Opportunities
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National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program funds projects that increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by underserved consumers. Apply by May 14, 2024.
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Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications for the Farmers Market Promotion Program, Local Food Promotion Program, and Regional Food System Partnerships Program. Apply by May 14, 2024.
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AMS is providing $12 million to strengthen and explore new market opportunities and increase access to locally grown food in communities experiencing food insecurity through the Acer Access and Development Program, Federal State Marketing Improvement Program, and Micro-Grants for Food Security Program. Apply by May 28, 2024 (application extended).
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Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) New Jersey is offering a Community Garden/Farm agreement opportunity. Apply by June 7, 2024.
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Healthy Food Financing Initiative planning grants support planning and predevelopment activities for food retail or enterprise projects designed to improve access to fresh, healthy food in eligible underserved areas. Apply by June 17, 2024. (new)
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NIFA and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education are partnering on a national Community Foods Project Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grant Program. Apply by June 28, 2024. (new)
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NRCS’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program has $1.5 billion in funding for fiscal year 2024. NRCS encourages urban agriculture proposals that address unique natural resource concerns. Visit How to Apply for details and webinars. Assistance in the application process is available for projects that support underserved entities. Apply by July 2, 2024.
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USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement 2501 Program has $22.3 million available for community-based and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and Tribal entities that help underserved and veteran farmers and ranchers own and operate successful farms. Apply by July 5, 2024. (new)
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Environmental Protection Agency’s Community Change Grants Program supports environmental and climate justice activities. Assistance for grant preparation is available. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Apply by Nov. 21, 2024.
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Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production’s (OUAIP) Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) funding opportunity is coming soon! Register now in Sam.gov and Grants.gov.
Federal Advisory Committee
USDA is seeking nominations for four positions on the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, by July 7, 2024. The 12-member Committee is part of USDA’s efforts to increase support for urban agriculture and innovative production. Members of the Committee provide input on policy development and help identify barriers to urban agriculture as USDA works to promote urban farming and the economic opportunities it provides in cities across the country.
USDA Highlights
People’s Garden Initiative
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USDA had a great Earth Day celebration at the headquarters People’s Garden! Continue to give back to people and wildlife all year long and register your community garden in the network!
- USDA would like to showcase the planting season stories of urban agriculture and innovative producers through our #Plant2024 campaign. To share your photos, email us at SM.FP.Social@usda.gov with the subject: "Plant 2024". Include in the email your name, the name of your garden/operation, your location (city/county and state), a photo or video with description of what is happening and image/video credit, and we may include your photos on our social media channels.
Bee City USA Update
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Is your community buzzing about No Mow May? It’s a chance for gardeners to consider how they can better support pollinators — from mowing less to creating meadows. It can also be a gateway to improving local weed and lawn ordinances to accommodate pollinator gardens and native landscaping year-round. When we think of habitat loss, we tend to imagine bulldozers and rutted dirt, but acres of manicured lawn are as much a loss of habitat as any development site. Lawns cover 40 million acres, or 2%, of land in the US, making them the single largest irrigated crop we grow. If we allow flowers to bloom in lawns, we can increase habitat dramatically. Many Bee Cities and Bee Campuses participate in different variations of the concept, ranging from No Mow March to Slow Mow Summer. You don’t need to go a full month without mowing to help bees. Studies show that mowing every two or three weeks instead of weekly can increase bee species abundance and species diversity (i.e., more bees and more types of bees). Read our No Mow, Slow Mow 2024: FAQ.
Staff Farm Visits
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OUAIP and developing leaders from NRCS visited the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture to learn how local food systems can promote health, equity, and sustainability. Arcadia works with a diverse community, from immigrants to veterans. The Center received an Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grant to establish a community farm for residents to cultivate culturally appropriate foods and provide education and marketing opportunities. UAIP funding also provided a water well and supplied electricity to part of the farm that was cut off from the grid due to a newly installed road.
In Case You Missed It
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Women play a vital role in agriculture around the world and that’s why the United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Read about woman farmer Maigee Chang, owner of the Fearless Monkey, who shows how a small two-acre plot can go a long way on Fridays on the Farm.
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Xerces Society for Invertebrates Webinar: In the Life of Nocturnal Pollinators, Zoom registration, May 23, 2024; 1-2 pm EDT.
What We’re Reading and Watching
USDA wishes moms around the country a very Happy Mother’s Day!
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