Cooperative Extension is a State-led activity carried out by land-grant universities and colleges with funding contributions from Federal, State, and county governments and non-government sources. The total funding for Cooperative Extension is estimated to be relatively stable since the 1970s; however, the role of the USDA funding has declined. USDA funding support for Cooperative Extension peaked in the 1970s and has since fallen by about 60 percent. The Federal share of total funding for Cooperative Extension declined from about 40 percent in the 1970s to about 20 percent by 2024. Land-grant universities have diversified their funding sources, obtaining a larger share of Extension funding from State and county governments, non-governmental projects, and user fees. Although land-grant universities may no longer report the full extent of their Extension programs to the USDA, it appears that nationwide, full-time equivalent (FTE) Extension staff may have fallen by 26 percent between 1979 and 2024. Extension activity has become more diversified, though program areas differ among regions.
