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Editor’s Note: This series draws on analysis the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) conducted in partnership with Bernie Kluger, Managing Partner at Prospect Partners, LLC.
Bernie has led strategic realignments, crisis recoveries, and major capacity-building initiatives in government, higher education, and the private sector. Prior to joining Prospect Partners, Bernie served as enterprise lead for organizational effectiveness and workforce development at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). At USDA, Bernie tackled complex multi-stakeholder negotiations that delivered results for the public, including a nationwide hiring surge that powered a $40 billion expansion in operational capacity. Bernie holds a B.S. in Political Economy from Williams College and an M.B.A. from Columbia University. He lives in Washington, DC.
The past sixteen months have seen an unprecedented staffing crisis unfurl across the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This blog post offers a fresh look at the depth and breadth of the ongoing staffing crisis, as well as updates on previously reported nationwide staff cuts across other USDA agencies. A second post examines the deep losses sustained by the farmer-serving staff of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and a third uses previously unpublished data on Farm Service Agency (FSA) County employees to examine the devastating losses of local county staff.
Analysis of federal personnel data from the US Office of Personnel Management confirms widespread headcount reductions across all USDA agencies, with the exception of staffing increases in the immediate office of the Agriculture Secretary, which grew by 18% in 2025. NSAC urges Congress to use every available tool to address the USDA staffing crisis and pass a bipartisan farm bill that restores the department’s capacity to serve farmers and rural communities.
USDA Impact: Staffing Declines Across All Agencies, Staffing Increase in the Immediate Office of the SecretaryBetween January 2025 and January 2026, USDA lost approximately 20,000 employees, according to staffing data published by the US Office of Personnel Management. Every USDA agency was affected, and staff losses were spread across the entire nation. Our analysis attributes the majority of staff losses (~15,000) to the so-called Deferred Resignation Program, a program run by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to encourage federal employees to voluntarily leave their positions.
On July 24, 2025 US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins released a memo (SM-1078-015) announcing a planned reorganization of the department, drafted without consultation with farmers, Congress, or other stakeholders. After stakeholders responded with widespread concern, the Secretary announced an ad hoc, informal opportunity to comment on the reorganization, which generated 46,845 responses. According to USDA’s own analysis, 82% of comments were negative, expressing serious concerns with the reorganization. Major themes of concern included the loss of local oversight and expertise, reduction in personnel and resources, and a desire for adequate staffing in every county.
Despite these overwhelmingly negative responses and continued concern from stakeholders about local presence, the Secretary has continued to move forward with the reorganization plan that would relocate agency headquarters and leadership. Thus far, reorganization plans have been announced for the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services agency; Food Safety and Inspection Service; Research, Education, and Economics mission area; and the Forest Service. Reporting on employee reactions to the reorganization plan suggests that relocation will lead to further staff losses, exacerbating the existing USDA staffing crisis with negative consequences for farmer and rancher-facing services. A recent survey by the American Federation of Government Employees, for example, found that 76% of its members do not plan to relocate when required by the reorganization plan and would instead leave their positions.
Staff Losses Are NationwideWhile Secretary Rollins and other headquarters leadership have attempted to frame the USDA reorganization as moving staff out of DC and closer to farmers, the reality is the vast majority of USDA staff already work outside of DC. In January 2025, just 3.24% of all USDA employees worked in Washington, DC. By January 2026, after massive staff losses, still just 3.56% of all USDA employees worked in DC. In reality, 98% of the USDA staff lost between January 2025 and January 2026 were outside of Washington, DC (19,259 employees).
The map below shows the percentage and number of USDA staff lost in each state between January 2025 and January 2026.
Figure 1: USDA Staff Losses January 2025-January 2026
Every state and territory lost USDA staff during this time period. The states that lost the highest number of staff were: Maryland (1,411), California (1,080), Texas (925), Virginia (896), Colorado (850), Oregon (682), New Mexico (640), Kansas (559), Georgia (546), and Missouri (514).
