Funding Opportunities

The State of Mississippi is designated to receive $107,038.75 for fiscal year 2008 from the United States Department of Agriculture to make grants available to provide assistance for specialty crops. Proposals are encouraged from state and local organizations, academia, producer associations, industry or community-based groups, and other specialty crop organizations. To be eligible for a grant, projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. The maximum grant awarded will be $30,000.

SARE Educational Sponsorships provide financial support for educational events that advance SARE grantees or project results to beginning, minority, underserved and/or commodity producers and/or the extension and educational professionals that serve them. Sponsorships are available in the amount of $500-$5000. Sponsorships are available to organizations or individuals providing educational services to farmers, ranchers, or agricultural professionals. Rolling applications are accepted on a quarterly schedule with the following deadlines: December 15, April 15, July 15, October 15.

The Industry Matching Grant program was designed to fund projects and activities that promote American Lamb and further the goals and objectives of the American Lamb Board's Strategic Plan. The American Lamb Board strongly encourages that all projects and activities are a collaborative partnership between the suppliers, first handlers, retailers, promotions and festivals, research and education entities, foodservice operators, etc.

Washington State Department of Agriculture announces the availability of approximately $259,115 in block grant funds to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Industry groups, academia, community-based organizations, commissions, public entities, and associations that represent Washington agricultural and food producers are eligible to apply. The maximum grant award to each project is $50,000.

Financial assistance will be made available to eligible beginning beekeepers who establish up to four colonies of honey bees, in an effort to reverse the recent decline of honey bee populations in Mississippi. By showing proof of purchase for two hives, a new beekeeper may receive a reimbursement of up to $180 for one of the two hives and bees. Qualifying applicants can receive a maximum reimbursement of $360; however, limited amount of funding is available.

Agricultural diversification grants of up to $5,000 are available as well as interest-free loans in three categories: Cooperative Marketing Loans, Marketing and Utilization Loans, and Basic and Applied Research Loans. Loans may not be used to purchase land, buildings or equipment. Eligible expenses include feasibility studies, business plans, legal expenses, consultant fees, product development and marketing.

The goal of the Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund is to keep farmers in farming and maintain the economic base of North Carolina’s rural communities. The Reinvestment Fund aims to assist farmers and rural communities to develop new sources of agricultural income through provision of cost‐share grants. The Reinvestment Fund will make two types of demonstration awards: Producer Grant Awards of up to $10,000 for individuals and Community Grant Awards of up to $30,000 for collaborative farmer projects.

The Fair Food Foundation is a new foundation with a mission to work with historically excluded urban communities to design a food system that upholds the fundamental right to healthy, fresh and sustainably grown food. They partner with individuals, groups within communities, community-based organizations, government leaders and others to discuss, develop, and implement a variety of strategies. They encourage local selection, ownership and control of food sources that are environmentally sound, socially just, and economically viable. They support communities to imagine and realize opportunities that fit their needs. Fair Food Foundation invites letters of inquiry from qualified tax-exempt organizations working in historically excluded urban communities on projects and programs aligned with their vision.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) made available a Specialty Crop Block Grant to the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) for enhancing the competitiveness of Missouri grown specialty crops. Both fresh and processed specialty crops are included. Proposals that involve collaboration or partnerships between producers, industry groups, academics, or other organizations are encouraged and will be given priority. There is $90,000 available for grant funds. A $5,000 maximum amount is available for each grant.

The Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting grant proposals to support environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers, and citizens. This grant program provides financial support for innovative projects that design, demonstrate, or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques. Awards of up to $200,000 are available.

The Yes To Carrots™ Seed Fund, a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is on a mission to make a difference in people's lives by providing under-served communities with the resources to develop and sustain an organic food source and access to healthy nutrition. The Yes To Carrots™ Seed Fund assists these communities by providing donations to help with seeds, plants, equipment, irrigation support and technical know-how. Contact them to receive a Grant Request Application form. Applications are reviewed throughout the year.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is seeking grant proposals from organizations or groups of individuals interested in enhancing the competitiveness of the state's specialty crop industry. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops (including floriculture). For the 2008 funding cycle, NDA can receive up to $108,530 for specialty crop projects, but must submit a state plan detailing how the funds will be used. Grant proposals will be considered on a competitive basis. Those that NDA selects for inclusion in the specialty crop state plan must also be reviewed by USDA.

