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Beginning farmer education for adult and young audiences in the United States can generally be traced back to the advent of the 1862 and 1890 Morrill Land-Grant Acts. But, for the first time, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub .L. No. 110-234, Section 7410) appropriated $75 million for FY 2009 to FY 2012 to develop and offer education, training, outreach and mentoring programs to enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers.The Agriculture Act of 2014 provided an additional $20 million per year for 2014 through 2018. The reasons for the renewed interest in beginning farmer and rancher programs are as follows: the rising average age of U.S. farmers; the 8% projected decrease in the number of farmers and ranchers between 2008 and 2018; and the growing recognition that new programs are needed to address the needs of the next generation of beginning farmers and ranchers.The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka the 2018 Farm Bill) reauthorized the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and provides mandatory funds for which supports education, mentoring, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers.The funding is $15 million a year for Fiscal Years (FY) 2019 and 2020, $17.5 million for FY 2021, $20 million for FY 2022, and $25 million for FY2023.

The purpose of the Aquaculture Research program is to support the development of an environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in the U.S. and generate new science-based information and innovation to address industry constraints. Over the long term, results of projects supported by this program may help improve the profitability of the U.S. aquaculture industry, reduce the U.S. trade deficit, increase domestic food security, provide markets for U.S.-produced grain products, increase domestic aquaculture business investment opportunities, and provide more jobs for rural and coastal America. The Aquaculture Research program will fund projects that directly address major constraints to the U.S. aquaculture industry and focus on one or more of the following program priorities: (1) genetics of commercial aquaculture species; (2) critical disease issues impacting aquaculture species; (3) design of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture production systems; and (4) economic research for increasing aquaculture profitability.

The U.S. Department Of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from eligible entities for projects carried out in the state of California. A total of up to $750,000 is available for the CA CIG competition in FY 2020. All 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 2020 is $125,000 APPLICATIONS DUE DATE: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on May 8, 2020. The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) to agricultural producers, into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches or private forest lands. Innovative Conservation Projects or Activities CIG funds the development and field testing, on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, or implementation of: Approaches to incentivizing conservation adoption, including market-based and conservation finance approaches; and Conservation technologies, practices, and systems. Projects or activities under CIG must comply with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations throughout the duration of the project; and Use a technology or approach that was studied sufficiently to indicate a high probability for success; Demonstrate, evaluate, and verify the effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability of natural resource conservation technologies and approaches in the field; Adapt and transfer conservation technologies, management, practices, systems, approaches, and incentive systems to improve performance and encourage adoption; Introduce proven conservation technologies and approaches to a geographic area or agricultural sector where that technology or approach is not currently in use. Technologies and approaches that are eligible for funding in a project’s geographic area using an EQIP contract for an established conservation practice standard are ineligible for CIG funding, except where the use of those technologies and approaches demonstrates clear innovation. Please see the Full Announcement in the Related Documents tab of this opportunity for NRCS California priorities for Federal Fiscal Year 2020 FOR MORE INFORMATION:. Please see the Full Announcement in the Related Documents tab of this opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to visit the CA State CIG website to learn more about the CIG program. Questions about this announcement can be directed to mail to: Erik.Beardsley@usda.gov or (530) 792-5649.

Approximately $13.5 million in competitive grant funds in fiscal year (FY) 2020 is available for award through the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). LFPP is a component of the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP), which is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill under the Local Agriculture Marketing Program (LAMP). The goal of LFPP grants are to develop, coordinate and expand local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer to consumer marketing to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. LFPP offers both Planning and Implementation projects. For LFPP Planning, the minimum award is 25,000 and a maximum of $100,000 for up to 18 months (1.5 years). Applicants are expected to begin on September 30, 2020 and be completed by March 31, 2022. For LFPP Implementation projects, the minimum award is $100,000 and a maximum of $500,000 for a period of 36 months (3 years). Applicants are expected to begin September 30, 2020 and be completed by September 29, 2023. Matching funds of 25% of the Total Federal portion of the grant is required.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant program. AMS will competitively award grants to eligible applicants for projects that support partnerships to plan and develop local or regional food systems.It is anticipated that approximately $10 million, less USDA administrative costs, will be available to fund applications under this solicitation. The final amount available is subject to Congressional action.RFSP is implemented through two project types: Planning and Design, the awards for which range from $100,000 to $250,000, and Implementation and Expansion, the awards for which range from $250,000 to $1,000,000. A 25 percent cash match of total Federal funds is required.Partnerships are eligible to apply to RFSP. A partnership is an agreement between one or more eligible entities and one or more eligible partners. See the RFA section 3.0 for more information. An application may be submitted by an eligible entity or an eligible partner on behalf of the partnership. The partnership must specify in its application which organization(s) in the partnership are responsible for receiving and managing the award.All applicants must be domestic entities owned, operated, and located within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or Tribal Governments.

