Agriculture Grants

The purpose of the Cacao for Peace (CfP) activity is to provide scientific and regulatory support to the public and private sectors to strengthen the cacao sector in Colombia. In this activity, CfP seeks to support an activity that will strengthen Colombias cacao value chain through increased coordination and practical application of existing research, identify innovative research proposals, and establish a process to disseminate research to its end users. These activities support the Cacao for Peace intermediate result: Establish a mechanism for coordinated and scientifically robust cacao research in Colombia.

This program provides financial assistance to private landowners in Georgia for forest management practices that help control the Southern Pine Beetle and promote healthy pine forests.

This grant provides funding to educational institutions and organizations to develop programs that enhance agricultural literacy and workforce training in the food and agricultural sectors, particularly for diverse student populations.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Description The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA)is announcing the availability of up to $1,125,000 in FY 2024 to be awarded under Limited Competition to State animal food regulatory programs. The intended outcome of this NOFO is to advance efforts for a nationally integrated animal food safety system through the implementation and advancement of the Animal Food Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS) by State animal food regulatory programs. Applicants must refer to the Eligibility section of this NOFO to determine which funding track they should apply for: AFRPS Development or AFRPS Maintenance. Applicants should take sustainability into account when designing projects proposed under this cooperative agreement to maximize the longevity of resulting outcomes, resources, and program infrastructure beyond the end of the project period. The AFRPS allows for the development of risk-based animal food safety programs by establishing a uniform basis for measuring, evaluating, and improving the performance of State animal food regulatory programs in the Unites States. By achieving and maintaining implementation of these program Standards, Federal and State food regulatory programs can better direct their regulatory activities toward preventing animal food safety hazards, that can cause illness or injury to animals or humans, in facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold animal food materials/supplies. Consequently, the safety and security of the United States animal food supply and protection of human public health will improve. The AFRPS are comprised of eleven Standards (See link below in Program Goals Section) which establish foundations for the critical elements that serve as an objective framework to evaluate and improve components of a State animal food program. These elements cover the State animal food program's regulatory foundation, training, inspection program, auditing, animal food-related illness or death and emergency response, enforcement program, outreach activities, planning and resources, laboratory services, sampling program, and assessment and improvement of Standard implementation. Achieving and maintaining implementation of the program Standards will require comprehensive self-assessment on the part of a State program and will encourage continuous improvement and innovation. FDA recognizes that the time required for achieving full implementation of the AFRPS will vary between States. However, all State animal food regulatory programs will be expected to implement improvement plans to ensure continuous improvement and demonstrate that they are moving towards full implementation. State animal food regulatory programs receiving funds under this cooperative agreement will be expected to achieve and maintain full implementation within 5 total year or less of funding under an AFRPS Cooperative Agreement(s). Grantees will achieve and maintain implementation with the AFRPS (most recent published version). For the purpose of this funding opportunity, "full implementation" is defined as the State animal food regulatory program having all elements, systems, and programs, as required in the Program Elements and Documentation sections of the AFRPS; and can demonstrate the use of those elements, systems, or programs. If implementation is not achieved by the end of funding year 5, the State program will provide a detailed improvement plan on how the remaining AFRPS elements and documentation requirements will be fully implemented and demonstrated. The improvement plan will include: A detailed timeline including what needs to be accomplished to implement the element and/or documentation requirement, and when the work will be completed. The outcomes of the work provided under this cooperative agreement are as follows: 1. State animal food regulatory programs will take significant steps to achieve and maintain implementation of the AFRPS, which is recognized as a critical element to creating a national, fully integrated food safety system. 2. State animal food regulatory programs will contribute to the continuous improvement of the AFRPS through attendance at an annual face-to-face meeting, active participation in committees, and other initiatives supporting the AFRPS. 3. Develop strategies for achieving and maintaining implementation of the AFRPS that can be replicated or leveraged across state programs to promote national consistency. 