Funding Opportunities

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 is soliciting applications to help implement the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) and to support efforts by the agricultural community to transition away from high risk pesticides to the use of less and reduced risk pesticides, alternative methods of agricultural pest control, and sustainable practices in food production. The program supports grants for education, extension, demonstration, and studies for FQPA transition and reduced risk practices for pest management in agriculture. EPA Region 2 serves New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Produce for Kids invites classrooms throughout the U.S. to enter the Play with Your Produce Healthy Challenge. All entering classrooms will receive coupons and discounts for fresh produce, sample lesson plans with fun fruit & veggie activities, discounts on nutrition books and curricula, and Produce for Kids goodies for the classroom. Three Grand prize winners will receive a classroom party toolkit, a $500 mini-grant to promote school-based health and wellness, and their photo and write-up highlighted on the Produce for Kids® website.

WNC AgOptions, a program established in 2004 and managed by N. C. Cooperative Extension Centers in the West District, will continue assisting mountain farmers transitioning from tobacco and other crops through 2011. In 2009, WNC AgOptions will award demonstration contracts valued at $3,000, $6,000 or $9,000 through a competitive application and review process. Awards will total $225,000 each year within 17 western North Carolina counties and the Cherokee Reservation. The grants offer incentive for farmers to try new ventures—encouraging the sustainability of their operation, as well as demonstrating new methods to the larger agriculture community.

The purpose of the Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge (SPECA) Grants Program is to: enhance curricula in agricultural education; increase faculty teaching competencies; interest young people in pursuing higher education in order to prepare for scientific and professional careers in the food and agricultural sciences; promote the incorporation of agriscience and agribusiness subject matter into other instructional programs, particularly classes in science, business, and consumer education; facilitate joint initiatives by the grant recipient with other secondary schools, institutions of higher education that award an associate's degree, institutions of higher education that award a bachelor's degree, and nonprofit organizations supporting agriscience and agribusiness education, to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve agriscience and agribusiness education; support other initiatives designed to meet local, State, regional, or national needs related to promoting excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education; and support current Agriculture in the Classroom programs for grades K-12.

The Regional IPM Competitive Grants Program (RIPM) supports the continuum of research and extension efforts needed to increase the implementation of IPM methods. The RIPM program supports projects that develop individual pest control tactics, integrate individual tactics into an IPM system, and develop and implement extension and education programs. Eligible applicants are designated public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

The Regional IPM Competitive Grants Program (RIPM) supports the continuum of research and extension efforts needed to increase the implementation of IPM methods. The RIPM program supports projects that develop individual pest control tactics, integrate individual tactics into an IPM system, and develop and implement extension and education programs. Organizations eligible to receive Research awards are: state agricultural experiment stations and certain colleges and universities. Organizations eligible to receive Extension awards are 1862 and 1890 land-grant colleges and universities.

The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program (OASDFR) provides funds to organizations to conduct outreach and technical assistance to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches and to participate in agricultural programs. The OASDFR will support a wide range of outreach and assistance activities in farm management, financial management, marketing, application and bidding procedures, and other areas.

Southern SARE is offering competitive planning grants to enable states, and other organizations, in the southern region, to gather information they need to design a comprehensive plan to make use of SARE Matching Grant funds when they become available. Southern SARE Matching Planning grants will fund up to $15,000 to individual states (or two or more states working together) who wish to prepare for the time when SARE Matching funding is available. SARE Matching Planning Grants are to help states spend time thinking and designing what they would do with up to $1,000,000 and how they would supply the required match.

Annie's Homegrown Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship Program is open to full time undergraduate and graduate students beginning or returning to an accredited 2 or 4 year technical or college program or graduate school in the U.S. for the 2009/2010 school year. Students must be studying sustainable/organic agriculture. The Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship program awards $50,000 in scholarship assistance each year.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will award up to $150,000 for the 2009 Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant Program. Competitive grants for up to $25,000 are awarded to individuals or groups for on-farm sustainable agriculture research or demonstration projects in Minnesota. The purpose of the Grant Program is to fund practices that promote environmental stewardship and conservation of resources as well as improve profitability and quality of life on farms and in rural areas. Eligible recipients include Minnesota farmers, individuals at Minnesota educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and local natural resource agencies.

