Agricultural Research Service - part of the Department of Agriculture. It conducts research programs, both basic and applied, on all phases of agriculture; and provides grants to support research and other activities at state agricultural experiment stations and land-grant universities. The Agricultural Research Service also provides funding for the Cooperative Extension Service, which promotes "beyond the classroom" education and other program, especially in rural areas, through land grant universities and county extension agents. In addition, the Agricultural Research Service administers grants and other forms of financial aid for higher education in food and agricultural sciences, and in veterinary medicine.