BELLEFONTE – U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-5) has announced a grant opportunity to help train and educate the next generation of agricultural producers through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP).
“The recent Farm Bill reformed and improved many important programs, including the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program,” stated Thompson.
“This program provides competitive grants and helps ensure the next generation in agriculture can keep up with the evolving business and logistics necessary to operate a modern farm. This ultimately ensures the future of a safe, abundant and affordable food supply for America,” added Thompson.
Thompson is the chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation Energy & Forestry and served as a member of House-Senate Conference Committee for the 2014 Farm Bill, which was tasked with bridging the differences between House and Senate versions of the bill. The 2014 Farm Bill passed into law on Feb. 7.
BFRDP is an education, training, technical assistance and outreach program designed to help farmers, ranchers and managers of non-industrial private forest land – specifically those aiming to start farming and those who have been farming or ranching for 10 or fewer years. It is managed by the National Institutes of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). NIFA will competitively award grants to organizations conducting programs to help beginning farmers and ranchers.
BFRDP applications are due June 12. All applicants are required to provide funds or in-kind support from non-federal sources in an amount that is at least equal to 25 percent of the federal funds requested.
Information on upcoming BFRDP webinars for interested applicants can be found here.
Eligibility requirements and application guidelines for the BFRDP can be found here.