Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 003541
Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 003541
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Beginning Farmer 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 Sep 22, 2011 and posted on Sep 22, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 22, 2011. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 35 candidate(s).
- 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 qualified 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 grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) designed to help new and early-stage farmers, ranchers, and beginning forest landowners across the United States and its territories. The program focuses on practical, hands-on capacity building by funding education and support activities that make it easier for people to enter agriculture, get established, and then grow into stable, well-managed farm and ranch businesses. In practical terms, BFRDP dollars are intended to strengthen the training pipeline for new producers by supporting things like educational outreach curricula, workshops, coordinated education teams, structured training programs, and ongoing technical assistance.
The core purpose of the opportunity is workforce and enterprise development in agriculture: helping beginning producers build the skills and support networks needed to start and sustain viable operations. Projects funded under this program typically emphasize business planning, production and management skills, marketing and value-chain knowledge, regulatory and risk management awareness, and long-term operational decision-making. While the announcement language is broad, the overall intent is clear: fund organizations that can deliver high-quality education and technical support that leads to real-world outcomes for beginning producers, such as improved farm management capacity, stronger business fundamentals, and better odds of long-term success.
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA BFR 003541) was offered as a grant under the Agriculture funding activity category (CFDA 10.311). NIFA anticipated making about 35 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of $19,000,000. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applied, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources toward the total project budget as part of the award structure.
Eligibility is centered on collaborative, partnership-based applications rather than individual applicants. Proposals could be submitted by a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regional network or partnership made up of qualified public and/or private entities. Examples of eligible partners include State Cooperative Extension Services; federal, state, or tribal agencies; community-based organizations; nongovernmental organizations; junior colleges and four-year colleges or universities (including foundations maintained by a college or university); and private for-profit organizations, along with other appropriate partners. Although not strictly required, the program strongly encouraged partnerships to include beginning and/or non-beginning farmers and ranchers as part of the collaborative group, reinforcing the idea that projects should be grounded in on-the-ground experience and real producer needs. Applications from individuals were explicitly not eligible in any category.
Key timing details from the posted opportunity show it was originally posted on September 22, 2011, with an application closing date of November 22, 2011, and an archive date of March 22, 2012. For applicants needing support accessing the announcement or preparing an application, NIFA directed technical access questions to the NIFA Help Desk (202-401-5048) during standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays), and referenced an additional information link to the BFRDP FY 2012 Request for Applications (RFA) for full program details and instructions.
Overall, BFRDP is best understood as a capacity-building grant program that funds partnerships capable of delivering coordinated education, training, and technical assistance that help beginning producers move from interest and entry to establishment and long-term farm or ranch viability.
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) FAQs
What is the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)?
BFRDP is a discretionary grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It funds education, training, outreach, and technical assistance designed to help new and early-stage farmers, ranchers, and beginning forest landowners enter agriculture, get established, and build viable, well-managed operations.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The core purpose is workforce and enterprise development in agriculture. The program supports practical, hands-on capacity building that strengthens the training pipeline for beginning producers and improves their chances of long-term success.
Who does BFRDP aim to serve?
The program is intended to benefit new and early-stage farmers, ranchers, and beginning forest landowners across the United States and its territories by improving access to training and ongoing support.
What types of activities can BFRDP funding support?
Based on the opportunity description, BFRDP dollars are intended to support education and support activities such as educational outreach curricula, workshops, coordinated education teams, structured training programs, and ongoing technical assistance.
What skills or topics are typically emphasized in BFRDP-funded projects?
Projects typically emphasize business planning; production and management skills; marketing and value-chain knowledge; regulatory and risk management awareness; and long-term operational decision-making that helps beginning producers develop stable farm or ranch businesses.
What real-world outcomes does the program intend to achieve?
The intent is to fund organizations that deliver education and technical support leading to real outcomes for beginning producers, such as improved farm management capacity, stronger business fundamentals, and better odds of sustaining long-term operations.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program posting?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is USDA NIFA BFR 003541.
What is the CFDA number and funding activity category associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity was listed under the Agriculture funding activity category with CFDA 10.311.
How much funding was expected to be available, and how many awards were anticipated?
NIFA anticipated making about 35 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of $19,000,000.
Is there a cost-share or matching requirement?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applied, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources toward the total project budget.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is centered on collaborative, partnership-based applications. Proposals could be submitted by a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regional network or partnership made up of qualified public and/or private entities.
Are individual applicants eligible to apply?
No. Applications from individuals were explicitly not eligible in any category.
What types of organizations can be part of an eligible partnership?
Examples listed include State Cooperative Extension Services; federal, state, or tribal agencies; community-based organizations; nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); junior colleges and four-year colleges or universities (including foundations maintained by a college or university); private for-profit organizations; and other appropriate partners.
Does the program require farmer or rancher participation in the partnership?
It was not strictly required, but the program strongly encouraged partnerships to include beginning and/or non-beginning farmers and ranchers to ensure projects are grounded in real producer needs and on-the-ground experience.
What geographic areas does the program cover?
The program is designed to help beginning producers across the United States and its territories.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting date was September 22, 2011, and the application closing date was November 22, 2011.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date shown was March 22, 2012.
Where could applicants find full program details and instructions?
The announcement referenced an additional information link to the BFRDP FY 2012 Request for Applications (RFA) for full program details and instructions.
Who could applicants contact for technical help accessing the announcement or preparing an application?
NIFA directed technical access questions to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays).
What is the general way to describe BFRDP in plain terms?
BFRDP is best understood as a capacity-building grant program that funds partnerships capable of delivering coordinated education, training, and technical assistance to help beginning producers move from initial entry to long-term farm or ranch viability.
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