Agriculture and natural resource programming has the largest share of Extension personnel

The U.S. Cooperative Extension System—which provides nonformal education and advisory services to U.S. farmers, rural and non-rural households, and communities—operates through a system of land-grant colleges and universities in partnership with Federal, State, and local governments. Extension programming varies based on region and customer needs but can be aggregated into broad categories: agriculture and natural resources; family, commu­nity, and economic development; human nutrition, health, and food safety; and youth activities and 4-H program areas. Averaged over 2007–18, about 40 percent of Extension jobs (full-time equivalent) were devoted to agriculture and natural resources nationwide, making this the largest program area. Family, community, and economic development accounted for 24 percent of Extension staff. This program area includes economic development of products, markets, and communities, and it can be complementary to agriculture and natural resource systems programs. Youth and 4-H activities accounted for 18 percent, followed by human nutrition, health, and food safety at 17 percent. This chart uses data from the ERS report Cooperative Extension in Transition: Trends Through 2024, published in September 2026.