Funding Opportunities

The Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Ag Literacy Grant Program offers cash awards to help educators more effectively integrate agriculture and the food system into their curriculum. MAITC will accept grant applications only in the following three categories: Innovation in Ag Literacy (up to $400 per grant, with special emphasis on multi-grade or entire school collaboration); Project Food, Land and People Implementation (up to $250 per grant and you must have attended a six hour FLP training); and Special Project Mini-Grants (a maximum of $200 per grant).

The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications from eligible applicants to enter into a cooperative agreement with NRCS to provide perennial forage production studies, to provide technology transfer directly to farmers throughout the state of Maryland and to teach to agricultural professionals the various findings and other technical concepts for use in rotational grazing systems. A total of $15,000 is currently available for the cooperative agreement.

The Leopold Center is seeking pre-proposals for its grant program. The Center’s work is organized in three initiative areas—ecology, marketing and food systems, and policy—each aimed at enhancing the condition and viability of Iowa’s natural resources in varying, yet integrated ways. These three initiatives have separate sections in the RFP. Investigators representing any Iowa nonprofit organization/agency and/or educational institution (such as soil and water conservation districts, schools and colleges, and regional development groups) are eligible to apply. The Center strongly encourages the involvement and collaboration of farmers, landowners, and farm-based businesses in the pre-proposal process.

The National Gardening Association administers the Healthy Sprouts Awards, sponsored by Gardener's Supply Company. These awards support school and youth garden programs that teach about nutrition and the issue of hunger in the United States. To be eligible for the 2008 Healthy Sprouts Awards, your school or organization must plan to garden in 2009 with at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18. The selection of winners is based on the demonstrated relationship between the garden program and nutrition and hunger issues in the United States. Winning programs receive seeds, curriculum, and gift certificates for purchase of gardening materials.

The goal of the Farmer Grant program is to develop, refine, and demonstrate new sustainable techniques and to explore innovative ideas developed by farmers across the region. To apply, you must be a farmer in the Northeast SARE region, made up of Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) maintains an active intramural research program. The extramural program endeavors to support novel research efforts, expertise, and resources not found within CFSAN. In particular, it is intended that any additional extramural research efforts in food safety will complement the Center's intramural research efforts, and generally enhance the Agency's and the Nation's ability to reduce the incidence of food borne illness and protect the integrity of the nation's food supply. Grants of up to $500,000 are available to any domestic or foreign, public or private, for-profit or nonprofit entity (including State and local units of government).

The purpose of the Agriculture and Rural Youth Grant Program is to fund projects, which will increase the knowledge and awareness of agricultural and rural issues in Pennsylvania, in particular, among the youth of Pennsylvania. The Program awards direct grants up to $2,500 and matching grants up to $10,000. Eligible youth organizations are those which are primarily comprised of persons eighteen years of age, or younger, and are organized within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to promote development in the areas of agriculture, rural community leadership, vocational training or peer fellowship.

TAEP supports agriculture in Tennessee by providing cost share funds to producers for long term investments in their livestock and farming operations. These cost share programs help producers maximize farm profits, adapt to current market situations, and prepare for the future. Producer programs include Livestock Equipment & Handling Facilities; Livestock Feed Storage; Cattle Genetics; Hay Storage; Grain Storage; Producer Diversification; and Feeder Cattle Incentive. There are also ag industry development programs.

The Agricultural Pumping Efficiency Program offers funds to help improve energy efficiency in well and booster pumps for electric and natural gas customers of Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). Farmers, ranchers, golf courses and other large-scale turf irrigators, and municipal pumpers could be eligible. APEP offers subsidies for pump efficiency tests performed by APEP-approved pump test companies and incentives for repairs and retrofits of working pumps to improve efficiency. The program will pay 100% of the cost for a pump test up to $150, and up to 50% of the cost of the retrofit/repair of a water pump. Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis until December 31, 2008.

