Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) has announced a grant funding opportunity to encourage Maryland's agricultural producers to engage in value-added activities and pursue financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Value Added Producer Grants Program (USDA-VAPG). MARBIDCO is making available Maryland Value Added Producer Matching Grants (MVAPMG) of 15% of the amount of a USDA-VAPG award, to help an eligible applicant meet the one-for-one non-federal financial matching requirement. Matching grants are capped at $25,000. A MVAPMG monetary award from MARBIDCO will only be provided to an applicant that is selected to receive USDA-VAPG funding. MARBIDCO's deadline to apply is February 20, 2020.

New York Department of Agriculture and Markets invites eligible not-for-profit conservation organizations (Land Trusts) to submit proposals for financial assistance to conduct activities that will assist counties and municipalities with their agricultural and farmland protection efforts. Specifically, state funding under this grant opportunity will support local agricultural and farmland protection goals by informing owners of viable agricultural land of the mechanisms and programs available to protect their lands from conversion to non-farm uses. Projects will consist of outreach activities intended to reach the owners of viable agricultural land utilizing an inventory of viable agricultural lands and a screening process to identify subsets of landowners to focus on for such outreach activities. Proposals are due on February 21, 2020.

New Hampshire's Agricultural Promotion Mini-Grant Program offers matching grants of up to $1,000 to organizations that wish to conduct a project focused on promoting New Hampshire agriculture. Applications will be accepted from organizations or commodity groups engaged in production, marketing, or promotion of New Hampshire agricultural products. Mini-grants are intended to match organizational funds. Projects may include, but are not limited to, the following: publicity/public relations, merchandising, advertising, demonstrations, contests, website promotion, point-of-purchase materials, and printing and distribution of brochures or other promotional publications. Applications are due by February 21, 2020.

Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR) Seeding Solutions Grants are an open call for applicants to submit innovative and transformative research proposals that further any of six designated Challenge Areas and foster unique partnerships. Matching grants of $300,000 to $1 million are offered in each Challenge Area. Grantees should identify an innovation that addresses an intractable problem in food and agriculture within one of FFAR's Challenge areas: Advanced Animal Systems, Health-Agriculture Nexus, Next-Generation Crops, Soil Health, Sustainable Water Management, or Urban Food Systems. Pre-proposals are due February 26, 2020.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is accepting applications for approximately $200,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grant funds. Projects should strengthen Vermont's specialty crop industries and improve the performance of Vermont specialty crops within local, domestic, and international markets. Any business, organization, or individual can apply to the Vermont Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. However, projects must benefit multiple specialty crop businesses, organizations, or individuals to be eligible for funding. Program priorities are available online. Pre-applications are due by February 26, 2020.

First Nations Development Institute is offering Gather Food Sovereignty Grants that will support building a national movement that will fulfill a vision of Native communities and food systems that are self-directed, well-resourced, and supported by community policies and systems. This opportunity targets emerging projects that focus on developing Tribal Food Sovereignty. Through the first round of the Gather Food Sovereignty Grant, First Nations expects to award up to eight grant awards of approximately $32,000 to support Native American-led food sovereignty work. Applications are due by February 27, 2020.

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture is accepting applications for the Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program—Organic Transitions (ORG), to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems. ORG will continue to prioritize environmental services provided by organic farming systems in the areas of soil conservation, pollinator health, and climate change mitigation, including greenhouse gases, as well as the development of educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices, and development of cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the National Organic Program's National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. All projects should integrate research, education, and extension activities. Applications are due by February 27, 2020.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is accepting proposals for the Michigan Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The program is designed to enhance the competitiveness of Michigan's specialty crops. Grants have a maximum award of $100,000 for research proposals and $125,000 for marketing, training, and education proposals. Funding priority will be given to projects with a focus on Market Enhancement (Market Expansion and Access and Farm to Institution); Research (Health, Pest Management, Farm Sustainability); and Training and Education (Food Safety, Environmental Sustainability, Workforce/Labor). Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations; local, state, and federal government entities; and for-profit organizations. Grant proposals must be emailed by February 27, 2020.

Texas state agencies, universities, institutions, and producer, industry, or community-based organizations involved with, or that promote, specialty crops can apply for funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Projects must enhance the competitiveness of a Texas specialty crop industry. Priority issues are as follows: food safety, marketing, nutrition, plant health, and value added/industry development. Applications are due February 27, 2020.

Wisconsin farmers and businesses seeking to grow their local markets are encouraged to apply for 2020 Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin producer and processor grants. The grants can help farms and business more efficiently produce, process, market, and distribute food in local markets, including stores, schools, and institutions. A total of $300,000 is available in grant funding; the maximum award for each project is $50,000. Applicants must provide a cash or in-kind match of at least 50% of the total project budget. Proposals must be received by February 28, 2020.

The Agricultural Cranberry Enhancement Program (ACEP) in Massachusetts provides funding to implement practices that demonstrate an innovative approach to enhance environmental benefits and encourage increased economic activity in the cranberry sector. Projects that work towards increasing on-farm efficiencies, lower operating costs, and increase revenue while enhancing environmental benefits are eligible for up to $50,000 in funding. The grant can fund up to 85% of total project cost. Applications must be received by February 28, 2020.

