Agriculture

USDA Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) Grant

The RFSP supports partnerships that connect public and private resources to plan and develop local or regional food systems. The RFSP focuses on building and strengthening the viability and resilience of the local or regional food economy.

Eligible Recipients:

  • Producer
  • Farmer or Rancher Cooperative
  • Producer Network or Association
  • Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Business Venture
  • Food Council
  • Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Network or Association
  • Local Governments
  • Nonprofit Corporations
  • Public Benefit Corporations
  • Economic Development Corporations
  • Regional Farmers Market Authorities
  • Tribal Governments

Eligible Projects:
RFSP offers two grant types – Planning and Design and Implementation and Expansion.

1. Planning and Design – Projects which support partnerships in the early stages of convening, envisioning, and planning processes for developing local or regional food systems.

2. Implementation and Expansion – Projects which support partnerships building on prior or ongoing efforts within a local or regional food system.

Funding Source:
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service

Funding Amount:

AMS anticipates approximately $56.5 million will be available in FY2023 for RFSP projects, including funds come from the American Rescue Plan. Any funds not awarded under this RFA will be made available through the RFA published in the next competitive award cycle. Funding may be contingent on Federal appropriations actions. USDA does not guarantee minimum funding levels or a specific number of awards.

Application Deadline:
Only applications submitted and validated by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 2, 2023, to Grants.gov will be accepted. See AMS’ Late and/or Non-Responsive Applications Policy.

Contact:
After closely reviewing this RFA in its entirety, applicants and other interested parties are encouraged to contact the RFSP staff by e-mail with questions about the grant program at IPPGrants@usda.gov. For additional information, please visit the RFSP Website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rfsp.

More Information:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsp/apply

USDA Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a competitive program that supports the development of new tools, approaches, practices, and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands. Through creative problem solving and innovation, CIG partners work to address our nation’s water quality, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges, all while improving agricultural operations.

Eligible Recipients:
National and State CIG – all non-Federal entities and individuals are eligible to apply. All CIG projects must involve EQIP-eligible producers.

Eligible Projects:
CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research.

CIG funds the development and field testing, on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, or implementation of:
• Approaches to incentivizing conservation adoption, including market-based and conservation finance approaches; and
• Conservation technologies, practices, and systems.

Projects or activities under CIG must:
• Comply with all applicable Federal, Tribal, State, and local laws and regulations throughout the duration of the project;
• Use a technology or approach that was studied sufficiently to indicate a high probability for success;
• Demonstrate, evaluate, and verify the effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability of natural resource conservation technologies and approaches in the field;
• Adapt and transfer conservation technologies, management, practices, systems, approaches, and incentive systems to improve performance and encourage adoption; and
• Introduce proven conservation technologies and approaches to a geographic area or agricultural sector where that technology or approach is not currently in use.

Funding Source:
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Funding Amount:
The total amount of Federal funding the agency expects to award through this opportunity is $15 million. The agency expects to make between 15 and 25 awards. The maximum CIG award is set annually by the NRCS Chief and historically has been either $1 million or $2 million. An applicant’s CIG funding request must be matched at least 1:1 with non-federal funding.

Application Deadline:
A CIG funding notice is announced each year.

Contact:
Complete applications must be submitted through grants.gov and e-mailed to the NRCS National Office at nrcscig@wdc.usda.gov.

More Information:
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/cig/

EQIP Organic Initiative

The Organic Initiative provides financial assistance to implement a broad set of conservation practice to assist organic producers in addressing resource concerns. This assistance helps producers plan and implement conservation practices to support the environmental sustainability of their organic operations.

Eligible Recipients:
Applicants must demonstrate control of eligible land in agricultural production. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, and other farm or ranch lands.

Eligible Projects:
Financial assistance is provided for a broad set of conservation practices including, but not limited to assistance with:

  • Developing a conservation plan
  • Establishing buffer zones
  • Planning and installing pollinator habitat
  • Improving soil quality and organic matter while minimizing erosion
  • Developing a grazing plan and supportive livestock practices
  • Improving irrigation efficiency
  • Enhancing cropping rotations
  • Nutrient management

Funding Source:
US Department of Agriculture

Funding Amount:
Up to $20,000

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
Carrie Lindig
State Conservationist
USDA-NRCS
220 Davidson Avenue 4th Floor
Somerset, NJ 08873
Phone: (732) 537-6041
carrie.lindig@nj.usda.gov

More Information:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/?cid=nrcs143_008224

Agricultural and Farmland Protection Planning Grants

The purpose of these programs is to fund local initiatives intended to maintain the economic viability of the State’s agricultural industry and its supporting land base and to protect the environmental and landscape preservation values associated with agriculture.

