Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 009021
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant program that funds education, training, outreach, mentoring, and technical assistance designed to help new and aspiring farmers and ranchers build lasting, sustainable operations. The program sits in a long tradition of U.S. agricultural education tied to the Morrill Land-Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890, but it gained major dedicated federal investment starting with the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which set aside $75 million across FY 2009 to FY 2012 to strengthen the next generation of producers. Congress continued this emphasis through the Agriculture Act of 2014 with $20 million per year from 2014 through 2018, and then the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) reauthorized BFRDP with mandatory funding to keep supporting beginning farmer and rancher development efforts.
The underlying policy goal is to respond to demographic and workforce pressures in U.S. agriculture, especially the rising average age of farmers, expected declines in the number of farmers and ranchers (as projected for the 2008 to 2018 period), and the broader recognition that new and expanded support systems are needed for people entering agriculture today. In practical terms, the program is meant to expand the pipeline of skilled new producers by funding hands-on and locally relevant programming such as structured training courses, mentorship networks, business planning and financial management instruction, marketing and risk management support, and other forms of technical assistance that improve long-term viability.
Eligibility is tightly focused on collaboration rather than single organizations or individuals. Applications can only be submitted by a collaborative, state-, tribal-, local-, or regionally based network or partnership made up of qualified public and/or private entities. Eligible partners within these collaborations may include State Cooperative Extension Services; federal, state, municipal, or tribal agencies; community-based organizations (CBOs); nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); two-year and four-year colleges or universities (including foundations maintained by a college or university); and private for-profit organizations. The program strongly encourages including beginning farmers and ranchers, and even non-beginning farmers and ranchers, within the collaborative group to ensure the work is grounded in real-world producer experience and needs. Applications from individuals, or from stand-alone organizations that are not part of a partnership or network, are not eligible and will be excluded from review.
The opportunity also includes restrictions intended to promote geographic diversity and broaden access to funds across the country. Multiple awards will not be made to the same organization, institution, or Project Director within the same calendar year. In addition, organizations and institutions that received BFRDP awards in the last two funding cycles (FY 2020 or FY 2021) are ineligible to apply under this solicitation, with a narrow exception tied to one-year simplified standard grants: recipients of simplified standard grants awarded in FY 2021 may apply in FY 2022. The simplified standard grant category is specifically intended for new trainers and newer organizations that have not previously received grants and have no more than three years of experience assisting beginning farmer and rancher development; applicants are instructed not to apply for another simplified standard grant if they have already received one through BFRDP.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity is listed as USDA NIFA BFR 009021 under CFDA 10.311 (Agriculture). It is a mandatory grant program with an award ceiling of $750,000. The agency is NIFA, the original closing date listed is October 17, 2022, and the posting creation date is March 15, 2022. Finally, while the applicant must be an eligible partnership, award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those subcontractors are necessary to carry out the project. This gives funded partnerships flexibility to bring in specialized expertise or services while keeping overall project leadership within an eligible collaborative network.Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 009021
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.311.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-03-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-10-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)?
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant program that funds education, training, outreach, mentoring, and technical assistance intended to help new and aspiring farmers and ranchers build lasting, sustainable operations.
What types of activities does BFRDP funding support?
BFRDP supports programming designed to develop the skills and long-term viability of beginning and aspiring producers. Examples mentioned include structured training courses, mentorship networks, business planning and financial management instruction, marketing support, risk management support, and other technical assistance.
What is the main policy goal of BFRDP?
The program is intended to strengthen the pipeline of skilled new producers in response to demographic and workforce pressures in U.S. agriculture, including the rising average age of farmers and concerns about declines in the number of farmers and ranchers. Practically, it aims to expand access to hands-on, locally relevant training and support systems for people entering agriculture.
How is BFRDP connected to U.S. agricultural education history?
The program is described as part of a long tradition of U.S. agricultural education tied to the Morrill Land-Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890. It also received major dedicated federal investment beginning with the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 and was continued and reauthorized through subsequent farm bills, including the Agriculture Act of 2014 and the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill).
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
Only a collaborative, state-, tribal-, local-, or regionally based network or partnership made up of qualified public and/or private entities may apply. The opportunity is not open to individuals, and stand-alone organizations that are not part of an eligible partnership/network are not eligible and will be excluded from review.
Are individual farmers or ranchers eligible to apply directly?
No. Applications from individuals are not eligible and will be excluded from review. The applicant must be an eligible collaborative network or partnership.
Can a single organization apply by itself?
No. Stand-alone organizations that are not part of a partnership or network are not eligible and will be excluded from review. The application must come from a collaborative network or partnership.
What kinds of entities can be part of an eligible partnership?
Eligible partners within collaborations may include State Cooperative Extension Services; federal, state, municipal, or tribal agencies; community-based organizations (CBOs); nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); two-year and four-year colleges or universities (including foundations maintained by a college or university); and private for-profit organizations.
Does the program encourage participation by farmers and ranchers within the partnership?
Yes. The program strongly encourages including beginning farmers and ranchers, and also non-beginning farmers and ranchers, within the collaborative group so the work is grounded in real-world producer experience and needs.
Is this opportunity intended to support geographic diversity?
Yes. The opportunity includes restrictions intended to promote geographic diversity and broaden access to funds across the country, including limits on multiple awards within the same calendar year.
Can the same organization receive multiple awards in the same calendar year?
No. Multiple awards will not be made to the same organization or institution within the same calendar year.
Can the same Project Director receive multiple awards in the same calendar year?
No. Multiple awards will not be made to the same Project Director within the same calendar year.
Are prior BFRDP award recipients eligible to apply?
Not always. Organizations and institutions that received BFRDP awards in the last two funding cycles (FY 2020 or FY 2021) are ineligible to apply under this solicitation, with a narrow exception related to one-year simplified standard grants.
What is the exception for prior recipients related to simplified standard grants?
Recipients of simplified standard grants awarded in FY 2021 may apply in FY 2022.
What is a simplified standard grant in this opportunity?
The simplified standard grant category is intended for new trainers and newer organizations that have not previously received grants and that have no more than three years of experience assisting beginning farmer and rancher development.
If an organization has already received a simplified standard grant, can it apply for another simplified standard grant?
No. Applicants are instructed not to apply for another simplified standard grant if they have already received one through BFRDP.
What is the maximum award amount for this grant program?
The award ceiling is $750,000.
Is this a mandatory or discretionary grant program?
It is described as a mandatory grant program.
Which USDA agency administers this funding opportunity?
The agency is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the funding opportunity listing identifier?
The funding opportunity is listed as USDA NIFA BFR 009021.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA is 10.311 (Agriculture).
What was the original closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is October 17, 2022.
What is the posting creation date for this opportunity?
The posting creation date is March 15, 2022.
Can an eligible partnership subcontract parts of the work?
Yes. Award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those subcontractors are necessary to carry out the project.
Does subcontracting allow an ineligible organization to serve as the applicant?
No. The applicant must still be an eligible collaborative partnership or network. Subcontracting is described as a way for funded partnerships to bring in specialized expertise or services while keeping overall project leadership within an eligible collaborative network.
What kinds of outcomes is BFRDP trying to improve for beginning farmers and ranchers?
The program aims to improve long-term viability by expanding access to training and technical assistance that supports sustainable operations, such as mentorship, business and financial skills, marketing assistance, and risk management support.
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