Joint Fire Science Program 2027 Funding Opportunity
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released the FY 2027 Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Primary Announcement. The program supports applied research that generates science-based information to improve wildland fire and land management decisions.
Program Priorities
Projects are expected to address the FY 2027 research priorities of one of the two task statements and produce results that directly support fire managers, land managers, and other stakeholders.
- Task statement: Drivers of Changing Wildfire Regimes and Consequences for Wildfire Risk Factors
This track seeks research that improves understanding of how wildfire regimes are changing and how those changes affect ecosystems, communities, infrastructure, watersheds, and other valued resources. Projects should focus on:
- Developing improved models, datasets, or decision-support tools to forecast future wildfire regimes and impacts.
- Using those tools, in collaboration with fire and land managers, to evaluate future wildfire scenarios, identify ecological tipping points, and understand feedback mechanisms that may accelerate change.
- Developing monitoring approaches that help managers detect early indicators of ecosystem change and wildfire risk.
- Task statement: Smoke Impacts from Prescribed Fire and Wildfire
This track seeks research that improves understanding of the relationships between prescribed fire, wildfire, smoke emissions, and public health. Projects should focus on:
- Quantifying how prescribed fire influences subsequent wildfire behavior and severity across different landscapes and management conditions.
- Evaluating or improving methods to measure, track, and predict smoke emissions from prescribed fire.
- Assessing how prescribed fire and wildfire emissions affect air quality and public health, including strategies to mitigate smoke-related health impacts.
Please refer to the full JFSP NOFO for complete research task statements, eligibility requirements, application instructions, and program details.
Key program details:
- Application Deadline: September 17, 2026
- Project Duration: Up to 5 years
- Award Size: Approximately $300,000–$500,000
- Match: None required (voluntary cost sharing encouraged)
USDA NIFA Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K–12 Classroom Challenge Grants (SPECA) Program FY 2026
This program supports education projects that strengthen food and agricultural sciences education for students in kindergarten through community college (K–14) while preparing the next generation of the agricultural workforce. Projects must primarily support agricultural education at the K–8, secondary (9–12), or community college (2-year postsecondary) level.
Program Priorities
Applications should address one or more of the following educational need areas:
- Curriculum Development, Instructional Delivery Systems, and Expanding Student Career Opportunities, including:
- Development of innovative agricultural curricula and instructional materials.
- Hands-on learning experiences such as STEM laboratories, school gardens, and experiential learning.
- Student internships, apprenticeships, mentoring, and career exploration.
- Activities that encourage students to pursue postsecondary education and careers in food and agricultural sciences.
- Facilitating Interaction with Other Academic Institutions, including:
- Partnerships among K–12 schools, community colleges, and four-year institutions.
- Articulation agreements and credit-transfer pathways.
- Collaborative programs that improve recruitment, retention, and transition into food and agricultural sciences degree programs.
Please refer to the full SPECA NOFO for more details.
Key program details:
- Application Deadline: July 27, 2026
- Project Duration: 24–36 months
- Award Size: Up to $150,000
USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) Program FY 2026
The program supports nonprofit institutions, including an accredited institution of higher education in establishing or operating Rural Cooperative Development Centers that provide technical assistance to create, expand, or improve cooperatives, mutually owned businesses, and value-added enterprises serving rural communities.
Program Priorities
Projects must:
- Establish or operate a Rural Cooperative Development Center.
- Provide technical assistance to support the creation, expansion, or improvement of rural cooperatives and mutually owned businesses.
- Promote value-added agriculture and rural business development.
- Create jobs and strengthen economic opportunities in rural communities.
- Serve individuals, cooperatives, and businesses located in rural areas.
Please refer to the full RCDG NOFO for more details.
Key program details:
- Application Deadline: July 24, 2026
- Project Duration: Up to 3 years
- Award Size: Up to $1,000,000
- Match: 25% non-federal match required