Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 011336
Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 011336
- 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.311, funds projects designed to help beginning farmers and ranchers across the United States and its territories start farming or ranching, strengthen their early-stage operations, and improve long-term viability. The program focuses on practical support that builds decision-making capacity and business resilience, especially through education, outreach, and technical assistance. BFRDP also includes support for beginning farmers and ranchers involved in the management of nonindustrial private forest lands, with an emphasis on sustainability and sound operational management.
A key feature of this opportunity is that applications cannot be submitted by a single standalone organization or an individual. Proposals must come from a collaborative, state-, tribal-, local-, or regionally based network or partnership made up of qualified public and/or private entities. Eligible partners may include State Cooperative Extension Services, federal/state/municipal/tribal agencies, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, two- and four-year colleges and universities (or university foundations), and private for-profit organizations. While many combinations are allowed, collaboratives led by State Cooperative Extension Services or by government or tribal agencies receive priority in funding decisions. The program also strongly encourages including farmers and ranchers themselves (beginning and/or more experienced producers) as part of the collaborative partnership, which can strengthen relevance and credibility of the training and support being offered.
The NOFO places several restrictions on what can be submitted and who can apply, with eligibility enforced strictly at the application deadline. Projects that duplicate an existing beginning farmer project effort will not be accepted for review. NIFA also limits multiple awards to promote regional balance, stating that multiple awards will not be made to the same organization, institution, or Project Director within the same calendar year. In addition, organizations and institutions that received a regular standard grant or an education team grant in the last funding cycle (FY 2024) are not eligible to apply for this round. For project leadership, current Project Directors on active BFRDP awards may apply for a new award only when they are in the final year of their current project, and it is not allowable to run overlapping BFRDP projects where the prior award has not yet been terminated.
The notice also clarifies rules around the simplified standard grant option. Applicants are instructed not to apply for another simplified standard grant if they have previously received a simplified standard BFRDP grant. Simplified standard grants are intended for newer trainers and organizations that have not previously received grants and have no more than three years of experience assisting beginning farmers and ranchers. This is meant to broaden participation by helping newer training providers enter the federal grants space without competing directly under the same assumptions as long-established programs.
Even though only eligible collaborative partnerships can apply directly, award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not eligible applicants, as long as those subcontractors are necessary to carry out the proposed project work. The opportunity also includes a federal policy limitation: USDA will not accept competitive grant applications that propose dangerous gain-of-function research as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292. For applicants who submit more than one version of an application, NIFA will accept and review only the most recent submission.
Administrative details provided in the listing include the Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA BFR 011336, with the application deadline (Original Closing Date) of 2026-06-16. The award ceiling is $750,000. The opportunity is categorized as a mandatory grant within the agriculture funding activity area, and it is administered by USDA NIFA. The NOFO emphasizes that failing to meet any eligibility requirement by the deadline can lead to an application being excluded from consideration or, even if reviewed, can prevent NIFA from making an award.
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) FAQs
What is the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)?
BFRDP is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant program (Assistance Listing/CFDA 10.311) that funds projects designed to help beginning farmers and ranchers across the United States and its territories start farming or ranching, strengthen early-stage operations, and improve long-term viability.
What kinds of activities does BFRDP support?
The program emphasizes practical support that builds decision-making capacity and business resilience, especially through education, outreach, and technical assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers.
Does BFRDP support beginning farmers and ranchers working with forest lands?
Yes. BFRDP includes support for beginning farmers and ranchers involved in the management of nonindustrial private forest lands, with an emphasis on sustainability and sound operational management.
Can an individual farmer or a single standalone organization apply?
No. Applications cannot be submitted by an individual or by a single standalone organization. Proposals must be submitted by a collaborative network or partnership.
What type of partnership is required to apply?
Applicants must apply as a collaborative, state-, tribal-, local-, or regionally based network or partnership made up of qualified public and/or private entities.
Which entities may be included as eligible partners in a BFRDP collaborative?
Eligible partners may include State Cooperative Extension Services; federal, state, municipal, or tribal agencies; community-based organizations; non-governmental organizations; two- and four-year colleges and universities (or university foundations); and private for-profit organizations.
Are any types of collaboratives prioritized in funding decisions?
Yes. Collaboratives led by State Cooperative Extension Services or by government or tribal agencies receive priority in funding decisions.
Is it recommended to include farmers and ranchers in the partnership?
Yes. The opportunity strongly encourages including farmers and ranchers (beginning and/or more experienced producers) as part of the collaborative partnership, which can strengthen the relevance and credibility of the education, training, and support offered.
What happens if a proposed project duplicates an existing beginning farmer project effort?
Projects that duplicate an existing beginning farmer project effort will not be accepted for review.
Are there limits on receiving multiple BFRDP awards in the same year?
Yes. To promote regional balance, multiple awards will not be made to the same organization, institution, or Project Director within the same calendar year.
Who is not eligible due to prior awards in the last funding cycle?
Organizations and institutions that received a regular standard grant or an education team grant in the last funding cycle (FY 2024) are not eligible to apply for this round.
Can current Project Directors (PDs) on active BFRDP awards apply for a new award?
Yes, but only under limited conditions. Current PDs on active BFRDP awards may apply for a new award only when they are in the final year of their current project.
Are overlapping BFRDP projects allowed?
No. It is not allowable to run overlapping BFRDP projects where the prior award has not yet been terminated.
What is the simplified standard grant option?
The simplified standard grant option is intended for newer trainers and organizations that have not previously received grants and that have no more than three years of experience assisting beginning farmers and ranchers.
Can an applicant apply for another simplified standard grant if they previously received one?
No. Applicants are instructed not to apply for another simplified standard grant if they have previously received a simplified standard BFRDP grant.
Why does BFRDP offer a simplified standard grant option?
The simplified standard grant option is designed to broaden participation by helping newer training providers enter the federal grants space without competing directly under the same assumptions as long-established programs.
Can award recipients subcontract with organizations that are not eligible applicants?
Yes. Award recipients may subcontract with organizations that are not eligible applicants, as long as those subcontractors are necessary to carry out the proposed project work.
Is there a federal policy restriction related to dangerous gain-of-function research?
Yes. USDA will not accept competitive grant applications that propose dangerous gain-of-function research as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292.
If multiple versions of an application are submitted, which one will be reviewed?
If an applicant submits more than one version of an application, NIFA will accept and review only the most recent submission.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this BFRDP notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA BFR 011336.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline (Original Closing Date) is 2026-06-16.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $750,000.
Which USDA agency administers this program?
The program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What happens if eligibility requirements are not met by the deadline?
Eligibility is enforced strictly at the application deadline. Failing to meet any eligibility requirement by the deadline can lead to an application being excluded from consideration or, even if reviewed, can prevent NIFA from making an award.
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