- Author: Kendra T Rose
Dear Colleagues,
USDA NIFA is soliciting pre-proposals for the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program (ECDRE) for projects that support the fight against Huanglongbing (HLB) and its disease complex.
The proposals must address one or more of the following priority needs.
- Development of commercial citrus varieties with genetic resistance or tolerance to HLB using traditional breeding techniques and/or gene editing.
- Regional management or eradication of ACP on commercial citrus groves and residential plantings.
- Optimized detection and surveillance programs for ACP and/or HLB.
- A cure for HLB-infected trees and strategies for maintaining their productivity.
- A delivery system for therapeutics, nutrition and other HLB solutions.
- Consolidation of screening efforts for intervention targets and reduction of candidate lists to include only those most worthy of advanced testing and commercialization
- A reliable technique for culturing CLas bacteria.
- A better understanding of the HLB/vector/citrus pathosystem, including phloem biology, the movement of CLas and therapy into and through phloem, and the interaction of host, pathogen, and vector.
- Greater understanding of the ecology and interactions of the citrus production system and the citrus greening disease complex (HLB and ACP).
The ECDRE program supports two types of projects: Standard Projects (SPs) and Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAPs). SPs supports projects that are narrower in scope while CAPs supports national-scale projects that require multi-state/ multi-institutional teams.
Standard Projects (SPs)
Period: Up to 3 years
Budget: Maximum $1,500,000
Aims:
- farm-level implementation or commercialization of proven solutions
- examination of innovative ideas that will address one of the goals identified by the Citrus Disease Subcommittee.
Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAPs)
Period: Up to 5 years
Budget: Maximum $15,000,000
Aims:
- Consolidation of screening efforts for intervention targets and reduction of candidate lists to include only those most worthy of advanced testing and commercialization.
- A cure for infected trees and strategies for maintaining their productivity.
- Regional management or eradication of ACP on commercial citrus groves and residential plantings
- Optimized detection and surveillance programs for ACP and/or HLB
- Development of commercial citrus varieties (rootstocks and scions) with genetic resistance to HLB using traditional breeding techniques and/or gene editing.
Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their applications package including a Stakeholder Relevance Statement (SRS) via the grants.gov portal by the due date. Shortlisted applications will be invited to submit full applications at a later date. For more information, please visit the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program website at https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/emergency-citrus-disease-research-extension-program-pre-applications?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=.
Pre-Applications Due: March 28, 2024 at 2PM
Required Match: matching funds are not required.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kendra Rose
Dear Colleagues,
USDA NIFA is soliciting proposals for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. The primary goal of BFRDP is to help beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States and its territories enter and/or improve their successes in farming, ranching, and management of non-industrial private forest lands, through support for projects that provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to give beginning farmers and ranchers the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make informed decisions for their operations and enhance their sustainability. (The term “farmer” is used in the broadest sense and may be interpreted to include agricultural farmers, ranchers, and non-industrial private forest owners and managers.)
Priority Areas:
- Basic livestock, forest management, and crop farming practices;
- Innovative farm, ranch, and private, nonindustrial forest land transfer and succession strategies;
- Entrepreneurship and business training;
- Technical assistance to help beginning farmers or ranchers acquire land from retiring farmers and ranchers;
- Financial and risk management training, including the acquisition and management of agricultural credit;
- Natural resource management and planning;
- Diversification and marketing strategies;
- Curriculum development;
- Mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships;
- Resources and referral;
- Farm financial benchmarking;
- Agricultural rehabilitation and vocational training for veteran farmers and ranchers;
- Farm safety and awareness;
- Food safety and record keeping; and
- Other similar subject areas of use to beginning farmers or ranchers such as: projects that address climate change with climate smart agriculture, food, and forestry solutions; improved nutritional security; and economic revitalization, particularly in socially disadvantaged communities.
Visit the program web page at https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/beginning-farmer-rancher-development-program-bfrdp for more information.