The relative impact of staffing losses was unevenly spread, with multiple states losing over 20% of staff. The 10 states experiencing the largest percentage staff losses include: Maryland (41%), Rhode Island (41%), Virginia (37%), Maine (29%), Alaska (29%), Kansas (28%), Massachusetts (27%), Vermont (27%), New York (25%), and Florida (24%).
Figure 2: Top 10 States with USDA Staff Losses (Jan 2025-Jan 2026)
Source: Office of Personnel Management (OPM), FSA County staff provided via FOIA on April 8, 2026 Loss of Experienced StaffUSDA also experienced a dramatic loss of highly experienced and skilled staff. Between January 2025 and January 2026, the number of staff with more than ten years of service declined by nearly 7,000 (from 45,247 in 2025 to just 38,291 in 2026). These experienced mid and late-career staff carry irreplaceable institutional knowledge that supports the functioning of the department.
Every USDA Agency Lost StaffWhile the overall loss of 1 in 5 USDA employees is already staggering, some departmental agencies had even more significant staffing losses. The Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) lost more than half of its staff (55%), the Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA) lost 41%, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) 40%, Rural Development (RD) 36%, and National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) 36%. Staff losses at NIFA are particularly troubling, with the Government Accountability Office reporting lingering negative impacts on productivity following a previous relocation in 2019 of the agency to Kansas City, MO.
Table 1: USDA Staff Losses by Agency (Jan 2025-Jan 2026)
USDA AgencyJan-25Jan-26% Staff LossOffice Of Partnerships And Public Engagement5324-55%Office Of Budget And Program Analysis5935-41%National Institute Of Food And Agriculture473284-40%Rural Development4,8733,097-36%National Agricultural Statistics Service781498-36%FPAC Business Center1,5941,030-35%Departmental Administration507330-35%Food And Nutrition Service1,8341,202-34%Civil Rights14897-34%Economic Research Service292198-32%Agricultural Research Service7,1094,916-31%Office Of Communications4029-28%National Appeals Division6648-27%Office Of The Chief Financial Officer989730-26%Office Of The Chief Economist6750-25%Office Of The Chief Information Officer1,5851,191-25%Foreign Agricultural Service713543-24%Office Of The General Counsel275210-24%Natural Resources Conservation Service11,8619,078-23%Animal And Plant Health Inspection Se..8,6726,663-23%Farm Service Agency (Federal)3,2842,604-21%Homeland Security Staff5746-19%Risk Management Agency418351-16%Forest Service31,25726,260-16%Office Of The Inspector General422359-15%Agricultural Marketing Service4,4783,890-13%Food Safety And Inspection Service8,3107,444-10%Farm Service Agency (County)76727022-8%Office Of The Secretary Of Agriculture9711418%Total97,98678,343-20%Source: Office of Personnel Management (OPM), FSA County staff provided via FOIA on April 8, 2026The current Administration’s impact on the “People’s Agency” is clear: USDA has lost one in five of its employees in just twelve months, with the overwhelming majority of cuts to staff capacity and expertise happening at the state and county level. The reorganization plan now underway risks transforming a shortfall into a crisis, as the majority of employees subject to relocation requirements have indicated they would leave the agency rather than uproot their lives and families to move. The posts that follow examine in greater detail the losses sustained by two agencies with the most direct farmer-facing roles: the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency.
Congress must treat the collapse of USDA’s workforce as a crisis that can be averted. With one in five USDA employees gone in a single year and reorganization plans poised to drive further departures, lawmakers must use every available lever to reverse course. America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities are facing serious challenges, and they need a USDA that is fully staffed and fully functional.
The post USDA Staffing Crisis: Nationwide Losses appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
As Special Envoy, Rich will serve as a leading advocate for America’s farmers, ranchers, and private landowners, helping ensure their concerns are heard and their rights are protected. He will engage directly with landowners across the country and work to address challenges posed by government overreach, activist pressure campaigns, and outside interests that threaten private property rights and the long-term viability of rural communities.
