On October 25, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced 23 new grants to research and extension programs working to help organic producers and processors grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. The grants, totaling $19 million, are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through two […]
Grants and Programs
Beginning Farmer Bill Introduced in Congress to Include in Farm Bill
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition For Immediate Release October 25, 2011 Contact: Ferd Hoefner, Juli Obudzinski, 202-547-5754 Beginning Farmer Bill Introduced in Congress for Inclusion in New Farm Bill Washington, D.C. October 25, 2011 – House and Senate members today announced the introduction of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011 [H.R. 3236], a […]
NIFA Awards Speciality Crop Grants and Pre/Post-Doc Fellowships
On October 14, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced the award of 29 grants across 19 states to develop science-based tools to address the needs of America’s specialty crop industry. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded the grants, totaling $46 million, through its Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI). SCRI supports the specialty […]
BFRDP Proposals Due in November, Grant Writing Webinar on 10/21
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced that the Request for Application (RFA) for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is now available, and applications are due by Nov. 22, 2011. Projects will be awarded in 2012 and performed between October 2012 and September 2013. Approximately $19 million is expected to […]
USDA Announces 2011 Farmers Market Promotion Program Awards
For Immediate Release October 13, 2011 Contact: Helen Dombalis 202-547-5754 USDA Announces 2011 Farmers Market Promotion Program Awards Washington, DC October 13, 2011 – Today USDA announced the recipients of this year’s Farmers Market Promotion Program awards. The 2011 awards span 149 projects in 42 States and the District of Columbia and total $9.2 million […]
Request for Applications for the Rural Micro Lending Program
On Monday, September 26, the Federal Register published a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP). Applications for this program will be accepted on a rolling basis, with funding awarded once each Federal fiscal quarter. Applications submitted now would normally be considered for awards in the first quarter of Fiscal Year […]
2011 Specialty Crop Block Grants Announced
On Wednesday, October 5, USDA Deputy Secretary Merrigan announced the 2011 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program awards, the sixth year of awards for this program. In total, 55 grants are being awarded for 740 initiatives totaling about $55 million. On a press call announcing the awards, Merrigan noted that “this year, similar to last year, […]
USDA Announces 2011 Beginning Farmer Awards and 2012 Request for Applications
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition For Immediate Release September 30, 2011 Contact: Ferd Hoefner, Juli Obudzinski, 202-547-5754 USDA Awards $18 Million to Support Beginning Farmers Washington, D.C. September 30, 2011 – Today, USDA announced $18 million in grants to beginning farmers and ranchers at a press conference held in Washington, D.C. USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan […]
USDA Releases FY2012 Request for Applications for AFRI Program
This week the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) released four Requests for Applications (RFAs) for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) research program for Fiscal Year 2012. AFRI is USDA’s largest competitive grants program, funding extramural research conducted at federal research agencies, land-grant institutions and other colleges and universities, state agricultural experiment […]
Rural Business Enterprise Grant Awards Announced
On Wednesday, September 14, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced grant awards to development organizations and producers in 40 states and Puerto Rico to promote rural job growth and business development. All together, 69 Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEGs) and Intermediary Relending Program loans, totaling a combined $14.7 million, will be granted through USDA to stimulate […]
2011 Healthy Food Financing Initiative Awards Announced
On Wednesday, September 14, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) announced the award of $25 million in grants through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) to a variety of organizations serving “food deserts” throughout the United States. A total of 12 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in nine states will receive funding. These […]
2011 National Organic Certification Cost Share Program
The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) is now accepting State applications for 2012. States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, are eligible to apply for the program funds. Participating States will then accept applications from organic producers and handlers who need financial assistance for organic certification. The cost-share program will reimburse up […]
Farmers’ Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition For Immediate Release September 7, 2011 Contact: Greg Fogel or Ferd Hoefner 202-547-5754 Farmers’ Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program Washington, DC September 7, 2011 – Today the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) releases an updated version of our popular Farmers’ Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program. The Guide is intended […]
2011 Conservation Innovation Grant Awards Announced
On Monday, August 22, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the 2011 recipients of the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Approximately $22.5 million will be awarded to 52 non-profit, private and public organizations addressing natural resource concerns in 40 states across the country. Conservation Innovation Grants leverage multi-stakeholder partnerships to address a variety of natural resource […]
USDA Announces $3.2 Million in 2011 Rural Business Enterprise Grants
On Thursday, August 18, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of $3.2 million in grants to a variety of investments in rural and Tribal community development across the nation. A total of 32 projects in 15 states will receive funding. These grants are awarded annually by USDA’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program, […]
USDA Announces $55 Million in Nationwide Community Facilities Grants
On Thursday, August 18, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of $55 million in loans and grants to a variety of investments in rural community development across the nation. A total of 107 projects in 31 states and Puerto Rico will receive funding. These loans and grants are awarded annually by USDA’s Community […]
2011 Healthy Food Enterprise Awards Announced
In mid-July the Healthy Food Enterprise Development (HUFED) Center announced its 2011 HUFED awards. The Center is administered by the Wallace Center at Winrock International, an NSAC member organization. A total of $630,000 will be awarded to 17 enterprises over the next two years for “innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to resolve barriers to healthy food […]
New Report On Economic Benefits of Local Food Systems
On August 4, Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) released the report “Market Forces: Creating Jobs through Public Investment in Local and Regional Food Systems” by UCS agricultural economist Jeffrey O’Hara, an analysis of the growth, economic benefits, and challenges to expansion of local and regional food systems. O’Hara also makes policy recommendations to help local […]
People’s Garden Grant Program
On Tuesday, July 26, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of USDA announced the availability of grants of up to $150,000 through its People’s Garden Grant Program. The program will fund projects to facilitate the creation of produce, recreational, and/or wildlife gardens in urban and rural areas, which will provide opportunities for food […]
House Holds Hearing on USDA Research Programs
On Thursday, July 28, the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture held an audit hearing on federal research programs administered by USDA. This was the ninth hearing on farm bill programs the Committee has held this year. The Committee heard testimony from top administrators of four agencies that make […]
Conservation Stewardship Program Update – Part I
Note: This is the first of several blog posts that will summarize some initial data we are receiving from USDA on the Conservation Stewardship Program. In January of 2011, the third sign-up period for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) closed and in June National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Dave White reported to the House […]
Regional IPM Centers Request for Applications Released
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced earlier this month that it will begin accepting proposals for the competitive grants program that funds the Regional Integrated Pest Mangement (IPM) Centers. The Request for Applications (RFA) was released on July 14th, and proposals will be accepted through August 19th. The Centers were established in […]
Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program Grants Support Sustainable Agriculture
On Tuesday, July 12, USDA announced the twenty-five recipients of its Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) grants. FSMIP will match $1.3 million worth of state grants to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. agricultural products. FSMIP provides funds to state departments of agriculture or other similar state agencies to develop innovative approaches for […]
Rural Coalition’s National Rural Gathering
From June 22 through 26, Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural held its National Rural Gathering: Water, Land, Energy, and Food in Shawnee and Wewoka, Oklahoma. Located in the heart of the Seminole Nation, better supporting socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers was the major focus of the gathering. NSAC works with the Rural Coalition to advocate for […]