USDA NIFA Funding Opportunity - Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program

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:

1. Basic livestock, forest management, and crop farming practices;
2. Innovative farm, ranch, and private, nonindustrial forest land transfer and succession strategies;
3. Entrepreneurship and business training;
4. Technical assistance to help beginning farmers or ranchers acquire land from retiring farmers and ranchers;
5. Financial and risk management training, including the acquisition and management of agricultural credit;
6. Natural resource management and planning;
7. Diversification and marketing strategies;
8. Curriculum development;
9. Mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships;
10. Resources and referral;
11. Farm financial benchmarking;
12. Agricultural rehabilitation and vocational training for veteran farmers and ranchers;
13. Farm safety and awareness;
14. Food safety and record keeping; and
15. 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)