OARS funding Agriculture

FDA announces the availability of funding and requests applications for Grants to Enhance Food Safety: National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Competitive Grants Program for fiscal year (FY) 2015 to address the needs of small and medium-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers, especially as they relate to the implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).  Projects will help increase their understanding and adoption of established food safety standards, guidance, and protocols. Projects will also facilitate the integration of food safety standards and guidance with a variety of agricultural production systems, encompassing conventional, sustainable, organic, and conservation and environmental practices.

The purpose of the Aquaculture Research program is to support the development of an environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in the U.S. and generate new science-based information and innovation to address industry constraints. Over the long term, results of projects supported by this program may help improve the profitability of the U.S. aquaculture industry, reduce the U.S. trade deficit, increase domestic food security, provide markets for U.S.-produced grain products, increase domestic aquaculture business investment opportunities, and provide more jobs for rural and coastal America. The Aquaculture Research program will fund projects that directly address major constraints to the U.S. aquaculture industry and focus on one or more of the following program priorities: (1) Genetics of commercial aquaculture species. (2) Critical disease issues impacting aquaculture species. (3) Design of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture production systems. (4) Economic research for increasing aquaculture profitability.

Program as authorized under Section 379G of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008u), as amended by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79). the purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to address the continued unmet health needs in the Delta Region, through cooperation among health care professionals, institutions of higher education, research institutions and economic development entities in the Delta Region.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issues Program Announcement No. OSBDC-2018-03 to invite applications from public or private institution of higher education; a land-grant college or university; a college or school of business, engineering, commerce, or agriculture; a community or junior college; a currently operating Women's Business Center under § 29 of the Small Business Act; or a combination of two or more of these entities and must conduct a majority of its operations within, and be physically headquartered in, the State of Louisiana.

The SBIR program, as established by law, is intended to meet the following goals: stimulate technological innovation in the private sector; strengthen the role of small business in meeting Federal research or research and development (R/R&D) needs; increase the commercial application of Federally-supported research results; foster and encourage participation by socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned business concerns in the SBIR program; and improve the return on investment from Federally-funded research for economic and social benefits to the Nation.

Projects are for educating youth and young adults and giving them direct technical experience with the management and control of persistent invasive non-native plants and native habitat restoration techniques. Projects will be within Tumacácori National Historic Park in southern Arizona.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service announces the availability of $3,000,000 in competitive grant funds for the FY 2017 Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG) program, formerly known as the Small Socially-Disadvantaged Producer Grant program, as authorized by section 310B (e)(11) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932 (e)(11)). We are requesting proposals from applicants who will provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups in rural areas. The Agency is encouraging applications that direct grants to projects based in or serving census tracts with poverty rates greater than or equal to 20 percent. This emphasis will support Rural Development's (RD) mission of improving the quality of life for rural Americans and commitment to directing resources to those who most need them. Eligible applicants include Cooperatives, Groups of Cooperatives, and Cooperative Development Centers.

In 2015 the Plant Conservation Alliance released the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration: 2015-2020, for which the BLM was a participant and signatory. Also in 2015, the White House released the National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators. Implementation of these strategies by the BLM includes increasing the availability of genetically and ecologically appropriate native plant seed, and nursery stock for restoration. Within the Mojave Desert Ecoregion over 1 million acres have burned since 2005, severely impacting habitat for the Federally Threatened Mojave desert tortoise. Invasive species infestation have also greatly expanded, in both upland and riparian areas. Genetically and ecologically appropriate native plant materials are needed to combat invasive species and restore native plant habitats on BLM lands, in support of the National Seed Strategy and National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, and in support of desert tortoise habitat restoration and recovery.

BLM will partner with a recipient to implement goals and objectives of the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration in California and, in particular, implement Action Item 2.4.2: quantify ecological and economic costs/benefits of planting native and non-native plants on public lands using the InVEST data and software platform developed by the Natural Capital Project and its network. The recipient will work with BLM to develop appropriate studies, education, and outreach projects that meet the goals and objectives of Seed Strategy Action Item 2.4.2 using the approach outlined in the Natural Capital Project. The recipient must be a Natural Capital Project partner and familiar with the InVEST software. The InVEST software platform contains open source data and modeling tools that allow transparency, repeatability, and adaptability to novel local conditions. InVEST applications are designed to become part of the public record, and with training, BLM or others can continue to apply the tools for future assessment and implementation guidance.

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) expects to fund a competitive cooperative agreement award of approximately $3 million in Fiscal Year 2017 to a qualified applicant to develop, design, promote, conduct, and evaluate a training initiative that will equip State agencies administering CACFP with the knowledge and skills necessary to then effectively train and provide technical assistance on key topics to CACFP operators (including CACFP institutions such as sponsoring organizations and/or independent centers as well as CACFP facilities including child care centers and day care homes). This award is contingent upon the availability of funds. FNS may fund this project, in whole or in part, without further competition, in this or subsequent fiscal years. The training tools, resources, or programs developed under this grant should support the activities of those who administer CACFP and/or improve service delivery that ultimately benefits program participants. Section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766) provides authority to assure the effective and proper administration of the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Under this program, subject to the availability of funds, the Secretary of Agriculture may award competitive grants and cooperative agreements for the support of training programs.

