McIntire-Stennis Act Law and Legal Definition
The McIntire-Stennis Act is a U.S. federal legislation enacted in 1962 that makes provision to provide funds for the purposes of state agricultural research. The Act encourages and assists the several States in carrying on a program of forestry research, and aids state agricultural experiment stations and forestry schools and programs at the land grant colleges of agriculture in conducting forestry research. The provisions of the act are found under 16 USCS 582a, et seq.
Areas covered by the research include: reforestation, woodlands and related watershed management, outdoor recreation, wildlife habitats and wood utilization. Scientists at the laboratories of the United States Forest Service participate in many agricultural research programs organized by states.
The Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to cooperate with the several States for the purpose of encouraging and assisting them in carrying out programs of forestry research. Such assistance shall be in accordance with plans to be agreed upon in advance by the Secretary and (a) land-grant colleges or agricultural experiment stations established under the Morrill Act of July 2, 1862, as amended, and the Hatch Act of March 2, 1887 (24 Stat. 440), as amended, and (b) other State-supported colleges and universities offering graduate training in the sciences basic to forestry and having a forestry school. The Act also provides that an appropriate State representative designated by the State's Governor must, in any agreement drawn up with the Secretary of Agriculture for the purposes of this Act, certify those eligible institutions of the State which will qualify for assistance and must determine the proportionate amounts of assistance to be extended to these certified institutions.
