Overview
Hatch formula grants support a wide range of research focused on establishment/maintenance of a permanent and effective agricultural industry in the United States, in accordance with the Hatch Act and USDA-NIFA goal statements- https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/ree-action-plan
Award Information
In general, Hatch funds support graduate student training and a small supply budget, with most individual awards ranging from $45,000 to $50,000/yr. Alternative staffing requests will be considered, although requests for larger total amounts of funding will require proportionately stronger justification. Principal Investigators should address these issues under the Justification section.
Please be aware that if your proposal is approved for funding, this approval does not necessarily approve the budget as requested. Funding levels are approved a few months prior to the start of the project. Funding approvals are contingent on funding availability and allowability on Capacity Grants. Requested items/funding categories are subject to disallowance. See our Formula Grant FAQs and Formula Grant Policies pages for additional information.
Eligibility
Hatch funding is open to faculty members in CALS (with at least a 25% appt) and SOHE. Faculty from other colleges and universities may serve as collaborators on a project, however, it should be demonstrated the needed expertise does not exist within CALS and SOHE. For such collaborations, appropriate matching commitment of resources is required.
Investigators may submit proposals for an individual investigator Hatch grant and a multiple investigator interdisciplinary Hatch grant. Investigators may not serve as Principal Investigator on more than one individual project.
Selection Criteria
Each proposal is judged on appropriateness of proposed research for formula funding, quality of the science, and likelihood of successful achievement of those goals.
Interdisciplinary proposals with multiple investigators will be considered in the open competition with the following considerations:
- High quality of research work proposed
- Feasibility of the PI’s proposal for obtaining future extramural funding. It is expected that the PI will leverage research products from Hatch support to see future extramural funding.
- Special emphasis on problem solving for Wisconsin or item on the Wisconsin priority list (see RFP)
- Realistic budgets (although these may be larger than individual investigator projects)
- Proposals should specify separate budgets for each investigator, with explicit division of work to be done by each team member. A composite budget should also be entered on the budget form.
- Evidence the interdisciplinary team has worked together on the proposal. Include a section detailing how the team will function, and mechanisms for joint coordination.
- Plans to link the research to extension, outreach, or teaching activities should be clearly indicated.
- Demonstration of productivity from past and present capacity funding for all collaborators.
Authorizing Legislation
Hatch Act
Act of March 2, 1887, Ch.314, 24 Stat. 440 7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.
As amended August 11, 1955, ch. 790, 68 Stat. 671
Excerpt from Section 2
“It shall be the object and duty of the State agricultural experiment stations through the expenditure of the appropriations hereinafter authorized to conduct original and other researches, investigations, and experiments bearing directly on and contributing to the establishment and maintenance of a permanent and effective agricultural industry of the United States, including researches basic to the problems of agriculture in its broadest aspects, and such investigations as have for their purpose the development and improvement of the rural home and rural life and the maximum contribution by agriculture to the welfare of the consumer, as may be deemed advisable, having due regard to the varying conditions and needs of the respective States.”