Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA FBMB 004268
Apply for USDA NIFA FBMB 004268
- 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" 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 May 2, 2013 and posted on May 2, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 7, 2013. (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.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,300,000.00 in funding.
- 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 (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.319, focused on strengthening the business side of farming. The program funds work that helps agricultural producers build stronger farm financial management and decision-making skills, while also supporting the creation and ongoing maintenance of a national, publicly available database of farm financial management information. In practical terms, the opportunity is meant to improve how producers plan, analyze, and manage their operations by expanding access to reliable benchmarking data and by promoting better farm business education and tools.
A core goal of FBMB is to raise the farm management knowledge and skills of producers. This generally points to projects that deliver farm business management training, financial recordkeeping support, decision tools, and benchmarking education that producers can use to compare their performance to similar operations. The other major goal is data infrastructure: the program supports efforts that contribute to a national farm financial management database that is publicly available, which can help farmers, educators, researchers, and service providers understand trends and identify what practices are linked to stronger financial outcomes. The emphasis on a public database signals an interest in standardized, accessible information that can support broad learning and improved management across the farm sector, rather than data that remains locked within individual programs or institutions.
For the specific competition listed (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA FBMB 004268), NIFA estimated total funding at $1,300,000. The award ceiling is also listed as $1,300,000, with an award floor of $0, which typically means an individual award could be up to that maximum amount and there is no stated minimum award size. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, making it more accessible to applicants that may not have additional non-federal resources to contribute. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the funding activity category is Agriculture, Business, and Commerce.
Eligibility is broad under the statutory authority cited (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. That wide eligibility range allows for proposals led by academic institutions, nonprofit or private-sector organizations, or multi-entity collaborations that combine research capacity, extension/outreach capacity, and producer-facing implementation.
Key dates in the notice show the opportunity was posted and created on May 2, 2013, with an original and current closing date of June 7, 2013, and an archive date of July 7, 2013. While those dates indicate this particular posting is historical, the summary is still useful for understanding what the FBMB program is designed to support and how NIFA framed the objectives, eligible applicants, and funding structure for the competition.
For support, the announcement directs applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). The notice also indicates there is assistance available for questions related to preparing application content, reinforcing that NIFA expected applicants to follow specific program guidance in the full announcement for proposal structure and submission requirements.
Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program (CFDA 10.319) - 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 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.319. It is focused on strengthening the business side of farming by supporting projects that improve farm financial management skills and decision-making, and by supporting the creation and ongoing maintenance of a national, publicly available database of farm financial management information.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The program is meant to help agricultural producers plan, analyze, and manage their operations more effectively. It does this by expanding access to reliable benchmarking data and promoting better farm business education, training, and tools that strengthen financial management and decision-making.
What types of activities or outcomes does FBMB fund?
Based on the program description, FBMB supports work that helps producers build stronger farm financial management skills and supports national benchmarking data infrastructure. This includes projects that provide farm business management training, financial recordkeeping support, decision tools, and benchmarking education, as well as efforts that contribute to a national, publicly available farm financial management database.
How does the program help farmers and agricultural producers in practical terms?
FBMB is designed to improve how producers manage their operations by supporting education and tools that build farm management skills, and by promoting benchmarking resources that let producers compare their performance to similar operations using reliable financial management data.
What is meant by "benchmarking" in this program?
In the context provided, benchmarking refers to using farm financial management information to compare a producer's business performance to similar operations. The program emphasizes education and access to data that helps producers make informed decisions based on how comparable farms perform.
Does FBMB support a national farm financial management database?
Yes. A major goal described for FBMB is to support the creation and ongoing maintenance of a national, publicly available database of farm financial management information. The emphasis on public availability suggests the program values standardized, accessible information that supports broad learning and improved management across the farm sector.
Who is expected to benefit from the publicly available database?
The description indicates the database can help farmers, educators, researchers, and service providers understand trends and identify practices associated with stronger financial outcomes.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for the competition described?
The specific competition referenced is Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA FBMB 004268.
How much funding is available under this specific competition?
NIFA estimated total funding at $1,300,000 for this specific competition.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed as $1,300,000, meaning an individual award could be up to that amount.
Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor is listed as $0, which typically indicates there is no stated minimum award size for an individual award.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can make it more accessible to applicants that do not have additional non-federal resources to contribute.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Agriculture, Business, and Commerce.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad under the cited statutory authority (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.
Can private organizations or corporations apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes private organizations or corporations.
Can individuals apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes individuals.
Are partnerships or multi-entity collaborations allowed?
Yes. Partnerships or groups made up of two or more eligible entity types are explicitly included in the eligibility list, allowing for collaborative proposals that combine research, outreach, and producer-facing implementation capacity.
Which agency administers this program?
The program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The notice shows the opportunity was posted and created on May 2, 2013. The original and current closing date is June 7, 2013, and the archive date is July 7, 2013.
Is this specific posting current or historical?
The listed closing and archive dates indicate this particular posting is historical. However, the summary still describes what FBMB is designed to support and how NIFA framed objectives, eligibility, and funding structure for the competition.
What statutory authority is cited for eligibility?
The statutory authority cited is 7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(7).
What should applicants do if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?
The announcement directs applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically to contact the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048.
What are the NIFA Help Desk hours?
The NIFA Help Desk is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Is there support available for questions about preparing the application?
Yes. The notice indicates assistance is available for questions related to preparing application content, and it suggests applicants should follow the program guidance in the full announcement for proposal structure and submission requirements.
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