Agricultural Prosperity for Small and Medium-Sized Farms
The Agricultural Prosperity for Small and Medium-Sized Farms program investigates how economic and environmental interactions affect the competitiveness, efficiency, and long-term viability of small and medium-sized farms and ranches. Successful proposals include social, biological, and other disciplinary approaches, and combine at least two of the three components of the agricultural knowledge system (research, education, and extension) to transfer new technology and knowledge into practical applications for adoption.
The 2008 program is accepting applications through June 5.
The program will disburse about $5 million, with maximum grants of $500,000.
The 2008 program will support projects that focus on the following priorities:
-
education and extension programs focused on the economic and environmental integration of on-farm agricultural production and soil and water conservation practices.
-
enhancing the net economic, environmental and social benefits of on- and off-farm agricultural business activities, including impacts of innovative marketing and regional food systems, off-farm employment, migrant labor, etc.
-
how land use change, farm transition, and farm entry issues affect the prosperity of small and medium-sized farms, the ecosystem, and rural prosperity.
Examples of projects previously funded through this program:
-
Promoting Value Added Enterprises Among Small And Medium-Sized Farms In Alabama. Alabama A&M University, 2007
Project goals include investigating high-value production, processing, and marketing systems in Alabama, with a focus on collaborative ventures, and implementing an outreach and technical assistance program to enhance awareness of and increase participation in value-added enterprises among small and medium-size farmers.
-
Increasing Value-Added Profits For Small & Medium-Scale Growers: The Institutional Market. University of California, 2006
This project focuses on how farmers benefit from farm-to-institution programs in California; on their growth potential for small and medium-sized farmers; and on whether institutional markets can increase the use of environmentally sound production practices.
-
An Extended-Season Berry Production And Marketing System To Enhance Viability Of Small Appalachian Farms And Rural Communities. The Ohio State University, 2005
Evaluates the profitability of the berry production system for small farmers, including consumer demand in rural and urban markets; how increased berry production will affect rural communities; and development of financial analysis tools to assess profitability of the berry production system.
Contact Dr. Siva Sureshwaran, national program leader for Competitive Programs, for more information.
Back to Competitive Funding Opportunities in 2008 Relevant to Small and Mid-sized Agricultural Operations Page |
