Mississippi
USDA reinstates 1890 scholarship that helps Mississippi HBCU students study farming, food
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The USDA has reinstated a scholarship program that gives students from underserved communities money to attend HBCUs for specific training, and the time to apply is now.
The 1890 Scholars Program was suspended in February, “pending further review.” The USDA later released a statement saying current recipients “over 300 — regardless of matriculation date, was retained to finish their studies and complete their work with the Department.”
The move was part of a directive by President Donald Trump to freeze, then review federal spending.
Last week, the site for the program was updated to say that the application process is open through March 15.
The program gave $19.2 million to scholarships for 94 students in fiscal year 2024. Per the USDA, it provided “full tuition, fees, books, room and board” to recipients.
Here’s what we know about the 1890 scholarship program.
What does the 1890 National Scholars Program do?
The funds, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), go toward increasing the number of students studying agriculture and related majors, animal science, botany, forestry and more. Nineteen 1890 land grant colleges, all Historically Black Colleges and Universities, are part of the program.
“The scholarship may also include work experience at USDA. The program is a crucial part of USDA’s Next Generation efforts,” the site for the program reads.
Which Mississippi HBCU is in the scholarship program?
Alcorn State University in Lorman is part of the program. It’s the country’s oldest land-grant HBCU.
According to a December news release from the school, a dozen students were selected to be part of the 1890 Scholars Program.
“As an 1890 Scholar, I’ve had an incredibly enriching experience that has provided me with unique opportunities for academic and personal growth,” Vinterrious Hunt said in the news release. “My most rewarding aspect has been the opportunity to network and work with like-minded peers and mentors, as well as obtain a job with USDA Farm Service Agency as a student trainee during school and as a full-time employee after I finish my BS degree. This program has not only enhanced my educational and career experience but also instilled a sense of purpose and confidence in my future endeavors.”
According to the release from Alcorn, students in the program could get the chance to work with several agencies, including:
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
- Agricultural Research Service.
- Farm Service Agency.
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
- Natural Resources Conservation Service.
- Rural Development.
- U.S. Forest Service.
- Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
Which HBCU schools get 1890 scholarships from the USDA?
According to the USDA, these 19 HBCUs are part of the program:
- Alabama A&M University.
- Alcorn State University, Mississippi.
- Central State University, Ohio.
- Delaware State University.
- Florida A&M University.
- Fort Valley State University, Georgia.
- Kentucky State University.
- Langston University, Oklahoma.
- Lincoln University, Missouri.
- North Carolina A&T State University.
- Prairie View A&M University, Texas.
- South Carolina State University.
- Southern University, Louisiana.
- Tennessee State University.
- Tuskegee University, Alabama.
- University of Arkansas Pine Bluff.
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
- Virginia State University.
- West Virginia State University.
How old is the 1890 scholarship program?
The program was created in 1992.
“As we work to build a future agriculture workforce that represents American society, USDA NIFA’s 1890 Scholarships Program is a critical component for success. Since the program was authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, NIFA has invested $92 million to support 3,274 scholarships to help recruit, engage, retain, mentor and train undergraduate students at the 19 1890 Land-grant Universities.”
National Institute of Food and Agriculture Director Dr. Manjit Misra, in an October 2024 news release
When is the deadline to apply for the scholarship?
According to the site, people must submit their applications by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time Saturday, March 15.
Go to the 1890 National Scholars Program site to apply or get more information.
Who could qualify for the 1890 scholarships?
The program is open to high school seniors and rising sophomores and juniors at the college level. The application process was originally slated to be open through March 1.
The funds could be renewed each year, depending on academic performance.
According to the USDA, applicants had to meet the following criteria:
- Be a citizen of the United States.
- Have a 3.0 GPA or better (4.0 scale).
- Have minimum test scores of 21 on the ACT or 1080 on the SAT.
- Be accepted to attend or already be attending an 1890 land-grant university.
- Major in one of the required topics.
- Have a history of leadership, community service.
- Submit an official high school transcript.
- Write two essays on specific topics.
What are the essay questions?
Students have to write two 250-500 word essays for both of these questions, according to the USDA site:
- “How will the USDA 1890 National Scholarship support your career aspirations? If there is a particular mission area within USDA that also supports your career aspirations, please indicate that mission area.
- “What factors have influenced your decision to pursue academic studies in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or a supporting discipline (such as economics, computer science, accounting, etc.)?”
What do you have to study to qualify?
The USDA said scholars must study one of these majors:
- Agriculture.
- Agricultural Business/Management.
- Agricultural Economics.
- Agricultural Engineering/Mechanics.
- Agricultural Production and Technology.
- Agronomy or Crop Science.
- Animal Sciences.
- Botany.
- Food Sciences/Technology.
- Forestry and Related Sciences.
- Home Economics/Nutrition.
- Horticulture.
- Natural Resources Management.
- Soil Conservation/Soil Science.
- Farm and Range Management.
- Other related disciplines, (e.g. non-medical biological sciences, pre-veterinary medicine, computer science).
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) — A George County High School senior is dead after an SUV hit him while bicycling on Highway 26 Friday night.
Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) officials said at 8:15 p.m. the MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 26 in George County.
Those officials said a Ford SUV traveling west on Highway 26 collided with 18-year-old Tyree Bradley of McLain, Mississippi, who was bicycling.
Bradley was fatally injured and died at the scene, MHP officials said.
The crash remains under investigation by the MHP.
See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE.
Copyright 2026 WLOX. All rights reserved.
Some losses feel like they drag on longer than the box score suggests, and Mississippi State’s 3-1 opener at Texas A&M fits that category.
It wasn’t a blowout. It wasn’t a game where the Bulldogs looked outmatched.
It was just one of those nights where the early mistakes stuck around and the offense never quite found the swing that could shake them loose.
The frustrating part is how quickly the hole formed. Two solo homers and a wild pitch in the first two innings put Mississippi State behind 3-0, and that was basically the ballgame.
Against a top tier SEC team on the road, spotting three runs that early is a tough ask. The Bulldogs didn’t fold, but they also didn’t cash in when the door cracked open.
“I liked our fight. I think we’re really just working through some things offensively, and trying to stay together,” Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts said. “This team still believes, and we’re going to battle and fight every chance we get, and I think I saw a lot of that. I’m encouraged for what that means for us moving forward, but, you know, they’re a good hitting team, and we’ve got to be able to shut them down early. I don’t think Peja [Goold] had her best stuff, but she continued to battle out there and find ways to get outs.”
They had chances. Two runners stranded in the fifth. Two more in the sixth. Another in the seventh. Des Rivera finally got the Bulldogs on the board with an RBI single, but the big hit that usually shows up for this lineup never arrived.
It wasn’t a lack of traffic. It was a lack of finish.
If there was a bright spot, it came from the bullpen. Delainey Everett gave Mississippi State exactly what it needed after the rocky start.
“That was just a huge relief appearance by Delaney to keep us in it,” Ricketts said. “It’s really good to have her back and healthy these last few weeks because these are the moments where we really need her and rely on her. We know that she’s going to be a big part of the remainder of the season going forward as well.”
Three hitless innings, one baserunner, and a reminder that she’s quietly putting together a strong stretch.
There were individual positives too. Nadia Barbary keeps climbing the doubles list. Kiarra Sells keeps finding ways on base.
But the bigger picture is simple. Mississippi State is now 6-10 in the SEC, and the margin for error is shrinking. Nights like this one are the difference between climbing back into the race and staying stuck in the middle.
They get another shot this morning with the schedule bumped up for weather. The formula isn’t complicated.
Clean up the early innings, keep getting quality relief, and find one or two timely swings. The Bulldogs didn’t get them Friday. They’ll need them today.
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Mississippi
Mississippi farmers struggle through years without profit as war with Iran deepens crisis
YAZOO COUNTY, Miss. — Mississippi Delta farmers are facing another expensive planting season as fertilizer and fuel costs continue to climb.
Farmers in Yazoo and Sharkey counties, Clay Adcock and Jeffrey Mitchell, said it has been years since their crops turned a real profit.
“I guess it would be since 2022,” Adcock said.
“Last 2.5 to three years since we had a very profitable year,” Mitchell said.
Rising input costs squeeze farmers
Adcock said he was paying $300 per ton of fertilizer before the war with Iran broke out. He is now paying double for the same amount. Mitchell saw similar spikes.
“Fertilizer was up 25% before the Iranian conflict already,” Mitchell said. “Then since that started Diesel fuel is up 40% in the last six months.”
Survey and research from the American Farm Bureau show they are not the only ones feeling the pinch.
“We’ve got trouble with the farming community,” Adcock said. “And you can see that with the bankruptcies that are there and no young farmers that can afford the capital to get started.”
Mitchell said today’s farmers face a shrinking industry of suppliers. 75% of all fertilizer in the U.S. comes from four companies: Yara USA, CF Industries, Nutrien and Koch Industries.
“With the world market on fertilizer, pretty much everyone has the same price,” Mitchell said. “It’s not like you can go to store B, get a better price.”
forces
Oil and natural gas cut off in the Strait of Hormuz forces energy companies worldwide to compete for less supply. The spike in costs passes on to fertilizer producers, who pass higher prices on to distributors, leaving family farms at the end of the line with the most expensive bills.
“They deliver it to us and we’re at their mercy,” Adcock said.
Adcock said he would like to see more regulation to even the playing field among fertilizer companies and prevent potential price gouging.
“There should be guiderails in place to keep fertilizer producers within a range and if they get out of that range it throws up red flags as they do in the SEC with stocks,” Adcock said. “Have some consistency in our business.”
Mitchell said the costs will circle back to consumers at the store. The spike in diesel also increases the cost of transporting finished crops after harvest to stores.
“Everything will be higher once it gets to Kroger or Wal-Mart or wherever,” Mitchell said. “They’ll just pass it onto consumers.”
It is too early to tell what the final prices will look like once harvest season is over. Each farmer said one way consumers can help is to buy as much produce as possible directly from farmers at markets and buy American items.
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