Other Ag News: RFA Roundup: Current Funding Opportunities

After a year of funding freezes, cancellations of programs, and disruptions to grant fund distributions, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened applications for several sustainable agriculture grant opportunities. This blog post provides an overview of each funding program currently open, the application deadline, and eligibility criteria. This list serves as a useful reference for family farmers and eligible entities looking to advance sustainable agriculture. Anyone applying for federal funding should review this great resource developed by Farm Commons, that helps grantees navigate new compliance requirements under USDA’s updated Terms and Conditions.

The grant opportunities listed below are sorted into three categories:

• Local Food and Nutrition 
• Education and Business Development
• Specialty Crops

The Requests for Application (RFAs) are organized by category, and then by earliest to latest application deadline. Most deadlines are spread throughout June, with the earliest deadline on June 5, 2026!

Deadline: June 5, 2026

The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) is a competitive grant program through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) that funds projects meant to promote direct-to-consumer markets. There are a variety of project types that support capacity building, training, technical assistance, and marketing and promotion. There is approximately $13 million available in funding this year. Projects have a 25% match requirement that can be satisfied by in-kind or cash contributions. Apply here.

Eligibility: Agricultural businesses or cooperatives; community supported agriculture (CSA) networks or associations; economic development corporations; food councils; local government; nonprofit corporations; producer networks or associations; public benefit corporations; regional farmers market authorities; tribal governments

Deadline: June 5, 2026

The Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) is an AMS competitive grant program that supports the development of entities that enhance intermediary supply chain activities, more specifically initiatives that help connect agricultural products to local markets. For example, eligible projects include support for processing, aggregation, distribution, and storage of local and regional food products. There is approximately $13 million in funding available this year for planning, implementation, marketing, recruitment, or training projects. All projects require a 25% cash or in-kind contribution. Apply here.

Eligibility: Agricultural businesses or cooperatives; community supported agriculture (CSA) networks or associations; economic development corporations; food councils; local government; nonprofit corporations; producer networks or associations; public benefit corporations; regional farmers market authorities; tribal governments

Deadline: June 5, 2026

The Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) program is an AMS grant that provides support for partnerships that bridge public and private resources for the development of local and regional food systems. There is approximately $4.7 million available to fund planning or implementation projects. Each project will require a 25% cash cost share. Apply here.

Eligibility: Community supported agriculture (CSA) networks or associations; economic development associations; farmer or rancher cooperatives; food councils; local governments; majority-controlled producer-based business ventures; nonprofit corporations; producers; producer networks or associations; public benefit corporations; regional farmers market authorities; tribal governments

Deadline: June 26, 2026

The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) funds projects administered by government agencies and non-profit organizations that aim to increase fruit and vegetable purchases among SNAP participants through incentives provided at the point of purchase. Projects increase accessibility and affordability of fruit and vegetable purchases by offering discounts or matching funds. NIFA is allocating $36 million to this program, with award amounts ranging from $10,000-$15,000,000 based on the scale of the project. Each project requires a 50% cost share that can be satisfied through cash or in-kind contributions. Apply here.

Eligibility: Government agencies; non-profit organizations 

* Award recipients may sub-award to organizations ineligible to apply if those organizations are necessary for the project

Deadline: June 15, 2026 (Strategic Economic and Community Development) OR June 30, 2026 for all other applicants

The Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) provides grant funds to public bodies or government entities, tribes, or nonprofit entities for economic development and job creation projects in rural areas on the outskirts of cities with a population of 50,000 or more. RBDG grants fall into two different categories: business opportunity grants and enterprise grants. 

Eligibility: Public body or government entities; tribes; nonprofits focused on rural service 

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)

Deadline: June 16, 2026

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) provides support for projects that provide training, education, outreach, or technical assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers. These projects are aimed at helping beginning farmers and ranchers make informed decisions about their operations and enhance their sustainability. This year, NIFA announced the availability of $44 million in grant funds, with award amounts ranging from $49,999-$750,000. 

Eligibility: Land-grant institutions; colleges and universities; foundations maintained by colleges or universities; state cooperative extension services; federal, state, municipal, or tribal agencies; community-based organizations (CBOs); nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); private for-profit organizations

Deadline: June 30, 2026

The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) provides funding for Business Development Organizations such as nonprofits, federally-recognized tribes and higher education institutions to help small businesses and micro entrepreneurs through training, technical assistance, and microloans. The program will assist the growth and founding of microenterprises in rural areas with a population of less than 50,000 residents. 

Eligibility: Nonprofits; federally-recognized tribes; institutions of higher education

Deadline: August 7, 2026

The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPEPP) has $60 million in funds available for capacity-building for very small, small, and intermediate-sized meat and poultry facilities that primarily process cattle, though multi species plants may apply. MPEPP aims to increase competition, sustainable development, and supply chain resilience. Funding will be distributed equally between two applicant pools, one being very small (0-10 FTE) and small (10-500 FTE) processors, and the other being intermediate processors (here defined as 500-3000 FTE). Awards will be given to two types of projects, with $50,000 – $2 million available for processing expansion projects, and $10,000 – $250,000 available for equipment-only projects.

Eligibility: Very small processors; small processors; intermediate processors 

Deadline: June 8, 2026

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBG) provides funds for projects undertaken by State departments of agriculture to increase the competitiveness of specialty crops. States have flexibility to focus on a variety of specialty crops, such as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, and horticultural and nursery crops. Projects are required to benefit a network of growers or the industry broadly and are not intended to serve a single entity. Examples of previously funded projects include field day trainings for organic small fruit production or food safety practice workshops. Funding availability varies by state. More information can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. 

Eligibility: State departments of agriculture

Deadline: June 15, 2026

Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) provides funding for research and extension projects on specialty crops that are multidisciplinary, participatory with key stakeholders, and systems-based. Examples of projects that have met SCRI’s priorities in the past are research on managing nematodes or developing IPM solutions to pests found on cucurbits. 

Eligibility: Federal agencies; national laboratories; colleges and universities; research institutions and organizations; private organizations; foundations; or corporations; state agricultural experiment stations; cooperative extension services; individuals

There are a number of exciting funding opportunities currently available. Hopefully this post has helped introduce them! NSAC will continue to monitor funding opportunities, so stay tuned for any updates. 

For more information on these and other federal agricultural policies and programs, please visit the Grassroots Guide to Federal Farm and Food Programs!

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