Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004208

  • The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AgrAbility and Youth Farm Safety" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Mar 20, 2013 and posted on Mar 20, 2013.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by May 8, 2013 Application deadlines vary by Program Area. Refer to RFA.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,300,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • Applications may be submitted by Cooperative Extension at 1890 Land Grant Institutions, including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University, at 1862 Land Grant Colleges and Universities, and the University of the District of Columbia.
Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004208

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Opportunity Summary:

The AgrAbility and Youth Farm Safety grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SLBCD 004208) is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It sits within the agriculture and employment/labor/training space and is tied to CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service). The overall purpose is twofold: first, to improve the chances that farmers, ranchers, farm workers, and farm family members with disabilities can continue working safely and successfully in agriculture; and second, to strengthen youth farm safety by ensuring that people who work with youth, or teach youth in agricultural settings, have access to robust educational materials and certification-focused resources.

On the AgrAbility side, the program is designed to support efforts that help individuals with disabilities remain productive in agricultural work. In practice, this typically involves education, outreach, and applied assistance that reduces barriers to participation in farming and ranching. The emphasis is on increasing the likelihood of "success," which commonly includes safe work practices, better access to adaptive tools or techniques, and improved understanding among service providers and agricultural communities about disability-related needs in farm environments. While the notice itself provides a high-level description, it signals a strong intent to combine agricultural extension capacity with practical, on-the-ground support.

On the Youth Farm Safety side, the opportunity highlights the need for comprehensive educational resources and certification in youth farm safety. The focus is on equipping those who supervise, train, or educate youth with materials and structured programming that can improve safety outcomes. This suggests activities such as developing or distributing curricula, training instructors, expanding access to standardized safety content, and supporting certification approaches that help ensure consistent safety knowledge for youth working or learning in agricultural settings.

Funding for the opportunity was estimated at $4.3 million total, with individual awards expected to fall between $100,000 (award floor) and $300,000 (award ceiling). There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed, which generally lowers the barrier for eligible institutions to apply because they are not required to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of receiving an award. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary, meaning awards are made through a competitive or selection-based process rather than by formula.

Eligibility is limited to Cooperative Extension entities at specific land-grant institutions: 1890 Land Grant Institutions (including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University), 1862 Land Grant Colleges and Universities, and the University of the District of Columbia. In other words, the opportunity is structured around the land-grant extension system, reflecting NIFA's role in supporting extension-led education and outreach. The listing indicates "Others" in the eligible applicants field but clarifies eligibility in the narrative, so the practical takeaway is that applicants should be within the specified extension and land-grant university framework unless the full RFA states additional eligible categories.

Key dates in the public listing show the opportunity posted and created on March 20, 2013, with an original and current closing date of May 8, 2013, and an archive date of June 7, 2013. The notice also states that application deadlines may vary by program area and directs applicants to the Request for Applications (RFA) for the exact deadline structure. It also notes that applications for the National AgrAbility Project (NAP) and State/Regional AgrAbility Projects (SRAPs) eligible for continuation awards would be solicited separately, meaning there are distinct solicitations or tracks rather than one single application covering all components.

For support, the contact information points applicants to the NIFA Help Desk (202-401-5048) for assistance accessing the full announcement, with business hours listed as Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays, and it indicates that additional help is available for application content questions. The Additional Information link referenced in the announcement would typically be the place to find the full RFA, detailed requirements, evaluation criteria, allowable activities, and any program-specific submission instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - AgrAbility and Youth Farm Safety Grant (USDA NIFA SLBCD 004208)

What is the AgrAbility and Youth Farm Safety grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports work in the agriculture and employment/labor/training space through Cooperative Extension (CFDA 10.500).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA SLBCD 004208.

What is the overall purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is twofold: (1) improve the chances that farmers, ranchers, farm workers, and farm family members with disabilities can continue working safely and successfully in agriculture; and (2) strengthen youth farm safety by expanding access to strong educational materials and certification-focused safety resources for people who work with or teach youth in agricultural settings.

What does the AgrAbility component focus on?

The AgrAbility side focuses on supporting efforts that help individuals with disabilities remain productive in agricultural work. The description emphasizes education, outreach, and applied assistance that reduce barriers to participation in farming and ranching, including practical approaches that promote safe work practices and support adaptive tools or techniques.

Who is intended to benefit from the AgrAbility component?

The intended beneficiaries include farmers, ranchers, farm workers, and farm family members with disabilities who want to continue working safely and successfully in agriculture.

What kinds of activities are suggested under the AgrAbility component?

Based on the description, typical activities may include education, outreach, and applied assistance to reduce participation barriers in farm and ranch settings, and efforts that improve safe work practices and access to adaptive tools or techniques.

What does the Youth Farm Safety component focus on?

The Youth Farm Safety side focuses on comprehensive educational resources and certification in youth farm safety, with an emphasis on equipping people who supervise, train, or educate youth in agricultural settings with robust materials and structured programming.

Who is intended to benefit from the Youth Farm Safety component?

The primary audience described is people who work with youth or teach youth in agricultural settings (such as supervisors, trainers, and educators), by ensuring they can access educational materials and certification-focused resources that improve safety outcomes for youth.

What types of Youth Farm Safety activities are implied by the listing?

The listing suggests activities such as developing or distributing curricula, training instructors, expanding access to standardized safety content, and supporting certification approaches intended to promote consistent safety knowledge for youth working or learning in agriculture.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is tied to CFDA 10.500, Cooperative Extension Service.

What type of funding instrument is used for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant.

Is this a discretionary or formula program?

This opportunity is categorized as discretionary, meaning awards are made through a competitive or selection-based process rather than by formula.

How much total funding was estimated to be available?

Total estimated funding was approximately $4.3 million.

What is the expected award size?

Individual awards were expected to range from $100,000 (award floor) to $300,000 (award ceiling).

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement was listed in the provided information.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to Cooperative Extension entities at specific land-grant institutions: 1890 Land Grant Institutions (including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University), 1862 Land Grant Colleges and Universities, and the University of the District of Columbia.

The listing shows "Others" as eligible applicants. Does that mean anyone can apply?

The narrative clarification indicates eligibility is practically confined to the specified Cooperative Extension and land-grant university framework. The listing may display "Others," but the stated eligibility is limited to the land-grant Extension entities described unless the full RFA provides additional eligible categories.

When was the opportunity posted and created?

The opportunity was posted and created on March 20, 2013.

What were the closing dates for this opportunity?

The original closing date and the current closing date shown were both May 8, 2013.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date listed was June 7, 2013.

Do application deadlines vary for different program areas?

Yes. The notice states that application deadlines may vary by program area and directs applicants to the Request for Applications (RFA) for the exact deadline structure.

Where should applicants look for the full details and official requirements?

Applicants are directed to the full Request for Applications (RFA) and the Additional Information link referenced in the announcement, which would typically contain detailed requirements, evaluation criteria, allowable activities, and any program-specific submission instructions.

Are the National AgrAbility Project (NAP) and State/Regional AgrAbility Projects (SRAPs) included in the same solicitation?

The notice indicates that applications for the National AgrAbility Project (NAP) and State/Regional AgrAbility Projects (SRAPs) eligible for continuation awards would be solicited separately, suggesting distinct solicitations or tracks rather than one single application covering all components.

Who can help if an applicant cannot access the full announcement?

The contact listed for help accessing the full announcement is the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048.

What are the NIFA Help Desk hours?

Business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.

Is there support available for application content questions?

Yes. The notice indicates that additional help is available for application content questions.

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