The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) provides grants to institutions and organizations for education, mentoring, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers. This program is one of the Competitive Grants Programs managed by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
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Goal of the BFRDP program
Support beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States and its territories as authorized under amended 7 U.S.C. 2279 (d), to enter and/or improve their successes in farming, ranching, and management of nonindustrial private forest lands. Support is available through projects that provide education, mentoring and technical assistance to supply beginning farmers and ranchers with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to make informed decisions for their operations and enhance their sustainability
What is the maximum budget and program requirements for each proposal type?
| Grant Type | Maximum Award per Project | Project Type | Project Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Standard | Up to $750,000 | Training and Technical Assistance | 36 Months |
| Medium Standard | Up to $750,000 | Training and Technical Assistance | 36 Months |
| Small Standard | Up to $300,000 | Training and Technical Assistance | 36 Months |
| Simplified Standard | Up to $49,000 | Training and Technical Assistance | 12 Months |
| Education Team | Up to $750,000 | Training | 36 Months |
| Curriculum & Training Clearinghouse | Up to $750,000 | Clearinghouse | 36 Months |
What type of project activities are supported?
- Standard Projects: Support new and established local and regional training, education, outreach and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers.
- Simplified Projects: Develop action plans to educate and train a small group of individuals to become farmers and ranchers, while strengthening program ideas to develop a full proposal.
- Education Team (ET) Projects: Enhance beginning farmer efforts based on a particular topic, region or
audience and must complement previously funded ETs. NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, ed cation, and extension and promotes transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges. USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer.
- Curriculum and Training Clearinghouse Project: Maintains the BFRDP Clearinghouse, farmanswers.org, an online repository. The Clearinghouse makes available to beginning farmers and ranchers, education curricula, training materials, programs and online courses. Solicited once every three years.
What are the due dates and who can apply?
- Program Code: BFRDA (Standard), BFRDB (Education Team), or BFRDC (Curriculum and Training Clearinghouse).
- RFA (Request for Applications) Release Date: The BFRDP RFA is generally released every year in February (see Application Resources below).
- Cost Sharing or Matching: BFRDP applicants must provide match funding from non-federal sources in the form of cash or in-kind contributions in an amount equal to 25% of the funds provided by the grant or cooperative agreement or a match waiver may be requested if the awardee plans to serve an underserved area or population.
- Program eligibility, as described on Part III § A of the RFA: 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 Service
- Federal, State, municipal or Tribal agency
- Community-based or nongovernmental organization
- College or university (including an institution awarding an associate degree) or foundation maintained by a college or university
- Any other appropriate partner, as determined by the Secretary
Note: 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 an education team grant in the last two funding cycles are ineligible to apply. Simplified standard grants are awarded for one year only; therefore, recipients that were awarded in the previous funding cycle may apply for regular standard or educational team grants in the current funding cycle.
Where can I find Application Resources?
- The BFRDP Funding Opportunity, Request for Applications (RFA), and RFA Technical Assistance Webinar includes information on program requirements, eligibility, and the application process: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/beginning-farmer-rancher-development-program
- Application Resources and FAQs: Eligibility, How to Apply, and FAQs can be found at the BFRDP webpage: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/beginning-farmer-rancher-development-program-bfrdp
If I have questions, who can I contact?
Please submit questions to:
- National Program Leader, Edwin Lewis at Edwin.Lewis@usda.gov
- Program Specialist, Rebekah Hanson at Rebekah.Hanson@usda.gov
- Program Specialist, Lesha McGruder at Iesha.McGruder@usda.gov
- Or BFRDP@usda.gov