Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Competitive Grants Program (FBMB)

The Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Competitive Grants Program is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture within the United States Department of Agriculture. This federal program is designed to strengthen the agricultural sector by supporting projects that improve farm business management knowledge and skills among agricultural producers. The program operates under legislative authority granted through federal agricultural law and aligns with national priorities such as improving profitability, expanding markets, and enhancing agricultural resilience. It emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and the use of data-driven decision-making to support farmers, ranchers, and agricultural stakeholders across the United States. The primary purpose of this grant program is to maintain and expand a national farm financial management database known as FINBIN while enhancing the ability of producers to make informed financial and operational decisions. Funded projects are expected to deliver extension-based education and outreach that supports farm management, benchmarking, and financial literacy. Projects must address at least one defined objective, such as expanding the database or strengthening collaborative educational programs, and must implement at least one strategy such as improving data collection, fostering partnerships, or delivering training and technical assistance. The program encourages multidisciplinary approaches and prioritizes projects that directly engage producers and contribute meaningful data to the national system. Funding under this program is provided through standard grants supporting extension projects. Applicants may request between 200000 and 450000 dollars per award, with a total program funding level of approximately 2000000 dollars. Awards are expected to support projects lasting between 12 and 36 months. Funds may be used for educational programming, data system development, outreach, training, and related activities that advance farm management capabilities. However, funds cannot be used for construction or facility expansion, and indirect costs are capped at 30 percent of total federal funds awarded. While cost sharing is not required, it is encouraged and may strengthen an application. Eligibility for this program is broad and includes individuals, institutions of higher education, state agricultural experiment stations, federal agencies, private organizations, corporations, and collaborative groups. Applicants must propose extension-focused projects and demonstrate the capacity to manage program activities, collect and disseminate data, and engage stakeholders effectively. Projects are expected to involve collaboration with multiple farm management organizations and to serve diverse agricultural regions and commodities. Applicants must also comply with federal registration requirements including SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons prior to submission. The application process is conducted electronically through Grants.gov and requires completion of multiple components including a project summary, narrative, budget, data management plan, and supporting documentation. The project narrative is limited to 10 pages and must address specific sections such as goals, methodology, evaluation, and sustainability. Applications are evaluated through a two-step process involving administrative screening and scientific peer review. Review criteria include project relevance, implementation quality, evaluation methods, organizational capacity, and budget justification. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is July 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. No letter of intent is required. Awards are expected to begin around September 1, 2026, with funding decisions made following the peer review process. Applicants may receive feedback from reviewers after decisions are finalized. The program is offered on a recurring annual basis, and future cycles are anticipated. For questions or assistance, applicants may contact program staff via email or access technical support through Grants.gov and NIFA resources.

Align project with FINBIN objectives and demonstrate measurable impact on producers; emphasize collaboration with multiple organizations and strong data management practices