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 8, 2026 — Today U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced President Donald J. Trump has appointed John Bellinger as the new Senior Advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness. In this role, Bellinger will integrate into USDA’s team to help further drive its robust effort to explore all available technologies to combat the New World Screwworm.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net
Tel. 347.563.6408
Comment: USDA Small Processor Plan Highlights Recent Work, Future OpportunitiesWashington, DC, June 5, 2026 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) commends the release of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Small Processors Action Plan by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. The plan highlights previous and potential future actions by USDA to protect and promote Small and Very Small meat processors.
In the Action Plan, USDA highlights its work on the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Overtime and Holiday Fee Reduction Program for Small and Very Small Establishments. The Plan also highlights a small expansion of the state Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) program, an NSAC priority. Continued expansion of the program, and the associated Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) should also be invested in as they increase markets for small and very small processors in a fiscally sound way.
“The success of Small and Very Small processors is critical to the success of our rural communities and agricultural system. NSAC appreciates USDA’s cross agency attention to Small and Very Small plant issues, and encourages the Department to invest in further stakeholder engagement and input. By expanding and refocusing Small Plant Roundtables exclusively on Small & Very Small plants, and implementing recommendations to improve outreach and reduce barriers for these plants, USDA can take critical next steps for improving Small Processors viability. We look forward to engaging with them as they do so,” commented Connor Kippe, NSAC Policy Specialist.
Some of the next steps FSIS should pursue from the 2020 Report on Outreach to Small and Very Small Processors include studying inspection decisions and enforcement actions across circuits, districts, and inspectors. Similarly, the National Advisory Committee in 2023 and 2024 offered in the Meat & Poultry Inspection Recommendations support continued investment in technical assistance not included in the Action Plan.
NSAC looks forward to ensuring these reforms become mandatory and continued in perpetuity by the inclusion of all components of the Strengthening Local Processing Act in a new farm bill.
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at: https://sustainableagriculture.net
The post Comment: USDA Small Processor Plan Highlights Recent Work, Future Opportunities appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
(WASHINGTON, D.C., June 4, 2026) – Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching the transformation of over 130 loan and grant systems that support farmers, ranchers, and rural communities into one modern platform built for the 21st century. After reviewing capabilities and options, today the USDA is moving forward with the next step in Loan Modernization implementation to replace outdated and inefficient legacy systems.
Urban farms not only grow food, but they also build community, create green space, and increase access to healthy food. Yet, farmers in urban and suburban areas are not immune to the pressures of higher input costs and competition for resources. These issues simply present in different ways. Farmers in more residentially dense areas feel the pressure of development and competition for land, resulting in tenuous land access or complicated zoning ordinances; access to safe water for irrigation can be extremely costly or entirely reliant on rainwater; the smaller size of their business can make it difficult to benefit from bulk purchases in the same way as traditional farming operations.
These issues are more common among farms than expected. Analysis of 2022 Agricultural Census data — overlaid with USDA Economic Research Service Rural-Urban Continuum Codes — shows that 839,049 farms are located in metro counties, and another 708,857 operate in non-metro counties adjacent to metro areas. Altogether, more than 1.5 million farms face unique urban and suburban pressures that farmers located outside these areas do not face.
The 2018 Farm Bill took significant steps to dedicate US Department of Agriculture (USDA) resources to addressing these challenges by creating the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). Since its creation, OUAIP has quickly implemented programming, grants, and cooperative agreements. These activities have provided vital support to urban farmers while identifying new and ongoing barriers for the upcoming farm bill reauthorization to address.
USDA Offices Meet Farmers Where They AreThe creation of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production stole the spotlight of the 2018 Farm Bill, understandably so since it has invested over $85 million through 199 grants and 146 cooperative agreements across 43 states and Puerto Rico since 2020. However, an often overlooked win in the farm bill was the creation of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Urban County Committees and their respective USDA Service Centers.
Local USDA Service Centers are essential for farmers to access resources. Oftentimes, they serve as the primary point of service for farmers seeking support from USDA. In an effort to ensure Centers respond to the unique needs of the geographical regions they serve, farmers also elect their peers to serve on FSA County Committees. These committees ensure farmer representation in local decision-making that affects the delivery of services in the area. This model was authorized in 1935. Today, nearly 2,300 Centers are nestled within farming communities nationwide, and since 2020, USDA has named 27 new FSA Urban County Committees and corresponding service centers to specifically serve farmers in urban and suburban settings. The map below shows the locations of all 27 FSA Urban County Committees.
