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# Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)

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              -  Beginning Farmer And Rancher Development Program                   -  Eligibility 
                -  How to Apply 
                -  Frequently Asked Questions 

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program provides grants to organizations for education, mentoring and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers.

According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Ag Census data, one-third of the United States’ 3.4 million farmers are over the age of 65. Ensuring there will be a “new generation” of beginning farmers and ranchers – regardless of age or production choice – is essential to the continuation of agricultural production in the United States. Beginning farmers and ranchers have unique educational, training, technical assistance and outreach needs. Access to capital, land and knowledge that assists in ensuring profitability and sustainability are vital to farmers and ranchers in their first ten years of operation.

## Program Information

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, mentoring 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. The term “farmer” is used in the broadest sense and may be interpreted to include agricultural farmers, ranchers and non-industrial private forest owners and managers. The term "beginning farmer or rancher" means a person who:
                  - Has not operated a farm or ranch.
                  - Has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years.
                  - Meets such other criteria as the Secretary may establish.

## Sign up for Grants.gov Alerts

The best way to stay updated about NIFA’s BFRDP funding opportunities is to register for Grants.gov alerts. These email alerts will notify you when BFRDP Requests for Applications (RFAs) are released.
                  - If you don’t have a Grants.gov account,  register for free.  Tip: you don’t need a full profile to sign up for alerts.
                  - Once you’re registered and logged in, go to Subscribe to Saved Searches.
                  - Add a Saved Search. Enter “10.311” in the CFDA input field under Basic Search Criteria. Click Save to continue.
                  - Your saved search subscription will now be listed under “My Saved Opportunity Searches.” To unsubscribe, delete the Saved Search from your profile.

You will begin receiving email notices from “DoNotReply@grants.gov” sometime after midnight of the day the RFA is posted. Add that email address to your address book to ensure delivery in your inbox.

BFRDP Funding Opportunity Page

The BFRDP Clearinghouse

New Farmer and Rancher Programs and Resources across USDA 

Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach: 2501 Program and BFRDP

USDA-Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement – the 2501 Program

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinators

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service – Outreach and Partnerships

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Loans

USDA Provides Nearly $24M Boost for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

USDA Invests Nearly $28M for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

Denis  Ebodaghe

BFRDP Outcomes Based Reporting Guide

BFRDP Sample Commitment Letter Template

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) Award Maps

BFRDP Fact Sheet

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program

Cultivating the Next Generation: An Evaluation of the Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program (2009 to 2015)

USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service – Publication Highlights

Beginning Farmers and Ranchers at a Glance

Farms and Lands in Farms – 2021 Summary

Rural America at a Glance: 2022 Edition

Young Producers Highlights 2020

2021 BFRDP Awards

2022 BFRDP Awards

2023 BFRDP Awards

BFRDP Educational Team Awards

Education

Farming and Ranching

Farmer Education