Eligible Recipients:
New York State county—provided that it has established an agricultural and farmland protection board and either:

  1. Has not already prepared an agricultural and farmland protection plan, or
  2. Has an approved farmland protection plan that was approved by the Commissioner no less than one hundred twenty months (10 years) prior to submitting an application for funding under this RFA.

For either type of application, two eligible counties may apply jointly. If applying jointly, one county must be designated as the lead county for contract purposes.

Eligible Projects:
Projects involving agricultural and farmland protection planning activities that result in the creation of or supplementation to a county agricultural and farmland protection plan are eligible for funding.

Funding Source:
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

Funding Amount:
Up to $50,000

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
David Behm
NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets
10B Airline Dr.
Albany, NY 12235
518-457-7076
david.behm@agriculture.ny.gov

More Information:
www.agriculture.ny.gov/AP/agservices/farmprotect.html

Organic Certification Reimbursement

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets administers a certification fee reimbursement program that is funded with federal dollars. Farmers and processors may apply for reimbursement of organic certification fees and receive 75% of the total fee up to a maximum of $750.

Eligible Recipients:
Producers who renew or newly establish their organic certification.

Separate application forms are available on the Department of Agriculture and Market’s website for farmers/producers or processors/handlers.

In the event that demand for reimbursement exceeds the funds allocated to New York State, applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligible Projects:
A USDA accredited certifying agency must do the certification.

Funding Source:
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

Funding Amount:
Up to $750

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
Jonathan Thomson
Jonathan.Thomson@agriculture.ny.gov

More Information:
www.agriculture.ny.gov/AP/organic/BecomeCertifiedOrganic.html

Agriculture & Farmland Protection Grant Projects

Two matching grant programs focused on farmland protection. One assists county governments in developing agricultural and farmland protection plans to maintain the economic viability of the State’s agricultural industry and its supporting land base; the other assists local governments in implementing their farmland protection plans and has focused on preserving the land base by purchasing the development rights on farms using a legal document called a conservation easement. The purchase of development rights (PDR) can help where the benefits and protections available through agricultural districting and other planning tools may not be sufficient to overcome local development pressure and other issues affecting farmland.

Eligible Recipients:
Counties or municipalities with approved Ag & Farmland Protection—farmers should contact county/town government if interested in the sale of development rights.

Eligible Projects:
State assistance payments are available for counties to cover up to 50 percent of the costs to develop agricultural and farmland protection plans. State assistance payments are available to counties or municipalities to cover up to 75 percent of the total costs for implementation activities to protect viable farmland.

Funding Source:
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

Funding Amount:
Varies

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
NYSDAM
Division of Agricultural Protection and Development
10B Airline Dr.
Albany, NY 12235
518-457-2090
Fax: 518-485-8986

More Information:
www.agriculture.ny.gov/AP/agservices/farmprotect.html

 

Professional Development Grants

Northeast SARE Professional Development grants build the knowledge base and educational infrastructure so that Cooperative Extension educators and other agricultural professionals can get and use the knowledge they need to help farmers move toward greater sustainability.

Eligible Recipients:
Anyone can apply for a Professional Development grant, but applicants should have direct and substantial experience delivering agricultural education to extension and other agricultural service providers. Professional Development projects draw on scientific and pedagogic expertise, and all applicants should demonstrate a firm grasp of current barriers and issues in sustainable agriculture.

Eligible Projects:
Professional Development projects can cover a wide range of topics—recently SARE has funded training in ecological weed management, labor, whole-farm nutrient planning, tillage, season extension, carbon trading, and the needs of new farmers, among other things. In the course of these projects, SARE funds have also been used to produce books, videos, webcasts, and other media tools to improve participants’ understanding of sustainable techniques.

