Grants to USA Nonprofits, For-Profits, IHEs, and Agencies to Educate New Farmers and Ranchers

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)

Agency

Federal

GrantWatch ID#

151418

Funding Source

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

CFDA Number: 10.311

Funding or PIN Number: USDA-NIFA-BFR-009746

Geographic Focus

All USA
USA Territories: American Samoa (USA); Guam (USA); Puerto Rico (USA); Virgin Islands (USA); Northern Mariana Islands (USA);

Important Dates

Deadline: 04/27/23 5:00 PM ET Receipt

Grant Description

Grants to USA and territories nonprofit and for-profit organizations, IHEs, and government agencies for collaborative programs to provide assistance to beginning ranchers and farmers. Applicants must contact the funding source to assess the organization's readiness to apply.

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 nonindustrial private forest lands, through support for projects that provide education, mentoring, 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. The term "beginning farmer or rancher" means a person that:

(i) Has not operated a farm or ranch; or
(ii) Has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years; and
Meets such other criteria as the Secretary may establish.

BFRDP grants may fund programs or services relating to these priorities:

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 recordkeeping, 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. Applicants planning to address other similar subject areas not listed in priorities 1-14 are strongly encouraged to confer with the Program Contacts to discuss the suitability of the topics prior to submitting an application.

Further information on Standard Grants: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/FY23-BFRDP-RFA-508.pdf#page=9

Further information on Education Team Grants: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/FY23-BFRDP-RFA-508.pdf#page=11

Recipient

Eligibility

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Eligibility Criteria

Applications may only be submitted by a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based network or partnership of qualified public and/or private entities. These collaborations may include the following entities: State Cooperative Extension Services; Federal, State, municipal or tribal agencies; community-based organizations (CBOs); nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); junior and four-year colleges or universities or foundations maintained by a college or university; and private for-profit organizations.

Inclusions of beginning and/or non-beginning farmers and ranchers as part of the collaborative group is strongly encouraged.

Applicants for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

Since simplified standard grants are awarded for one year only, recipients of these grants that were awarded in FY 2022 may apply for grants in FY 2023.

Ineligible

Application submission of a project effort that is a duplicate of a current beginning farmer project will not be accepted for review under this program.

Applications submitted by individuals, or by organizations that do not involve other entities in a network or partnership, are not eligible for consideration under any category applicable to the BFRDP and will be excluded from review.

To meet geographical diversity, multiple awards will not be made to the same organization, institution, or Project Director in the same calendar year. Further, organizations and institutions that have received a regular, standard, or education team grant in the last two funding cycles (FY 2021 or FY 2022) are ineligible to apply. Please do not apply for another simplified standard grant if you have previously received a simplified standard grant award in BFRDP.

Duplicate or multiple submissions is not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions.

Funds under BFRDP grants may not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.

Pre-Proposal Conference

BFRDP 2023 RFA Webinar March 8, 2023, 1-3PM CT

Join ZoomGov Meeting: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1613552237
Meeting ID: 161
355 2237
One tap mobile:
+16692545252,,1613552237# US (San Jose)
+16468287666,,1613552237# US (New York)

Dial by your location
+1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)
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+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)
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Meeting ID: 161 355 2237

Pre-Application Information

Application Deadline: 5:00 P.M. Eastern, April 27, 2023

Applicants must contact program staff prior to starting an application to assess the organization’s readiness to submit an electronic application.

Applicants must apply to this RFA electronically via Grants.gov; no other method or response is accepted.

New Users to Grants.gov must register early with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application.

For FY 2023, BFRDP awardees must provide a match from non-Federal sources in the form of cash or in-kind contributions in an amount equal to 25 percent of the funds provided by the grant or cooperative agreement. However, NIFA may waive the matching funds requirement for a grant if NIFA determines that such a waiver or modification is necessary to effectively reach an underserved area or population.

View this opportunity on Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=345713

For a list of relevant application documents, go to the Package tab (press Preview) on the Grants.gov link above.

Additional Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$28,000,000

Number of Grants

45 Standard Grants awards annually; 2 Education Team Grants awards annually

Estimated Size of Grant

Maximum Award for Standard Grants:
- Approximately $250,000 per year for up to three years for large standard grants;
- Approximately $175,000 per year for up to three years for medium standard grants;
- Approximately $100,000 per year for up to three years for small standard grants; and
- $49,999 or less for a simplified standard grant application process for one year.

Maximum Award for Education Team Grants:
- Approximately $250,000 per year for up to three years

Term of Contract

Grant Duration: 36 Months

Contact Information

Program Contacts:

Denis Ebodaghe
Denis.Ebodaghe@usda.gov
202-445-5460

Crystal Kyle
Crystal.Kyle@usda.gov
816-908-3177

Rebekah Hanson
Rebekah.Hanson@usda.gov
515-766-9899

Award Management Division Contacts:

Hollie Boyd
Hollie.Boyd@usda.gov
816-908-3114

Mark Heap
Mark.heap@usda.gov
816-401-6846

NIFA support: grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

National Institute of Food and Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 419205, MS 10000
Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

Grants.gov Support:
Grants.gov Online Support: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html
Telephone support: 800-518-4726 Toll-Free or 606-545-5035
Email support: support@grants.gov

Grants to USA Nonprofits, For-Profits, IHEs, and Agencies to Educate New Farmers and Ranchers

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)

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