Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 006411
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its purpose is to strengthen the pipeline of new farmers and ranchers by funding practical education, training, outreach, mentoring, and related support designed to help beginning producers build skills, stay in business, and operate more sustainably over the long term. The program reflects a broader national concern that the farming population is aging, that overall farmer and rancher numbers were projected to decline in the 2008 to 2018 period, and that the next generation needs targeted, modern programming to overcome barriers to entry and early business survival.
Historically, the United States has supported farmer education through institutions and outreach systems dating back to the 1862 and 1890 Morrill Land Grant Acts. What makes BFRDP notable is that it represents a dedicated federal investment specifically focused on beginning farmers and ranchers as a distinct audience. Congress formally expanded support through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which appropriated $75 million total for fiscal years 2009 through 2012 to develop and deliver these kinds of beginning-farmer services. That commitment continued under the Agriculture Act of 2014, which provided an additional $20 million per year for fiscal years 2014 through 2018. In practical terms, the program is meant to move beyond general agricultural education by emphasizing entry-stage needs such as skills development, business and financial management, production practices, marketing, and mentorship networks that can make early farm and ranch operations more resilient.
For the specific funding notice provided, the opportunity title is "Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program" with funding opportunity number USDA NIFA BFR 006411, and it is listed under CFDA 10.311. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is agriculture. The posting lists an award ceiling of $600,000, with an expectation of around 35 awards, indicating that NIFA anticipated supporting multiple projects rather than a small number of very large initiatives. The notice was created on November 24, 2017, and the original application closing date was February 8, 2018, placing it within the later years of the 2014 Farm Bill funding window.
Eligibility is summarized in the notice as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which signals that eligibility can be broader than a single institution type and typically requires applicants to consult the full announcement for the exact list of allowable entities, partnership requirements, and any restrictions. In many NIFA programs, eligible applicants often include educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, extension or community-based organizations, and other entities capable of delivering training and technical assistance, but the definitive eligibility rules for this competition would be contained in that additional eligibility section of the full grant announcement.
Overall, the grant opportunity is best understood as a federal investment in the people-side infrastructure of agriculture: training systems, mentorship, and outreach programs that help new and aspiring farmers and ranchers enter the field, make informed business decisions, adopt sustainable practices, and remain viable in the face of economic and operational challenges. The emphasis on sustainability and the next generation is central, and it is directly tied to demographic shifts in U.S. agriculture and the policy goal of ensuring continuity of domestic agricultural production by supporting those who are just starting out.Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 006411
- The Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.311.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 24, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 08, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 35 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) FAQs
What is the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)?
BFRDP is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It funds practical education, training, outreach, mentoring, and related support intended to help beginning farmers and ranchers build skills, stay in business, and operate more sustainably over the long term.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The purpose is to strengthen the pipeline of new farmers and ranchers by supporting programs that address early-stage needs such as skills development, business and financial management, production practices, marketing, and mentorship networks that improve resilience and long-term viability.
Which federal agency administers BFRDP?
The program is administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA).
What kinds of activities does BFRDP fund?
Based on the notice summary, BFRDP funds practical education and training, outreach, mentoring, and related support services designed for beginning producers. The intent is to help new and aspiring farmers and ranchers develop operational and business capabilities and improve sustainability over time.
How is BFRDP different from general agricultural education programs?
BFRDP is notable because it is a dedicated federal investment specifically focused on beginning farmers and ranchers as a distinct audience. It emphasizes entry-stage challenges and early business survival needs rather than broad, general agricultural education.
Why does this program exist (what problem is it trying to address)?
The program reflects national concern that the farming population is aging and that farmer and rancher numbers were projected to decline in the 2008 to 2018 period. BFRDP supports targeted, modern programming to help the next generation overcome barriers to entry and improve early-stage survival and sustainability.
What is the official funding opportunity title?
The opportunity title is "Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program."
What is the funding opportunity number for this notice?
The funding opportunity number listed is USDA NIFA BFR 006411.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The notice lists CFDA 10.311.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category for this grant?
The activity category is agriculture.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The posting lists an award ceiling of $600,000.
About how many awards were expected under this notice?
The posting indicates an expectation of around 35 awards, suggesting support for multiple projects rather than only a few very large initiatives.
When was this funding notice created?
The notice was created on November 24, 2017.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was February 8, 2018.
How is eligibility described in the posting?
Eligibility is summarized as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." This indicates that eligibility may be broader than a single institution type and that applicants are expected to consult the full announcement for the definitive rules.
Where do applicants find the definitive eligibility requirements?
The posting points applicants to the text field titled "Additional Information on Eligibility" in the full grant announcement, which is where the exact list of eligible entities, partnership requirements, and any restrictions would be specified.
What types of organizations are often eligible in similar NIFA programs?
The notice indicates that, in many NIFA programs, eligible applicants often include educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, extension or community-based organizations, and other entities capable of delivering training and technical assistance. However, the definitive eligibility for this specific competition would be in the full announcement's eligibility section.
What policy background led to the expansion of support for BFRDP?
Congress formally expanded support through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which appropriated $75 million total for fiscal years 2009 through 2012 to develop and deliver beginning-farmer services. Support continued under the Agriculture Act of 2014, which provided an additional $20 million per year for fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
How does BFRDP fit into the longer history of U.S. farmer education and outreach?
The U.S. has supported farmer education through institutions and outreach systems dating back to the 1862 and 1890 Morrill Land Grant Acts. BFRDP builds on that tradition by focusing federal investment specifically on beginning farmers and ranchers and the practical supports needed at the entry stage.
What is the broader goal of BFRDP for U.S. agriculture?
The opportunity is described as a federal investment in the people-side infrastructure of agriculture: training systems, mentorship, and outreach programs that help new and aspiring farmers and ranchers enter the field, make informed business decisions, adopt sustainable practices, and remain viable amid economic and operational challenges.
What does the emphasis on sustainability mean in this program context?
In the context provided, sustainability is part of the program's long-term focus: helping beginning producers build skills and systems that support continued operation and resilience over time, rather than only short-term start-up support.
What time period does this specific notice fall within?
The notice was posted in late 2017 with a closing date in early 2018, placing it within the later years of the Agriculture Act of 2014 funding window (fiscal years 2014 through 2018) referenced in the description.
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