Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA FBMB 003450
Apply for USDA NIFA FBMB 003450
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Farm Business Management and Benchmarking 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 Jun 3, 2011 and posted on May 25, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 27, 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 $1,400,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 450i(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 2 or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (H).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Program is a discretionary competitive grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.319. It is authorized in federal statute (7 U.S.C. 5925f) and is designed to strengthen the business and financial management capacity of agricultural producers while also building the infrastructure for consistent, national-level benchmarking. The core idea is to help farms make better management decisions using sound financial data and practical business tools, and to make aggregated financial benchmarks broadly available so producers, educators, and advisors can compare performance and identify improvement opportunities.
The program has two primary purposes. First, it supports efforts that improve farm management knowledge and skills, which typically involves training, education, technical assistance, and applied tools that help producers understand and use financial records, enterprise analysis, risk management practices, and business planning. Second, it funds the establishment and ongoing maintenance of a national, publicly available farm financial management database. That database component is meant to provide reliable benchmarking information by compiling standardized financial data across farms and regions, then making the resulting benchmarks accessible for public use. A key expectation is that any assistance funded through these grants should be coordinated, to the extent practicable, with similar services offered by other federal agencies or existing programs that also aim to improve farm management, so that efforts are not duplicated and producers experience more seamless support.
For FY 2011, the opportunity anticipated making about 7 awards with an estimated total funding level of $1,400,000. The award ceiling was listed as $1,400,000, with no stated award floor. Cost sharing or matching was not required, which generally lowers the barrier to participation for eligible organizations that may not have non-federal funds available to meet a match requirement.
Eligibility is broad and reflects a research and public-service orientation. Under 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 those entity types. This wide eligibility range allows applications from academic institutions, nonprofit and for-profit entities, and collaborative teams, which can be helpful for projects that combine farmer outreach, data infrastructure, and analytical expertise.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted May 25, 2011, created June 3, 2011, and had an original and final closing date of June 27, 2011, with an archive date of July 27, 2011. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is listed as Agriculture, Business and Commerce, underscoring its emphasis on farm financial performance and business decision-making rather than production practices alone. Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours (Eastern Time), and the opportunity referenced an FY 11 Request for Applications (RFA) as the detailed source for requirements and submission instructions.
Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Program (USDA NIFA, CFDA 10.319) - FAQs
What is the Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Program?
The Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Program is a discretionary, competitive grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.319. It is authorized in federal statute (7 U.S.C. 5925f) and is focused on strengthening the business and financial management capacity of agricultural producers while also supporting national-level benchmarking.
What is the main goal of this grant program?
The core goal is to help farms make better management decisions using sound financial data and practical business tools, and to make aggregated farm financial benchmarks broadly available so producers, educators, and advisors can compare performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
What are the two primary purposes of the program?
The program has two primary purposes: (1) improving farm management knowledge and skills through training, education, technical assistance, and applied tools; and (2) establishing and maintaining a national, publicly available farm financial management database that produces reliable benchmarking information from standardized data.
What types of activities does the program fund to improve farm management skills?
Funded efforts commonly include training, education, technical assistance, and applied tools that help producers understand and use financial records, enterprise analysis, risk management practices, and business planning.
What is the benchmarking and database component of the program?
The program funds the establishment and ongoing maintenance of a national, publicly available farm financial management database. The intent is to compile standardized financial data across farms and regions and publish resulting benchmarks for public use.
Who is expected to use the benchmarking information?
The benchmarks are intended to be broadly available for public use, including use by producers, educators, and advisors to compare performance and identify improvement opportunities.
Does the program require coordination with other farm management services or programs?
Yes. A key expectation is that assistance funded through these grants should be coordinated, to the extent practicable, with similar services offered by other federal agencies or existing programs that aim to improve farm management. The stated intent is to avoid duplicating efforts and to provide more seamless support to producers.
Is this a competitive grant or a formula/entitlement program?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary competitive grant opportunity.
Which USDA agency administers this program?
The program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number referenced is 10.319.
What federal statute authorizes this program?
The opportunity references authorization in federal statute at 7 U.S.C. 5925f.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as Agriculture, Business and Commerce, reflecting a focus on farm financial performance and business decision-making.
How many awards were anticipated for FY 2011?
For FY 2011, the opportunity anticipated making about 7 awards.
What was the estimated total funding level for FY 2011?
The estimated total funding level for FY 2011 was $1,400,000.
What was the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling was listed as $1,400,000.
Was there a minimum (floor) award amount?
No stated award floor was provided in the information given.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching was not required for this opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is broad. Under 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 consisting of two or more of those entity types.
Can private organizations or corporations apply?
Yes. Private organizations or corporations are listed among eligible applicants.
Can individuals apply?
Yes. Individuals are listed among eligible applicants.
Are partnerships or multi-organization teams eligible?
Yes. Partnerships or groups made up of two or more eligible entity types are included in the eligibility description.
Where can applicants find the detailed requirements and submission instructions?
The opportunity referenced an FY 11 Request for Applications (RFA) as the detailed source for requirements and submission instructions.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on May 25, 2011. The original and final closing date was June 27, 2011.
When was the opportunity created and when was it archived?
The opportunity was created on June 3, 2011, and had an archive date of July 27, 2011.
Who should applicants contact for help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours (Eastern Time).
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