capital infrastructure, lab equipment, and field equipment. 

In addition, we are committed to enhancing opportunities for our next generation by supporting graduate students, post-doctoral associates and research residents. While we received much support for our initiative ‘Intelligent Agricultural Systems,’ we did not receive increased funding, so we will enhance our efforts in this space for the next biennium.

Strengthening internal and external collaboration 

Strong partnerships continue to be a primary focus of AgriLife Research. New alliances with industry leaders, academic institutions, and governmental agencies are more important than ever as we broaden our research scope and impact. These collaborations bring fresh perspective and new expertise to accelerate the development and application of solutions to agriculture’s most pressing challenges.

As we look forward to the coming months, AgriLife Research remains committed to addressing the evolving needs of Texas agriculture and beyond. Our innovations, discoveries, and connections are a testament to our dedication and vision. Please explore the highlights below, where each story reflects our ongoing pursuit of excellence, sustainability, and service to our communities. 

Thank you for being a valued part of our journey.

Gig ‘em!

Multiple construction projects have been initiated by AgriLife Research and are at various stages of the construction process: 

• The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Amarillo relocation project remains on schedule to be completed by fall of 2025.
• The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Vernon and Foundation Seed Complex are being rebuilt following the damage from a tornado. This complex is scheduled to be completed in summer 2025, with a ribbon cutting planned for Oct. 28. 
• The Meat Science and Technology Center project at Texas A&M RELLIS is in design, with an anticipated completion date of Spring of 2028.
• The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas greenhouse project will initiate design late this summer. 
• The AgriTech Innovation Hub at the AgriLife Research McGregor Station will initiate design late this summer. 
• The Texas A&M University System has initiated the design process for a new research building in Ft. Worth. This project is expected to be completed by 2028. AgriLife Research continues its work to enhance research opportunities as the project grows.
• Approval to initiate design of the AgriLife Research building on the McAllen campus will be presented to the TAMUS Board of Regents in August for consideration.
• Texas A&M University has approved the initiation of a plan by the Department of Poultry Science for a new research and teaching facility.