About the Cooperative Extension System

A Nationwide Network

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is part of the Cooperative Extension System, a publicly funded educational network. This network is composed of the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 74 land-grant institutions, and 3,150 counties.

Nationwide, Extension includes 32,000 employees and 2.8 million volunteers. This partnership of federal, state and local governments was authorized to bring educational resources from universities to local communities by the passage of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914. Funding for Extension programs is provided through the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 and subsequent amendments, state appropriations, county support, and outside grants and contracts.

• Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results (PDF or Word document)
• Message from the Director of UMaine Cooperative Extension
• UMaine Cooperative Extension Administrative Staff and Services

Additional Resources:

• United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service