USDA Shares Details on First Round Submissions
PORTLAND, Ore., May 31, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds potential partners that the deadline to apply for the second round of funding through the new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities is Friday, June 10, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. This funding pool includes proposals from $250,000 to $4,999,999 that emphasize the enrollment of small and/or underserved producers, and/or monitoring, reporting and verification activities developed at minority-serving institutions.
“From the very beginning, we have ensured that this effort is inclusive of a broad cross section of agriculture. In this funding pool, we’re especially looking for innovative approaches that expand markets for small and historically underserved producers” said Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie. “We’re excited to see the many innovative projects designed to build new opportunities for these producers. The sheer numbers of applications we’ve already received is a testament to the high interest in this opportunity.”
Information on how to apply, frequently asked questions, and additional information, including resources to support your application are available on the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities webpage on usda.gov.
USDA is committed to equity in program delivery and is specifically seeking proposals from entities serving all types of producers, including small or historically underserved producers. Providing sufficient incentives to encourage producer participation and generating both verifiable greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration benefits are critical to project success and will be considered in the evaluation criteria.
First Funding Pool Submissions
The first round closed on May 6 and included over 450 proposals ranging from $5 million to $100 million each. The applications came from over 350 groups and covered every state in the nation, as well as tribal lands, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, which demonstrates the tremendous geographic scope of this need. Over the last few weeks, USDA conducted an initial review of the applications for completeness.
Proposals received that request more than $18 billion and offer to match more than $8 billion in nonfederal dollars will now be ranked against the technical criteria in the funding opportunity. Awards for the first round of funding are anticipated later this summer.
Some common commodities covered in the proposals include beef, dairy, corn, soybeans, timber and forests, hemp, and rice. A variety of other crops and livestock are also represented, including wheat, barley, rye, oats, grass forage crops and other grains; pork, poultry, bison, alpacas and other livestock; cotton; peanuts, almonds and other nuts; aquaculture; sugar beets, potatoes, dry beans, dry peas, blueberries, citrus and other fruits, vegetables and specialty crops.
More Information
Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is engaged in a whole-of-government effort to combat the climate crisis and conserve and protect our Nation’s lands, biodiversity and natural resources including our soil, air and water. Through conservation practices and partnerships, USDA aims to enhance economic growth and create new streams of income for farmers, ranchers, producers and private foresters. Successfully meeting these challenges will require USDA and our agencies to pursue a coordinated approach alongside USDA stakeholders, including State, local and Tribal governments.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.