Partnerships Expedite Implementation and Increase ReachIn an effort to strengthen new Service Centers and Urban County Committees, FSA has partnered with community organizations to provide technical assistance and conduct farmer outreach to promote FSA resources to farmers who have less experience navigating USDA services. In 2023, FSA entered into dozens of new Urban Agriculture Outreach, Education, and Technical Assistance cooperative agreements with community-based technical assistance providers. Agreements varied in scope to respond to unique geographic needs, but all maintained key elements:
- assisting farmers with required FSA annual reporting;
- providing business planning;
- matching technical assistance with a micro-grant that corresponds with their business growth goals.
Several National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) members across the country received agreements, including Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Farm to Table New Mexico, PASA Sustainable Agriculture, Sprout, Renewing the Countryside, and Cultivate Kansas City, while many more partnered closely with cooperators. The map below shows the location of NSAC members with FSA cooperative agreements to support urban farmers.
In order to reach farmers, organizations developed curricula, technical guides, and organized services via group settings or 1-1 services. While many USDA Urban Service Centers were slow to open their doors, these local partners scheduled farm visits, hosted community events, and ensured services were accessible to all interested farmers. Organizations offered traditional farm technical assistance such as help filing for a farm number, acreage reporting, and production planning, along with contextual support to navigate local zoning restrictions and access city utilities.
Due to the distinct challenges of urban settings, farmers are often proactively addressing these concerns. As a result, organizations often found that farmers were more than ready for education and training on topics such as sustainable pest management, urban landscaping, water runoff management, rainwater collection, compost infrastructure and management, and soil health through cover crops and other techniques.
Partnerships Remove Barriers to Capital AccessOne key element of the Urban Agriculture Outreach, Education, and Technical Assistance agreements was the inclusion of subawards in the form of micro-grants to farmers. Capital access for new, beginning, and small farm operations can be difficult due to limited revenue history, lack of collateral, or small initial profit projections. These challenges for urban farmers can be exacerbated by limited land ownership and competitiveness in limited USDA annual funding pools.
To address these challenges, many organizations allocated a portion of their organizational funding for implementing micro-grant awards to producers. Since these same partners were intimately involved in business development and planning with the farmers, the awards were well timed and led to sizeable impact.
One Cooperator – Farm to Table New Mexico – shared that their competitive micro-grant application process was designed to support farmers in increasing their production capacity. All the recipients operate with a gross cash income of $250,000 or less annually. They focused on supporting capacity building for a diverse range of small-scale producers in urban communities as an important investment in the state’s food ecosystem that will help deliver locally grown and nutritious products directly to urban communities. Because Farm to Table is deeply engaged with technical assistance for urban producers, they were well equipped to support farmers in the application process and identify which applications would be most impactful.
Farm to Table implemented 3 years of grant cycles, funding 40 projects for a total of $341,961 directly invested in local farming operations. One project included funding for the Williams Family Farm, which operates the region’s only winter tomato production using natural and organic practices. They quickly exceeded their own capacity after they launched winter operations. Grant funds supported the construction of a third winter greenhouse, enabling the farm to supply all San Juan County schools and day care centers through the New Mexico Grown program.
Similarly, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) awarded 52 microgrants across seven California counties valued at $607,500. Microgrant awards were primarily used for production supplies, infrastructure, and associated labor costs. Project examples include refrigeration for farmstand and wholesale operations, irrigation installation and automation for seedlings, compost systems, and more. 85% of farms that received these micro-grants sell their produce in communities with greater need, such as to seniors and low-income families.
One project that received CAFF funding was Local Ecology and Agriculture Fremont (LEAF), which used their grant to purchase a small, used tractor with a front loader to improve the efficiency of their operation. This purchase facilitated tasks such as mulching, composting, and planting. The tractor greatly expanded their operational footprint from .33 acre to 1.3 acres while supporting their mission of increasing food production for underserved families and fostering community resilience. A before and after funding photo is below.
Farmers from other regions have shared additional details about their individual experience.
