OpportunityTitle: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: Applications may be submitted by a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally-based network or partnership of public and/or private entities. These collaborations may include the following entities: State Cooperative Extension Services; Federal, State, or tribal agencies; community based organizations; nongovernmental organizations; junior and four-year colleges or universities or foundations maintained by a college or university; private for-profit organizations; and other appropriate partners.  Inclusion of beginning and/or non-beginning farmers and ranchers as part of the collaborative group is strongly encouraged.   Applications submitted by individuals are not eligible for consideration under any category applicable to the BFRDP.
Description: The U.S. agricultural population is poised to make a dramatic change - half of all current farmers are likely to retire in the next decade. According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, the average age of farm operators was 57 years. Farmers over the age 55 own more than half the farmland in the U.S. But the number of new farmers and ranchers over the age of 35 is increasing, as does the number of smaller farms and ranches nationwide. To address the needs of this changing generation, Section 7410 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub .L. No. 110-234) amended Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and made available in Fiscal Year 2009, $17.2 million to fund a Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). According to these legislations, a beginning farm is considered to be one that is operated by one or more operators who have 10 years or less of experience operating a farm or ranch. In 2007, approximately 21 percent of family farms met that definition.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: If you have any questions related to preparing application content
GrantorContactText: NIFA Help Desk  &lt;br/&gt;Phone: 202-401-5048  &lt;br/&gt;Business hours are M-F, 7:00 am -5:00 pm ET, excluding Federal holidays  &lt;br/&gt;