In this Insider, we point to the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program - Request for Applications. We are also pleased to offer certifier training materials in Spanish!

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program: Request for Applications 

USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of USDA has released the 2014 Request for Applications for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). Applications are due June 12.

Organizations can apply to BFRDP for grants to provide education, training, technical assistance and outreach for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and managers of non-industrial private forest land who have been farming or ranching for 10 years or less and those who aim to start. Priority will be given to projects that are partnerships and collaborations led by or including non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, and school-based agricultural educational organizations with expertise in new agricultural producer training and outreach.

Approximately $19.2 million is available for 2014 awards. By law, at least five percent of available funding will be allocated to programs and services for limited-resource and socially-disadvantaged beginning farmers and ranchers and farmworkers. Another five percent of available funding will be for programming and services for military veteran farmers and ranchers.

NIFA is hosting two webinars for interested applicants, on April 30 and May 6 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. The first webinar will focus on general guidelines for the program, while the second webinar will focus on the funding set-aside for projects that serve special audiences: beginning farmers who are military veterans, and those who are socially disadvantaged, limited resource, or farmworkers.

Access Request for Applications and News Release

Training Modules in Spanish -

Modulos de capacitaci�n en espa�ol  

On March 20-21, 2014, over 50 participants from Latin American countries gathered in Costa Rica for the National Organic Program's Spanish language certifier training. The training was well-received, and we are happy to provide the 17 training modules on the NOP website.  These modules were previously presented in English at the NOP's annual certifier training; the English versions are also on the website. 

We value education and technical assistance as tools to protect organic integrity. Later this year, we expect to publish Spanish versions of the USDA organic regulations and the Program Handbook.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) facilitates the competitive and efficient marketing of agricultural products. Through its National Organic Program, AMS facilitates trade and ensures the integrity of organic agricultural products by consistently implementing organic standards and enforcing compliance with the regulations throughout the world. Learn more.

The USDA Organic Insider informs the organic community on a wide range of functions, including regulatory updates, requests for public comments, and USDA programs and services.

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