USAID/KEA anticipates awarding a five-year cooperative agreement (CA) whose purpose is to sustainably reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty in Kenya by focusing on (i) inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led growth; (ii) strengthened resilience among people and systems and (iii) a well-nourished population. USAID/KEA's programmatic priorities for achieving this purpose include: Priority area 1: Competitive, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural market systems Priority area 2: Diverse agricultural production and improved productivity Priority area 3: Policy environment for agricultural market systems development Priority area 4: Integration of youth and women into agriculture market systems Priority area 5: Collaborative Action and Learning for Market Systems Change

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of approximately $7 million in competitive grant funds to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through collaborative, multi-state projects that address the following regional or national level specialty crop issues: food safety; plant pests and disease; research; crop-specific common issues; and marketing and promotion. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. States are encouraged to submit projects that bring together multi-state teams of partners to research and develop solutions to practical problems that cross state boundaries and address the needs of specialty crop growers. Applications are due October 24, 2017.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Vermont is looking for eligible applicants to provide assistance with: the organization and function of the East Creek and McKenzie Brook Watersheds Planning Groups (two groups) with the end goal of assisting NRCS and the group with the identification, development and implementation of multiple strategies to increase the implementation of conservation practices on farms within the watershed. Applicants will be responsible for providing overall administration (hiring, supervision and payroll) of staff to provide assistance with the development and implementation of a Watershed Action Plan. Staff hired to provide the identified services will typically be located in the office of the applicant.

Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded in support of plant, animal, and fungi species conservation efforts without discrimination on the basis of region or selected species. Priority will be given to in situ species conservation work, although the fund will consider ex situ projects where the project is demonstrated to be critical to the survival of the species concerned.

One-year grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded for environmental projects situated in Northern California, the Central Valley, and the Sierra Nevada, including the entire California-Oregon Klamath River watershed and the watersheds that arise in the Sierras and terminate in Nevada's terminal lakes. The foundation's definition of Northern California extends from the Oregon border in the north down to and ending at the San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino county lines in the south.

The program features restoration efforts and treatments across multiple jurisdictions and ownership to improve land health. BLM Colorado seeks cooperators to engage in a collaboratve restoration effort on public and private lands and includes the following activities: â¿¢ Land health improvements across a landscape regardless of ownership; â¿¢ Defragmentation of landscapes; â¿¢ Re-establishment of extant species; â¿¢ Re-establishment of natural ecosystem processes; and â¿¢ Consolidating & leveraging funds allows restoration to continue despite budget uncertainties The BLM, along with state and local partners, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other federal land management agencies, share a vision to improve the health of the land and enhance its recreation and natural resource values. The WRFO has a history of working alongside of local land managements, conservation districts, producers and ranchers, conservation organizations, research and educational institutions to further the goals of improved land health. Specific activities will include fostering cooperation and consultation between BLM and its partners for the purposes of monitoring, reclaiming and restoring wildlife habitat, impaired watersheds, and developing range improvements on public, private and state lands.

The objective of this Task Agreement is to support and stimulate work and/or education and training opportunities for young adults through collaborative participation in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve's Division of Maintenance. ARTICLE II - LEGAL AUTHORITY 16 USC 1723 (c), Public Lands Corps, authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with any qualified youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate conservation projects referred to in subsection (d) of section 1723. The Secretary may also authorize appropriate conservation projects and other appropriate projects to be carried out on Federal, State, Local, or private lands as part of disaster prevention or relief efforts in response to and emergency or major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). ARTICLE III - STATEMENT OF WORK The project to be carried out is located at Glacier Bay National Park, as outlined here: * Brushing work along boundary line sections chosen by the NPS. Work will be done to clarify the boundary between State, Private, Native Corporation and National Park lands within the Gustavus Forelands District. Job will require working with chainsaws, axes, brush loppers and other clearing tools; plus pulling and scattering cut slash into the adjoining forest. * Routine trail maintenance, campground maintenance and roadside brushing to roads, trails and grounds chosen by the NPS.

Provide technical and financial assistance via partnerships to identify, protect and restore or improve habitats in priority coastal areas for fish an wildlife. Funds are used for habitat assessments planning, and coastal habitat protection and restoration on public or private lands.

Through the proposed undertaking BLM is seeking collaboration with a partner to eradicate and replace invasive plants, primarily targeting invasive cheatgrass, which threatens public lands within Sweetwater County, Wyoming (Sweetwater County).

The Colorado State Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been working with organizations on native plant projects on public lands for many years. BLM Colorado provides research opportunities by engaging cooperating partners to perform a variety of conservation and land management projects specifically addressing the importance of protecting native plant species on public lands. In particular, the Colorado State Office of the BLM seeks an organization partner for the purpose of conducting conservation and land management projects, to include, but not limited to, the following activities, as part of the BLM's Seeds of Success Program: seed collection activities on public lands located in Colorado; development of native plant materials; conducting studies and research to provide geneticially appropriate seed materials; improving technology for native seed production and ecosystem restoration; and providing hands-on experience to students and the public in the area of monitoring and managing rare plant species. This project will allow the cooperating partner to work alongside of BLM staff to further the understanding and appreciation of the our natural resources. BLM staff will provide mentoring and coaching opportunities for project participants to learn valuable skills in the field of botany and natural resources management.