The purpose of the Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program (SLSNCGP), Assistance Listing 10.511, is to support innovative, education-based approaches to address disaster preparedness and specific responses related to disasters or disaster threats caused by natural, human-made, or technological hazards, or by other factors that contribute to the exposure or vulnerability of a community. The goals and objectives of SLSNCGP include supporting quality of life in communities across the United States by addressing disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation in food and agricultural systems. The SLSNCGP also seeks to continue to provide information and resources to USDA stakeholders and collaborators to improve decision-making before, during, and after disasters. Eligibility: 1862 land-grant institutions in the 50 states and the U.S. territories, American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. With funds starting at $15,000 and up to $150,000.

The SARE Fellows program provides an immersive educational experience for participants to enhance their understanding of sustainable agriculture through broad-based training and interpersonal interactions at unique agriculture operations nationwide. Participating Fellows build professional relationships, improve their teaching and technology transfer skills, and are better prepared to develop programs that meet the needs of their local agricultural communities.

The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) seeks to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research, education, and extension activities. The purpose of this program is to fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high-quality organic agricultural products. Eligibility: State agricultural experiment stations; Colleges and universities; University research foundations; Other research institutions and organizations; Federal agencies; National laboratories; Private organizations, foundations, or corporations; Individuals. With funds starting at $5000 and up to $3,500,000.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), operating through the Risk Management Agency (RMA), announces its intent to award up to $2 million to fund the Risk Management Education Partnership Program. The cooperative agreements will be awarded on a competitive basis up to twelve (12) months from the date of the award. Eligibility: Nonprofits; Native American tribal governments; Special district governments; Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Private institutions of higher education; Independent school districts; For-profit organizations other than small businesses; County governments; City or township governments; Small businesses; Public and State controlled institutions of higher education; Native American tribal organizations. With funding starting at $5,000 and up to $300,000.

The Secondary Education, Two-Year Post secondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants (SPECA) program seeks to (a) promote and strengthen secondary education and two-year postsecondary education in the food and agriculture sciences in order to help ensure the existence of a workforce in the United States that's qualified to serve the food and agriculture sciences system; and (b) promote complementary and synergistic linkages among secondary, two-year postsecondary, and higher education programs in the food and agriculture sciences in order to advance excellence in education and encourage more young Americans to pursue and complete a baccalaureate or higher degree in the food and agriculture sciences.

The GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program aims to fund and evaluate projects intended to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by USDA SNAP participants in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands and the USDA NAP participants in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands by providing incentives at the point of purchase.

Grant funds must be used for REPATRIATION under NAGPRA, which means the transfer of control of Native American human remains and/or cultural items to lineal descendants, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations. Repatriation includes the disposition of culturally unidentifiable Native American human remains (CUI) according to 43 CFR § 10.11. Repatriation projects defray costs associated with the packaging, transportation, contamination removal, reburial, and/or storage of NAGPRA-related human remains and/or cultural items.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Coastal Program is a voluntary, community-based program that provides technical and financial assistance through cooperative agreements to coastal communities, conservation partners, and landowners to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitats on public and private lands. The Coastal Program takes an adaptive approach to designing and implementing coastal habitat protection and restoration strategies that anticipate and ameliorate the impacts of climate change and other environmental stressors. Coastal Program habitat improvement projects strive to increase coastal resiliency by improving the ability of coastal ecosystems to adapt to environmental changes and supporting natural and nature-based infrastructure projects to protect and enhance coastal habitats. Eligibility: Native American tribal organizations and governments, For-profit organizations, Nonprofits, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, Independent school districts, Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, State, County, City, or township governments, Small businesses,Special district governments.

The Emergent Fund supports strategies that help communities respond to rapidly changing conditions. They look to fund projects that support community development through long-term economic or social justice.

This program provides funding towards technology projects that determine a chick’s sex before it hatches to prevent male chick culling.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to:
•Help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund.
•Provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.
Funds can be used for:
•Working capital
•Debt refinancing
•Purchasing equipment and supplies
•Improving real estate

The Biodynamic Scholarship Fund serves farmers, aspiring farmers, and those interested in learning and developing skills in biodynamics but lack the financial resources to participate in educational opportunities. By providing scholarships to individuals to attend the North American Biodynamic Conference and other events organized by the Biodynamic Association as well as biodynamic workshops or coursework at participating education centers in North America, the Biodynamic Association is making education more accessible for all.