The Minnesota Association for Environmental Education (MAEE) recently announced the availability of $60,000 in grant money through the Environmental Learning in Minnesota (ELM) Grant Program. The program is designed to support opportunities for Minnesota citizens, particularly students, to engage in "real world environmental learning experiences" to achieve a sustained level of environmental literacy for all Minnesotans. The "School Grants" are for pre-K through grade-12 students, to provide financial resources (up to $3,000) for projects and the "GreenPrint Grants" provide financial resources (up to $20,000) for organizations, partnerships, and schools.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is accepting applications for USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant funds. Agricultural associations, industry groups, community-based organizations and producer groups that seek to improve the competitiveness of specialty crops in Virginia are eligible to submit proposals for grants up to $25,000. VDACS will administer a total of $123,500 in funds for the development of Specialty Crop projects.

The Kansas Rural Center's Clean Water Farms Project offers farmers in high priority watersheds the opportunity to apply for up to $5,000 in cost share funds. To be eligible for the cost share funds, the farmer must have completed the River Friendly Farm self-assessment and developed an approved action plan to improve or protect water quality. The Clean Water Farm-River Friendly Farm Project also offers $250 incentive payments for completion of the River Friendly Farm environmental assessment within specific watersheds.

The Northeast Sun Grant Initiative Competitive Grants Program announces the availability of funds to support research, education and outreach projects in the strategic areas of Biologically-Based Fuels (BioFuels), Biologically-Based Power (BioPower), and Biologically-Based Products (BioProducts). The Sun Grant mission is to focus the intellectual capacity of the region’s land grant universities in partnership with the private sector to enhance national energy security through the development, distribution and implementation of bio-based energy technologies, promote bio-based diversification and environmental sustainability of the region’s agriculture, and promote opportunities for bio-based economic diversification in rural communities in assisting the region and the nation move toward
greater energy independence. Letters of intent are due October 31, 2008.

The Frontera Farmer Foundation will award grants for capital improvements of up to $12,000 to small and medium-size, individually owned farms that sell their food products to customers in the Chicago area at farmers markets and otherwise. Farmers must have been in business for at least two years and must demonstrate how the grant will improve both their farm’s viability and the availability of locally grown food products in the Chicago area. Grant applicants will be judged on the basis of demonstrated need, long-term dedication to sustainable farming, creative and business acumen, and commitment to sustainability.

The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) administers Maryland's Grain Checkoff Program. Checkoff funds are used to promote greater utilization of grain through expanded promotion, research, education, information and other similar activities. The funding comes from Maryland producers and is spent on projects to ultimately make farming easier and more profitable in Maryland.

The Western Integrated Pest Management Center announces the availability of funds and requests proposals to address special issues in the West. Special issues may be requested to bring together a group of people to address emerging issues such as a new pest, water issues, development of proposals for larger grants based on documented stakeholder needs, or development of Pest Alerts. Projects must be completed within one year of funding and be single-issue oriented. Funds are available until exhausted. The maximum amount that can be requested is $5,000.

The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board focuses on projects that approach natural resources management from a whole-watershed perspective. OWEB encourages projects that foster interagency cooperation, include other sources of funding, provide for local stakeholder involvement, include youth and volunteers and promote learning about watershed concepts. There are five general categories of projects eligible for OWEB funding.
1. On-the-ground watershed management (restoration, small grants and acquisitions) 2. Assessment and/or monitoring of natural resource conditions 3. Opportunities for learning about watershed concepts (education/outreach) 4. Watershed Council Support 5. Technical Assistance.

