The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture under assistance listing number 10.311, supports projects that provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States and its territories. The program aims to help these producers enter or improve their success in farming, ranching, and management of nonindustrial private forest lands by giving them the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make informed decisions and enhance sustainability.

Overview

The BFRDP is a mandatory grant opportunity funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Funding is provided through a grant instrument with a cost-sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity category is Mandatory, and the funding activity category is Agriculture. The funding opportunity number is USDA-NIFA-BFR-011336.

Funding and Benefits

• Program Funding: $44,443,140
• Award Minimum: $49,999
• Award Maximum: $750,000
• Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
• Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Eligibility

Applications may only be submitted by a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based network or partnership of qualified public and/or private entities. These collaborations may include:

• State Cooperative Extension Services
• Federal, state, municipal, or tribal agencies
• Community-based organizations (CBOs)
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Junior and four-year colleges or universities or foundations maintained by a college or university
• Private for-profit organizations

Collaboratives led by State Cooperative Extension Services or federal, state, municipal, or tribal agencies will receive funding priority. Applications submitted by individuals or organizations that do not involve other entities in a network or partnership are not eligible. Duplicate projects and multiple awards to the same organization, institution, or Project Director in the same calendar year are not allowed. Organizations that received a regular standard or education team grant in FY 2024 are ineligible. Project Directors of active awards may apply for new BFRDP awards only when in the final year of project work; concurrent new and ongoing projects are not permitted. Applicants who have been awarded a simplified standard grant previously may not apply for another simplified standard grant. Incorporation of beginning or non-beginning farmers and ranchers as part of the collaborative group is strongly encouraged.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted by the closing date. For questions about preparing application content, contact grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov. Additional information is available on the NIFA program page: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. To apply and track status, visit Grants.gov.

Deadline and Timeline

• Closing Date: June 16, 2026
• Posted Date: May 13, 2026
• Archive Date: July 16, 2026
• Last Updated: May 13, 2026