Applications Due: April 4, 2024 at 2PM
Maximum Grant Amount: 1) Large Standard: No more than $250,000 per year for three years, for a maximum of $750,000; 2) Medium Standard: No more than $175,000 per year for three years, for a maximum of $525,000; 3) Small Standard: No more than $100,000 per year for three years, for a maximum of $300,000; and 4) Simplified Standard: No more than $49,999 for one year.
Required Match: 1:4 match required; may be waived if criteria is met by serving an underserved area or population
Eligibility: Please read eligibility section for details.Multiple awards will not be made to the same organization, institution, or Project Director in the same calendar year. Project Directors, and Co-Project Directors on current BFRDP projects are ineligible to apply for another BFRDP grant. Further, organizations and institutions that have received a standard or education team grant in the last two funding cycles (FY 2022 or FY 2023) are ineligible to apply.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kendra Rose
Dear Colleagues,
USDA NIFA is soliciting proposals for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program - Foundational and Applied Science Program.
AFRI is America's flagship competitive grants program that provides funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension projects in the food and agricultural sciences. The purpose of this program is to support research, education, and extension projects that address key problems of local, regional, national, and global importance in sustaining conventional, organic, urban food, and agricultural and natural systems. The goal of this program is to invest in agricultural production research, education, and extension projects for more sustainable, productive, and economically-viable plant and animal production systems.
There are six AFRI priority areas which will be funded through the Foundational and Applied Science Program for 2024. In 2024, the priority areas for AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program are:
- Plant health and production and plant products (PHPP);
- Animal health and production and animal products (AHAP);
- Food safety, nutrition, and health (FSNH);
- Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment (BNRE);
- Agriculture systems and technology (AST);
- Agriculture economics and rural communities (AERC)
The amount of funding available varies depending on the priority area and sub area. Please see the RFA for specific details https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-12/FY24-AFRI-FAS-RFA-P_0.pdf.
The deadlines under this RFA are summarized as follows:
Plant health and production and plant products (PHPP)
PHPPP a. Foundational Knowledge of Agricultural Production Systems
Deadline: September 12, 2024
PHPPP b. Foundational Knowledge of Plant Products
Deadline: August 15, 2024
PHPPP c. Pests and Beneficial Species in Agricultural Production Systems
Deadline: September 19, 2024
PHPPP d. Physiology of Agricultural Plants
Deadline: August 22, 2024
PHPPP e. Plant Breeding for Agricultural Production
Deadline: October 10, 2024
PHPPP f. Pollinator Health: Research and Application
Deadline: August 22, 2024
PHPPP g. Conventional Plant Breeding for Cultivar Development
Deadline: October 10, 2024
Animal health and production and animal products (AHAP)
AHPAP a. Animal Reproduction
Deadline: August 8, 2024
AHPAP b. Animal Nutrition, Growth and Lactation
Deadline: August 8, 2024
AHPAP c. Welfare of Agricultural Animals
Deadline: August 8, 2024
AHPAP d. Diseases of Agricultural Animals
Deadline: August 8, 2024
AHPAP e. Animal Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics
Deadline: August 8, 2024
Food safety, nutrition, and health (FSNH)
FSNH a. Food Safety and Defense
Deadline: August 22, 2024
FSNH b. Novel Foods and Innovative Manufacturing Technologies
Deadline: September 26, 2024
FSNH 3c. Diet, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases
Deadline: August 22, 2024
FSNH d. Food and Human Health
Deadline: August 8, 2024
FSNH e. Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance Across the Food Chain
Deadline: September 19, 2024
Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment (BNRE)
BNRE a. Soil Health
Deadline: September 12, 2024
BNRE b. Water Quantity and Quality
Deadline: September 5, 2024
BNRE c. Sustainable Bioeconomy through Biobased Products
Deadline: September 5, 2024
BNRE d. Sustainable Agroecosystems
Deadline: September 12, 2024
