Dear Colleagues,

NIFA has announced the Children, Youth, and Families at Risk Sustainable Community Projects (CYFAR SCP) funding program to marshal resources of the Land-grant and Cooperative Extension Systems so that, in collaboration with other organizations, they can develop and deliver educational programs that equip youth who are at-risk for not meeting basic human needs with the skills they need to lead positive, productive, and contributing lives. The amount available for new CYFAR SCP grants in FY 2023 is approximately $1,040,000. Preference will be given to applications that propose CYFAR SCP project engagement with 1890 Land Grant, 1994 Land Grant, and Hispanic Serving Institutions, as well as EPSCoR States as sub-awardees.

NIFA is offering two extension project types for new CYFAR SCP applications: Regular and Joint. The maximum funding per grantee for the initial year will be $80,000 for a Regular CYFAR SCP Project and $160,000 for a Joint CYFAR SCP Project. The first year should be focused on planning and launching the program. In years two through five, NIFA will accept requests for up to $140,000 per year for Regular CYFAR SCP; and up to $280,000 per year Joint CYFAR SCP.  

Applications are due March 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. PT. For additional information, please review the CYFAR SCP request for application: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/children-youth-families-risk-cyfar-sustainable-community-projects

NIFA requests applications for the Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge (SPECA) program for FY 2023.  The amount available for grants in FY 2023 is approximately $900,000.  The program seeks to (a) promote and strengthen secondary education and two-year postsecondary education in the food and agriculture sciences in order to help ensure the existence of a workforce in the United States that's qualified to serve the food and agriculture sciences system; and (b) promote complementary and synergistic linkages among secondary, two-year postsecondary, and higher education programs in the food and agriculture sciences in order to advance excellence in education and encourage more young Americans to pursue and complete a baccalaureate or higher degree in the food and agriculture sciences.

Applicants may request up to $50,000 (total project) for a Regular Grant and $150,000 for a Collaboration Project (Applicant + One or more Partners).
The SPECA application deadline is April 5, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. PT. To apply, please see the SPECA request for applications: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/secondary-education-two-year-postsecondary-education-agriculture-k-12

NIFA has announced $7.5 million for integrated research, education, and extension Organic Transitions (ORG) projects to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems.  In FY23, NIFA is soliciting applications for ORG in the following areas:

• Priority 1: Document and understand the effects of organic practices on soil health and fertility; greenhouse gas mitigation; enhanced biodiversity; and understanding of weeds, pests and diseases dynamics for better management to help systems adapt to climate change, build resilience of the organic farming system, protect water and other resources, and provide other ecosystem services.
• Priority 2: Develop improved technologies, methods, models, and metrics to document, describe, and optimize the ecosystem services and the climate change adaptation and mitigation ability of organic crop, livestock, and integrated crop-livestock production systems.
• Priority 3: Develop cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from NOP's National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.
• Priority 4: Overcome barriers to organic transition. Projects under this priority should address major barriers that limit the transition to organic agriculture in a specific region, crop, or animal production system and develop practical information and tools for producer use.

 ORG anticipates funding projects with a project period of 2 to 4 years. The budgets that applicants provide may not exceed $400,000 per year with the total amount budgeted per award not to exceed $1,000,000. NIFA expects to make a total of eleven awards in FY 2023. ORG projects should include research and at least one of the other two functions of the agricultural knowledge system (Extension, and Education) focused on a problem or issue.

The deadline for ORG applications is April 27, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. PT. To apply, please see the ORG request for applications for complete details at https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/integrated-research-education-extension-competitive-grants-program-0

 
NIFA is seeking applications to the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 funding cycle to support delivery of education, mentoring, and technical assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States and its territories that are entering, establishing, building, and managing successful  farm and ranch enterprises. The amount available for Standard and Education Team grants in FY 2023 is approximately $28,000,000. No more than $250,000 per year for three years for a maximum total of approximately $750,000 will be available for each Standard and Education Team projects that will be funded in FY 2023.

• Standard Projects: to enhance the sustainability of beginning farmers and ranchers through education, training, mentoring and outreach programs that enhance self-employment in farming, ranching and forestry opportunities.
• Simplified Standard Grants: supports organizations: 1) to sustain and enhance important collaborations and innovative activities relevant to beginning farmer and rancher programs; and 2) to initiate and develop beginning farmer and rancher project ideas to lead to future program success or success in obtaining other grants for beginning farmer and rancher education.
• Education Team Projects: to identify gaps in beginning farmer and rancher training by evaluating all existing programs, and to develop and conduct train-the-trainer projects to address these gaps.

Applications submitted by individuals, or by organizations that do not involve other entities in a network or partnership, are not eligible for consideration under any category applicable to the BFRDP and will be excluded from review.

Applications are due April 27, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. PT.  For more information, please see the BFRDP program website at https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/beginning-farmer-rancher-development-program

Please contact the ANR Office of Contracts & Grants with any questions about these upcoming opportunities.

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)