Federal Agriculture Grants

This grant invites private sector companies and organizations to collaborate with USAID on projects that address economic growth, financial inclusion, and environmental sustainability, leveraging their resources and expertise to achieve shared development goals.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) National Workforce Strategy is part of a joint agency initiative between the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that is expected to cultivate comprehensive and sustained solutions for WIC workforce development. The joint agency initiative aims to strengthen the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce, with the ultimate goals of increasing: 1) WIC participation through reaching those populations that are eligible, but not enrolled; and 2) WIC participants use of benefits and services, including nutrition education and breastfeeding support.For this RFA, NIFA requests applications for a WIC Workforce Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center to provide technical assistance and evaluation oversight to implementation projects that will be funded to respond to the https://www.nifa.usda.gov/wic-national-workforce-strategy.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) National Workforce Strategy (WIC Workforce National Strategy), is part of a joint agency initiative between the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that is expected to cultivate comprehensive and sustained solutions for WIC workforce development. The joint agency initiative aims to strengthen the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce, with the ultimate goals of increasing: 1) WIC participation through reaching those populations that are eligible, but not enrolled; and 2) WIC participants use of benefits and services, including nutrition education and breastfeeding support. NIFA requires that applications for WIC Workforce Implementation Projects respond to and implement components of the National WIC Workforce Strategy. They should assess and address regional and national priorities, target critical workforce needs, and increase the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce.

FY 2024 WIC General Infrastructure Grants will support WIC State agencies as they continue to modernize the program. Projects will support WIC Infrastructure, including technological, digital, partnership, and/or outreach infrastructure at the State agency level through activities related to outreach, innovation, program modernization, and increased equity in program access through four Tracks/objectives. This RFA includes four application Tracks, each with one Objective. The four Tracks include:1) Updating the State agencys management information system (MIS) and/or electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system to meet new Federal requirements.*Please see notes in the Tracks and Objectives section below for information about State agency model (SAM) user groups. 2) Enhancing the State agencys MIS, EBT system, and/or other technology used to provide WIC benefits and services. These enhancements must provide a better user experience for WIC applicants, participants, and staff and/or to improve longevity, flexibility, program integrity, and/or cost efficiency.3) Increasing WIC awareness among the public through adoption of new WIC branding and/or the conduct of partnership and/or outreach activities.4) Upgrading State and/or local agency technology equipment and/or supplies to improve WIC performance, security, and/or user experience (including by optimizing virtual services). Each Application Submitted Must be for Only One Track. State agencies may apply for one or more of the Tracks outlined above but are limited to one Track per application. Section 4 of the RFA provides details for the application requirements for each Track. For each Track, State agencies may apply either as an individual applicant or as the lead of a multi-State agency collaboration. Any lead of a multi-State agency collaboration will be considered the applicant and the funded recipient (i.e., the grantee). The lead State agency is responsible for completing and submitting all application components and will be the sole recipient of funding for the project; therefore responsible for all funded activities and required reporting.

This grant provides financial assistance to very-low and low-income homeowners in rural areas to repair homes damaged by disasters declared by the President in 2022.

The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to contribute to the knowledge base of and development of food safety systems globally due to the increasingly diverse and complex food supply. This cooperative agreement will:1) enhance and broaden FDAs ability to address global food safety and public health issues associated with food,2) provide opportunities to leverage additional resources among WTO member countries, and3) support the FDAs Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and its International Food Safety Capacity Building Plan, which emphasizes the concept of preventing food safety- related problems before they occur and the importance of establishing strong relationships and mutual support among all stakeholders, including multilateral organizations, to improve worldwide food safety. 4) Support global research and capacity building to improve best practices to build effective food safety systems in low- and middle-income countries

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing potential availability of cooperative agreements for the purpose of leveraging NRCS resources to assist our agency with conducting and implementing important energy efficient agricultural operation evaluations on multiple private landowner properties throughout Massachusetts. NRCS recognizes the importance of incorporating on-site energy evaluations on agricultural operations including greenhouses and the beneficial outcomes it can have on the environment. Energy Efficient Agricultural Operations (conservation standard 374) has been an underutilized practice in Massachusetts. This agreement will be used to provide training on energy efficiency for NRCS staff and affiliates while also providing needed technical assistance for NRCS customers with energy focused site visits. NRCS Massachusetts is making a funding opportunity available for applicants to submit proposals with an award ceiling of $400,000 and a minimum project award of $200,000. NRCS will be awarding a cooperative agreement for up to a five-year period. If, in coordination with NRCS, additional resources are needed at a rate that exceeds this schedule, NRCS may add funds to this agreement to support continued partnership over the performance period. The primary goal is to expand energy efficiency to NRCS customers throughout Massachusetts. The project list ranges in size from 1-acre farms to several hundred-acre farms. Applicants will identify the average number of energy efficiency site visits and written on-site energy improvement plans that they could complete in any year with a minimum of ten per year being acceptable for this agreement. NRCS will work with the selected applicant to make the choice of priority energy site visits each year of the agreement based on interest and need. Applicants will be required to hold 1-2 energy efficiency focused trainings per year for NRCS staff and partners to expand their knowledge on the subject. Applicants should provide a list of training ideas to NRCS for the length of the contract. Applicants will be awarded based on the specified scoring criteria in Section E of this announcement. Eligible applicants include: all domestic applicants. Applicants should be familiar with all applicable state, federal, local laws, policies, and regulations that apply to agriculture energy improvements in the locales of Massachusetts. For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov. Key Dates Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 21, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or [email protected]. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts. For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed. The agency anticipates making selections by June 30, 2024, and expects to execute awards by August 15, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