BNRE e. Environmental Justice
Deadline: September 12, 2024
Agriculture systems and technology (AST)
AST a. Engineering for Agricultural Production and Processing
Deadline: October 3, 2024
AST b. Biorefining and Biomanufacturing
Deadline: October 3, 2024
AST c. Nanotechnology for Agricultural and Food Systems
Deadline: September 19, 2024
AST d. Engineering for Precision Crop and Water Management
Deadline: October 10, 2024
Agriculture economics and rural communities (AERC)
AERC a. Small and Medium-Sized Farms
Deadline: August 15, 2024
AERC b. Economics, Markets and Trade
Deadline: October 3, 2024
AERC c. Social Implications of Food and Agricultural Technologies
Deadline: October 31, 2024
AERC d. Rural Economic Development
Deadline: September 12, 2024
AERC e. Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
Deadline: September 12, 2024
Crosscutting Programs
Crosscutting a. Agricultural Microbiomes in Plant Systems and Natural Resources
Deadline: October 3, 2024
Crosscutting b. Critical Agricultural Research and Extension (CARE)
Deadline: September 12, 2024
Crosscutting c. Data Science for Food and Agricultural Systems (DSFAS)
Deadline: November 14, 2024
Crosscutting d. Inter-Disciplinary Engagement in Animal Systems (IDEAS)
Deadline: October 3, 2024
Crosscutting e. Agricultural Biosecurity
Deadline: August 8, 2024
Crosscutting f. Extension, Education & USDA Climate Hubs Partnership
Deadline: September 5, 2024
Crosscutting g. AFRI Commodity Board Co-funding Topics
Deadline: August 1, 2024
Crosscutting h. Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems
Deadline: Accepted on a continuous basis
* PHPPP=Plant Health and Production and Plant Products, AHPAP=Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; FSNH=Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health; BNRE=Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment; AST=Agriculture Systems and Technology; AERC=Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities; Crosscutting=Crosscutting Programs
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
Dear Colleagues,
USDA NIFA is soliciting proposals for the Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Community Projects (SCP).The mission of the CYFAR program is to marshal resources of the Land-grant and Cooperative Extension Systems so that, in collaboration with other organizations, they can develop and deliver educational programs that equip youth who are at-risk for not meeting basic human needs with the skills they need to lead positive, productive, contributing lives.
The CYFAR SCP program has two strategic objectives:
1. To support community educational programs for at-risk, low-income children, youth, and families that are based on locally identified needs, grounded in research, and lead to the accomplishment of one of four CYFAR National Outcomes; and
2. To integrate CYFAR SCP programming into ongoing Extension programs for children, youth, and families – ensuring that at-risk, low-income children, youth, and families continue to be part of Extension and/or 4-H programs, and/or Family and Consumer Sciences Programs and have access to resources and educational opportunities.
Preference will be given to applications that propose CYFAR SCP project engagement with 1890 Land-grant Universities, 1994 Institutions, and Hispanic Serving Institutions, as well as Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) States as sub-awardees. Greater preference will be given to 1890 Land-grant Universities and/or 1994 Institutions in Joint Partnership as eligible applicants.
Visit the program web page at https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/children-youth-families-risk-cyfar-sustainable-community-projects for more information.
Technical Assistance Webinars: Two identical CYFAR SCP webinars will be held in January to provide an overview of the CYFAR SCP grant program, application processes, and provide an opportunity to ask questions.
Monday, January 8 3:00-4:00 p.m. EST, Register here
Thursday, January 11 5:00-6:00 p.m. EST, Register here
Applications Due: February 15, 2024 at 2PM
Recommended Grant Amount: up to$80,000 for single state; or $160,000 for more than one state (Year 1 amount)
Required Match: No match required
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
USDA NIFA is soliciting proposals for the Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program, the Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program, and the Food Safety Outreach Program.
1) Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program funds projects that encourage academic institutions, in partnership with organizations and employers to identify and address challenges facing the food and agricultural sciences education and workforce community. Grants should:
- Enhance curricula in agricultural education
- Increase faculty teaching competencies
- Interest young people in pursuing higher education in order to prepare for scientific and professional careers in the food and agricultural sciences
- Promote the incorporation of agriscience and agribusiness subject matter into other instructional programs, particularly classes in science, business, and consumer education
- Facilitate joint initiatives by the grant recipient with other secondary schools, institutions of higher education that award an associate degree, and institutions of higher education that award a bachelor's degree to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve agriscience and agribusiness education
- Support other initiatives designed to meet local, State, regional, or national needs related to promoting excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education
- Support current agriculture in the classroom programs for grades
Educational Need Areas include (see RFA for details):
- 1. Curriculum Development, Instructional Delivery Systems, and Expanding Student Career Opportunities.
- Facilitating Interaction with other Academic Institutions
Visit the USDA NIFA SPECA web page (https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/secondary-education-two-year-postsecondary-education-agriculture-k-12) for more information.
Applications Due: March 8, 2024 at 2PM
Recommended Grant Amount: up to$50,000 for regular grants; or $150,000 for collaborative Type 1 Grants
Required Match: No match required
2) Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program enables the Cooperative Extension System to assist in preparing for, providing an educational response to, recovering from, and mitigating disasters and disaster threats. This program supports innovative, education-based approaches to address disaster preparedness and specific responses related to disasters or disaster threats caused by natural, human-made, or technological hazards, or by other factors that contribute to the exposure or vulnerability of a community. Two types of projects:1) Extension Standard Projects, and 2) Extension Planning Projects.
Topical Areas:
1. Agriculture: Includes but is not limited to row crop and forage health and production; livestock health and production; aquaculture; fruit and vegetable production; food loss and waste; farm and agribusiness management; economics; urban agriculture; farm safety; and agricultural biosecurity.
2. Natural Resources: Includes but is not limited to water; forestry; wood sciences; range; waste management; energy, wildlife; recreation; and environmental education.
3. Community and Economic Development: Includes but is not limited to small business; workforce development; community planning; placemaking; revitalization; tourism; visioning and strategic planning; leadership development; housing; homeowner education; civic engagement; volunteerism; broadband; and rural life.
4. Family and Consumer Sciences: Includes but is not limited to nutrition; food safety; food loss and waste; nutrition security; health management and wellness; health equity; well-being; personal and family finance; child development; early childhood education; individual and family relationships; textiles; and hospitality.
5. 4-H and Youth Development: Includes but is not limited to youth development; career exploration; civic engagement; STEM education; and volunteerism.
Visit the program's web page (https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/smith-lever-special-needs-competitive-grants-program) for more information.
Applications Due: March 7, 2024 at 2PM
Recommended Grant Amount: Standard Grant: $20,000 - $115,000; Planning Grant: $10,000 - $20,000
Required Match: 1:1 match required
3) Food Safety Outreach Program. The overall goal of the program is to develop and implement food safety training, education, Extension, outreach and technical assistance projects that address the needs of owners and operators of small to midsized farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, small processors, veteran farmers or ranchers, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. These audiences are affected by the food safety guidelines established under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The focus on delivery of customized training to members of the target audiences by continuing to solicit Community Outreach Projects, Collaborative Education and Training Projects, and Technical Assistance – Grant writing skills projects. The program is also soliciting proposals for Regional Centers in FY 2024.
1) Community Outreach Projects (award request: $80,000 - $150,000) - An additional $150,000 may be requested for Collaborative Engagement Supplements, for a total budget request of up to $300,000.
2) Collaborative Education and Training Projects (award request: $200,000 - $400,000) - An additional $150,000 may be requested for Collaborative Engagement Supplements, for a total budget request of up to $550,000.
3) Regional Centers (award request: $800,000; an additional $200,000 awarded to (1) Lead Regional Center for a total budget of up to $1,000,000).
4) Technical Assistance – Grant Writing Skills Projects (award request: $75,000 - $150,000) – An additional $150,000 may be requested for Collaborative Engagement Supplement, for a total budget request of up to $300,000.
Visit the program's web page (https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/food-safety-outreach-program) for more information.
Applications Due: February 13, 2024 at 2PM
Required Match: 1:1 match required
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)