FAQs

Federal (Hatch) and state funds for research projects are used to support salaries for scientists and their support staff (technicians, graduate research assistants, scientists, etc.), and are budgeted from the Experiment Station in proportion to their research appointment. Experiment Station funds expand Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) capacity to conduct needed research (Hatch funds are commonly called 'capacity funds'). Because funds are from both state and federal sources, a federal reporting system has been developed to account for all Experiment Station expenditures.

All research sponsored by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) must be entered into the NIFA Reporting System (NRS). NRS stores the project description and is where Project Directors (PD) enter and submit annual progress reports.  These reports are used to prepare University reports and are frequently accessed by legislative staff and by scientists in related fields.

A Hatch Project is a "plan of work" for Ag Experiment Station (AES) faculty and serves as an umbrella for all research activities of AES faculty members. The funding sources (i.e., federal Hatch/Multistate funds and the required state matching dollars) require AES faculty to 'be on a project' in the form of a Hatch project.

Projects provide a means to ensure that the proposed research aligns with identified critical issues and a means to report progress on research conducted at AES facilities. 

Contact AES Director of Reporting and Communication, Claire Montoya, with the type of program you would like to join: Hatch, Hatch multistate, Animal Health, or McIntire-Stennis. It's always best to start the process earlier than later, it can take between 2 and 8 weeks before NIFA approves the project and research can begin.

A Hatch Project is not official, and research may not begin until NIFA approves it. 

Hatch Projects are active for up to five years. The PD of the project takes the lead to ensure the project is active. If you are unsure, contact Claire Montoya.

Once a project has been approved by NIFA, you have entered into essentially a contract between yourself and NIFA.  You agree to perform research on the topic in the proposal and report results annually.  Future NIFA grants may not be awarded if you are a PD or co-PD on a project that has a delinquent report.

Competitive grants require annual progress reports with a final report of the last year of the grant.  These are located in REEport. Hatch, Hatch multistate, McIntire-Stennis, and Animal Health projects require an annual report in NRS.  The last year of the project should include highlights from previous annual reports, all wrapped up in one larger report. Contact Claire Montoya if you are not sure. 

Hatch/Multistate, McIntire-Stennis, and Animal Health Projects are generally due around December 15.  These reports cover the federal fiscal year starting on October 1 of the previous year and ending on September 30 of the current year, e.g., 10/1/2022 - 9/30/2023. NIFA competitive grants are due within 60 days before to 90 days after the anniversary/termination date.

Future NIFA grants may not be awarded; internal funding opportunities and multistate travel funds all look at the current project report status. If you are a PD or co-PD on a project that has a delinquent report these opportunities may not be available to you.

Where do I direct additional questions?

Capacity/Hatch Projects:

Claire Montoya (ccortner@nmsu.ed), AES Director of Reporting and Communication

Multi-State Projects:

Lara Prihodko (prihodko@nmsu.edu), AES Associate Director