WASHINGTON, D.C. — The USDA has announced the availability of more than $18 million to support training and development for the department’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). 

The announcement, made Jan. 12, said the support is available through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which administers BFRDP. The winners of last year’s application cycle will be announced in the near future, the announcement said. These grants are competitive. 

“The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program is critical for cultivating the next generation of farmers and ranchers, who will be integral to sustaining America’s agricultural future,” said Krysta Harden, deputy secretary at the USDA. “Leading community and service organizations are on the front lines when it comes to identifying and training new farmers and ranchers, and strong partnerships with these groups are the key to our success.”

The BFRDP awards grants to organizations that implement programs to train beginning farmers and ranchers. These programs include workshops, educational teams, training programs as well as technical assistance.

Eligible organizations include state cooperative extension services, community-based and nongovernmental organizations, colleges and universities, and any other appropriate organization providing services to beginning farmers and ranchers. Fiscal Year 2015 applications for BFRDP are due March 13.

At least 5 percent of the money must go to projects that serve military veteran beginning farmer and ranchers, and at least 5 percent must go to projects to serve socially disadvantaged, limited resource or farmworker audiences, the announcement said. All applicants are required to provide funds or in-kind support from non-federal sources in an amount equal to at least 25 percent of the federal funds requested. 

NIFA is planning a webinar for interested applicants to be held on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. EST. No password or advance reservation is required. Also, NIFA will post a recording of the webinar on its website shortly after the event.

Between 2009 and 2012, 145 awards have been made for more than $71 million through the BFRDP. The program was authorized in the 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act, amending Section 7405 of the previous farm bill.

“We have an aging population of traditional farmers, and a lot of exciting young people, new immigrants, even older people who are retiring and starting second careers and traditional children of farmers want to stay in the family business or change it in some way,” Jill Auburn, national program leader at NIFA, said in an audio bulletin explaining the program.

In a speech before the American Farm Bureau Federation in January 2012, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack told his audience, “Given the aging nature of our farmers and given recent trends suggesting that some young people are again being attracted to agriculture, the farm bill ought to better support beginning farmers.” 

Although the BFRDP isn’t for individuals directly, the USDA has other programs for beginning farmers that are. For example, in January 2013 the USDA started its Microloan program. By modifying its operating loan eligibility, application and security requirements, more help is aimed at beginning, niche and what it describes as the smallest of family farm operations. Today, eligible applicants may be able to obtain a loan of up to $50,000 under this program.

Aside from the Microloan program, USDA has another loan program for beginning farmers who cannot obtain financing from commercial lenders. Direct farm ownership or operating loans from this program can be up to $300,000, while guaranteed loans can be up to $3.92 million, though requirements are stricter than under the Microloan program.

More information about these programs is available online. More detailed information about the BFRDP is available online at http://start2farm.gov