With the micro-grant, I was able to update the irrigation, seed container, tools, and plumbing in the farm. I really enjoyed how simple the application process was, and it was useful for our small farm,” shared a 9th Ward community garden in New Orleans.
In Kansas City, Ophelia’s Blue Vine Farm was funded to upgrade their greenhouse to increase year-round production capabilities. It is estimated that improvements will increase yield in the greenhouse by 20-30%. These upgrades will improve insulation, extend the growing season, and lower energy costs, creating a more efficient and sustainable system for growing fresh, affordable food in Kansas City’s 18th & Vine District.
Photo Credit: Mike Rollen, Ophelia’s Blue Vine Farm The Case for Ongoing Investments in PartnershipsThe Urban Agriculture Outreach, Education, and Technical Assistance agreements have been instrumental in introducing new services and processes for farmers unfamiliar with USDA services. The timing of these agreements led to even greater impact due to the high turnover in local field office staffing in the past fourteen months. FSA lost 21% of its federal staff between January 2025 and January 2026 and an additional 8% of its FSA county staff during the same time period. The loss of these FSA staff makes it even more difficult for urban farmers to get the support they need. Partnership agreements such as these provide continuity of services from trusted partners that can help support farmers and USDA staff alike.
Relatedly, despite funding for OUAIP, staff turnover in the national office last year interfered with full implementation of Congressionally mandated programs, such as the Urban and Innovative Production Grants. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was withdrawn in February 2025, and there were no grant awards made in Fiscal Year 2025. Unfortunately, we are rapidly approaching the end of Fiscal Year 2026 and have not seen OUAIP post a NOFO for this year’s grants. Community partners, such as the ones highlighted above, have demonstrated their abilities to administer similar grant and training programs, filling a critical gap when USDA’s operations are delayed or otherwise hampered by insufficient staffing.
A Farm Bill SolutionCongressional leaders in the Senate recognize the potential of community partnerships and have introduced legislation that could increase capacity to OUAIP while maximizing reach of direct-to-farmer investments.
Last month, Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced the Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act, S.4470. This bill seeks to strengthen existing OUAIP services and expand the Office’s reach by supporting ongoing outreach, education, and technical assistance partnerships.
Specifically, the bill would:
- direct OUAIP to develop resources and engage local and state USDA Service Centers to serve the unique conservation and business-planning needs of urban and small-scale farmers;
- expand existing grant eligible entities to include farmer cooperatives;
- direct formal agreements with community organizations and technical assistance providers that can readily reach farmers;
- enable subawards so that farmer training and education can be paired with a modest influx of capital to strengthen on-farm impact; and
- secure reliable, mandatory funding of $15 million annually to continue its essential operations.
As the Senate Agriculture Committee prepares to introduce legislation reauthorizing the 2018 Farm Bill, it must provide sufficient resources to meet the new and persistent challenges facing farmers nationwide, including the unique challenges of farmers in urban and suburban areas. The Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act provides a clear pathway to do so.
The post USDA Sows Trust and Farm Success in Urban Communities appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
(Washington, D.C., June 3, 2026) – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins launched the Small Processors Action Plan (PDF, 2.3 MB), a new set of actions to better support small and very small meat and poultry processing plants, improve customer service, and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens while maintaining strong food safety protections for consumers.
The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is on! With games scheduled from June 11-July 19 in 16 cities across North America, many people will be traveling into the United States and to neighboring host countries, Mexico and Canada, to catch a match.
While organizers work to ensure a safe and fun tournament, it’s important for travelers to know that certain food products are not allowed.
Protecting the United States from African Swine Fever
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!
Local Food and Nutrition Programs Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)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
Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)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
Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP)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
Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP)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
Education and Business Development Programs Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG)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
Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)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
Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPEPP)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
Specialty Crop Programs Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBG)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
Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)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
USDA Photo by Lance CheungThere 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!
The post RFA Roundup: Current Funding Opportunities appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
(Washington, D.C., June 1, 2026) - Last week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, unveiled The Great American Cotton Plan (PDF, 2.7 MB). This plan received widespread support across the country.
Here is what they are saying:
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