NIFA Update--May 6, 2026

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Maggie Lawrence, Editor

May 6, 2026

Multiple Funding Opportunities Announced Recently

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced multiple Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) recently.

• Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage System Program
• Open Data Framework
• Methyl Bromide Transition Program
• Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program
• Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program
• Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program

To reduce the emails NIFA sends to your inbox, we are now sending a digest of new NOFOs available instead of an email for each new opportunity. If you are not receiving funding opportunity alerts, you can subscribe here.

FY27 Plans of Work Due Soon

FY27 Plans of Work are due on June 1. These plans are mandated by the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998. The Plan of Work must be submitted in the NIFA Reporting System by eligible universities receiving federal funding from these capacity grant programs:

• The Hatch Act of 1887
• The Hatch Act of 1887 Multistate Research Fund
• Evans-Allen (Agricultural Research at 1890 Land-grant Institutions)
• Smith-Lever Act 3(b) & 3(c) Capacity Grant
• Agricultural Extension Programs at 1890 Institutions

Information about the following program area priorities—including program contacts, types of projects allowed and more—can be found in the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) - Education and Workforce Development NOFO.

• Education and Workforce Development Workshop Grants (A7001): Continuous throughout the year but at least 210 days before the start of the workshop and upon invitation after submission of a Letter of Intent at least 255 days before the workshop begins.

Continuously Accepted

• AFRI Rapid Response to Emerging and Re-emerging Pest and Disease Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems
• AFRI Rapid Response to Weather Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems

• OREI Planning Projects for Assistance in Development of Future OREI Proposals Requiring Multiregional or Regional Coordination—May 14
• OREI Research Projects with Extension and/or Education Components—May 14
• OREI Workshop Projects—May 14
• Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program—June 1
• Renewable Resources Extension Act – National Focus Funds Projects—June 8
• Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program—June 8
• Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage System Program—June 12
• Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program, Phase I—June 12
• Specialty Crop Research Initiative—June 15
• Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas and Agriculture and Food Sciences Facilities and Equipment (RIIA and AGFEI)—June 15
• AgrAbility - Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities—June 23
• Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program—June 23
• Open Data Framework—June 26
• Methyl Bromide Transition Program—June 29
• Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative—June 29
• Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program, Phase II— Sept. 11
• Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program, Phase III—Dec. 31

• Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grant Program NOFO Technical Assistance Webinar—Thursday, May 7, 1 p.m. EDT
• Specialty Crop Research Initiative NOFO Pre-Application Webinar—Thursday, May 7, 1:30 p.m. EDT
• FY26 Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) NOFO Technical Assistance Webinar—May 8, 2 p.m. EDT
• FY26 Renewable Resources Extension Act–National Focus Fund Projects (RREA-NNF) NOFO Technical Assistance Webinar—Monday, May 11, Noon EDT
• Technical Assistance Webinar: Insular Areas Competitive Programs (AGFEI, DEG, and RIIA) Session 1—May 14, 7 p.m. EDT
• Technical Assistance Webinar: Insular Areas Competitive Programs (AGFEI, DEG, and RIIA) Session 2—May 19, Noon EDT
• Technical Assistance Webinar: Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative NOFO—May 20, Noon EDT

USDA ERS Releases Risk Management Report

USDA’s Economic Research Service recently released Risk Management Practices on U.S. Farms and Ranches, 1996–2020, summarizing how farms used risk management strategies based on Agricultural Resource Management Survey data.

The report examines four categories of strategies:

• On-farm approaches like diversification and storage
• Market-based tools such as Federal Crop Insurance and contracts
• Government programs including countercyclical and disaster assistance
• Long-term strategies such as farm improvements and succession planning

Overall, trends vary widely by farm size and commodity. Across all farms, the most used strategies are maintaining savings, working off the farm, and purchasing non–Federal Crop Insurance policies (such as private single-peril, liability, or property insurance). Find the full report as well as a summary here.

2026 Knapp Lecture Nominations Close June 5

Nominations for the Seaman A. Knapp Lecture will close Friday, June 5. The Knapp Lecture is part of a Memorial Lecture series sponsored by NIFA and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.

• Southern Farm Network: Now Available – Ag Pest and Disease Rapid Response Research Grants
• Lincoln County Journal: High Tunnel Workshop Helps Vegetable Growers Increase Yields
• Grain Journal: Clemson Scientist Receives USDA Grant to Improve Sorghum for Southeastern Farmers

USDA NIFA invests in research, education, and outreach that keeps American agriculture productive, profitable, and at the forefront of innovation. Through partnerships with the Land-grant University System, NIFA leverages more than 10,000 scientists, educators, and Extension professionals to turn discovery into real-world solutions for farmers, ranchers, families, and communities.

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is committed to ensuring that its programs and services are accessible to all individuals, including individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited English proficiency. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any NIFA event, please contact the appropriate Program staff no later than 10 days prior to the event. To find Program staff by event, please visit the NIFA Calendar of Events. NIFA  Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request.

If you need interpretation or translation services, please contact sm.nifa.eeo@usda.gov no later than 10 days prior to the event.

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