Government Funding Opportunities

USDA has many opportunities for farmers to obtain grants, loans, and cost-sharing in return for becoming more sustainable in their practices, which have been assembled here for reference.

Sustainable development focuses on meeting the needs of humans today without sacrificing the potential needs of humans in the future. This has three general components: economic, social, and environmental consideration.

USDA is focused on making sustainability a priority for the Department. Secretary Vilsack and President Obama are working to expand the opportunities of small farmers around the U.S. to become more sustainable in terms of growing practices, packaging, shipping and transportation, and overall environmental impact.

For USDA, small farms are defined as farms with sales less than $250,000:

1. Limited-resource farms. Small farms with sales less than $100,000 in 2003 and low operator household income in 2003 and 2004. Household income is low if it is less than the poverty level in both 2003 and 2004 or if it is less than half the county median income both years.
2. Retirement farms. Small farms whose operators report they are retired (excludes limited-resource farms operated by retired farmers).
3. Residential/lifestyle farms. Small farms whose operators report they had a major occupation other than farming (excludes limited-resource farms with operators reporting a nonfarm major occupation).
4. Farming occupation/low-sales. Small farms with sales less than $100,000 whose operators report farming as their major occupation (excludes limited-resource farms whose operators report farming as their major occupation).

• Farming occupation/high-sales. Small farms with sales between $100,000 and $249,999 whose operators report farming as their major occupation.

Please contact the agencies and departments below for more information on eligibility and applying to obtain any of these fu

General Programs

Grants.gov
Created through a partnership of Federal Agencies, this site directs grant seekers to over 900 programs offered across 26 Federal grant-making Agencies. Using the “Find Opportunities” function, one can search for grant opportunities throughout the Federal government and/or register to receive all e-mail notifications of new grant postings.

The Foundation Center
“The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. grantmakers and their grants – a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector.” In addition to the Web site, there are five regional library/learning centers and a national network of more than 300 Cooperating Collections. Information and directories for individual and non-profit grantseekers.

North American Forum on Agricultural Research (NOFAR)
“The objective of this site is to provide links to North American institutions and organizations active in or with interest or association with agricultural research for development. It is hoped that the site will facilitate contact between individuals within North America and contact between individuals in the North and South.” Links to farmers organizations, non-profits, government agencies, funding agencies, private industry, universities and colleges.

Federal Sustainable Agriculture Program Primer, National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, 2009

II. Selected Directories and Information Specific to Federal Agriculture Programs through USDA

Federal Funding Sources for Rural Areas Database, Rural Information Center, National Agricultural Library
“Search the database for information on rural federal programs. Full program description and contact information for each program. This database is in cooperation with the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.”

USDA Agencies

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

About NIFA
“Through grants offered by CSREES, the USDA enables researchers throughout the United States to solve problems critical to our farmers, consumers, and communities. CSREES is the USDA's major extramural research agency, funding both individuals and institutions.” Information about Research Emphasis Areas; Types of Research; Who Does the Research and Research Program Development and Management.

Funding Opportunities
Site includes links to information about the National Research Initiative (NRI); Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program (ICGP), Special Research Grants Program (SRGP) and Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR). Specific areas include: Biobased Products and Bioenergy, NRI; Community Food Projects; Global Change Initiatives, NRI; Global Change: Carbon Cycle, NRI; Integrated Organic Program, ICGP; Integrated Pest Management Centers; Managed Ecosystems, NRI; Methyl Bromide, ICGP; Outreach, Assistance: Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Ranchers; Pest Management Alternatives, SRGP; Rural and Community Development, SBIR; Small Farms, Agricultural Prosperity, NRI; Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE); Water and Watersheds, NRI; Watershed, Conservation Effects Assessment, ICGP; and Weedy, Invasive Species, NRI.

Funding Mechanisms
Description, directory and contacts for research, education and extension activities at partner institutions through three main CSREES funding mechanisms: formula funds, competitive grants and non-competitive grants and agreements. (March 2005)

Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Centers: Funding Opportunities

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
Program offers three different types of grants for funding of relevant research projects: Research and Education, Professional Development, and Producer Grants.

Current Research Information System (CRIS)
The Current Research Information System is USDA's documentation and reporting system for ongoing and recently completed research projects in agriculture, food and nutrition and forestry. Explore currently funded research topics and programs by funding agency, topic area, region, etc.

DOE and USDA Biomass Genomics Research
As of July 22, 2009, USDA and Department of Energy (DOE) have formed a partnership to fund projects that accelerate plant breeding programs and improve biomass feedstock by characterizing the genes, proteins, and molecular interactions that influence biomass production.

USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA)

Partnership and Cooperative Agreements
" RMA" annually announces availability of funds for partnership and cooperative agreements via the Federal Register and its Web site. Partners conduct risk management and crop insurance education, community outreach and assistance, and research and development activities.”

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP)
“The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) provides matching funds to State Departments of Agriculture and other appropriate State agencies to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing system.”

USDA Rural Development (RD)

Rural Development Information, loan and grant resources for a variety of community-based programs aimed at helping improve the economy and quality of life in rural America including: Rural Cooperative Development Grants; Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG); Research on Rural Cooperative Opportunities and Problems Program; and funds related to 1890 Land-Grants, Research on the Economic Impact of Cooperatives, and Small/Minority Producer Grants.

Rural Development and State Agencies

How to develop a business plan, financial and planning resources. It also contains information about funding sources for beginning farmers, training, technical assistance contacts, organizations with resources and programs for beginning and experienced farmers.

Rural Business

ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and is funded under a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Business-Cooperative Service. It provides information and other technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States.

USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

Partnering
While not a direct source of grant funds, “ ARS continually looks for opportunities to partner with businesses, other federal agencies, state and local governments, and universities. These partnerships are designed to augment research programs, expedite research results to the private sector, exchange information and knowledge, stimulate new business and economic development, enhance U.S. trade, preserve the environment, and improve the quality of life for all Americans.” Information, licensing information and contacts.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP): “provides payments to producers to put environmentally sensitive cropland into conserving uses for 10-15 years”. In return for an annual rental payment and partial reimbursement for the cost of establishing the standards, participants plant conserving crops.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program: provides financial and technical assistance to help participants install/implement conservation practices.

Conservation Security Program: “Rewards producers for ongoing environmental stewardship on working lands”. It provides financial incentives for producers to adopt additional conservation practices on their farming operations. These include agreeing to maintain conservation practices for 5-10 years and producers receive payments.

Agricultural Management Assistance: Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) provides cost share assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations.

Conservation Technical Assistance: The Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) Program provides technical assistance supported by science-based technology and tools to help people conserve, maintain, and improve their natural resources. The CTA Program provides the technical capability, including direct conservation planning, design, and implementation assistance, that helps people plan and apply conservation on the land.