The American Sheep and Goat Center (ASGC) announces the availability of up to $200,000 in competitive grants for product or business development, producer information or education, marketing and promotion for sheep or goats or their products, genetic retention, and animal health. Eligible applicants, including many business structures but excluding individuals, may apply. The intent is to fund a variety of proposals that will benefit the U.S. sheep and goat industries.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting proposals from eligible entities for the development of market-based water quality programs to improve water quality by reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment loadings, or pollutant loadings that cause low Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) in local waters that enter the Mississippi River system and are ultimately discharged into the Northern Gulf of Mexico. EPA will accept proposals for the following two Priorities: (I) Market Feasibility Assessment; and (II) Program Design and/or Program Implementation. Estimated total program funding is $4,200,000, with awards of up to $1,000,000 available. States, local governments, public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, U.S. territories or possessions, and interstate agencies are eligible to apply.

The Maine Department of Agriculture is currently soliciting proposals for new source development. The cost-share program was created to assist farmers to mitigate drought risk while minimizing the potential impacts to Maine’s environment. The goal is the long-term maintenance of profitable farms. This goal will be achieved through the development of alternative water sources which include dug ponds, drilled wells and impoundments in compliance with environmentally sound construction practices. The program will provide up to 75% of the cost of construction of a new or expanded water source or up to $80,000 per project, whichever is less.

People, organizations and institutions may apply for grants to fund noxious weed control projects. It is a priority of the Oregon State Weed Board to fund projects that restore, enhance or protect fish and wildlife habitat, watershed function, and native salmonid or water quality. Grant applications must be for on the ground weed control projects for OSWB listed noxious weeds. Applications may include research, survey, project design if required to complete the control portion of the project.

The New York Farm Viability Institute seeks proposals for innovative projects that help farmers increase profits and provide models for other farmers to follow. Eligible grant applicants include farmers, producer groups, researchers, educators, organizations, agencies and businesses. Applicants may represent nonprofit or for-profit sectors. Projects should work with New York State resident farmers and outcomes should benefit agriculture in New York State.

CSREES administers this program for grants that provide funds for projects that: (1) develop and implement eXtension Communities of Practice (CoP); (2) have national or regional relevancy; or (3) develop new and innovative projects that can be replicated at other institutions. Applications may be submitted by 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions. Awards of up to $85,000 are available.

Eligible applicants for the Dairy 2020 Early Planning Grant program include existing and start-up Wisconsin dairy producers whose farms are, or will be located in a city, town or village with a population less than 6,000. Proceeds from an award may be used only to cover the cost of having a qualified, independent third party provide the professional services necessary to assist the applicant in the start-up, modernization, or expansion of a dairy farm. Eligible professional services include activities such as the preparation of a comprehensive business plan. Applicants will be required to contribute at least 25% of the total project costs from sources other than the State of Wisconsin.

The Ag Products Utilization & Marketing Program was created by the Colorado Department of Agriculture to assist Colorado agricultural and food companies in the research and development of new uses and markets for agricultural and food products that are grown, raised or processed in Colorado. The program will offer up to $20,000 per project on a 1:1 cost share basis to assist with feasibility studies, market research, and promotions. Applications may be submitted at any time; however, application approval will be considered on a schedule subject to regular meeting dates.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, a private foundation, seeks to support work that broadly strengthens the role of agriculture in our society by improving the environment, improving nutrition and health, addressing hunger, and strengthening farming communities. They accept grant proposals only for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes, primarily from tax-exempt, charitable organizations. For your project to be considered for possible funding in 2008, you must submit a letter of inquiry.

