Beginning Farmers & Ranchers

According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s most recent Ag Census data, the number of young people entering farming continues to decline, but the number of new farmers and ranchers over the age of 35 rises, as does the number of smaller farms and ranches nationwide. Ensuring there will be a “new generation” of beginning farmers and ranchers—regardless of age or production choice—is especially important to the continuation of agricultural production in the United States. Opportunities exist within farming and ranching, but beginning farmers and ranchers have unique educational, training, technical assistance, and outreach needs. Capital access, land access, and access to knowledge and information to assist in ensuring profitability and sustainability are vital to those just entering agriculture.

• Stakeholder Listening Sessions for FY 2010 Request for Application

• Writing BFRDP Applications

• Registering and Applying for funding through Grants.gov

All applications for funding to BFRDP must be made on-line through www.grants.gov

More information on this process is available at the Grant Application website: (http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/application_info.html)

You must also register with Grants.gov before sending in an application

Both Registering and Applying can take some time. Please do not wait until the deadline for submissions.

• A definition of Socially Disadvantaged, Beginning, and Limited Resource Farmers/Ranchers

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