For Immediate Release February 3, 2012 Contact: Helen Dombalis 202-547-5754 Farmers Speak to the Value of Their Value-Added Producer Grants — USDA Announces Awards Today — Washington, DC February 3, 2012 – Today USDA announced the recipients of the most recent rounds of Value-Added Producer Grants. The awards, which cover two funding cycles, span 298 […]
Grants and Programs
Lenders Learn how to Bank on Small Farms, Local Food
Financing team offers training as part of healthy food initiative By Patty Cantrell Nic Welty employs himself full time year-round raising lettuce, spinach, and other leafy greens in three low-cost passive solar greenhouses, which together cover less than one acre of land. His Nine Bean Rows farm near Traverse City, MI, is one of many […]
Funding Available for Organic Research
On Tuesday, January 17th, 2012, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced the release of its 2012 Request for Applications (RFA) for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), which provides grants to academic, private, and non-profit research institutions to investigate research issues related to organic production. Applications are due on March 9th, […]
USDA Announces CIG Funding for Water Quality Markets
On Friday, January 13, USDA announced the availability of $10 million for water quality credit trading projects through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. According to USDA’s vision of water quality credit trading, “a producer who implements conservation practices to reduce water quality pollutants can also benefit by generating water quality market credits that could […]
2012 Conservation Stewardship Program Sign-Up Period Extended
INFORMATION ALERT 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program Sign-Up Extended On Friday, December 9, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that the fiscal year (FY) 2012 ranking period cutoff for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is January 13, 2012. Given the busy holiday season time frame, on January 10 NRCS extended the ranking period cutoff date […]
NRCS Funding New Mississippi River Basin Initiative Projects
On January 3, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) issued a notice that it is accepting proposals for new projects under the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). Proposals are due March 19, 2012. Under the MRBI, NRCS provides financial assistance to farmers in areas covered by MRBI projects who undertake conservation practices specified […]
Deadline for FY2012 CIG Pre-Proposals due January 31
On Wednesday, January 4, USDA issued a press release to remind program applicants that the deadline to submit a pre-proposal for a fiscal year (FY) 2012 Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) is January 31. You can download the FY 2012 CIG Announcement of Program Funding from USDA’s CIG webpage. Those who are interested in proposing a […]
2012 Conservation Stewardship Program Sign Up Extended
INFORMATION ALERT 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program Sign-Up Extended On Friday, December 9, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that the fiscal year (FY) 2012 ranking period cutoff for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is January 13, 2012. Given the busy holiday season time frame, on January 10 NRCS extended the ranking period cutoff date […]
USDA Awards Grants to Universities to Improve Food Safety
On Wednesday, December 7, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced 17 grants to universities in 13 states to improve the safety of our food supply through research, education, and extension in a number of areas. A total of $10.4 million was awarded by USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the National Integrated […]
Healthy Food Financing Initiative Re-Introduced in Congress
On Wednesday, November 30, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representative Allyson Schwartz (D-PA-13) introduced identical bills (S.1926/H.R. 3525) in the Senate and House, respectively, to establish a Healthy Food and Financing Initiative (HFFI) within the USDA. Five Representatives and 10 Senators joined as original cosponsors. The initiative would authorize a $125 million program providing one-time […]
New Gulf Coast Conservation Initiative
On Monday, December 5, USDA announced the creation of the Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GoMI), through which the agency will distribute up to $50 million in financial assistance over three years to improve ecosystem health in the Gulf Coast. GoMI will pull its funds from six Natural Resources Conservation Serive (NRCS) programs — Environmental Quality […]
Beginning Farmer Land Contract Program to Launch in 2012
On Thursday, December 1st, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) issued the final rule for the Land Contract Guarantee Program, which was authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill. This program was first authorized as a pilot program under the 2002 Farm Bill, but was expanded to be made permanent and offered nationwide in the last […]
Ranking Dates for EQIP Conservation Initiatives Announced
USDA has announced the 2012 ranking dates for four major conservation initiatives administered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The four initiatives are the On-Farm Energy Initiative, the Organic Initiative, the Seasonal High Tunnel Pilot Initiative, and the Air Quality Initiative. NRCS will have three ranking periods in 2012 […]
Funding Available for Outreach to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
On November 17th, USDA’s Office of Advocacy and Outreach announced a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Grant Program (OASDFR), also known as the “Section 2501” program. For purposes of this program, USDA defines a socially disadvantaged (SDA) farmer, rancher, or agricultural producer as someone from […]
EQIP Organic Initiative Bulletin Published
On Monday, November 14, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released the fiscal year (FY) 2012 National Bulletin on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative. This bulletin provides guidance to State Conservationists for administering the EQIP Organic Initiative in FY 2012. The Organic Initiative provides funds and technical assistance to certified organic, exempt […]
Vilsack Announces Funding for Rural Micro-Enterprise Programs
On November 9th, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the selection of 35 rural micro-development organizations in 22 states to receive loans and grants to support rural business development, create jobs, and strengthen local communities. “These investments will bring increased economic opportunity to rural residents and communities,” said Vilsack. “They will help organizations expand job and […]
Request for Applications for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Grant Program
On November 3, USDA’s Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO) submitted a Request for Applications (RFA) for its Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Grant Program (OASDFR). The notice says a total of approximately $10 million for FY 2012 is available. The maximum amount of federal funding granted to eligible recipients shall […]
Funding Available to Support Research on Specialty Crops
USDA recently released the Request for Applications (RFA) for the fiscal year 2012 round of funding for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI). This competitive grants program is entering its fifth and final year of funding under the current farm bill cycle. The program is administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). […]
USDA Request for Comment on Agricultural Career and Employment Grants Program
Today, Tuesday November 8, USDA’s Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO) released a request for comments on an interim rule regarding the Agricultural Career and Employment (ACE) Grants Program. The ACE grants program is intended to improve the supply of skilled agricultural workers and bring greater stability to the workforce in this sector. The purpose […]
Final FY11 Signup Data for NRCS Easement Programs
USDA signed 1,139 contracts to enroll 200,186 acres in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) in FY 2011. This represents a 27 percent decrease from last year’s 272,762 acres, a result of the $119 million cut made to WRP during the FY11 appropriations process. USDA signed contracts for 414 thirty-year easements totaling more than 59,000 acres, […]
Risk Management Education Centers Announce 2012 Request For Applications
On Wednesday, November 2nd, the regional Risk Management Education Centers announced the release of their 2012 Request for Applications (RFA) for the Extension Risk Management Education Program, which provides funding for regional projects that help farm and ranch families succeed through targeted risk management strategies. This program places a special emphasis on risk management strategies, education, […]
Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act Introduced in Congress
On Tuesday, November 1 Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) and 35 original co-sponsors introduced the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act (S. 1773, H.R. 3286), a comprehensive bill intended for inclusion in the 2012 Farm Bill. As the Senate and House Agriculture Committee leadership work to finalize their farm bill proposal […]
Local and Regional Farm and Food Bill Introduced in Congress
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition For Immediate Release November 1, 2011 Contact: Helen Dombalis, Ferd Hoefner, 202-547-5754 Local and Regional Farm and Food Bill Introduced in Congress Washington, D.C. November 1, 2011 – Today Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine and 35 original co-sponsors introduced the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs […]
USDA Announces Risk Management Partnership Awards
On Friday, October 28, USDA announced $13.5 million in grants to support crop insurance education and outreach in 47 states to ensure that small and underserved producers get the information they need to effectively manage their risk and remain productive. The grants were awarded as part of the fiscal year 2011 funding cycle for two […]