New USDA Funding Opportunities - Beginning Farmer Grants and Farmers Market Promotion Program
USDA CSREES has released the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program competitive grants program. Proposals are due May 13, 2009. Download the request for applications. There is a 25% cost share required for this program.
From the RFA:
CSREES announces the availability of funds and requests applications for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) for fiscal year (FY) 2009. The BFRDP provides resources to support the development of education, outreach, curricula, workshops, educational teams, training, and technical assistance programs to assist beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States and its territories in entering, establishing, building and managing successful farm and ranch enterprises. This program will also provide a cooperative agreement to an on line electronic and library clearinghouse to provide associated support to individually funded projects, educational enhancement projects and the overall BFRDP program. The estimated amount available for support of this program in FY 2009 is $17,280,000.
The legislation requires the Secretary to establish a competitive grants program for the purpose of providing education, outreach, training and technical assistance to benefit beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States, including programs and services (as appropriate) relating to:
(a) Mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships;
(b) Resources and referral;
(c) Assisting beginning farmers or ranchers in understanding how to acquire land from retiring farmers and ranchers;
(d) Innovative farm and ranch transfer strategies;
(e) Entrepreneurship and business training;
(f) Model land leasing contracts;
(g) Financial management training;
(h) Whole farm planning;
(i) Conservation assistance;
(j) Risk management education;
(k) Diversification and marketing strategies;
(l) Curriculum development;
(m) Understanding the impact of concentration and globalization;
(n) Basic livestock and crop farming practices, forestry and range management;
(o) The acquisition and management of agricultural credit;
(p) Environmental compliance;
(q) Information processing; and
(r) Other similar subject areas of use to beginning farmers or ranchers.
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has released its request for applications for its Farmers Market Promotion Grants. Proposals are due April 27, 2009. Additional important information can be found at the USDA AMS FMPP website.
From the press release:
The primary objective of FMPP grants is to help eligible entities improve and expand domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. Eligible entities include: agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, producer associations, local governments, non-profit corporations, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers' market authorities and Tribal Governments.
About $5 million is allocated for the FMPP program. The minimum award per grant is $2,500, with a maximum of $100,000 for any one proposal. Matching funds are not required.
For more information about the program, download the 2009 Farmers Market Promotion Guidelines. To read about successful past proposals: Download 2008 funded projects.