The Western Center for Risk Management Education (Western Center), in conjunction with the Northeast, North Central and Southern Center announce a funding opportunity for projects that help farm and ranch families succeed through targeted risk management strategies. Organizations eligible and encouraged to apply for grants are private and public groups, organizations and institutions including land grant colleges and universities, Cooperative Extension, other colleges and universities and qualified public and private entities in the region with a demonstrated capacity to develop and deliver educational programs, for agricultural producers and their families. Grant awards are generally between $5,000 and $50,000, however there is no absolute upper or lower limit on the funds provided to a single project.

Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs)encourages Michigan State University and Michigan Department of Agriculture employees to apply for more than $2 million in competitive grant funding to meet plant agriculture industry challenges. Up to $1.05 million has been designated for new projects, with the remaining $1.05 million available for funding continuation of multiyear projects. Proposals will be accepted in three categories: basic research, applied research and Extension/education/demonstration. All Michigan State University and Michigan Department of Agriculture employees are eligible to apply for funding.

The Foundation for Agricultural and Rural Resources Management and Sustainability (FARRMS) offers a Transition Loan Program in North Dakota that may pay for any expenses that would be unique to a farm operation that is transitioning to organic agriculture, up to a value of $14.00 per acre for each of three years required for transition. The Loan will be determined on the basis of the operator’s transition plan in agreement with the FARRMS Loan Committee. Payback of the Loan for someone completing a successful transition will be deferred until the fourth year when the operator is fully organic. The terms of the payback may be a combination of funds, service and materials depending upon FARRMS needs for its transition loan program and negotiations with the operator.

Ideas and proposals are sought for a unique program that pairs farmers with Iowa State University researchers to work on topics related to conservation and sustainability. Proposals are due December 17 for the 2009 ISU On-Farm Research and Demonstration Grant Program (PDF/45KB). This is the fourth annual call for proposals under the program, which is a partnership of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Practical Farmers of Iowa. The program addresses the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture through collaborative, on-farm research. A total of $50,000 will be awarded in 2009 as one-time individual grants of up to $5,000, or up to $7,000 if more than one producer is involved. Meaningful involvement of both producers and ISU researchers or extension staff should be demonstrated in the proposal and project execution.

Water for America: Expand Protect, and Conserve Our Nation’s Water Resources—Water Marketing and Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Year 2009: The Water for America Initiative is focused on addressing 21st century water challenges, including decreasing water supplies caused by climate change and population growth, and securing water resources for future generations. Water for America will offer four Challenge Grant funding opportunities; two are incorporated from Water 2025: Water Marketing and Efficiency Grants and System Optimization Review Grants (SORs). Two new challenge grants are being developed: Advanced Water Treatment Grants, and Species of Concern Grants. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office, invites irrigation and water districts, United States Territories, States in the West, and other local entities with water delivery authority to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing up to $300,000 with Reclamation on projects that create water markets and make more efficient use of existing water supplies.

The New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee invites Soil and Water Conservation Districts or groups of Districts acting jointly to submit proposals for funding under the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program. Program funds are available for nonpoint source abatement and control projects that plan (AEM Tier III) or implement (AEM Tier IV) Agricultural Best Management Practices on New York State farms.

National Wildlife Federation's Campus Ecology Fellows confront global warming on their campuses and help to educate and engage the campus community on global warming impacts and solutions. Monetary fellowship grants are awarded to undergraduate and graduate students working with other members of the faculty, staff, or administration on projects designed to help reverse global warming on campus and beyond. Possible projects include clean energy installation and purchase, and food systems work. Deadlines during the 2008-2009 academic year include: November 14, February 2, and March 31.

The Kansas Department of Commerce, Agriculture Marketing Division has established a scholarship program to assist Kansas agritourism operators in attending select conferences, seminars and educational tours, to gain first-hand information regarding agritourism best practices around the region and the country, and to develop professional, educational, and marketing relationships within the industry nationwide. Commerce will reimburse scholarship awardees for all costs associated with educational tours, workshops, seminars, sessions, registration, and one year’s annual organizational dues related to attendance at an approved agritourism, tourism, or agricultural direct marketing conference, up to a total of $5,000 per application. The scholarship program will reimburse up to $400 in registration fees only for first time attendance of approved in-state conferences, workshops and seminars. Applications will be accepted on a quarterly basis. Due dates are July1, October 1, January 1 and April 1.

