Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 003356
Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 003356
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.311 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 26, 2010 and posted on Oct 26, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 22, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $19,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may be submitted by a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based network or partnership of public and/or private entities. These collaborations may include the following entities State Cooperative Extension Services Federal, State, or tribal agencies community based organizations nongovernmental organizations junior and four year colleges or universities or foundations maintained by a college or university private for profit organizations and other appropriate partners. Inclusion of beginning and/or non beginning farmers and ranchers as part of the collaborative group is strongly encouraged. Applications submitted by individuals are not eligible for consideration under any category applicable to the BFRDP.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.311. It was created in response to a major demographic shift in U.S. agriculture: a large share of current farmers are expected to retire within the next decade, and the average farm operator is already older (the 2007 Census of Agriculture put the average age at 57). Farmers over 55 control more than half of U.S. farmland, which raises concerns about farm succession, land access, and the long-term stability of domestic food and fiber production. At the same time, the program recognizes that the farming landscape is changing in other ways, too, including growth in the number of new farmers and ranchers who begin after age 35 and continued increases in smaller farm operations. BFRDP is meant to help the next generation step into these roles with practical training, education, and support systems that improve their odds of success.
Legally, the program is grounded in federal farm bill authority. Section 7410 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-234) amended Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to authorize and fund this effort. In the funding cycle described in the announcement, Congress made significant resources available for this purpose, and the notice lists an estimated total funding amount of $19,000,000 for the opportunity (with an earlier reference to $17.2 million being made available in Fiscal Year 2009 through the underlying legislation). The program uses a clear definition of who it is designed to serve: a "beginning" farm or ranch is one operated by one or more operators with 10 years or less experience operating a farm or ranch. The notice also points out that about 21 percent of family farms met this definition in 2007, underscoring how many operations could potentially benefit from targeted development and training.
BFRDP awards are grants, and they come with a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources as part of the project budget. Rather than funding individuals directly, the program is designed to strengthen the training and support pipeline by funding collaborative networks and partnerships that can reach beginning producers more effectively than a single organization acting alone. Eligible applicants are collaborative, state, tribal, local, or regionally based partnerships of public and/or private entities. The announcement lists common partners such as State Cooperative Extension Services; federal, state, or tribal agencies; community-based organizations; nongovernmental organizations; two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including foundations maintained by a college or university); and even private for-profit organizations when appropriate to the project. A notable emphasis is that including beginning and non-beginning farmers and ranchers as part of the partnership is strongly encouraged, which signals that projects are expected to be grounded in real producer needs and informed by practical experience. Applications submitted by individuals are explicitly not eligible, reinforcing that the program is meant to build coordinated training systems rather than fund standalone personal projects.
From an implementation standpoint, the opportunity was posted on October 26, 2010, with a closing deadline of December 22, 2010, and it was archived on January 24, 2011. The listing also provides a support contact for applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically via the NIFA Help Desk (202-401-5048, business hours weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays). Overall, the grant opportunity reflects a strategic federal investment in preparing new and transitioning farmers and ranchers to enter the industry, remain viable, and navigate the complex challenges of land access, business management, and farm and ranch operations as a major generational turnover unfolds across U.S. agriculture.
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) FAQs
What is the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)?
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is a discretionary federal grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), under CFDA 10.311. It is designed to strengthen education, training, mentoring, and support systems that help beginning farmers and ranchers succeed.
Why was BFRDP created?
BFRDP was created in response to major demographic shifts in U.S. agriculture, including the expectation that many current farmers will retire within the next decade and that the average farm operator is already older (the 2007 Census of Agriculture reported an average operator age of 57). The program responds to concerns about farm succession, land access, and the long-term stability of domestic food and fiber production, especially since farmers over age 55 control more than half of U.S. farmland.
What kinds of changes in agriculture does the program recognize?
The program acknowledges that the farming landscape is changing in multiple ways, including growth in the number of new farmers and ranchers who start after age 35 and continued increases in smaller farm operations. BFRDP is intended to help the next generation enter and remain viable in agriculture through practical training and support.
What is the legal authority for BFRDP?
The program is grounded in federal farm bill authority. Section 7410 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-234) amended Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to authorize and fund the program.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The notice lists an estimated total funding amount of $19,000,000 for the opportunity. The description also references an earlier figure of $17.2 million being made available in Fiscal Year 2009 through the underlying legislation.
What type of financial assistance does BFRDP provide?
BFRDP provides grant awards. The opportunity is described as a discretionary federal grant program administered by USDA NIFA.
Is there a cost-share or matching requirement?
Yes. BFRDP awards come with a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources as part of the overall project budget.
Who is considered a "beginning" farmer or rancher for this program?
The program defines a beginning farm or ranch as one operated by one or more operators with 10 years or less experience operating a farm or ranch.
How common are beginning farms according to the notice?
The notice states that about 21 percent of family farms met the program's definition of beginning in 2007, highlighting the large number of operations that could potentially benefit from targeted training and development support.
Does BFRDP fund individual farmers or ranchers directly?
No. The opportunity is designed to strengthen the training and support pipeline by funding collaborative networks and partnerships. Applications submitted by individuals are explicitly not eligible.
Who is eligible to apply for BFRDP grants?
Eligible applicants are collaborative, state, tribal, local, or regionally based partnerships of public and/or private entities. The program is structured around coordinated partnerships rather than single-person applicants.
What kinds of partners are commonly included in eligible applications?
The announcement lists common partners such as State Cooperative Extension Services; federal, state, or tribal agencies; community-based organizations; nongovernmental organizations; two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including foundations maintained by a college or university); and private for-profit organizations when appropriate to the project.
Are private for-profit organizations allowed to participate?
Yes. The notice indicates that private for-profit organizations may be included as partners when appropriate to the project.
Is it required or encouraged to include farmers and ranchers in the partnership?
Including beginning and non-beginning farmers and ranchers as part of the partnership is strongly encouraged. This signals that projects are expected to reflect real producer needs and be informed by practical experience.
What is the overall purpose of funding partnerships instead of individuals?
The program is intended to build coordinated training systems and support networks that can reach beginning producers more effectively than a single organization acting alone. The emphasis is on collaborative networks that improve the odds of success for new and transitioning farmers and ranchers.
When was this grant opportunity posted and when was it due?
The opportunity was posted on October 26, 2010, with a closing deadline of December 22, 2010.
When was this opportunity archived?
The listing indicates the opportunity was archived on January 24, 2011.
Who can applicants contact if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?
The listing provides the NIFA Help Desk as the support contact for applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically: 202-401-5048.
What are the NIFA Help Desk hours for this opportunity?
The notice lists business hours as weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays.
What major issues in farming is BFRDP meant to address?
The opportunity description emphasizes challenges tied to generational turnover and long-term sector stability, including farm succession, land access, and the need for practical training and support systems that help beginning farmers and ranchers enter the industry and remain viable.
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