Conservation Partners grants open

[from Philanthropy News Digest] Conservation Partners, a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and other regional/initiative specific partners, provides grants on a competitive basis to organizations working with NRCS field offices to provide technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other private landowners to optimize wildlife habitat conservation on private lands.

Conservation Partners aims to better focus and increase the effectiveness of Farm Bill assistance funded through programs such as the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Reserve Program, and others. In addition, C P will consider funding capacity and outreach for organizations whose mission matches the goals of the program. Priority will be given to proposals that target species and ecosystems of shared interest between NFWF and NRCS, including but not limited to the following areas: Northeast forests, Upper Mississippi River basin, Gulf of Mexico, and prairie pothole.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c) organizations, educational institutions, tribal governments, and state or local units of governments (e.g., state conservation agencies, counties, townships, cities, conservation districts, utility districts, drainage districts, and others). Individuals, federal government agencies, and for-profit firms are not eligible for grants under this program. Project proposals must include a letter of commitment from the respective NRCS state conservationist(s).

Typical grant awards will range from $50,000 to $250,000. Each program priority area is expected to receive between $500,000 and $1,000,000.

A webinar to discuss the goals of the program and the application process will be held on February 23, 2012.

The complete Request for Proposals, map of priority project areas, and webinar details are available at the NFWF Web site. Link to Complete RFP

Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)

The OREI seeks to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research and extension activities. The purpose of this program is to fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. The OREI is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole farm planning. Projects should plan to deliver applied production information to producers. Fieldwork must be done on certified organic land or on land in transition to organic certification, as appropriate to project goals and objectives. Refer to the USDA National Organic Program (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop) for organic production standards. Who Is Eligible to Apply 1862 Land-Grant Institutions 1890 Land-Grant Institutions 1994 Land-Grant Institutions For-profit Organizations Other Than Small Businesses Individuals Other or Additional Information (See below) Private Institutions of Higher Ed State Agricultural Experiment Stations State Controlled Institutions of Higher Ed More Information on Eligibility The following entities are eligible: 1. State agricultural experiment stations; 2. colleges and universities; 3. university research foundations; 4. other research institutions and organizations; 5. Federal agencies; 6. national laboratories; 7. private organizations or corporations; 8. individuals who are United States citizens or nationals; or 9. any group consisting of 2 or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (1) through (8). Request for Application (RFA) | Apply: Electronic | Abstracts of Funded Projects

Solicitation Date (Opening) January 17, 2012 Letter of Intent Due Date None Due Date (Closing) March 9, 2012 Estimated Total Program Funding $19,000,000.00 Range of Awards $0.00 to $2,000,000.00 Percent of Applications Funded Last Fiscal Year 24% Cost Sharing Requirements See RFA For More Information Contact Steven I. Smith Funding Opportunity Number USDA-NIFA-ICGP-003649 CFDA Number 10.307 Contact for Electronic Access Problems webcomments@nifa.usda.gov

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill

Description

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of approximately $55 million in grant funds, less USDA administrative costs, to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture). State departments of agriculture interested in obtaining grant program funds are invited to submit applications to USDA. State departments of agriculture, meaning agencies, commissions, or departments of a State government responsible for agriculture within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to apply. Please contact your local State department of agriculture if you are not eligible to apply. State departments of agriculture are encouraged to conduct outreach regarding the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill to specialty crop stakeholders, socially disadvantaged, and beginning farmers and conduct a competitive grant proposal process. State department of agriculture contacts can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp. Select “State Contact” from the right navigation bar. Applications from State departments of agriculture must be submitted by July 11, 2012. For more information, please review the Notice of Funds Availability at www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-08/pdf/2012-2849.pdf.