USDA Announces More Than $18 Million to Support Training and Development for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced the availability of more than $18 million in funding to help educate, mentor and enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers. This support is available through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), administered by USDA's National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Winning awards from last year's application cycle will be announced in the near future.

"The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program is critical for cultivating the next generation of farmers and ranchers, who will be integral to sustaining America's agricultural future," said Harden. "Leading community and service organizations are on the front lines when it comes to identifying and training new farmers and ranchers. Strong partnerships with these groups are the key to our success."

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program awards grants to organizations implementing programs to train beginning farmers and ranchers, including workshops, educational teams, training, and technical assistance throughout the United States.

Fiscal Year 2015 applications for BFRDP are due March 13, 2015. Eligible applicants are collaborative, state, tribal, local, or regionally-based network or partnership of public or private entities, including state cooperative extension service; community-based and nongovernmental organization; colleges or universities (including institutions awarding associate degrees); or any other appropriate organization providing services to beginning farmers and ranchers.

At least five percent of the funds must go to projects that serve military veteran beginning farmers and ranchers, and at least five percent to projects that serve socially-disadvantaged, limited-resource, or farmworker audiences. 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.

Priority topics are:

• Basic livestock, forest management, and crop farming practices;
• Innovative farm, ranch, and private, nonindustrial forest land transfer strategies;
• Entrepreneurship and business training;
• Financial and risk management training (including the acquisition and management of agricultural credit);
• Natural resource management and planning;
• Diversification and marketing strategies;
• Curriculum development;
• Mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships;
• Resources and referral;
• Farm financial benchmarking;
• Assisting beginning farmers or ranchers in acquiring land from retiring farmers and ranchers;
• Agricultural rehabilitation and vocational training for veterans;
• Farm safety and awareness; and
• Other similar subject areas of use to beginning farmers or ranchers.

NIFA will host a webinar for interested applicants on Wednesday, February 11, 2015, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. EST. No password or advance reservation is required. A recording will be posted on the NIFA website shortly after the event.

From 2009-2012, 145 awards have been made for more than $71 million through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. Additional information about USDA support for new farmers and ranchers is available at www.usda.gov/newfarmers.

Funding for BFRDP program is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America.

Source: USDA