4. Provide a foundation for supporting advisory/regulatory action based upon findings of regulatory activities conducted by State animal food regulatory programs. Only the following State animal food programs will be eligible to apply: State animal food regulatory programs with current FDA animal food safety inspection contracts (providing funding to State animal food regulatory programs) and are also enrolled in the AFRPS, or those that apply for an FDA animal food safety inspection contract and enroll in the AFRPS, are eligible to apply for funding under this cooperative agreement. An animal food safety inspection contract must be executed prior to this cooperative agreement being awarded. A condition of the award will be maintaining a current FDA animal food safety inspection contract in satisfactory condition throughout the cooperative agreement project period. The FDA will provide one year of funding for this project with the hopes of making another NOFO in FY 2025 to help align project objectives, outputs, reporting, terms and conditions, and project periods for all AFRPS project awardees, and to provide continued funding for awardees under this project to achieve the objectives of the project. The anticipated release of another NOFO in FY2025 will also help align project periods for awardees under this NOFO as well as those currently awarded under PAR-20-132 (for which the project period and funding will end on 6/30/2025). For AFRPS, it is anticipated that full implementation of the AFRPS will be achieved within 5 total funding years under an AFRPS Cooperative Agreement(s), based on a verification audit of your program to ensure the elements have been implemented.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Description Background The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) protects the public health by ensuring that medical products intended to be marketed in the United States are safe and effective for their intended use. FDA stakeholders are exploring innovative ways to produce scientific evidence in support of regulatory submissions, including the development of new data sources, study designs, methodologies, and technologies. FDA encourages and facilitates the use of such innovative approaches while ensuring that the scientific evidence supporting marketing approvals meet our high evidentiary standards. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act VII (PDUFA VII) commitment letter represents the product of discussions between the FDA, regulated industry, and public stakeholders, as mandated by Congress. The performance and procedural goals and other commitments specified in the PDUFA VII commitment letter apply to aspects of the human drug review program that are important for facilitating timely access to safe, effective, and innovative new medicines for patients. The commitment letter includes goals relating to the use of digital health technologies (DHTs) to support drug development and review. A DHT is a system that uses computing platforms, connectivity, software, and/or sensors, for health care and related uses. DHTs for remote data acquisition in clinical investigations can include hardware and/or software to perform one or more functions. DHTs may rely on or work with other technologies that support their operation, such as general-purpose computing platforms (e.g., smartphones) and communication networks. Among other activities relating to the use of DHTs, FDA has established a Framework for the Use of DHTs in Drug and Biological Product Development to guide the use of DHT-derived data in regulatory decision-making for drugs (hereinafter Framework ). The Framework highlights FDA’s DHT efforts including workshops and demonstration projects; engagement with stakeholders; establishment of internal processes to support the evaluation of DHTs for use in drug development; promotion of shared learning and consistency regarding DHT-based policy, procedure, and analytic tool development; and publication of guidance documents. In addition, FDA’s webpage DHTs for Drug Development (available at: https://www.fda.gov/science-research/science-and-research-special-topics/digital-health-technologies-dhts-drug-development) provides an overview of the ongoing DHT efforts, including demonstration projects. A variety of project types are welcomed under this NOFO, applicable to drugs and biologics (not devices). FDA is particularly interested in projects that evaluate the use of DHTs in drug development. Project Objectives The overarching goal of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to explore the role of DHTs (e.g., actigraphy, photography, environmental sensors) in the evaluation of new drugs. These projects may involve engagement with researchers from academia, the biopharmaceutical industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders. The objectives of these projects are to advance DHTs for clinical drug development, expand the ability to capture early manifestations of chronic diseases, determine outcomes in populations with unmet medical needs and enhance convenience for trial participants by allowing for remote data acquisition in clinical investigations. The scope includes, but is not limited to, projects that focus on: Comparing digital measurements to traditional measurements in clinical trials to evaluate drugs Developing and evaluating novel endpoints using DHTs to address unmet needs for drug clinical trials (e.g., use of environmental sensors to capture apnea in pediatric patients) Comparing metrics to evaluate continuous measurements (e.g., maximum activity and stamina) Capturing early manifestations of chronic diseases (e.g., dementia) through the use of DHTs

