Posted April 14, 2014
USDA recently announced the availability of over $19
million in grant funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development
Program (BFRDP), according to the USDA News Release available here. AgWeek also reported on the story here.
“USDA is committed to the next generation of America’s
farmers and ranchers because they represent the future of agriculture and are the
backbone of our rural economy. As the
average age of farmers continues to rise, we have no time to lose in getting
more new farmers and ranchers established,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom
Vilsack.
BFRDP is an education, training, technical assistance
and outreach program designed to help farmers, ranchers and managers of
non-industrial private forest land who want to start farming or have been
farming or ranching for 10 years or fewer.
The program is managed by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture
(NIFA). More information on eligibility
and how to apply for grants is available here. Applications are due June 12, 2014.
Priority will be given to projects that are “partnerships
or collaborations led by or including non-governmental, community-based, or
school-based agricultural educational organizations. All applicants are required to provide funds
or in-kind support from non-federal sources in an amount that is at least equal
to 25 percent of the federal funds requested.”
NIFA will host two webinars for interested applicants on
April 30 and May 6 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.
Webinar information is available here.
For more information on grant and loan programs for
beginning farmers and ranchers, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s
website here.
