The Institute was developed as a result of a task force chaired by William Henry Danforth and appointed by then-Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman.

The move was part of a larger uprooting including the Economic Research Service.

The USDA cited the move was an effort to attract talent and lower costs by establishing an operational headquarters.

[8] Due to Congressional concern, the Conducting Oversight to Secure Transparency (COST) of Relocations Act was proposed, but did not become law.

[9] During the Biden administration, NIFA headquarters moved back to Washington, DC, while the Kansas City office was retained.