Farm to School Grant Program

Summary: Established to assist in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools.
Who Can Apply: Eligible schools; state and local agencies; Indian tribal organizations; agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers; and non-profit entities.
Amount: See website below for details.
Examples: See website for more information on sample projects.
More Info: Farm-to-School Grant Program webpage.

Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program

Summary: Approximately $18 million will be available to support training, education, outreach and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers or ranchers in fiscal year 2010.
Who Can Apply: collaboratives; states; tribal, local, or regionally-based networks or partnerships of public or private entities, which may include: state cooperative extension service; community-based and nongovernmental organizations; colleges or universities; or any other appropriate partner
Amount: Maximum $250,000 per year (over a 3-year period)
Examples: Mentoring, apprenticeships and internships; resources and referral; assisting with land acquisition and land transfer; entrepreneurship and business training; whole farm planning; conservation assistance; risk management education; diversification and marketing strategies; basic livestock and farming practices; environmental compliance; information processing
More Info: NIFA website

Famers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)

Summary: Established to promote and expand direct marketing
Who Can Apply: agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, producer associations, local governments, non-profit corporations, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers’ market authorities and tribal governments
Amount: $2,500 minimum, $100,000 maximum
Examples: Use for educational workshops, permanent signage, supplies for underserved farmers and markets, advertising, consumer education, ads, evaluations and impact, market research, enhance product value and sales
More Info: AMS website

RMA – Community Outreach and Assistance Partnerships

Summary: The purpose of this program is to fund projects that provide limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and other traditionally underserved producers with training, informational opportunities and assistance necessary to understand: (1) The kind of risks addressed by existing and emerging risk management tools; (2) The features and appropriate use of existing and emerging risk management tools; and (3) How to make sound risk management decisions.
Who Can Apply: educational institutions, community based organizations, associations of farmers and ranchers, state departments of agriculture, and other nonprofit organizations
Amount: none given ($2.5 million available)
Examples: Teaching farmers how to market products into schools, etc.
More Info: RMA website

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)

Summary: AFRI will support work in the following priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agricultural systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities
Who Can Apply: land-grant institutions, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, hispanic-serving institutions, individuals, tribal organizations, nonprofits, private institutions of higher education, small business, state agricultural experiment stations, state controlled institutions of higher education
Amount: up to $25 million
Examples: 2010 is the program’s first year
More Information: NIFA website

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

Summary: SBIR is a highly competitive federal grant program for American-owned and independently operated for-profit businesses of 500 employees or less
Who Can Apply: see above
Amount: Funds may be awarded up to $80,000 for Phase I and up to $350,000 for Phase II
Examples: from SBIR website: “USDA SBIR’s flexible research areas ensure innovative projects consistent with USDA’s vision of a healthy and productive nation in harmony with the land, air, and water.” Research topic areas include: Forests and Related Resources; Plant Production and Protection – Biology; Animal Production and Protection; Air, Soil and Water; Food Science and Nutrition; Rural and Community Development; Aquaculture; Biofuels and Biobased Products; Marketing and Trade; Animal Manure Management; Small and Mid-Sized Farms; Plant Production and Protection – Engineering
More Info: NIFA website

Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program

Summary: Community Food Projects should be designed to (1): (A) meet the food needs of low-income people; (B) increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs; and (C) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues; and/or (2) meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agriculture needs for (A) infrastructure improvement and development; (B) planning for long-term solutions; or (C) the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers
Who Can Apply: private, nonprofit entities meeting specific requirements as listed in the Request for Applications (RFA)
Amount: $10,000 to $300,000
Examples: expanding access to healthy and local foods in a low income, high unemployment area by employing teens to develop community gardens and market their produce; a county-wide operation of community kitchens for micro-enterprise development with low-income participation and leadership; and improving access to healthy foods through a variety of methods, including supermarket development, promoting local produce, a community kitchen and educational programs
More Info: NIFA website

Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program (OASDFR)

Summary: The primary purpose of the OASDFR is to deliver outreach and technical assistance, to assure opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to successfully acquire, own, operate, and retain farms and ranches; and assure equitable participation in the full range of USDA programs.
Who Can Apply: land-grant institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, native american tribal governments, nonprofits, state controlled institutions of higher education
Amount: Projects are funded from $100,000 to $300,000 for 1 to 3 years
Examples: Download a list of previously funded projects
More Info: NIFA website

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)

Summary: SARE is a competitive grants program providing grants to researchers, agricultural educators, farmers and ranchers, and students in the United States. Funding opportunities and details listed below.
Research and Education Grants: Ranging from $30,000 to $150,000 or more, these grants fund projects that usually involve scientists, producers, and others in an interdisciplinary approach.
Professional Development Grants: To spread the knowledge about sustainable concepts and practices, these projects educate Cooperative Extension Service staff and other ag professionals.
Producer Grants: Producers apply for grants that typically run between $1,000 and $15,000 to conduct research, marketing and demonstration projects and share the results with other farmers and ranchers.
On Farm Research/Partnership: Supports on-farm research by Extension, NRCS, and/or     nonprofit organizations. Northeast, Southern and Western regions.
Sustainable Community Innovation: Forges connections between sustainable agriculture and rural community development. Northeast and Southern regions.
To Apply: Contact your regional office.
More Info: SARE website

Rural Development Enterprise Grants (RBEG)

Summary: RBEGs fund projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses, help fund business incubators, and help fund employment related adult education programs.
Who Can Apply: rural public entities (towns, communities, state agencies, and authorities), Indian tribes and rural private non-profit corporations
Amount: No maximum, generally grants range from $10,000 to $500,000
Examples: acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings, plants, machinery, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, utilities; pollution control and abatement; capitalization of revolving loan funds including funds that will make loans for start ups and working capital; training and technical assistance; distance adult learning for job training and advancement; rural transportation improvement; and project planning
Contact: Each state has its own Rural Development program, schedule & staff. Contact info is available here.
More Info: Rural Development website

Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG)

Summary: “To provide technical assistance for business development and conduct economic development planning in rural areas (less than 50,000 population).”
Who Can Apply: public bodies, cooperatives, private nonprofit corporations
Amount: $50,000 maximum (no minimum)
Examples: providing economic planning for rural communities, technical assistance for rural businesses, or training for rural entrepreneurs or economic development officials, establish support centers, pay reasonable fees and charges for professional services necessary to conduct the training, technical assistance or planning functions
Contact: Each state has its own Rural Development program, schedule & staff. Contact info is available here.
More Info: ATTRA website

Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG)

Summary: “Designed to help farmers and ranchers expand their current customer base for products that will result in enhanced profitability through value-added activities with particular emphasis on new and emerging agricultural markets.”
Who Can Apply: independent producers, farmer or rancher co-ops, agricultural producer groups and majority-controlled producer based business ventures
Amount: $100,000 maximum planning phase, $300,000 working capital phase
Examples: a process that changes the form of a raw product and increases its value, such as slaughtering livestock, processing tomatoes or making cheese; funding is also available for renewable energy and marketing
Contact: Each state has its own Rural Development program, schedule & staff. Contact info is available here.
More Info: Rural Development website