Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program - USDA
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is soliciting applications for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) for the fiscal year 2026 funding cycle to support the delivery of education, outreach, and technical assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States. The BFRDP’s goal is to ensure that participants are adequately equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to sustainably own or lease a farm business operation. The total funding amount available for FY 2026 is more than $44 million. Applications from partnerships and collaborations that are led by State Cooperative Extension Services; federal, state, municipal or tribal agencies that also include nongovernmental, community-based organizations and school-based educational organizations with expertise in new agricultural producer training and outreach will be given priority.
The primary goal of BFRDP, under assistance listing number 10.311, is to help beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States and its territories enter and/or improve their successes in farming, ranching, and management of nonindustrial private forest lands, through support for projects that provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to give beginning farmers and ranchers the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make informed decisions for their operations and enhance their sustainability.