Funding Opportunities

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 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 (Organophosphates, Carbamates, and Fumigants) 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, especially on minor use crops. EPA anticipates awarding 2-3 grants from this announcement, of up to $100,000. All projects must occur in one or more of the Region 4 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Wyoming farmers/ranchers are eligible to apply for a Wyoming Specialty Crop Grant to implement season extension and water conservation methods to increase productivity. Grants will also be available for native seed production. This is a matching program. Farmers/Ranchers may receive a maximum of one grant in one fiscal year (July-June). A company cannot exceed $2,000 in the twelve-month period.

Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) will fund the development of educational opportunities and materials that are: pertinent to organic agricultural production or marketing; and aimed at organic producers and/or those considering making the transition to organic certification. OFRF will also accept proposals to fund activities that promote information sharing among organic agricultural researchers and organic farmers and ranchers.

Two means of funding for grape Research and Extension education in the Eastern U.S. include the federally funded Viticulture Consortium and various industry-sponsored funding programs within different states. The Viticulture Consortium has enhanced its emphasis on technology transfer and Extension education to facilitate rapid adoption of new knowledge, practices, and technology by grape producers. To encourage increased adoption by producers: 1) All applied research projects must contain a budgeted technology transfer component; and 2) A separate category for technology transfer has been created to encourage and support proposals specifically designed to address educational needs. A list of research priorities is available online.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the 2007-08 organic certification cost share program. Certified operations are eligible for reimbursement of 75% of certification-related costs that they incurred during the period between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008, up to a maximum of $750. To qualify, applicants must be certified by a USDA-accredited organic certifying agency. They must submit an MDA application form, proof of certification during the qualifying period, and copies of billing statements from their certifier that itemize the costs incurred.

EPA Region III is soliciting proposals 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 and alternative methods of pest control in minor food crop production. The program supports grants for education, extension, demonstration, and field projects for FQPA transition and reduced risk practices for pest management in agriculture. Projects up to $55,000 will be considered for funding. EPA Region III encompasses Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

USDA/1890 National Scholars Program applications are now being accepted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the 2009 academic school year. The scholarship program between USDA and the 1890 Land-Grant Universities and Tuskegee University expands diversity through the recruitment of talented students to public service in agriculture-related fields, including food sciences, natural resource sciences and agricultural sciences. USDA/1890 scholarship recipients receive full tuition, fees, books, use of laptop computers and printers, software, employment and benefits for each of the four years they pursue a Bachelor's degree. For each year of the scholarship, students receive room and board provided by the partnering institutions. Students are required to work one year at USDA for each year of their scholarship.

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture is providing federal funding for current farmers' markets or groups that are interested in beginning a farmers' market. Each applicant may apply for up to $1,000. These federal funds must be matched on a one-to-one basis.

NCR-SARE Youth & Youth Educator Grants are intended to provide opportunities for youth in the North Central Region to learn more about Sustainable Agriculture. Youth grants of up to $400 are offered for on-farm research, demonstration, or education projects by youth ages 8-21. Research and demonstration projects are for hands-on efforts to explore sustainable agriculture issues and practices. Youth educator grants of up to $2,000 are offered for educators to provide programming on sustainable agriculture for youth. The North Central region includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

The Missouri Value-Added Grant Program provides grants for projects that add value to Missouri agricultural products and aid the economy of a rural community. Grant applications will be considered for value-added agricultural business concepts that lead to and result in development, processing and marketing of new or expanded uses or technologies for agricultural products; and foster agricultural economic development in Missouri’s rural communities.

The purpose of the USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) Program is to assist Federal regulatory agencies in making science-based decisions about the effects of introducing genetically engineered organisms into the environment. Investigations of effects on both managed and natural environments are relevant. Applications to the USDA BRAG Program must seek partial funding for a conference or address one of the following areas: 1) Identify and develop practices to minimize risks associated with genetically engineered organisms; 2) Research methods to monitor the dispersal of genetically engineered organisms; 3) Research to increase knowledge about the characteristics, rates, and methods of gene transfer that may occur between genetically engineered organisms, and related organisms; 4) Perform assessments to provide analysis which compares impacts of organisms modified through genetic engineering to other types of production systems; 5) Other areas of research designed to further the purposes of the USDA BRAG program.

Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program announces the availability of approximately $3.4 million in fiscal year 2009 for collaborative outreach and assistance programs for limited resource, socially disadvantaged and other traditionally under-served farmers and ranchers, who produce Priority Commodities. The purpose of this program is to fund projects that provide limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and other traditionally underserved producers with training, informational opportunities and assistance necessary to understand: (1) The kind of risks addressed by existing and emerging risk management tools; (2) The features and appropriate use of existing and emerging risk management tools; and (3) How to make sound risk management decisions.

CSREES requests applications for the Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities (AgrAbility) – State and Regional AgrAbility Projects for fiscal year (FY) 2009 to increase the likelihood that farmers, ranchers, farm workers, or farm family members with disabilities and their farms experience success. CSREES anticipates approximately $4.3 million will be available for support of AgrAbility in FY 2009. Of this amount, CSREES anticipates approximately $900,000 will be available to fund new state and regional AgrAbility projects. Only Cooperative Extension Services at 1862 and 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, including Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University, and the University of the District of Columbia, are eligible to apply.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture invites state departments of agriculture, state agricultural experiment stations and other appropriate state agencies to submit proposals for matching grant funds under the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program. Program funds can be requested for a wide range of research projects that help to market, transport and distribute U.S. food and agricultural products domestically and internationally. USDA anticipates that about $1.3 million will be available for Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program grants in fiscal year 2009, with funds allocated on the basis of one round of competition.

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) whose primary goal is to implement healthy eating and active living policy- and environmental-change initiatives that can support healthier communities for children and families across the United States. The objective of this round of funding is to provide support for community initiatives that will increase opportunities for physical activity and improve access to affordable healthy foods for children and families.

American Farmland Trust and EPA Region 10 Strategic Agricultural Initiative are pleased to announce a call for projects to assist producers with transition from high risk pesticides to pest control tactics with reduced human, environmental, and/or ecological impacts. EPA Region 10 serves Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Native Tribes.

As part of the NEH’s We the People program, Interpreting America’s Historic Places grants support public humanities projects that exploit the evocative power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history and culture. Interpreting America’s Historic Places projects may interpret a single historic site or house, a series of sites, an entire neighborhood, a town or community, or a larger geographical region. The place taken as a whole must be significant to American history, and the project must convey its historic importance to visitors. Awards typically do not exceed $400,000. Any U.S. nonprofit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status is eligible, as are state and local governmental agencies.

As part of the National Endowment for the Humanities’ We the People program, Interpreting America’s Historic Places grants support public humanities projects that exploit the evocative power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history and culture, including those that advance knowledge of how the founding principles of the United States have shaped and been shaped by American history and culture for more than two hundred years. Interpreting America’s Historic Places planning grants support planning that leads to the interpretation of a single historic site or house, a series of sites, an entire neighborhood, a town or community, or a larger geographical region. Awards typically do not exceed $40,000. Any U.S. nonprofit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status is eligible, as are state and local governmental agencies.

The Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC), Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for cost-share demonstration projects that assist the WERC in meeting its mission of facilitating interaction and information exchange with the forest products industry that will enhance opportunities for sustained forest products production in the eastern hardwood forest region. Priority will be given to projects that accomplish one or more of the following items: • Maintain the economic competitiveness of primary and secondary hardwood industries. • Increase the knowledge and information about how the hardwood industry can contribute to the green building movement. • Increase the knowledge, information, and promotion of how carbon sequestration by wood products can provide a competitive edge to a sustainable hardwood industry. • Develop technology and markets to address urgent issues on a global or domestic scale. • Increase the sustainable use of woody biomass to meet our Nation’s needs for energy and raw materials. Projects may also develop or maintain local markets and forest industry infrastructure by using woody biomass for both energy and value-added products.

The Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism has allocated $125,000 of its operating budget for tourism marketing grants in Nebraska. There are four grant categories: 1) Promotion of an Event, 2) Promotion of a Region, 3) Internet Marketing and 4) General Marketing. The minimum grant amount that can be requested is $2,000 and the maximum is $10,000. All grantees must provide a 25% match, half of which can be in-kind services and/or donated materials.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.