This program deploys urgent funding to support research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the nation’s food supply or agricultural systems. FFAR makes rapid grants through ROAR for research related to response, prevention or mitigation of new pests and pathogens. ROAR’s one-year funding fills urgent research gaps until traditional, longer-term funding can be secured.

Projects supported by the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program will: (1) address a state, regional, national, or international educational need; (2) involve a creative or non-traditional approach toward addressing that need that can serve as a model to others; (3) encourage and facilitate better working relationships in the university science and education community, as well as between universities and the private sector, to enhance program quality and supplement available resources, and (4) result in benefits that will likely transcend the project duration and USDA support. Eligibility: U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities offering a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one discipline or area of the food and agricultural sciences; land-grant colleges and universities, (including land-grant institutions in the Insular Areas); colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences; and other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences. With funds starting at $30,000 and up to $750,000.

USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supports the resilience of the U.S. food and agriculture sector to biosecurity risks, extreme weather events and disasters, cyber threats, and other shocks through the Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative Extension Disaster Education Network (FADI-EDEN) funding opportunity. Eligibility: State agricultural experiment stations, State cooperative extension services, all colleges and universities, other research or education institutions and organizations, Federal and private agencies and organizations, and individuals. With funding up to $382,400.

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will work collaboratively to develop a national workforce strategy for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), to help shape the integration of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles across the broader nutrition services workforce. Eligibility: State Agricultural Experiment Station; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; non-profit organizations; Federal agencies; Governmental agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. With funds up to $750,000.

The primary goal of this outreach opportunity is for NRCS, in collaboration with partners, to expand conservation assistance to historically undeserved producers and undeserved communities and to provide opportunities for students to pursue careers in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences.

The USDA Forest Service requests proposals to substantially expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands. This Request for Proposals focuses on the following priorities: Reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health in National Forest System and other forestlands. Reduce costs of forest management on all land types. Promote economic and environmental health of communities.

The primary goal of BFRDP is to help beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States and its territories enter and/or improve their successes in farming, ranching, and management of nonindustrial private forest lands, through support for projects that provide education, mentoring, and technical assistance to give beginning farmers and ranchers the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make informed decisions for their operations and enhance their sustainability. With funding starting at $49,000 up to $750,000.

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development (EWD) focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. In FY 2021, EWD invites applications in seven areas: agricultural workforce training; professional development for agricultural literacy; training of undergraduate students in research and extension; fellowships for predoctoral candidates; fellowships for postdoctoral scholars, a new program for food and agricultural non-formal education, and an FY 2021-only program for evaluation of NIFA’s agricultural literacy and workforce development portfolio. Eligibility: Research, Education or Extension Projects, Integrated Projects, Food, and Agricultural Science Enhancement. With funds up to $10,000,000.

McInerny Foundation grants are given to organizations benefiting the people of Hawaii. Program and Project grants are awarded in six major fields: arts and culture, community, education, environment, health and rehabilitation, and human services. The Mcleenary Foundation offers grants for Program support, General operating support, Major capital support, and Tuition aid to Hawai'i nonprofits.

Food Sovereignty Tours offers $50-$600 scholarships to individuals based on need, interest and available funds to provide educational travel opportunities to people from diverse backgrounds and income levels. The goal of the program is to allow recipients build alliances and learn new innovations and strategies from people around the world working to build food justice and food sovereignty.

Western SARE Sabbatical Grants provide an opportunity for faculty around the world to partner with farmers, ranchers, agricultural professionals, and researchers of the Western U.S. region for conducting research, education, and Extension activities. Projects focused on unexplored topics in underserved communities and understudied geographic locations are of special interest.

RMAP provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations to help micro enterprises start and grow through training and technical assistance and a rural micro loan revolving fund. Nonprofits and institutes of higher education are eligible to become a MDO.

The Nestle Foundation supports a variety of research. Their training and small research grant program supports smaller research projects; their pilot grant supports high potential pilot research; and their large research grant supports bigger research projects. Interested scientists should submit a letter of intent describing their project and estimated budget, and will be invited to submit a full proposal should their project align with the Foundation’s funding strategy. LOI are accepted year-round while full grant applications should be submitted by January 10th for funding in May and by May 10th for funding in October.