The Agricultural Energy Grant Program is a competitive grant program that funds agricultural energy projects in an effort to improve energy efficiency and the adoption of alternative energy by Massachusetts farms. Funding from $25,000 to $100,000 is provided for agricultural energy projects that are geared toward one of the following: capital infrastructure improvements that promote energy efficiency; the purchase or expanded use of renewable energy technologies; tools to address barriers to economic growth, including business management technical assistance and the purchase of more efficient equipment and technology; or tools and technologies to facilitate sustainability and new product development. Applications are due by February 28, 2020.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets invites applications for financial assistance to implement farmland protection activities. This funding opportunity provides State financial assistance to enable local initiatives that are intended to maintain the economic viability of the State's agricultural industry and its supporting land base and to protect the environmental and landscape preservation values associated with agriculture. This grant opportunity is being offered to specifically implement Conservation Easement Projects with owners of viable agricultural lands that are associated with a dairy Farm Operation at risk of conversion to non-farm uses. The applicant must be the entity that is the Grantee (or "holder") of the perpetual agricultural conservation easement. Grant applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until all funding is committed.

New Mexico Department of Agriculture is accepting proposals for Specialty Crop Block Grants. These grants support projects to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and specialty crop farmers in domestic or foreign markets, including Native American and disadvantaged farmers. Increasing competitiveness may include developing local and rural food systems and improving food access in underserved communities. Previously funded projects range from one to three years in length and vary in amount from $15,000 to more than $100,000. Proposals are due by March 2, 2020.

The New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee invites Soil and Water Conservation Districts to submit proposals for funding to the Climate Resilient Farming Program. Funds are available for projects that mitigate the impact of agriculture on climate change and enhance the on-farm adaptation and resiliency to projected climate conditions. Applications must be for one of the following: Track 1: Agricultural Waste Storage Cover and Flare Systems; Track 2: Water Management; or Track 3: Healthy Soils NY (soil health management practice systems). Applications are due by March 2, 2020.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture and California Fruit Tree, Nut Tree, and Grapevine Improvement Advisory Board (IAB) have announced a competitive solicitation process to promote production of high-quality tree and grapevine nursery stock. IAB has identified five research priorities to help prospective applicants develop and submit their projects. Funding is made possible from assessments on fruit tree, nut tree, and grapevine nursery stock. Proposals are due March 4, 2020.

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) - Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. One of those program areas is Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities, and one priority within this area is Small and Medium-sized Farms. Standard, Conference, and FASE (Strengthening Standard, New Investigator, Strengthening Conference, Seed, Equipment, and Sabbatical) grants are available for this priority area in amounts up to $500,000. Grants support research with education or extension. Applications are due by March 5, 2020.

Specialty crop grant funding is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture and is allocated to Idaho to be awarded through a competitive grant process. Projects must solely enhance the competitiveness of Idaho-grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets. Funds are available to interested local, state and federal government agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and universities. Applications are due March 6, 2020.

Frontera Farmer Foundation will award grants for capital improvements of up to $12,000 to small and mid-size farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin 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 three 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. Applications are due by March 6, 2020.

Oregon Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for a new grant program designed to help Oregon producers and processors access the school marketplace. The program offers $500,000 in equipment and infrastructure grants for producers who intend to sell food produced or processed in Oregon to schools, center-based programs for children, or Summer Food Service Program providers. Applications are due March 9, 2020.

USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service is accepting applications for the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. Approximately $37 million is available. The VAPG program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. Beginning farmers or ranchers, socially-disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, farmer or rancher cooperatives, or projects that are proposing a mid-tier value chain receive priority. Planning grants up to $75,000 are offered, as well as working capital grants up to $250,000. A 50% match is required. Applications are due by March 10, 2020; electronic applications must be submitted by March 5, 2020.

Organizations that benefit Minnesota fruit, vegetable, and other specialty crop producers can apply for USDA Specialty Crop Block Grants through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Nonprofit organizations, producer organizations, government agencies, universities, and other agricultural groups can apply, as well as for-profit entities, farms, and other businesses that aim to enhance sector-wide competitiveness of specialty crops through research, education, or marketing projects. Grants range from $10,000 to $100,000 per project. Applications are due by March 10, 2020.

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) - Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. One of those program areas is Plant Health and Production and Plant Products, and within this area a priority is Pests and Beneficial Species in Agricultural Production Systems. Research and combined research and extension grants up to $500,000 are available in this area. The goal of the Pests and Beneficial Species in Agricultural Production Systems program is to advance knowledge of invasive or established plant pests and associated beneficial species leading to innovative and biologically based strategies to manage pests. Applications are due by March 12, 2020.

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)—Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. One of those program areas is Animal Health and Production and Animal Products, and within that area, a priority focus is Animal Nutrition, Growth, and Lactation. USDA NIFA is accepting proposals up to $500,000 for research grants on this topic. Topics can include feed formulation, nutrient utilization, effiency, and addressing metabolic disorders and nutritional deficiencies.

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is accepting applications for the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program (BRAG). BRAG supports the generation of new information that will assist Federal regulatory agencies in making science-based decisions about the effects of introducing genetically engineered organisms into the environment. Applications may be submitted by any United States public or private research or educational institution or organization. Grant awards range from $25,000 to $500,000. Applications are due by March 18, 2020.

Pennsylvania's Center for Dairy Excellence is accepting applications from dairy producers who are looking for an outside perspective and a team approach to decision-making. Three different team program grants allow dairy producers to establish on-farm teams and take advantage of professional consulting resources. The grants allow dairy farmers to establish a Dairy Profit, Transition, or Transformation Team that consists of industry experts and trusted advisors. Dairy farms can receive up to $2,000 in reimbursements for Dairy Profit teams, up to $3,000 for Dairy Transition teams, and up to $5,000 for a Dairy Transformation team. A $100 application fee is required for all On-Farm Resource Programs and a demonstrated in-kind or financial match. The grant period is open until May 31, 2020.