This program provides free energy audits to eligible farms in New York to help them identify ways to save on energy costs and improve efficiency.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for Massachusetts-based organizations to improve food production, processing, and access, particularly in underserved communities, through infrastructure and equipment investments.

The First Nations Development Institute is offering the Stewarding Native Lands program, specifically the Advancing Tribal Nature-Based Solutions project, to support climate action in Native communities. This initiative aligns with the foundation's broader mission to empower Native peoples to control their assets and future, recognizing that Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by climate change due to their remote and coastal locations and reliance on healthy ecosystems for subsistence and cultural practices. The program seeks to build tribal capacity and programming that utilizes community-, culture-, and nature-based approaches to address climate adaptation and disaster preparation. The target beneficiaries for this grant are Tribes, Tribal 7871 entities, Native-controlled nonprofits, and Native-controlled community organizations across the United States and U.S. territories. "Native-controlled" is defined as organizations where a majority of the Board of Directors and leadership team are Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian. The primary impact goal is to strengthen the ability of these Native entities to implement nature-based solutions rooted in Native knowledge, thereby increasing their resilience to climate change impacts such as wildfires, flooding, and drought. The program prioritizes projects that employ nature-based solutions, which leverage animals, plants, and the environment to protect ecosystems, support human well-being, and enhance local biodiversity. Examples of focused activities include clam bed restoration for flooding and erosion, reintroduction of ecocultural plants, beaver restoration for water retention and carbon sequestration, cultural burning for biodiversity, and grass farming for desertification. Allowable activities are diverse, encompassing emergency response planning, climate-proofing infrastructure, climate risk governance, wildlife management, workforce development, organizational capacity building, and updating climate adaptation plans. First Nations expects to award 6 grants, each up to $200,000, with a grant period from September 1, 2024, to July 1, 2026. The expected outcomes include enhanced tribal capacity in climate adaptation and disaster preparation, the successful implementation of nature-based solutions based on Native knowledge, and improved ecosystem health and community well-being in the face of climate change. The foundation's strategic priority is to advance climate action that is culturally appropriate and community-led, demonstrating a theory of change where empowering Native communities with resources and knowledge leads to more effective and sustainable climate resilience.

The Massachusetts Food Ventures Program (MFVP) is a grant program designed to enhance access to healthy, affordable food options and generate economic opportunities within low to moderate income communities. It aligns with a broader mission to implement the goals of the Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan and contribute to the financial needs of local Massachusetts food enterprises. The program’s strategic approach emphasizes expanding investment to improve access to Massachusetts grown, harvested, or caught food products through the development of collaborations between local agricultural enterprises and private/public entities. The primary target beneficiaries of the MFVP are low to moderate income communities, including Gateway Cities and rural communities within Massachusetts. The program aims to improve commercial food access and distribution in these areas. The expected outcomes include increased availability of Massachusetts-produced foods, creation of new permanent jobs, greater access to affordable fresh food, and year-round access to diverse food production and distribution. The overall impact goal is to strengthen the local food system and foster equitable access to healthy food options. Key areas of investment for the MFVP include food processing infrastructure to meet the needs of the expanding local food system, improved distribution systems to support equitable access to fresh local food, and retail outlet strategies that enhance access to healthy food. Specific project types considered eligible reflect these priorities, such as the creation of commercial food processing infrastructure benefiting low and moderate income households, innovative proposals by commercial food commissaries that connect local farms, proposals for construction or renovation of food co-ops, development of greenhouses and farmers’ markets, and capital for food hubs. Additionally, the program focuses on innovative projects for commercial markets that connect local food producers and partners to develop or renovate large-scale retail markets for healthy, locally produced food. Mobile markets and other innovative market initiatives are also supported to purchase, design, and upgrade vehicles that provide healthy Massachusetts food. Each of these focus areas is intended to directly contribute to the program's theory of change, which posits that strategic investments in food infrastructure, distribution, and retail will lead to improved food access and economic opportunities for underserved communities. Applicants eligible for the MFVP include Massachusetts Municipalities, Massachusetts Non-Profit or For-Profit Organizations, and Individual Residents of Massachusetts. The program specifically excludes funding for audits, feasibility studies, design work, operation or maintenance costs, and reimbursement for already completed projects or staff/consultant time on proposals for completed projects. This ensures that the grants are directed towards new investments and initiatives that directly support the program’s objectives.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary NRCS is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) State Program funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from eligible entities (Section C) for projects carried out in the state of Virginia. A total of up to $1,200,000.00 is available for the Virginia CIG competition in FY 2024. All non-Foreign, non-federal entities (NFE) and individuals are invited to apply, with the sole exception of federal agencies. Projects may be between one and three years in duration. The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2024 is $900,000.00 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. Completing all steps required to start an application can take a significant amount of time, plan accordingly. Key Dates Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 10th, 2024, For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. 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 September 30, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

Notice of Funding Opportunity SummaryNRCS is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Caribbean Area Program funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from eligible entities (Section C) for projects carried out in the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico (PR) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)). A total of up to $500,000 is available for the Caribbean Area CIG competition in FY 2024. All non-Foreign, non-federal entities (NFE) and individuals are invited to apply, with the sole exception of federal agencies. Projects may be between one and three years in duration. The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2024 is $100,000. 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. Completing all steps required to start an application can take a significant amount of time, plan accordingly.Key DatesApplicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 15, 2024 For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. 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.A webinar for CIG applicants is scheduled for April 9, 2024 at 9 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time. Information on how to participate in the webinar will be posted to the HYPERLINK website. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Caribbean Area CIG website to learn more about the CIG program.The agency anticipates making selections by June 30, 2024 and expects to execute awards by July 30, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

