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The USDA is accepting applications for two new grant opportunities: the Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant (IAG) program and the Local Meat Capacity Grant (Local MCap) program. Both programs focus on expanding or enhancing animal protein harvesting and processing capacity. These opportunities opened on April 19 and will continue to accept applications through July 19, 2023.
 The Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant (IAG) program will award up to $50 million dollars for federally recognized Tribes to expand or enhance indigenous animals and meat protein processing capacity. Grant applications will demonstrate the ability to improve slaughter and processing capacity, packaging, and distribution to create more resilient, diverse, and secure indigenous food systems.
The Local Meat Capacity Grant (Local MCap) program will award up to $75 million dollars to provide more and better processing options for local livestock and poultry producers by modernizing, increasing, diversifying, and decentralizing meat and poultry processing capacity, including support for rendering. The program has two project types: Processing Expansion Projects for facility upgrades that create new and/or expand markets for local livestock and poultry producers, and Simplified Equipment-Only Projects to fund smaller grants for equipment purchases for meat and poultry processors.
USDA also provides a range of technical assistance (TA) to support project development and success for those participating in in USDA’s Meat and Poultry Supply Chain initiatives. The Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity- Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA) funds a nationwide network of support focusing on four key areas: Federal Grant Application Management, Business Development and Financial Planning, Meat and Poultry Processing Technical and Operation Support, and Supply Chain Development. Visit the MPPTA webpage to learn more about this resource.
For more information on eligibility and how to apply, visit the links below.
 The Food and Agriculture Mapper and Explorer (FAME), funded through an AMS cooperative research agreement, brings together data from dozens of publicly available datasets to make it easy for food systems practitioners to search and visualize up-to-date information about U.S. local and regional food systems. This new tool is an open-access resource designed to increase the accessibility of local and regional food systems data for federal grant applicants, farmers and food entrepreneurs, and researchers.
The raw data that underpins FAME is hosted on a GitHub site, allowing for more advanced analysts and researchers to pull the data in more curated ways. Farmers, food entrepreneurs, and members of the public can use FAME for program design, business planning, grant writing, advocacy, or to learn more about the state of local food systems in an area.
 Eight tabs highlighted at the top help direct viewers to different search platforms.
To learn more about navigating this tool with case study examples, watch the recorded webinar online . If you would like to share any recommendations on this tool, submit them on the recommendations page. If you don’t see yourself or other businesses in your community, register them through our USDA Local Food Directories portal.
AMS is seeking subject matter experts to serve as peer reviewers to evaluate applications for five competitive grant programs for the FY23 grant cycle. AMS grant peer reviewers bring together diverse individuals who provide fair, expert, and unbiased evaluations of grant applications. Reviewing applications will take approximately 4-5 weeks and non-federal reviewers will be compensated for their reviews.
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Current programs seeking peer reviewers:
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AMS may also recruit for additional grant programs soon. New reviewers can register and select the program(s) they are interested in through the GrantSolutions- Reviewer Recruitment Module (RRM). For additional information visit the How to Become an Application Reviewer and apply to be an AMS grant reviewer webpages. Reviewers already registered in RRM can update their profile with current information.
AMS is transforming the food system for farmers and families through new programs and funding opportunities. This takes form in many ways, from launching the USDA Regional Food Business Centers to creating markets through the Dairy Business Innovation and Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity programs. Learn more about how we are executing these initiatives and building resiliency using the interactive image linked below.
Each month, we’re highlighting the work of Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion grant recipients.
 Oregon Farmers Markets Association
The Oregon Farmers Markets Association (OFMA) works to support Oregon markets through providing resources to staff and vendors, advocating for policy, and encouraging equitable food access in the state. They started to see an increase in new producers among their farmers markets and informal chatter in the community about the need for entrepreneurial training for food businesses. OFMA applied for and received a Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant in 2018 for $247,268 to create the Beginning Vendor Support Network (BVSN) to study and support five small- to mid-sized farmers markets in their role as business incubators in rural and/or low-income and low-access areas. Learn about their data collection, transitions during the pandemic, and future endeavors in their new Seeds of Success feature.
Upcoming Funding for Composting and Food Waste
The Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production recently announced their upcoming Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) funding opportunity with up to $9.5 million for fiscal year 2023. The cooperative agreements assist local and municipal governments with projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost and food waste reduction plans. View their CFWR Applicants webinar or list of FAQs for information on application eligibility and the process. Details on this funding opportunity and previous projects can be found on the USDA website.
Current USDA Funding Available
April Deadlines
Rural Development's Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program
Due Date: Applications accepted until funds are exhausted
The USDA RD Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program guarantees loans of up to $40 million for qualified lenders to finance food systems projects, specifically for the start-up or expansion of activities in the middle of the food supply chain. The program will support new investments in infrastructure for food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution. Learn more on the Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan program website.
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
Application Due Date: April 27, 2023
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is a funding opportunity through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture 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. This is accomplished 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. For information and to apply, visit their grants.gov page.
Expanding Conservation Assistance to Underserved Producers
Application Due Date: April 27, 2023
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering up to $70 million in cooperative agreements with entities for two-year projects that encourage participation in NRCS programs, especially in underserved communities and among urban and small-scale producers. For more information and a link to the notice of funding visit the NRCS website.
Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program – Organic Transitions
Application Due Date: April 27, 2023
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is requesting applications for the Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program – Organic Transitions for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 funding cycle, to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems. Applicants considering applying should check the Organic Transitions (ORG) Web Page to access the RFA and check for updates.
FY 2023 Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements
Application Due Date: April 27, 2023
USDA is seeking applications for projects that will improve outreach to underserved producers and underserved communities about conservation programs and services and opportunities for students to pursue careers in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering up to $70 million in cooperative agreements with entities for two-year projects that encourage participation in NRCS programs, especially in underserved communities and among urban and small-scale producers. View the NRCS announcement for more details.
Higher Education Challenge Grants Program
Application Due Date: April 28, 2023
Projects supported by the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program will: (1) address a state, regional, national, or international educational need; (2) involve a creative or non-traditional approach toward addressing that need that can serve as a model to others; (3) encourage and facilitate better working relationships in the university science and education community, as well as between universities and the private sector, to enhance program quality and supplement available resources; and (4) result in benefits that will likely transcend the project duration and USDA support. View the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program webpage for more information.
May Deadlines
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Application Due Date: May 1, 2023
AMS is currently accepting applications for the 2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). This program will award grants to eligible state departments of agriculture to carry out projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. More information on this grant program can be found on the Specialty Crops Block Grant Program website, or through their grants.gov application page.
Local Agricultural Market Program (LAMP) Grants
Application Due Date: May 2, 2023
LAMP supports the development, coordination, and expansion of direct producer-to-consumer marketing; local and regional food markets and enterprises; and value-added agricultural products. It encompasses the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), Regional Food System Partnerships Program (RFSP), and Value-Added Producer Grants Program (VAPG). LAMP funding is divided between these grant programs and USDA is now accepting applications. A Local Agriculture Market Programs Stakeholder Toolkit is available to help amplify the RFSP open application period among LRFS stakeholders. For more information on applications and eligibility, visit the LAMP webpage.
Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program
Application Due Date: May 2, 2023
The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) funds projects to explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing system. Eligible applicants include state departments of agriculture, state agricultural experiment stations, and other appropriate state agencies (i.e., state universities, state colleges, or state governmental entities). Visit the FSMIP website for more details on eligibility and how to apply.
Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program
Application Due Date: May 15, 2023
The Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program provides support to students to help them complete their bachelor’s degree in the Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Human (FANH) Sciences or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in order to successfully join the food and agricultural workforce. The purpose of this program is to increase the diversity of the food and agricultural scientific workforce and advance the educational achievement of all Americans by providing competitive grants to colleges and universities. Colleges and universities can use this funding to support undergraduate scholarships and related learning leading to the completion of a bachelor's degree in the FANH Sciences or a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Learn more about eligibility and applications on their website.
The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program Produce Prescription Program
Application Due Date: May 16, 2023
The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 7517, for fiscal years 2019 through 2023 with mandatory growth in annual funding from $45 million to $56 million to be appropriated over 5 years. The 2018 Farm Bill allows the Secretary to provide funding opportunities to conduct and evaluate projects providing incentives to income-eligible consumers to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables and prescriptions for fresh fruits and vegetables. A detailed description of this opportunity can be found on the National Institute of Food & Agriculture’s website.
Acer Access and Development Program
Application Due Date: May 30, 2023
The Acer Access and Development Program (Acer) is a competitive grant program that promotes the domestic maple syrup industry through activities associated with research and education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, and the marketing of maple syrup and maple-sap products. This program supports two project types: Market Development and Promotion and Producer and Landowner Education. The funding for each project type ranges from $200,000 to $500,000. For more information visit the Acer webpage and view past grants awarded here.
June Deadlines
Rural Development’s Intermediary Lending Program
Application Due Date: Final Quarterly Funding Due June 30, 2023
The Intermediary Lending Program provides 1 percent low-interest loans to local lenders or “intermediaries” that re-lend to businesses to improve economic conditions and create jobs in rural communities. USDA is offering priority points to projects that advance key priorities under the Biden-Harris Administration to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, advance equity, and combat climate change. Learn more about RD’s Intermediary Lending Program on their webpage.
July Deadlines
Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program
Application Due Date: July 19, 2023
The Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program (IAG) is designed to support the priorities of Tribal Nations in meeting the needs of traditional harvesting methods and indigenous animals. This project intends to fund projects which invest in Tribal Nations’ supply chain resiliency, indigenous animals, restoring local indigenous food systems, and indigenous processing methods, and expanding local capacity for the harvesting, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution (communal or commercial) of meat, poultry, seafood, and other animals that provide culturally appropriate food and food security to tribal communities. For more information and the Request for Application visit the IAG webpage.
Local Meat Capacity Grants
Application Due Date: July 19, 2023
AMS requests applications for the fiscal year 2023 Local Meat Capacity Grants (Local MCap). This program supports independently owned meat and poultry processing businesses with funds to provide more and better processing options for local livestock producers by modernizing, increasing, diversifying and decentralizing meat and poultry processing capacity, including support for rendering. Approximately $75 million is available under this grant program, subject to appropriations and funds availability. For more information and the Request for Application visit the Local MCap webpage.
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