Funding Source:
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NE SARE)

Funding Amount:
$30,000 to $150,000

Deadline:
Recurring; next round opens Summer 2019

Contact:
Northeast SARE
655 Spear St.
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
802-656-0471
www.nesare.org

More Information:
www.nesare.org/Grants/Get-a-Grant/Professional-Development-Grant

Research and Education Grants

Northeast SARE seeks proposals for research, education and on-farm demonstration projects, and the emphasis is on projects that lead directly to improved farming practices and an enhanced quality of life for farmers and rural communities. Projects must involve farmers and other stakeholders in planning, implementing, and evaluating a potential project; we also fund projects where research, Cooperative Extension, and education are closely linked.

Eligible Recipients:
Anyone can apply for a Research and Education grant, but applicants should have experience doing agricultural research, preferably research in cooperation with commercial farmers and applied research that will translate quickly into improved practices on the ground. All applicants must demonstrate a firm grasp of current barriers and issues in sustainable agriculture.

Eligible Projects:
Research and Education projects can cover a wide range of topics—recently SARE has funded cover crop trials, farm-based energy, new approaches to livestock health, nutrient management and recycling, agritourism, and new directions in integrated crop and pest management, among other things. In the course of these projects SARE funds have also been used to produce books, videos, webcasts, and other media tools to improve participants’ understanding of sustainable techniques.

Funding Source:
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NE SARE)

Funding Amount:
Varies

Deadline:
Recurring; next round opens Summer 2019

Contact:
Northeast SARE
655 Spear St.
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
802-656-0471
www.nesare.org

More Information:
www.nesare.org/Grants/Get-a-Grant/Research-and-Education-Grant

 

Partnership Grants

The purpose of the Partnership Grants program is to support agricultural service providers who work directly with farmers to do on-farm demonstrations, research, marketing, and other projects that will add to our understanding of sustainable agriculture.

Eligible Recipients:
Agricultural service providers—extension staff, nonprofits, consultants, state departments of agriculture, and others working in the agricultural community. In addition, applicant must be currently working with farmers and the farmers cooperating in the project must be willing to submit a letter with the grant application that indicates their commitment to the project and outlines the duties they will perform. If the project involves field experiments, they must take place on working farms. Preference is given to projects involving two or more farms, and to projects with a strong outreach component.

Eligible Projects:
Partnership projects can address a variety of topics, including the development of beneficial insect habitat, alternative crops or animals, practices that make use of biological cycles for improved soil, plant, and pest management, marketing, adding value, grazing, energy, tool or technology development, agroforestry, farm management, farm labor, or water quality. Proposals should be relevant to farming and sustainability issues in the Northeast, and should offer both research and outreach so that results will be available to the wider farm community.

Funding Source:
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NE SARE)

Funding Amount:
Up to $15,000

Deadline:
April 2019

Contact:
Northeast SARE
655 Spear St.
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
802-656-0471
www.nesare.org

More Information:
www.nesare.org/Grants/Get-a-Grant/Partnership-Grant

Farmer Grants

The goal of the Farmer Grants program is to develop, refine, and demonstrate new sustainable techniques and to explore innovative ideas developed by farmers across the region. Farmer grants projects should seek new knowledge that other farmers can use and should address questions that are directly linked to improved profits, better stewardship, and stronger rural communities.

Eligible Recipients:
Applicant must be a farmer in the Northeast SARE region. Applicant need not be farming full time, but the operation should have an established crop or animal product that is sold on a regular basis. Institutional and incorporated farms may apply, but the primary activity of that farm must be to produce and sell food under the kinds of economic constraints that affect commercial growers.

Eligible Projects:
Farmer Grants funds can be used to explore new marketing and production techniques, pest management, cover crops, composting, agroforestry, new crop trials, bee health and alternative pollinators, new tool development, and a very broad range of other topics that improve profitability, stewardship, and the rural community. Projects must test a genuinely new idea, offer a new twist on an old one, and show evidence of careful planning. Funds can be used to pay farmers for their time, for project-related materials, for project costs like consulting fees or soil tests, and for any communications or outreach expenses associated with telling others about project results.

Funding Source:
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NE SARE)

Funding Amount:
Up to $15,000

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
Northeast SARE
655 Spear St.
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
802-656-0471
www.nesare.org

More Information:
www.nesare.org/Grants/Get-a-Grant/Farmer-Grant