Funding Wizard

SUMMARY INFORMATION Federal Awarding Agency Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture – Farm Service Agency (FSA) FSA is part of the Farm Production and Conservation Mission Area (FPAC). FPAC encompasses FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Risk Management Agency, and the FPAC Business Center Notice of Funding Opportunity Title: Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-FSA-LANDACCESS-22-NOFO0001219 Assistance Listing, formerly the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA): This program is listed in the Assistance Listings on Sam.gov under 10.968. Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making up to $300,000,000 available for the Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program through this funding opportunity. USDA is committed to funding projects that support a diverse set of farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and operators (producers) on the edge of viability, moving them from surviving to thriving as they address core barriers to attain land, capital, and market access. USDA will achieve this goal by funding cooperative agreements or grants to organizations, to be known as Awardees, that will develop and run programs that are designed to align with and respond to land, capital, and market access needs of the target audience while concurrently providing wraparound technical assistance to ensure that program participants have the information, training, and customized support they require. USDA is seeking proposals to fund projects across four tiers of effort as described below: i. Large, national land access projects ii. Mid-sized, national projects to test innovations in design iii. Regional projects to test innovations in design iv. Local, state, territory, county, and community projects to test innovations in design The primary focus of this funding opportunity is to strengthen land access with additional opportunities to focus on capital access and market access for use in agriculture. The ability to access capital and markets allows landowners and operators to retain access to their lands or seek new lands/expansion of existing operations. These issues are inextricably intertwined. Projects must focus on strengthening land access with at least one of the following related areas of concern: i. Capital access concerns that affect the ability to access land; ii. Market access concerns that affect the ability to access land; or iii. A combination of one or more of land, capital, and market access concerns. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to the following domestic entity types: a. State, County, City, Local, Territorial, and Township governments b. Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education c. Not for profit institutions of higher education d. Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education), including Foundations and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) e. Native American Tribal governments (Federally or State recognized) f. Native American Tribal government instrumentalities g. Native American Tribal organizations (other than Federally or State recognized Tribal governments) h. Native American Tribal financial institutions Please refer to Section C.1 of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional eligibility information. Eligible applicants are domestic entities. Individual persons are not eligible for this funding opportunity. Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, will not be eligible to apply to this program directly but must be the ultimate beneficiaries of the awarded projects and may be represented via partnership groups. Awardees are required to coordinate with USDA and all other awardees in a manner as determined by USDA. Individuals that are the ultimate beneficiaries of the program investments and accompanying technical assistance must be underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, including veterans, limited resources producers, beginning farmers and ranchers, and/or farmers, ranchers and forest landowners living in high poverty areas. Funding will be provided through four funding tiers[1]: · Large, national land access tier: Proposals from $20,000,000 to $40,000,000 to include large-scale national projects/models that are designed to increase land access for targeted producers across a national landscape. These projects must be for a five-year funding period. We anticipate funding up to two projects at this level. · Mid-sized national land access tier: Proposals from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 to include large-scale national projects/models that are designed to increase land access for targeted producers across a national landscape. These projects must be for a five-year funding period. · Regional land access tier: Proposal from $5,000,000 to $8,500,000 to include regional-scaled projects/models designed to increase land access for targeted producers across a regional landscape. These projects may be for up to a five-year funding period. · Local/State/Territorial land access tier: Proposals from $250,000 to $2,500,000 to include local/state targeted producers focused on increasing land access within one local area (sub-state/territory), one state, one territory or one Tribal landscape. These projects may be for up to a five-year funding period. Applicants are encouraged to apply for the tier funding level best suited for their project design. Approved funding levels within each project tier will depend on the quality and scope of the applications received and deemed eligible for funding. Applicants are only allowed to submit one application for this funding opportunity. Multiple applications will not be accepted. The USDA will work cooperatively with Awardees as they develop and implement programs to increase access to land, capital, and markets while providing technical assistance during the proposed project period of up to five years and as they work towards successful completion of the purposes and activities outlined in the Statement of Work. For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D.1. 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 October 28, 2022. 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. 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 winter 2022/2023 and expects to execute awards by spring 2023. Federal Funding Floor and Ceiling Amounts The estimated funding floor for this opportunity is $250,000 and the estimated funding ceiling is $40,000,000. The funding floor means the minimum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per agreement awarded. Each agreement selected for funding will be for a period of no more than five (5) years. The ceiling is the maximum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per agreement awarded. These numbers refer to the total agreement amount, not any specific budget period. Federal Financial Assistance Training The funding available through this NFO is Federal financial assistance. Grants 101 Training is highly recommended for those seeking knowledge about Federal financial assistance. The training is free and available to the public via https://www.cfo.gov/grants-training/. It consists of five modules covering each of the following topics: 1) laws, regulations, and guidance; 2) financial assistance mechanisms; 3) uniform guidance administrative requirements; 4) cost principles; and 5) risk management and single audit. FPAC agencies also apply Federal financial assistance regulations to certain non-assistance awards (e.g., non-assistance cooperative agreements). [1] Due to the unique nature of land access among Tribal communities, Tribal projects may be either large, national land access tier, mid-sized national tier, regional tier, or local/state/territorial tier in scope. It is expected that territories may be either regional tier or local/state/territorial.

