IANR Research Funding Hits Record $71 Million

University of Nebraska-Lincoln's agricultural research institute secured its highest-ever annual sponsored funding in fiscal year 2022.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Agriculture

Bold flat-color vector editorial illustration of a lone galvanized grain bin on open prairie with receding rows of young corn, evoking agricultural research growth. — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources secured nearly $71 million in sponsored research funding in fiscal year 2022, a record, led by USDA awards. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) received nearly $71 million in externally sponsored research funding for the fiscal year running from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. The total exceeded the previous record of $63.9 million set in 2021 by nearly 11%.

Why it matters

The rise reflects sustained growth in sponsored research, with annual funding increasing by an average of 6% since 2013. Institute leaders attribute the gains to faculty, post-docs, students, and staff, and say the upward trend is helping IANR fulfill its land-grant mission.

The $71 million total covers 511 sponsored awards, including 14 of $1 million or more, and rose nearly 11% over the prior record of $63.9 million in 2021. Federal agencies sponsored about 81% of 2022 external awards, with industry partners providing about 8%.

The players

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR)

The land-grant agricultural research and education unit of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which conducts research across agriculture, food, and natural resources in Nebraska.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The federal department that was the top single funding source for IANR's 2022 federal awards, contributing about 45% of them.

The details

Researchers across all IANR disciplines received funding for a wide range of projects. The USDA was the top single funding agency, contributing about 45% of federal awards, while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Energy, and National Science Foundation were other leading sources. One example is a $770,000 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture award to develop an African swine fever vaccine.

- Fiscal year 2022 ran from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.
- The prior record of $63.9 million was set in 2021.
- Average annual funding growth of 6% has been recorded since 2013.

Market Landscape

The growth in federally sponsored agricultural research reflects the land-grant framework created by the Morrill Act of 1862, under which public universities such as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln receive research support tied to agriculture. Federal sponsors accounted for roughly 81% of IANR's 2022 external awards, underscoring how central federal funding remains to university agricultural research.

For Nebraska farmers and ranchers, sustained university research funding can translate into new tools and practices developed through IANR programs. The growing share of federal and USDA support also means that changes in federal agricultural research priorities can directly shape which projects receive funding.

The takeaway

Sustained growth in sponsored research suggests that university agricultural programs are increasingly dependent on external funding, which makes diversified sponsorship an important factor in how research priorities are set.