Grants For Women logo

The Online Guide to Women Grants, Funding, Scholarships, and More!
Home What Are Grants? Opportunities Types of Grants How To Apply News/ Blog

USDA Grants Help Women Farmers and Ranchers

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), released a new program in 2009 called the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). Its purpose is to give grants that will help new farmers and ranchers to be successful. Forty-six percent of those who benefited from this program in 2011 were women.Many people might think of only men when hearing about farmers and ranchers. The truth is that farmers and ranchers include both men and women in all age groups. What they share is the need for resources and training in order to run productive and sustainable farms.

This is where the USDA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program can help. More than $18 million in grants have been set aside for organizations in 24 states to provide education, training and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who have been in the industry for ten years or less. While grants for women or men in this field are not paid directly, women and men benefit from the unique programs offered with the grant money.

From the total $18 million in grants, 25%supports socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers with limited resources, in addition to farm workers interested in beginning a career in farming and ranching.

For more information, sign up here