The Conservation Reserve Program-Transition Incentive Program (CRP-TIP) creates opportunities to ensure expiring CRP contracts are used to support the next generation of producers by incentivizing transfer of land access and ownership. However, connecting these contract holders to beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as making sure landowners understand CRP-TIP, is an ongoing challenge. The Farm Service Agency (FSA), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is seeking to partner with and support the efforts of partner and stakeholder organizations to promote awareness, increase understanding among landowners and program participants, and increase enrollment in CRP-TIP by providing outreach and technical assistance to the agricultural community, in particular, private landowners, beginning-, veteran, and historically underserved farmers and ranchers. FSA is seeking one-to-two-year proposals from eligible entities that focus on increasing awareness about CRP-TIP and have the primary goal of connecting landowners and land seekers interested in program participation. In addition to the Outreach and Technical Assistance Focused- proposals, FSA will fund a limited number of proposals seeking to analyze the CRP-TIP program, building upon prior studies of barriers to TIP participation, that produce recommendations for improving the program and the identification of best practices. An informational webinar is planned for August 18, 2022. Once available, details regarding the webinar will be posted to http://farmers.gov/newfarmers.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary FPAC is announcing the availability of cooperative agreement funding to assess why critical data about land that could be or that is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is not readily available to inform program-related decisions made by producers and the Farm Service Agency, and how best to address these data needs going forward. There are four specific assessments sought. Projects will culminate in piloting the solution identified by the assessment. Non- governmental organizations (NGOs) and academic institutions are eligible to submit a statement of interest by August 1, 2022. Up to $2,000,000 is available to conduct each assessment. For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov. Key Dates Applicants must submit a brief statement of interest via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on August 1, 2022. 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. Selected applicants will be invited by August 11, 2022 to submit a full application by August 25, 2022 directly to the Federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO) and not via Grants.gov, with awards executed by September 30, 2022. These dates are estimates and are subject to change. For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the Federal awarding agency contact. 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.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary FPAC is announcing the availability of cooperative agreement funding to assess how best to resolve institutional and policy-related barriers in USDA to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participation and to market CRP to a diverse set of potential participants. The project will culminate in the funding recipient working with FSA to pilot the solution identified by the assessment. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and academic institutions are eligible to submit a statement of interest by July 23, 2022. Up to $1,000,000 is available to conduct the assessment. For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov. Key Dates Applicants must submit a brief statement of interest via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on July 23, 2022. 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. Selected applicants will be invited by August 2, 2022 to submit a full application by September 1, 2022 directly to the Federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO) and not via Grants.gov, with awards executed by September 30, 2022. These dates are estimates and are subject to change. For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the Federal awarding agency contact. Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (e.g., dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies) Questions related to eligibility or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.

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) 2022. The purpose of the OCCSP awards is to defray the costs of receiving and maintaining organic certification.In FY 2022, the available funding for these two programs is approximately $7 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 2022. For eligible certification costs incurred from October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022, organic operations may request reimbursement until November 1, 2022, unless the State Agency requests and receives approval for a different application deadline. The State Agencies may provide reimbursements to certified organic operators for 50% of the operation’s total allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $500 per certification scope: crops, livestock, wild crops, handling (i.e., processing), and State Organic Program fees. If additional funding is authorized for FY 2022, FSA and State Agencies may amend the FY 2022 grant agreements to provide additional funds and increase the payment amounts for certified operations.

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) 2022. The purpose of the OCCSP awards is to defray the costs of receiving and maintaining organic certification.In FY 2022, the available funding for these two programs is approximately $7 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 2022. For eligible certification costs incurred from October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022, organic operations may request reimbursement until November 1, 2022, unless the State Agency requests and receives approval for a different application deadline. The State Agencies may provide reimbursements to certified organic operators for 50% of the operation’s total allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $500 per certification scope: crops, livestock, wild crops, handling (i.e., processing), and State Organic Program fees. If additional funding is authorized for FY 2022, FSA and State Agencies may amend the FY 2022 grant agreements to provide additional funds and increase the payment amounts for certified operations.

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) 2021. The purpose of the OCCSP awards is to defray the costs of receiving and maintaining organic certification.In FY 2021, the available funding for these two programs is approximately $6 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 2021. For eligible certification costs incurred from October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021, organic operations may request reimbursement until November 1, 2021, unless the State Agency requests and receives approval for a different application deadline. The State Agencies may provide reimbursements to certified organic operators for 50% of the operation’s total allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $500 per certification scope: crops, livestock, wild crops, handling (i.e., processing), and State Organic Program fees. If additional funding is authorized for FY 2021, FSA and State Agencies may amend the FY 2021 grant agreements to provide additional funds and increase the payment amounts for certified operations.* 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.A webinar is scheduled for May 21 at 2:00 pm ET to discuss changes to this year's application process. States are encouraged to attend. Access information will be provided via amendment to this NFO.

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) 2021. The purpose of the OCCSP awards is to defray the costs of receiving and maintaining organic certification.In FY 2021, the available funding for these two programs is approximately $6 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 2021. For eligible certification costs incurred from October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021, organic operations may request reimbursement until November 1, 2021, unless the State Agency requests and receives approval for a different application deadline. The State Agencies may provide reimbursements to certified organic operators for 50% of the operation’s total allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $500 per certification scope: crops, livestock, wild crops, handling (i.e., processing), and State Organic Program fees. If additional funding is authorized for FY 2021, FSA and State Agencies may amend the FY 2021 grant agreements to provide additional funds and increase the payment amounts for certified operations.* 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.A webinar is scheduled for May 21 at 2:00 pm ET to discuss changes to this year's application process. States are encouraged to attend. Access information will be provided via amendment to this NFO.