Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA FBMB 004523
Apply for USDA NIFA FBMB 004523
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.319 Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Competitive Grants Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 24, 2014 and posted on Apr 24, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 30, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,300,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may be submitted by numerous entities. Pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 450 i(b)(7), eligible applicants means (A) State agricultural experiment stations (B) Colleges and universities (C) University research foundations (D) Other research institutions and organizations (E) Federal agencies (F) National laboratories (G) Private organizations or corporations (H) Individuals or (I) Any group consisting of two (2) or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (H).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its core purpose is to strengthen the business and financial management capacity of agricultural producers while also building a stronger national foundation for farm financial benchmarking. In practical terms, the program supports efforts that help farmers and ranchers make better-informed management decisions, and it also supports the creation and ongoing upkeep of a national, publicly available farm financial management database that can be used to compare performance, identify strengths and weaknesses, and guide improvements across the farm sector.
This opportunity was released under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA FBMB 004523 and is listed under CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 10.319, Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Competitive Grants Program. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is agriculture. USDA NIFA estimated total program funding at $1,300,000 for this competition. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for applicants, which means proposals are not required to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of eligibility, though applicants could still propose leveraged resources if it strengthens the project design.
The competition’s timeline shows it was posted and created on April 24, 2014, with an application deadline of May 30, 2014. The opportunity was later archived on June 29, 2014. While those dates indicate this specific announcement is no longer open, the details still describe how NIFA framed the program goals and the kinds of organizations that were allowed to apply under the authorizing statute.
Eligibility for submission is broad and is defined by 7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(7). Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; individuals; and partnerships or groups made up of two or more of these eligible entity types. The listing also notes that the formal clarification is contained in the announcement’s eligibility section, meaning applicants would be expected to confirm their fit with the statutory categories and any additional requirements described in the full notice.
From a program design standpoint, the FBMB grant emphasizes two connected outcomes. First, it aims to improve producers’ farm management knowledge and skills, which typically involves applied education, decision-support tools, training curricula, technical assistance, and outreach that translate financial concepts into day-to-day operational planning. Second, it supports the development and maintenance of a national farm financial management database that is publicly available, which implies a focus on consistent data collection, standardized financial measures, benchmarking methods, data quality control, and a platform or system that can be accessed by the public to support analysis and learning. Together, these outcomes reflect a strategy of improving individual business decisions on farms while also improving the broader information infrastructure that producers, educators, and researchers can use to understand financial performance and management practices across regions and commodities.
For assistance, the opportunity points applicants to the NIFA Help Desk for issues accessing the full announcement electronically, with phone support at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays). The notice also indicates there is additional contact support for questions related to preparing application content, with the details presumably provided in the complete announcement.
Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program: FAQs
What is the Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program?
The Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It is designed to strengthen the business and financial management capacity of agricultural producers and to build a stronger national foundation for farm financial benchmarking.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The program has two connected purposes: (1) help farmers and ranchers make better-informed management decisions by improving business and financial management knowledge and skills, and (2) support the creation and ongoing maintenance of a national, publicly available farm financial management database that enables benchmarking and performance comparison across the farm sector.
What kinds of outcomes does FBMB emphasize?
FBMB emphasizes improving producer-level management capacity (knowledge, skills, and decision-making) while also strengthening the national infrastructure for farm financial benchmarking through a consistent, publicly available database.
What types of projects are supported under the goal of improving farm business and financial management capacity?
The opportunity description points to efforts such as applied education, decision-support tools, training curricula, technical assistance, and outreach that translate financial concepts into practical day-to-day operational planning and management decisions for farmers and ranchers.
What types of projects are supported under the goal of building a national benchmarking database?
The grant supports development and maintenance of a national farm financial management database that is publicly available. This implies work involving consistent data collection, standardized financial measures, benchmarking methods, data quality control, and a platform or system that the public can access for analysis and learning.
Is the farm financial management database expected to be publicly available?
Yes. The opportunity description explicitly states the program supports a national, publicly available farm financial management database.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by USDA NIFA (U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is USDA NIFA FBMB 004523.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA (now called Assistance Listing) 10.319, Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Competitive Grants Program.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is agriculture.
How much total funding was estimated for this competition?
USDA NIFA estimated total program funding at $1,300,000 for this competition.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated for applicants in the information provided. Proposals are not required to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of eligibility based on the description, although applicants could still propose leveraged resources if it strengthens the project design.
When was this opportunity posted, and what was the application deadline?
The opportunity was posted (and created) on April 24, 2014. The application deadline was May 30, 2014.
Is this specific funding opportunity currently open?
No. The timeline indicates the opportunity was archived on June 29, 2014, and the application deadline was May 30, 2014, so this specific announcement is no longer open.
What law or statutory provision defines eligibility for submission?
Eligibility for submission is defined by 7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(7).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include: state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; individuals; and partnerships or groups made up of two or more of these eligible entity types.
Can partnerships or groups apply?
Yes. Partnerships or groups composed of two or more eligible entity types are included in the eligibility list.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
Yes. Individuals are included in the eligibility list provided.
Are private organizations or corporations eligible to apply?
Yes. Private organizations or corporations are listed as eligible applicants.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Federal agencies are included among eligible applicants.
Where should applicants look for the formal eligibility clarification?
The listing notes that formal clarification is contained in the announcement's eligibility section, and applicants would be expected to confirm their fit with the statutory categories and any additional requirements described in the full notice.
What does "benchmarking" mean in the context of this program?
Based on the opportunity description, benchmarking refers to using standardized farm financial measures in a national database to compare performance, identify strengths and weaknesses, and guide improvements across farms, regions, and commodities.
What is the practical benefit to farmers and ranchers?
In practical terms, the program supports efforts that help producers make better-informed business and financial management decisions and provides a public database that can be used to compare performance and identify areas for improvement.
What kind of help is available if someone cannot access the full announcement electronically?
The opportunity directs applicants to the NIFA Help Desk for issues accessing the full announcement electronically.
How can the NIFA Help Desk be reached, and what are the hours?
The NIFA Help Desk phone number listed is 202-401-5048. Support hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays.
Is there a contact for questions about preparing application content?
Yes. The notice indicates there is additional contact support for questions related to preparing application content, with details provided in the complete announcement.
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