The goal of this RRP from CSREES is to contribute to the improvement of U.S. rangeland resources and the ecosystem services they provide by supporting the development of new and emerging rangeland science methodologies which specifically address the interrelationships between multiple disciplines. The primary purpose of RRP is to provide U.S. agricultural producers, rural landowners, and land managers with integrated science strategies to make informed land management decisions with an emphasis on enhancing the restoration and sustainable integrity of rangelands. Applications may be submitted by land-grant colleges and universities, State agricultural experiment stations, and colleges, universities, and Federal laboratories having a demonstrable capacity in rangeland research. A total of $950,000 in project funding is available, with individual awards not to exceed $500,000.

This program is designed to assist producers of horticulture products to attend educational events and conferences to improve production and marketing skills. Funding for the program is provided by grant funds to the Kentucky Horticulture Council through the Agriculture Development Board. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture administers this program on their behalf. The maximum program benefit is $2000 in 2008 for any one business entity.

Any business or individual located in Pennsylvania that successfully completes one initial USDA Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) or one initial USDA Good Handling Practices (GHP) audit is eligible to apply. Qualified applicants may receive up to a maximum of $400 per year to cover the costs of one successful initial USDA GAP or GHP audit.

North Dakota's Agricultural Product Utilization Commission provides grants for North Dakota companies that add value to a raw North Dakota agriculture commodity. Funding proposals for the following categories are accepted: basic and applied research grants; marketing and utilization grants; farm diversification grants; and an agricultural prototype development grant program. Applicants are invited to present their proposals to the commission on a quarterly basis. The deadlines for submitting applications to present are: January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.

The Composting Infrastructure Development Grant Program aims to increase the volume of organic materials being diverted from landfills and helps businesses increase the use of organic materials in finished products. The grant program awards for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations up to $100,000 for projects that incorporate recovered organic materials into products or increase the amount of organic material processed at composting facilities.

Professional Development Program (PDP) Grants are aimed at helping Cooperative Extension Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and other agricultural professionals in the Western Region increase their understanding and proficiency in sustainable agriculture. The grants are designed to help university and other agricultural professionals spread knowledge to producers about sustainable concepts and practices. Applicants may seek up to $30,000 for one-year projects and $60,000 for two-year projects in a single state or locale.

The Strolling of the Heifers awards scholarships to Windham County (Vermont) area farmers and agricultural students who want to take courses, attend workshops or conferences, or pursue other educational opportunities related to farming. Applicants may apply for funding to cover registration or other fees. Scholarship money also can be used to cover the cost of the time on the farm lost by farmers pursuing further education. Scholarships will not exceed $250 per applicant. A maximum of $5,000 in scholarship money will be awarded during 2008, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Farmers Advocating for Organics (FAFO) fund provides a way for the organic farmers of CROPP Cooperative to identify and support key issues facing the organic marketplace and organic agriculture. The FAFO Farmer Committee accepts proposals from organizations seeking funding for particular projects or programs dedicated to furthering organic education, organic farming or product research, and advocating for organic standards or policies. FAFO is open to funding both small and large scale projects with a suggested budgetary guideline being $5,000 - $50,000 per year. In addition, FAFO has established a Small Grant Fund for individuals and organizations seeking grants that amount to less than $5,000. Small grant proposals will be reviewed monthly. There are two funding rounds in 2008, with proposal deadlines of June 1 and October 1.

The goal of RAFI's Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund is to keep farmers in farming and maintain the economic base of North Carolina’s rural communities. The Reinvestment Fund aims to assist farmers and rural communities in selected North Carolina counties to develop new sources of agricultural income through provision of cost-share grants. In 2008, the Reinvestment Fund will make two types of demonstration awards: Producer Grant Awards of up to $10,000 for individuals and Community Grant Awards of up to $20,000 for collaborative farmer projects.

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) has issued its Request for Proposals for organic research and education projects for Spring and Fall 2008 grants. OFRF offers funds for research on any topic that will improve organic production systems, and for education and outreach projects to share organic farming information with current organic producers and to farmers and ranchers considering transitioning their operations to organic. Proposals may request awards of up to $15,000 per year ($20,000 for fruit projects). Multi-year funding will be considered for fruit projects.