At the Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension, we work to make Alaskans' lives better. It's that simple. Through programs that bring UAF research and expertise to Alaska citizens, we help families grow food, farmers produce more crops and everyday citizens live healthier lives. Learn more about the work we do.

The Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension is home to UAF's land grant mission including the UAF Agriculture and Forestry Station as well as Cooperative Extension. The Morrill Act of 1862 established land-grant colleges and the federal Hatch Act of 1887 authorized agricultural experiment stations in the U.S. and its territories to provide science-based research information to farmers. There are agricultural experiment stations in each of the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam, and all but one are part of the land-grant college system. UAF's Extension is part of the largest informal education system in the world, connecting Extension programs at land-grant colleges and universities in every U.S. territory and state. Today, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is the USDA division that manages federal funding of the nation’s experiment stations and the extension service.