# Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (10.311)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/10-311-beginning-farmer-and-rancher-development-program/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program is run by Department of Agriculture. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $122 million in 274 grants, about $444,440 per award.

## Objectives

The primary goal of BFRDP is to help beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States and its territories enter and/or improve their successes in farming, ranching, and management of nonindustrial private forest lands, through support for projects that provide training, education, outreach and technical assistance to give beginning farmers and ranchers the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make informed decisions for their operations and enhance their sustainability. The term “farmer” is used in the broadest sense and may be interpreted to include agricultural farmers, ranchers, and nonindustrial private forest owners and managers.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $49.1 million | 139 |
| 2022 | $23.4 million | 45 |
| 2023 | $27.4 million | 45 |
| 2024 | $23.1 million | 47 |
| 2025 | -$1.2 million | 1 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Regents of the University of Minnesota | Minnesota | $2.1 million |
| Michigan State University Foundation | Michigan | $1.5 million |
| Texas A&m Agrilife Extension Service | Texas | $1.5 million |
| World Farmers, Inc. | Massachusetts | $1.5 million |
| Kansas State University | Kansas | $1.5 million |
| Renewing the Countryside II | Minnesota | $1.3 million |
| The University of Kentucky Research Foundation | Kentucky | $1.2 million |
| Sierra Harvest | California | $1.2 million |
| Fort Lewis College | Colorado | $1.2 million |
| Somali Bantu Community Association | Maine | $1.1 million |
| SR1 | Mississippi | $1.0 million |
| Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, Inc. | Massachusetts | $950,000 |
| Third Sector New England, Inc. | Massachusetts | $949,923 |
| Southside Community Land Trust | Rhode Island | $949,630 |
| Marbleseed, Inc. | Wisconsin | $949,605 |
| Recirculating Farms Coalition Inc. | Louisiana | $948,945 |
| University of Hawaii | Hawaii | $948,582 |
| Marine and Environmental Research Instutute of Pohnpei, Inc. | Federated States of Micronesia | $947,955 |
| University of Connecticut Health Center | Connecticut | $947,859 |
| Board of Regents of Nevada System of Higher Education | Nevada | $944,364 |