Posted April 14, 2014
USDA recently announced the availability of over $19 million in grant funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), according to the USDA News Release available here. AgWeek also reported on the story here.
“USDA is committed to the next generation of America’s farmers and ranchers because they represent the future of agriculture and are the backbone of our rural economy. As the average age of farmers continues to rise, we have no time to lose in getting more new farmers and ranchers established,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
BFRDP is an education, training, technical assistance and outreach program designed to help farmers, ranchers and managers of non-industrial private forest land who want to start farming or have been farming or ranching for 10 years or fewer. The program is managed by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). More information on eligibility and how to apply for grants is available here. Applications are due June 12, 2014.
Priority will be given to projects that are “partnerships or collaborations led by or including non-governmental, community-based, or school-based agricultural educational organizations. All applicants are required to provide funds or in-kind support from non-federal sources in an amount that is at least equal to 25 percent of the federal funds requested.”
NIFA will host two webinars for interested applicants on April 30 and May 6 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Webinar information is available here.
For more information on grant and loan programs for beginning farmers and ranchers, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
Share: