Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA CSREES BFR 002115
Apply for USDA CSREES BFR 002115
- The CSREES in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development" 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 May 14, 2009 and posted on Mar 13, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 18, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $17,280,000.00 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 or private entities. These collaborations may include the following entities State cooperative extension services Federal, State, or tribal agencies community based and 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. Individuals are not eligible for consideration under any category applicable to the BFRDP program.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program (BFRDP) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered through USDA CSREES (now part of USDA NIFA) designed to strengthen the long-term success of beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States. The central aim is practical and outcomes-focused: help new and early-stage producers, and when appropriate their families, gain the knowledge, skills, and decision-making tools they need to start, improve, and sustain viable farm or ranch operations. In plain terms, the program backs training, education, and technical assistance efforts that make it more likely that new producers can navigate the real business, production, and management challenges that come with launching and growing an agricultural operation.
This opportunity was published under Funding Opportunity Number USDA CSREES BFR 002115 and is tied to CFDA 10.311 (Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program). The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is agriculture. The program required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants generally needed to bring partner resources to the table rather than relying entirely on federal dollars. For this cycle, the estimated total funding available was about $17.28 million. Key dates listed for the archived announcement include a posted date of March 13, 2009, an original closing date of May 13, 2009, and a revised closing date of May 18, 2009, with the opportunity later archived on February 17, 2010.
Eligibility is structured around collaboration rather than individual applicants. Proposals could be submitted by a collaborative, state-, tribal-, local-, or regionally based network or partnership made up of public and/or private entities. The announcement explicitly points to the kinds of partners that can be part of a collaboration, including state cooperative extension services; federal, state, or tribal agencies; community-based organizations and nonprofits; two-year and four-year colleges and universities (and foundations maintained by a college or university); and private for-profit organizations, along with other appropriate partners. While individuals are not eligible to apply on their own under any category, the program strongly encourages collaborations to include beginning and/or non-beginning farmers and ranchers as active participants in the partnership, which helps ensure the training and services reflect real-world needs.
From a practical standpoint, the grant is meant to support projects that build capacity for beginning producers through structured education and support systems. While the notice summarizes the purpose at a high level, the intent is clear: fund coordinated programs that help new farmers and ranchers make informed operational decisions, improve their chances of economic and managerial success, and establish a stronger foundation for continuing in agriculture. Projects typically align with delivering hands-on training, mentorship, business and financial planning support, production and conservation practices guidance, marketing and risk management education, and other farm or ranch management competencies that are especially critical in the early years of an operation.
For access and assistance, the announcement lists the CSREES Help Desk as the point of contact for technical difficulty accessing the full announcement, with a phone number of 202-401-5048 during weekday business hours (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). The listing also notes there was support available for questions related to preparing application content, indicating applicants could seek guidance beyond purely technical access issues.
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program (BFRDP) - FAQs
1) What is the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program (BFRDP)?
The Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program (BFRDP) is a discretionary USDA grant opportunity (originally through USDA CSREES, now part of USDA NIFA) that supports training, education, and technical assistance efforts designed to improve the long-term success of beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States.
2) What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The central aim is practical and outcomes-focused: help new and early-stage producers, and when appropriate their families, gain the knowledge, skills, and decision-making tools needed to start, improve, and sustain viable farm or ranch operations. The program backs coordinated efforts that make it more likely new producers can navigate real business, production, and management challenges.
3) What kinds of activities does BFRDP funding support?
Based on the opportunity description, projects are intended to build capacity for beginning producers through structured education and support systems. Typical alignments include hands-on training, mentorship, business and financial planning support, guidance on production and conservation practices, marketing and risk management education, and other farm or ranch management competencies that are especially critical in the early years of an operation.
4) Is this opportunity focused on farming, ranching, or both?
Both. The program is explicitly designed to strengthen the long-term success of beginning farmers and beginning ranchers.
5) Who is this grant intended to benefit?
The intended beneficiaries are beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States. The description also notes that, when appropriate, the program can support efforts that include their families as part of strengthening skills and decision-making for a viable operation.
6) Can an individual beginning farmer or rancher apply directly?
No. The announcement states that individuals are not eligible to apply on their own under any category.
7) Who is eligible to submit a proposal?
Proposals could be submitted by a collaborative, state-, tribal-, local-, or regionally based network or partnership made up of public and/or private entities. Eligibility is structured around collaboration rather than individual applicants.
8) What types of organizations can be part of an eligible collaboration?
The announcement identifies multiple examples of eligible partners, including:
- State cooperative extension services
- Federal, state, or tribal agencies
- Community-based organizations and nonprofits
- Two-year and four-year colleges and universities
- Foundations maintained by a college or university
- Private for-profit organizations
- Other appropriate partners
9) Are beginning farmers and ranchers expected to be involved in the partnership?
While individuals cannot apply on their own, the program strongly encourages collaborations to include beginning and/or non-beginning farmers and ranchers as active participants. This is intended to help ensure training and services reflect real-world needs.
10) What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument listed is a grant.
11) What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The activity category is agriculture.
12) Does the program require cost sharing or matching?
Yes. The program required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants generally needed to bring partner resources rather than relying entirely on federal dollars.
13) How much funding was available for this cycle?
The estimated total funding available for this cycle was about $17.28 million.
14) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The opportunity was published under Funding Opportunity Number USDA CSREES BFR 002115.
15) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The listing is tied to CFDA 10.311 (Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program).
16) When was this opportunity posted?
The archived announcement lists a posted date of March 13, 2009.
17) What were the application deadline(s)?
The original closing date was May 13, 2009, and the revised closing date was May 18, 2009.
18) Is this opportunity still open?
No. The listing indicates the opportunity was later archived on February 17, 2010.
19) What should applicants do if they have technical difficulty accessing the full announcement?
The announcement lists the CSREES Help Desk as the point of contact for technical difficulty accessing the full announcement.
20) What is the CSREES Help Desk phone number and availability?
The CSREES Help Desk phone number provided is 202-401-5048. The hours listed are weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
21) Was any support available for application preparation questions (not just technical access issues)?
Yes. The listing notes there was support available for questions related to preparing application content, indicating applicants could seek guidance beyond purely technical access issues.
22) What is the overall emphasis of BFRDP-supported projects?
The emphasis is on coordinated programs that help beginning producers make informed operational decisions, improve their chances of economic and managerial success, and establish a stronger foundation for continuing in agriculture.
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