This program is listed in the Assistance Listings (previously referred to as theCatalog of Federal Financial Assistance) on Sam.gov under:Soil and Water Conservation 10.902which can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/home.SAM is a web-based, government-wide application that collects, validates, stores, and disseminates business information about the federal government's trading partners in support of the contract awards, grants, and electronic payment processes.Notice of Funding Opportunity SummaryThe Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture, is announcing potential availability of agreements for the purpose of leveraging NRCS resources to promote public awareness of Farm Bill activities throughout Maryland.Proposals must be for projects based in Maryland and focus on Farm Bill conservation. Research proposals will need to meet the requirements in order to be accepted.Proposals will be accepted from eligible entities identified in Section C of this announcement for competitive consideration of awards for projects between one and five years in duration.This notice identifies the objectives, eligibility criteria, and application instructions. Proposals will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete and/or noncompliant proposals will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant. The Maryland State Conservationist reserves the right not to fund any or all applications.For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov.Key DatesApplicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on July 5th, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or [email protected]. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.The agency anticipates making selections by July 15th, 2024, and expects to execute awards by August 1st, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

SUMMARY INFORMATIONFederal Awarding Agency Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Maryland Notice of Funding Opportunity Title: Conservation Technical Assistance for Fiscal Year 2024 MarylandNotice of Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-MD-CONTR-24-NOFO0001339Assistance Listing: This program is listed in the Assistance Listings (previously referred to as theCatalog of Federal Financial Assistance) on Sam.gov under:Soil and Water Conservation 10.902Conservation Reserve Program 10.069Agricultural Conservation Easement Program 10.931Environmental Quality Incentives Program 10.912Regional Conservation Partnership Program 10.932which can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/home.SAM is a web-based, government-wide application that collects, validates, stores, and disseminates business information about the federal government trading partners in support of the contract awards, grants, and electronic payment processes.Notice of Funding Opportunity SummaryThe Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture, is announcing potential availability of agreements for the purpose of leveraging NRCS resources to promote public awareness of Farm Bill activities throughout Maryland.Proposals must be for projects based in Maryland and focus on Farm Bill conservation. Research proposals will need to meet the requirements in order to be accepted.Proposals will be accepted from eligible entities identified in Section C of this announcement for competitive consideration of awards for projects between one and five years in duration.This notice identifies the objectives, eligibility criteria, and application instructions. Proposals will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete and/or noncompliant proposals will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant. The Maryland State Conservationist reserves the right not to fund any or all applications.For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity forinformation about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov.Key DatesApplicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on July 5th, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or [email protected]. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed. The agency anticipates making selections by July 15th, 2024, and expects to execute awards by August 1st, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Trade and Regulatory Capacity Building, announces this funding opportunity to support the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) Initiative. This opportunity is intended to support initiatives described to promote the export of U.S. specialty crops to current and prospective foreign markets with three Tracks. Track 1: Alignment of Asian pesticide regulatory systems and trade facilitative MRLsThis track will support harmonization of MRL systems in Asia with the adoption and implementation of risk-based pesticide regulatory systems and MRL setting consistent with Codex and/or the U.S. system, countering hazard-based policies and practices.Track 2: Alignment of Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) pesticide regulatory systems and trade facilitative MRLsThis track provides bilateral and/or regional technical assistance to partner countries in LACs regional economic communities (e.g., the Central American Regional Economic Community, the Andean Community (CAN), the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)).Track 3: Alignment of pesticide regulatory systems and trade facilitative MRLs in AfricaThe track aims to build capacity on pesticide registration and MRL setting to support the development and implementation of risk-based pesticide regulatory systems and MRL policy consistent with Codex and/or the U.S. system and based on the WTO SPS Agreement.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Trade Policy and Geographic Affairs, announces this funding opportunity to support the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports initiative. This opportunity is intended to promote the development of sustainable packaging of U.S. specialty crops exported to current and prospective foreign markets.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Trade and Regulatory Capacity Building, announces this funding opportunity to support the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) Initiative. This opportunity is intended to promote the export of U.S. specialty crops to current and prospective foreign markets.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Trade and Regulatory Capacity Building, announces this funding opportunity to support the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports Initiative. This opportunity is to promote the export of U.S. specialty crops to current and prospective foreign markets.

This program provides funding to empower local organizations and communities in specific countries to lead their own development initiatives, focusing on inclusivity and sustainability.