NRCS is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) State Program funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from eligible entities (Section C) for projects carried out in the state of New York A total of up to $500,000 is available for the New York CIG competition in FY 2024. All non-Foreign, non-federal entities (NFE) and individuals are invited to apply, with the sole exception of federal agencies. Projects may be between one and three years in duration. The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2024 is $500,000. 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. Completing all steps required to start an application can take a significant amount of time, plan accordingly. Key Dates Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 10, 2024. [AF1] For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. 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. Applicants are encouraged to visit the New York State CIG website to learn more about the CIG program. The agency anticipates making selections by June 10, 2024 and expects to execute awards by July 26, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

This program provides financial assistance to Iowa cities for the redevelopment or rehabilitation of underutilized buildings to promote economic growth and community revitalization.

This program provides funding for potato farmers in Pennsylvania who cultivate five or more acres, supporting research to improve potato production and address challenges like Verticillium wilt.

The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Recovery Reimbursement Grant, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, aims to support farms, integrators, and allied industries directly impacted by HPAI, particularly those within control or quarantine zones. The program is designed to mitigate financial losses by reimbursing eligible costs related to the outbreak. With five rounds of funding, the latest round focuses on biosecurity enhancement reimbursements up to $25,000 per premises, with a total fund allocation of $2 million. This initiative encourages the implementation or improvement of biosecurity practices to elevate poultry farm and business biosecurity standards, address weaknesses, and decrease HPAI cases. The application deadline for Round Five has been extended to May 2, 2024, with eligible expenses including loss of income, mortgage interest, rent, utility payments, working capital for reopening, and payroll costs among others.

This program provides funding to Pennsylvania vegetable producers for marketing and research initiatives to improve vegetable cultivation and sales.

The Agricultural Fair Operational & Premium Reimbursement Program is designed to support Pennsylvania's certified agricultural county and community fairs by offering partial reimbursements for their annual general operating costs and premium expenses for exhibitors. This initiative is in accordance with the Pennsylvania Agricultural Fair Act of 1986 and State Premium Guidelines. Eligible fairs, which are classified into five classes based on size and scope, can receive a basic operational payment up to specified limits, ranging from $2,500 for Class E fairs to $14,000 for Class A fairs. Additionally, fairs can be reimbursed for 50% of the money paid out for agricultural premiums beyond the basic payment, with a cap of $15,000 for these additional premiums. There's also a provision for county and independent agricultural societies conducting harness horse racing during their annual fairs, with possible reimbursements up to $13,000. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual deadline: November 15th

The FFA Reimbursement Program provides funds to county FFA organizations in Pennsylvania to support a portion of their annual expenses for activities promoting leadership development. This program is structured to allocate funds based on enrollment data across three tiers: Tier I organizations with 100 members or less receive base funding of $1,000 plus an additional $4.00 per member; Tier II organizations with 101 to 210 members receive $2,000 base funding plus an additional $2.00 per member; Tier III organizations with more than 211 members receive $2,000 plus an additional $2.00 per member for every member under 210 and $4.00 per member for every member over 210. The program aims to enhance leadership skills among young agricultural leaders through various educational activities. As a reimbursement grant, organizations must cover all costs upfront, with awards given based on the funds available. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual deadline: November 15th

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) is being released prior to appropriation and/or apportionment of funds for fiscal year 2024. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. The 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 Iowa and focus on conservation issues. Collaborative projects that provide on-the-ground support for Iowa 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 $5,000,000.00, however, budget constraints may prevent NRCS from funding 2024 proposals. Proposals are requested from City or township governments, county governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, state governments, nonprofits 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 projects between 2 and 5 years in duration. Awarded organizations may be required to present project updates in the form of a formal presentation to the Iowa NRCS Leadership. Organizations may use this opportunity to request additional funding for existing Iowa IPC agreements. 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 May 7th, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. 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 7th, 2024, and expects to execute awards by September 16, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

The Fairs Capital Improvement Grant Program provides essential funding to certified agricultural fairs in Pennsylvania for the construction, renovation, and maintenance of fairground structures. Eligible fairs can receive up to $25,000 in grants, which require a 50% funding match by the recipients. This reimbursement grant aims to support the physical infrastructure of fairgrounds, enhancing their capacity to host agricultural events. Grant funds can be used for various projects, including new construction, renovation of existing buildings, utility upgrades, fencing improvements, roadway and pathway development, stormwater management, public address system installations, and land purchases. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual deadline: June 30th