USDA investing into farmer education

Sep 23, 2015

More than $2 million will be invested

New farmers and farmers who are unsure about the programs and support that the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides, are set to receive a boost from the USDA.

The USDA is investing $2.5 million in grants to educate farmers about the financial, disaster, technical assistance and other services provided by the FSA. The grants will be awarded to institutions focused on improving farmer education in areas including financial training, crop production and property inheritance.

"We want to partner with nonprofits, colleges and universities who share USDA's priority of helping more Americans enter farming as a profession, whether they are new or underserved farmers, returning Service members, minorities, women, and urban producers or those who sell their crops locally," said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden in a release.

The USDA is currently accepting grant applications and will evaluate them on four different occasions:

November 20, 2015
January 22, 2016
March 18, 2016
May 27, 2016

There are a total of 125 grants expected to be awarded and can range from $20,000 to $100,000.

For non-profit organizations and educational parties interested in applying for grants, the Farm Service Agency will hold an online information session on Monday, September 28, 2015, beginning at 1:00pm EST.

Join the conversation and tell us if you’re interested in applying for a grant. How would you go about educating farmers about the FSA? What are some things you would like to see more information on?

Video: 2025 AFSC Women in Ag Winner | The Maverick - Kendra Donnelly

Kendra Donnelly is redefining what it means to be a leader in agriculture. As president of Ki-Era Cattle and Consulting, she has embraced a non-traditional approach to agribusiness, proving that finance, consulting, and sustainability are just as critical to agricultural success as hands-on production. Her work challenging long-standing manure management practices is changing the future of agriculture.

The Maverick challenges conventional norms and disrupts the status quo in the agricultural industry. They are bold leaders who challenge traditional practices and conventional norms within the agriculture or agri-food industry. They are known for taking calculated risks and embracing change to drive progress in the industry.