Notice of Funding Opportunity SummaryRevision to close dateThe Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing the potential availability of funding for agreements for the purpose of leveraging NRCS resources, addressing local natural resource issues, encouraging collaboration and developing state and community-level conservation leadership. Proposals must be for projects based in the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)) and focus on conservation issues as noted in Section A (2) of this notice. Collaborative projects that provide on-the-ground support for Caribbean NRCS Field Offices are highly encouraged. Research proposals will not be accepted, nor considered. NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2024 will be up to $1,500,000.00. Proposals are requested from City or township governments, county governments, Federally recognized Native American tribal governments, state governments, nonprofits having or not having a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education), or institutions of higher education for competitive consideration of awards for 2 projects between 1 and 3 years in duration. Organizations may use this opportunity to request additional funding for existing agreements in the Caribbean Area.Awarded organizations may be required to attend administrative training and may be required to present project updates in the form of a formal presentation to the Caribbean NRCS leadership.This notice identifies the objectives, eligibility criteria, and application instructions for projects. Proposals will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete and/or non-compliant proposals may be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant.For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov.Key DatesApplicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 22nd, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800- 518-4726 or [email protected]. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.The agency anticipates making selections by June 1st, 2024 and expects to execute awards by July 20th, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

Dates: Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 12, 2024, through Grants.gov. Applications received after this date may be considered if funds are available.Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency (FSA), requests applications for the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) and the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Organic Certification Cost Share Program, collectively referred to as the OCCSP, for fiscal year (FY) 2024. The purpose of the OCCSP awards is to defray the costs of receiving and maintaining organic certification.In FY 2024, the available funding for these two programs is approximately $9.5 million for the NOCCSP and $943,000 for the AMA. FSA awards the OCCSP funds to eligible State Agencies* that serve as administering entities, to reimburse organic operations for specific organic certification costs. This is the initial request for applications, which outlines the eligibility and performance criteria for State Agencies seeking NOCCSP and AMA funding in FY 2024. For eligible certification costs incurred from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, organic operations may request reimbursement until October 31, 2024, unless the State Agency requests and receives approval for a different application deadline. The State Agencies may provide reimbursements to certified organic operators for 75% of the operations total allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $750 per certification scope: crops, livestock, wild crops, handling (i.e., processing), and State Organic Program fees. * The use of State Agencies throughout this document refers to the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and 5 U.S. Territories including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The purpose of the Behind the Tray Food Science for School Meals cooperative agreement, is to develop and implement a week-long in-person science-based food safety education training program. The education program is designed to enhance the food science literacy of school nutrition professionals. Program participants should learn the fundamentals of food science and food processing, with a special emphasis on food safety and food microbiology topics, learn how this information applies to their job, apply this knowledge to their nutrition programs, and how to better communicate these topics to stakeholders.

Dates: Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 12, 2024, through Grants.gov. Applications received after this date may be considered if funds are available.Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency (FSA), requests applications for the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) and the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Organic Certification Cost Share Program, collectively referred to as the OCCSP, for fiscal year (FY) 2024. The purpose of the OCCSP awards is to defray the costs of receiving and maintaining organic certification.In FY 2024, the available funding for these two programs is approximately $9.5 million for the NOCCSP and $943,000 for the AMA. FSA awards the OCCSP funds to eligible State Agencies* that serve as administering entities, to reimburse organic operations for specific organic certification costs. This is the initial request for applications, which outlines the eligibility and performance criteria for State Agencies seeking NOCCSP and AMA funding in FY 2024. For eligible certification costs incurred from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, organic operations may request reimbursement until October 31, 2024, unless the State Agency requests and receives approval for a different application deadline. The State Agencies may provide reimbursements to certified organic operators for 75% of the operations total allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $750 per certification scope: crops, livestock, wild crops, handling (i.e., processing), and State Organic Program fees. * The use of State Agencies throughout this document refers to the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and 5 U.S. Territories including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The purpose of the Tribal Colleges Extension Program: Special Emphasis (TCEP-SE) is to support pilot projects in Extension at the 1994 Land-Grant institutions. A pilot project allows Extension offices to be responsive to community needs through projects that address youth, agriculture, economic development, or other issues important to stakeholders. The TCEP-SE is intended to be a component of the applicant 1994 institutions land-grant roadmap or strategic planning process and can be used to supplement their existing Tribal Colleges Extension Program (TCEP) capacity project by extending the reach of innovations in research and technology and enhancing informal, local educational programming.

This notice announces the availability of funds for fiscal year (FY) 2024 and solicits applications from community-based and non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, and Tribal entities to compete for financial assistance through the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (hereinafter referred to as the 2501 Program). The term veteran, as used in this program, refers to military veterans. The overall goal of the 2501 Program is to encourage and assist underserved farmers and ranchers, military veteran farmers and ranchers, and beginning farmers and ranchers with owning and operating farms and ranches and in participating equitably in the full range of agricultural, forestry, and related programs offered by USDA. It also includes projects that develop underserved youths' interest in agriculture. In partnership with the OPPE, eligible entities may compete for funding on projects that provide education and training in agriculture, agribusiness, forestry, agricultural-related services, and USDA programs, and to conduct outreach initiatives designed to accomplish those goals. This partnership includes working closely with OPPE, attend OPPE-led events in your proposed service territory, and collaborate with USDA Service Centers located in your state (Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development).