The Grow NY Enterprise Program is a joint Governor's initiative of the Governor's Office for Small Cities (GOSC), Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) and the Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), which dedicates $3 million annually to increasing the demand for and expanding the use of New York's agriculture and forest products. Under the Grow NY Enterprise Program, funds are provided to eligible communities for the following purposes: To make loans for production agriculture and agribusiness development and expansion for an identified eligible activity which will result in the creation of permanent private sector job opportunities, principally for low-and moderate-income persons; or To construct publicly owned facilities or infrastructure which are necessary to accommodate production agriculture and agribusiness development and expansion that will result in the creation of permanent private sector job opportunities, principally for low-and moderate-income persons.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the P3 Award Program, is seeking applications proposing to research, develop, and design solutions to real world challenges involving the overall sustainability of human society. The P3 competition highlights the use of scientific principles in creating innovative projects focused on sustainability. Public nonprofit institutions/organizations (limited to degree-granting public institutions of higher education) and private nonprofit institutions/organizations (limited to degree-granting private institutions of higher education) located in the U.S. are eligible to apply. Up to $10,000 per Phase I grant for one year is available. Upon the successful completion of Phase I, Phase I grant recipients will have the opportunity to apply for Phase II funding of up to $75,000 for two additional years.

With an Enhanced Professional + Producer Grant (PDF/175KB), an agricultural or natural resource professional, working with one or more producers, develops an application to conduct research, on-farm demonstration and/or educational outreach in an area of sustainable agriculture. The goal is to achieve results that can be communicated to producers and professionals–information that can improve income, the environment, communities and quality of life for all citizens.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 is soliciting applications to help implement the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) and to support efforts by the agricultural community to transition away from high risk pesticides to the use of less and reduced risk pesticides, alternative methods of agricultural pest control, and sustainable practices in food production. The program supports grants for education, extension, demonstration, and studies for FQPA transition and reduced risk practices for pest management in agriculture. EPA Region 2 serves New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

WNC AgOptions, a program established in 2004 and managed by N. C. Cooperative Extension Centers in the West District, will continue assisting mountain farmers transitioning from tobacco and other crops through 2011. In 2009, WNC AgOptions will award demonstration contracts valued at $3,000, $6,000 or $9,000 through a competitive application and review process. Awards will total $225,000 each year within 17 western North Carolina counties and the Cherokee Reservation. The grants offer incentive for farmers to try new ventures—encouraging the sustainability of their operation, as well as demonstrating new methods to the larger agriculture community.

The purpose of the Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge (SPECA) Grants Program is to: enhance curricula in agricultural education; increase faculty teaching competencies; interest young people in pursuing higher education in order to prepare for scientific and professional careers in the food and agricultural sciences; promote the incorporation of agriscience and agribusiness subject matter into other instructional programs, particularly classes in science, business, and consumer education; facilitate joint initiatives by the grant recipient with other secondary schools, institutions of higher education that award an associate's degree, institutions of higher education that award a bachelor's degree, and nonprofit organizations supporting agriscience and agribusiness education, to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve agriscience and agribusiness education; support other initiatives designed to meet local, State, regional, or national needs related to promoting excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education; and support current Agriculture in the Classroom programs for grades K-12.

The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program (OASDFR) provides funds to organizations to conduct outreach and technical assistance to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches and to participate in agricultural programs. The OASDFR will support a wide range of outreach and assistance activities in farm management, financial management, marketing, application and bidding procedures, and other areas.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will award up to $150,000 for the 2009 Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant Program. Competitive grants for up to $25,000 are awarded to individuals or groups for on-farm sustainable agriculture research or demonstration projects in Minnesota. The purpose of the Grant Program is to fund practices that promote environmental stewardship and conservation of resources as well as improve profitability and quality of life on farms and in rural areas. Eligible recipients include Minnesota farmers, individuals at Minnesota educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and local natural resource agencies.