USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture - Four Funding Opportunities
Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage System Program
Link to Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage System Program Website
ASAFS will support the development of improved alfalfa seed and forage production systems, practices, and supporting technologies. NIFA is soliciting applications for FY 2026 under the following areas:
- Increasing alfalfa forage and seed yields and forage quality through improved management practices, plant breeding, and other strategies to reduce biotic and abiotic stresses and costs of production.
- Improving alfalfa forage and seed harvest and storage systems, including mechanization and automation that reduces labor costs, to optimize economic returns to alfalfa producers as well as end-users including milk producers.
- Developing methods to estimate alfalfa forage yield and quality to support marketing as a livestock feed and instruments to reduce producer risks.
- Exploring new uses for alfalfa such as fish feeds, nutritive supplements, alternative protein sources for human consumption, high-value chemical manufacturing, or other novel uses.
- Developing improved insect, disease and weed management strategies, including spotted aphid, in alfalfa seed production and potential herbicide carry-over issues.
Submission Due Date: June 12, 2026
Maximum Request Amount: $300,000 per year
Match: required, but may be waived if conditions are met
Methyl Bromide Transition Program
Link to Methyl Bromide Transition Program Website
The primary goal and objective of the Methyl Bromide Transition program is to support the discovery and implementation of practical pest management alternatives to methyl bromide. The MBT program seeks to solve pest problems in key agricultural production and post-harvest management systems, processing facilities, and transport systems for which methyl bromide has been withdrawn or withdrawal is imminent.
Submission Due Date: June 29, 2026
Maximum Request Amount: $500,000
Match: required, but may be waived if conditions are met
AgrAbility - Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities
Link to AgrAbility Program Website
The AgrAbility program works to increase the likelihood that individuals with disabilities, including veterans, and their families engaged in the agricultural enterprise, will become more successful. Program priorities emphasize cooperative, demonstration‑based State and Regional AgrAbility Projects (SRAPs) that deliver direct education, consultation, and assistive technology services in partnership with nonprofit disability service organizations, as well as a single National AgrAbility Project (NAP) that provides technical assistance, training, and information dissemination to strengthen the national AgrAbility network. Funded projects are expected to focus on individualized assessments, assistive technology and ergonomic interventions, farm safety and injury prevention, workforce participation, and outreach to medically underserved rural populations, while aligning with USDA research and extension priorities related to farm profitability, innovation, and agricultural workforce sustainability.
Submission Due Date: June 23, 2026
Maximum State Award Amount: $180,000 per year
Maximum Regional Award Amount: $200,000 per year
Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative
Link to Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative Website
NIFA’s Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative (AG2PI) focuses on collaborative science that builds a community of researchers across both crops and animals that will expand knowledge concerning genomes and phenomes of importance to U.S agriculture. Two funding solicitations are available. One for Research projects and a second for Workshop proposals.
The purpose of the research initiative is to:
- Study agriculturally significant crops and animals in production environments to achieve long-term, secure agricultural production.
- Ensure that gaps in knowledge of agricultural crop and animal genetics and phenomics are filled.
- Identify and develop an understanding of relevant genes from animals and agronomically relevant genes from crops important to U.S. agriculture.
- Ensure genetic improvement of crops and animals important to U.S. agriculture.
- Study the relevance of diverse germplasm as a source of unique genes that may be important in the future.
- Enhance genetics to reduce the economic impact of pathogens on crops and animals important to U.S. agriculture.
- Provide a foundation for collaborative science across disciplines that benefits agricultural crop and animal production.
Submission Due Date: June 29, 2026
CA Natural Resources Agency
Urban Greening 2026
Link to Urban Greening Solicitation
Urban Greening Grant Program funds projects that use nature-based solutions to mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts in urban areas.
Concept Proposals Due Date: June 4.
Maximum Request Amount: $5,000,000