The Southern Region SARE Producer Grant program is requesting grant proposals from producers or producer organizations interested in conducting research or marketing projects related to sustainable agriculture. Projects must be developed, coordinated and conducted by farmers and/or ranchers or a producer organization. Projects may be funded up to TWO years for a project maximum of $10,000 for an individual producer or $15,000 for a producer organization. The Southern Region includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

The North Central Region (NCR) SARE program of the USDA has allocated about $400,000 for
the 2008 Farmer/Rancher Grant Program. Competitive grants of up to $6,000 are available for
individual farmers and ranchers, and grants up to $18,000 are available for groups of three or
more farmers from separate operations who are interested in exploring sustainable agriculture. Farmers/Ranchers are invited to submit proposals that test, evaluate, and adapt sustainable agriculture practices for their operations; conduct learning circles, educational events, field days or demonstrations to further disseminate information to farmers/ranchers; develop new technologies; or create or modify equipment.

These grants to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops are open to commissions, public entities, and associations and/or nonprofit organizations that represent Kansas specialty agriculture and food producers. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops, including floriculture. Some examples of enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops are research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, food safety and security, plant health, education, "buy local" programs, addressing environmental concerns and developing cooperatives.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), administrator of the New York State Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program, is accepting applications to receive financial incentives to support the purchase, installation, and operation of Anaerobic Digester Gas (ADG)-to-Electricity Systems. $11 million is available for financial incentives to support the installation and operation of anaerobic digester gas (ADG)-to-electricity systems in New York State, with up to $1 million available per ADG System. Funding is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) funds research on organic farming and food systems and the dissemination of these research results to the greater agricultural community. Proposals must involve farmers or ranchers in project design and implementation and take place on working organic farms or ranches whenever possible. OFRF particularly encourages farmers, ranchers, researchers, and extension personnel to consider applying for funding. The average research grant awarded in OFRF's last funding cycle was $13,300. OFRF will not fund a project for more than $15,000 per year except for fruit research grants, for which the maximum grant size is $20,000 per year.

Conservation cost share applications for the popular Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) are being accepted for funding consideration in fiscal year 2009 at USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices throughout California. The program, which provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers for natural resource improvements, received a record $53,959,920 in funding in California for 2008. The contracts covered a broad spectrum of natural resource enhancements including increasing irrigation efficiency; nutrient and manure management on dairies; grazing land management; riparian buffers and wildlife habitat; wetland protection; forest management and more.

The Northeast Vegetable IPM Working Group, funded by the Northeastern IPM Center, offers an Educator Exchange Program that will pay up to $800 for qualified expenses to help agricultural professionals in the Northeast learn about and share integrated pest management practices in vegetables and strawberries. Funds are available for agriculture professionals in the private sector as well as those who work for public universities. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Northeast SARE and the Northeast Center for Rural Development offer grants to organizations such as community nonprofits, Cooperative Extension, local governments, educational institutions, planning boards, farming cooperatives, and incorporated citizens’ groups. The purpose of the Sustainable Community Grants program is to reconnect rural revitalization and farming. Projects can address diverse issues such as land use, nutrition, employment, markets, education, farm labor, public policy, and environmental quality. The Northeast region is 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 Organic Farming Research Foundation will fund the development of educational opportunities and materials that are: pertinent to organic agricultural production or marketing; and aimed at organic producers and/or those considering making the transition to organic certification. OFRF will also accept proposals to fund activities that promote information sharing among organic agricultural researchers and organic farmers and ranchers. OFRF will not fund a project for more than $15,000 per year except for fruit grants, for which the maximum grant size is $20,000 per year.

The goal of the Minnesota Dairy Business Planning Grants is to encourage dairy business planning and modernization activities of Minnesota dairy farms. The program covers 50 percent of the cost of completing a business plan for a dairy operation. Producers who have applied for this grant are exploring the feasibility of expansion, environmental upgrades, stray voltage testing or transferring the operation to the next generation producer. Applications are funded on a first come first serve basis. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture can provide 50% of eligible project costs up to a maximum of $5,000.