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The Farm Business Management and Bench marking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program provides funds for improving the farm management knowledge and skills of agricultural producers by maintaining and expanding a national, publicly available farm financial management database to support improved farm management. Eligibility: State agricultural experiment station; College and universities; University research foundation; Other research institutions and organizations; Federal agencies; National laboratories; Private organizations or corporations; Individuals; or Any group consisting of two. With funds starting at $50,000 and up to $500,000.

The purpose of this program is to support research, education/teaching, and extension projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in STEM. NIFA intends this program to address educational needs within broadly defined areas of food and agricultural sciences. Applications recommended for funding must highlight and emphasize the development of a competent and qualified workforce in the food and agricultural sciences. Eligibility: State agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; Federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individuals.

Western SARE Sabbatical Grants provide an opportunity for faculty around the world to partner with farmers, ranchers, agricultural professionals, and researchers of the Western U.S. region for conducting research, education, and Extension activities. Projects focused on unexplored topics in underserved communities and understudied geographic locations are of special interest. With funds up to $75,000 limit/one year in scope.

The intent of the CWEWIP is to support forest health and stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood product manufacturing capacity. The Forest Service solicits proposals for projects that will achieve the following: 1. Expand thermally led community wood energy or innovative wood product opportunities; 2. Improve Forest health; and 3. Stimulate local economies. This funding opportunity is intended for shovel-ready projects that will not require additional funding or time to complete after the award period. With funds starting at $10,000 and up to $1,000,000.

The National Non-Infrastructure Partnerships initiative encourages National Wildlife Refuge System field stations to partner with local, regional, and national nonprofit organizations, other land management groups, state and tribal partners, and others to accomplish projects. The goals of the initiative are to enable local communities to play a more active role in increasing outdoor recreation opportunities on refuge lands and waters, and to enhance wildlife habitat. Eligibility: Independent school districts, State governments, Native American tribal organizations and governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits, Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Special district governments, City or township governments, County governments, Private institutions of higher education. With funds starting at $5,000 and up to $5,000,000.

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program that provides direct technical assistance and financial assistance in the form of cooperative and grant agreements to private landowners to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitats for the benefit of federal trust resources. Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program staff coordinate with project partners, stakeholders, and other Service programs to identify geographic focus areas and develop habitat conservation priorities within these focus areas. Geographic focus areas define where the program directs resources to conserve habitat for federal trust species. Project selection will seek to align or support the Secretary’s priorities. It also advances the Department of the Interior’s mission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s mission, and PFW’s mission, promoting biological diversity, and based upon sound scientific biological principles. Eligibility: Nonprofits, Private institutions of higher education, City or township governments, Nonprofits, Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, For-profit organizations, Independent school districts, Native American tribal governments, and organizations, State governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Individuals, Small businesses, County governments.

This program provides twenty $5000 awards to Native Hawaiian students in 2-year and 4-year institutions pursuing a bachelors or graduate degree. The goal of this program is to help Native students with financial need conduct research in an agricultural related area. Proposals will be ranked on their potential to contribute to Native Hawaiian communities in farming and ranching. Applicants must be a current American Indian Science and Engineering Society member at the time of application (AISES membership is free for all students)! Applications will be accepted and rewarded on a rolling basis until funds are no longer available.

This program provides student fellowship scholarships of up to $1,000 to fund professional development opportunities for future integrated pest management professionals such as costs associated with internships or registration. Applications will be accepted year-round on a rolling basis. Approximately $20,000 of funding will be available in 2020-2021.

There are two programs that applicants can receive funding from under the EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program:
1) The EDA’s Public Works program, which helps distressed communities build, design, or engineer critical infrastructure and facilities to promote economic development and regional prosperity.
2) The EDA’s Economic Adjustment Assistance program accepts applications for projects in rural and urban areas that support construction, non-construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects.

The National FFA Foundation supports multiple scholarships to students pursuing higher education and career goals. Click here to find out more.

College students interested in a future career in agriculture may apply for an internship opportunity to learn about how Bayer works and how science is shaping the future of agriculture. Interns must be currently enrolled at an accredited college or university and pursuing a degree in agriculture business or another agriculture-related major.