Opportunities exist within farming and ranching, but beginning farmers and ranchers have unique educational, training, technical assistance, and outreach needs. Capital access, land access, and access to knowledge and information to assist in ensuring profitability and sustainability are vital to those just entering agriculture and in their first ten years of operation. In accordance with the authorizing legislation, priority will be given to partnerships and collaborations led by or including nongovernmental, community-based organizations and school-based agricultural, educational organizations with expertise in new agricultural producer training and outreach.
At least 5 percent of the funds will support programs and services that address the needs of beginning farmers or ranchers with limited resources; socially disadvantaged beginning farmers or ranchers; and farm workers desiring to become farmers or ranchers.
At least 5 percent of the funds will support programs and services that address the needs of veteran farmers and ranchers. As far as possible, geographical diversity will also be ensured. Awards will be made through a competitive grants process, administered by the U.
The RFA will be posted online as soon as it's available. All applications for funding must be submitted electronically through www. This process requires preregistration which can take up to one month. Topics may also include: production practices, conservation planning, risk management education, diversification and marketing strategies, food safety and recordkeeping, credit management, and farm safety training. No-cost extensions are not allowed for 3 year grants. Grant types include Standard, Education Team, and Clearinghouse grants.
See RFA details for more information on each grant type as they vary from year to year. Eligible recipients can receive consecutive grants and must provide a cash or in-kind contribution match equal to 25 percent of the grant funds provided. A waiver for the matching funds requirement can be requested if the project targets an underserved area or population. Projects targeted at non-beginning farmers e.
Applicants are required to demonstrate that farmers are involved in the design and implementation of proposed projects. Applicants for BFRDP must be collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based networks or partnerships of public and private groups. Networks or partnerships may include: community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, school-based educational organizations, cooperative extension, relevant USDA, state, municipal and tribal agencies, and community colleges.
BFRDP sets aside 5 percent of annual funds for projects serving primarily limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, including minority, immigrant, and women farmers and ranchers, as well as farmworkers desiring to become farmers in their own right.
There is an additional 5 percent set aside for projects serving primarily military veteran farmers and ranchers. The organization or institution awarded the BFRDP grant is responsible for determining the eligibility of individual participants in the project.
For over ten years, BFRDP projects have made real, positive impacts in the lives of beginning farmers and food producing communities. A recent evaluation of the program showed that BFRDP is helping to grow the next generation of farmers by building a national infrastructure, new models, and best practices for training.
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