Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA RMA RME 2008 03
Apply for USDA RMA RME 2008 03
- The Risk Management Agency in the agriculture education other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Commodity Partnerships Small Sessions Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 30, 2008 and posted on Jan 30, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 24, 2008 Applications are due 5 p.m. EDT. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for funding.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants include State departments of agriculture, universities, non profit agricultural organizations, and other public or private organizations with the capacity to lead a local program of risk management education for farmers and ranchers in an RMA Region. Individuals are not eligible applicants.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Commodity Partnerships Small Sessions Program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency (USDA RMA) cooperative agreement opportunity run under the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). It sets aside about $500,000 in total funding (depending on final availability of funds) to support small, local training sessions that teach U.S. farmers and ranchers practical ways to manage production, marketing, and financial risk. The key emphasis is on delivering risk management education in smaller, more targeted settings rather than large conferences, with a clear intent to reach producers who may not be well served by traditional crop insurance and outreach channels.
A major priority of the program is education for producers of crops that are not insurable under Federal crop insurance, along with specialty crops and other underserved commodities. The notice specifically calls out livestock and forage as examples of underserved areas. In other words, projects that help these producers understand and apply risk management tools, planning methods, and decision-making strategies are expected to be more competitive than projects aimed at already well-served, widely insured crops.
Funding is structured to spread relatively small awards across the country. USDA RMA expects to make up to 50 cooperative partnership agreements total, with five awards allocated in each of ten designated RMA Regions. The maximum award size (the award ceiling) is $10,000 per agreement, and there is no stated minimum award (award floor listed as $0). There is also no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the barrier for eligible organizations that may not have cash match available. Because the award size is modest, the program is best suited for focused, concrete activities such as workshops, clinics, short courses, or other small-session formats where the project can show direct producer learning outcomes.
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, which matters for how projects are run. Award recipients must show that the partnership produces nonfinancial benefits and must accept substantial involvement by RMA in the project. Practically, that means RMA is not only providing funding but is also expected to be actively engaged in the work, such as coordinating, providing input on content, helping align sessions with regional priorities, or otherwise participating in a meaningful way consistent with cooperative agreement rules.
Eligibility is limited to organizations with the capacity to lead a local risk management education program for producers within an RMA Region. Examples listed include state departments of agriculture, universities, nonprofit agricultural organizations, and other public or private organizations that can carry out the work. Individuals are explicitly not eligible to apply. The activity category is agricultural risk management education, and the broader opportunity is listed as discretionary funding.
The announcement also notes that funding for this program may be released around the same time as several related but separate RMA programs, identified by CFDA numbers 10.455, 10.456, 10.457, and 10.458. Applicants are cautioned to compare the different notices carefully, since each program can have different goals, target audiences, and allowable activities even if the topics overlap.
For the 2008 cycle described in the notice, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA RMA RME 2008 03) was posted January 30, 2008, with applications due March 24, 2008 by 5 p.m. EDT. Late applications were not accepted, and the opportunity was archived April 23, 2008. The full announcement and application kit were available through the additional information link referenced in the notice, and applicants were directed to consult that full package for detailed requirements, forms, and submission instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Commodity Partnerships Small Sessions Program?
The Commodity Partnerships Small Sessions Program is a USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) cooperative agreement opportunity run under the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). It supports small, local training sessions that teach U.S. farmers and ranchers practical ways to manage production, marketing, and financial risk.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The main purpose is to deliver risk management education in smaller, more targeted settings (rather than large conferences), with a clear intent to reach producers who may not be well served by traditional crop insurance and outreach channels.
What kinds of risks are the training sessions meant to address?
The sessions are intended to help producers manage production risk, marketing risk, and financial risk through practical tools, planning methods, and decision-making strategies.
What types of activities does the program fund?
The program is best suited for focused, concrete small-session activities such as workshops, clinics, short courses, or other similar formats where direct producer learning outcomes can be demonstrated.
How much total funding is available?
About $500,000 in total funding is set aside, depending on final availability of funds.
How many awards does USDA RMA expect to make?
USDA RMA expects to make up to 50 cooperative partnership agreements in total.
How are awards distributed geographically?
Five awards are allocated in each of ten designated RMA Regions, for a total of up to 50 awards nationwide.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award size (award ceiling) is $10,000 per cooperative agreement.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount is stated. The award floor is listed as $0.
Is there a matching or cost-share requirement?
No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.
Why does the notice emphasize "small sessions" instead of conferences?
The program emphasizes smaller, more targeted settings to better reach producers who may not be effectively reached through traditional crop insurance and outreach channels, and to support direct, practical learning outcomes in local settings.
Who is the program trying to reach?
A key intent is to reach producers who may not be well served by traditional crop insurance and outreach channels, with added emphasis on underserved commodities.
What commodities are considered a priority for this program?
A major priority is education for producers of crops that are not insurable under Federal crop insurance, along with specialty crops and other underserved commodities. The notice specifically calls out livestock and forage as examples of underserved areas.
Are projects focused on widely insured crops less competitive?
The notice indicates that projects helping underserved producers (including those producing non-insurable crops, specialty crops, and underserved commodities such as livestock and forage) are expected to be more competitive than projects aimed at already well-served, widely insured crops.
What type of federal funding instrument is used?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant.
Why does it matter that this is a cooperative agreement?
Under a cooperative agreement, award recipients must accept substantial involvement by USDA RMA in the project. RMA is expected to be actively engaged in meaningful ways, such as coordinating, providing input on content, helping align sessions with regional priorities, or otherwise participating consistent with cooperative agreement requirements.
What does the notice mean by "nonfinancial benefits" of the partnership?
The notice states that recipients must show that the partnership produces nonfinancial benefits. The notice does not define these benefits in detail, but it frames the partnership as more than funding alone, with RMA involvement as a key feature.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to organizations that have the capacity to lead a local risk management education program for producers within an RMA Region.
What types of organizations are listed as eligible examples?
Examples include state departments of agriculture, universities, nonprofit agricultural organizations, and other public or private organizations that can carry out the work.
Can an individual farmer or rancher apply directly?
No. Individuals are explicitly not eligible to apply.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is agricultural risk management education.
How is this opportunity classified in terms of funding type?
The broader opportunity is listed as discretionary funding.
Are there related USDA RMA opportunities that may be released at the same time?
Yes. The announcement notes that funding for this program may be released around the same time as several related but separate RMA programs identified by CFDA numbers 10.455, 10.456, 10.457, and 10.458.
What should applicants do if they are considering multiple RMA notices?
Applicants are cautioned to compare the different notices carefully, because each program can have different goals, target audiences, and allowable activities even if the topics overlap.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for the 2008 cycle described?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA RMA RME 2008 03.
When was the 2008 opportunity posted?
It was posted on January 30, 2008.
What was the application deadline for the 2008 cycle?
Applications were due March 24, 2008 by 5 p.m. EDT.
Were late applications accepted?
No. Late applications were not accepted.
When was the 2008 opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on April 23, 2008.
Where were applicants directed to find the full requirements and application materials?
The full announcement and application kit were available through the additional information link referenced in the notice. Applicants were directed to consult that full package for detailed requirements, forms, and submission instructions.
What is the key design idea behind the award sizes?
Funding is structured to spread relatively small awards across the country, with modest award amounts intended to support small-session training that is focused and locally delivered.
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