Approximately $13.5 million in competitive grant funds in fiscal year (FY) 2020 is available to be awarded through the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP). The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) is a component of the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP), which is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill under the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP).The goals of FMPP grants are to develop, coordinate, and expand direct producer to consumer markets to help increase access to and availability and regionally produced agricultural products. FMPP offers both Capacity Building (CB) and Community Development, Training, and Technical Assistance (CTA) projects. For CB projects, the minimum grant award is $50,000 and maximum award is $250,000. For CTA projects, the minimum grant award is $100,000 and maximum award $500,000. The official performance period must begin on September 30, 2020. Both CB and CTA FMPP projects are awarded for up to 36 months (3 years) and are expected to be completed by September 29, 2023. Matching funds of 25% of the Total Federal portion of the grant is required.

Please note the application deadline for this opportunity has been extended to May 29, 2020, 5pm Eastern Daylight Time. Summary Information Federal Awarding Agency Name: U.S. Department Of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Funding Opportunity Title: Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 – OHIO Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-OH-CIG-20-GEN0010762 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.912, Environmental Quality Incentives Program NRCS is announcing the availability of CIG to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from eligible entities for projects carried out in the state of Ohio. A total of up to $300,000 is available for the Ohio CIG competition in FY 2020. All 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 2020 is $150,000. APPLICATIONS DUE DATE: The application deadline has been extended to May 29, 2020, 5pm Eastern Daylight Time. SUBMISSIONS: Applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov. In addition, a PDF of the complete application must be emailed to cheryl.rice@usda.gov. The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) to agricultural producers, into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches or private forest lands. FOR MORE INFORMATION: A webinar for CIG applicants is scheduled for Wednesday April 8, 2020 at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Information on how to participate in the webinar will be posted to the Ohio State CIG website. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Ohio State CIG website to learn more about the CIG program. Questions about this announcement can be directed to : Cheryl.rice@usda.gov or 614-255-2565.

The HWWS Grant Program has been established to help individuals with low to moderate incomes finance the costs of household water wells that they own or will own. Eligible Grant Purposes a. Grant funds must be used to establish and maintain a revolving loan fund to provide loans to eligible individuals for household water well systems. b. Individuals may use the loans to construct, refurbish, rehabilitate, or replace household water well systems up to the point of entry of a home. Point of entry for the well system is the junction where the water enters into a home water delivery system after being pumped from a well. c. Grant funds may be used to pay administrative expenses associated with providing Household Water Well loans.

The purpose of the Crop Protection and Pest Management program is to address high priority issues related to pests and their management using IPM approaches at the state, regional and national levels. The CPPM program supports projects that will ensure food security and respond effectively to other major societal pest management challenges with comprehensive IPM approaches that are economically viable, ecologically prudent, and safe for human health. The CPPM program addresses IPM challenges for emerging issues and existing priority pest concerns that can be addressed more effectively with new and emerging technologies. The outcomes of the CPPM program are effective, affordable, and environmentally sound IPM practices and strategies needed to maintain agricultural productivity and healthy communities.

The purpose of the grant program is to provide funds for pilot projects that: (1) Address emerging forest and rangeland resource issues, (2) Have national or regional relevancy, or (3) Develop new and innovative projects that can be replicated at other institutions. (LINK IS EXTERNAL)