Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
2/16/2010
for more info
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.
Who Is Eligible to Apply
The recipient must be a collaborative, State, tribal, local, or regionally-based
network or partnership of public or private entities, which may include: state
cooperative extension service; community-based and nongovernmental organization;
college or university (including institutions awarding associate degrees); or
any other appropriate partner. Others may be eligible to apply. Please refer to
Part III of the current BFRDP Request for Applications for complete eligibility
requirements.
Solicitation Date (Opening): February 5, 2010
Letter of Intent Due Date: None
Due Date (Closing): April 6, 2010
Anticipated Award Date: October 1, 2010
Estimated Total Program Funding: $18,240,000.00
Range of Awards: Unavailable
Percent of Applications Funded Last Fiscal Year: 14%
Cost Sharing Requirements: At least equal to 25 percent of Federal funds awarded
For More Information Contact:
Siva Sureshwaran
Funding Opportunity Number USDA-NIFA-BFR-002918
CFDA Number 10.311
Contact for Electronic Access Problems
webcomments@nifa.usda.gov
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