Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 012079
The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.525. Its core purpose is to build and strengthen a coordinated network that links people working in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related jobs with stress assistance programs. In practice, the program is aimed at improving access to support services by connecting agricultural communities to appropriate resources through organized regional or multi-entity partnerships rather than isolated, single-organization efforts.
Eligibility is limited to specific types of organizations and partnerships. Applicants may be an Indian tribe (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304), a State department of agriculture, a State Cooperative Extension Service, a qualified nonprofit organization (as determined by the Secretary), or another entity providing appropriate services (also as determined by the Secretary) in one or more states. Applications may also be submitted by partnerships made up of two or more of these eligible entity types. A key restriction is that Regional Center applications are only accepted when submitted by a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based network or by a partnership of qualified public and/or private entities. For FRSAN purposes, a network must include at least three separately operated domestic public or private entities (including the applicant) and those entities must have established working histories in the target region. Applications from individuals, or from organizations that are not part of a qualifying network or partnership, are not eligible and will be excluded from review.
The notice emphasizes compliance with all requirements in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Missing eligibility criteria by the application deadline can result in being removed from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award. The opportunity also includes an explicit restriction tied to federal policy: USDA will not accept competitive applications for grants or cooperative agreements that propose dangerous gain-of-function research as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292. Additionally, if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple applications, NIFA will consider only the most recent submission.
Key funding details provided include the opportunity number USDA NIFA OP 012079, an application deadline of 2026-08-10, an award ceiling of $2,145,845, and an expectation of four awards. The opportunity was created on 2026-07-21. Applicants unfamiliar with federal funding are directed to NIFA resources such as "About Grants" to better understand the federal awards process, which signals that the program expects applicants to follow standard federal grant compliance and submission practices.Apply for USDA NIFA OP 012079
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.525.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-10. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,145,845.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) Grant FAQs
What is the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) grant?
FRSAN is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.525. The program is focused on building and strengthening coordinated networks that connect people working in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related jobs with stress assistance programs.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The core purpose is to improve access to stress assistance support services for agricultural communities by creating and strengthening organized, coordinated networks. The emphasis is on regional or multi-entity partnerships that link people to appropriate resources, rather than isolated, single-organization efforts.
Who is this program intended to help?
The program is intended to benefit people working in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related jobs by improving connections to stress assistance programs and related support services through coordinated networks.
Which federal agency is administering this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 10.525.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is USDA NIFA OP 012079.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is 2026-08-10.
When was this opportunity created?
This opportunity was created on 2026-07-21.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $2,145,845.
How many awards are expected?
NIFA expects to make four awards.
Who is eligible to apply as a single applicant?
Eligibility is limited to specific entity types. An applicant may be:
- An Indian tribe (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304)
- A State department of agriculture
- A State Cooperative Extension Service
- A qualified nonprofit organization (as determined by the Secretary)
- Another entity providing appropriate services (as determined by the Secretary) in one or more states
Can partnerships apply?
Yes. Applications may be submitted by partnerships made up of two or more of the eligible entity types listed in the opportunity.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Applications from individuals are not eligible and will be excluded from review.
Are applications from single organizations eligible?
Not if the organization is not part of a qualifying network or partnership. The opportunity states that applications from organizations that are not part of a qualifying network or partnership are not eligible and will be excluded from review.
What is the special eligibility rule for Regional Center applications?
Regional Center applications are only accepted when submitted by a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally based network, or by a partnership of qualified public and/or private entities.
What does NIFA mean by a qualifying "network" for FRSAN purposes?
For FRSAN purposes, a network must include at least three separately operated domestic public or private entities (including the applicant). In addition, those entities must have established working histories in the target region.
How many entities must be included in the network?
At least three separately operated domestic public or private entities must be included, and that count includes the applicant.
Do network partners need to be based in the United States?
The opportunity specifies that the network must include domestic public or private entities.
Do network partners need to have an existing track record together?
Yes. The notice specifies that the entities in the network must have established working histories in the target region.
What happens if an application does not meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?
The notice emphasizes compliance with all requirements in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Missing eligibility criteria by the application deadline can result in the application being removed from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award.
What is the NOFO and why does it matter?
The NOFO is the Notice of Funding Opportunity that contains the official requirements for this grant. The notice emphasizes that applicants must comply with all NOFO requirements, and failure to meet requirements by the deadline may lead to removal from consideration or an inability for NIFA to make an award.
Is there any research-related restriction included in this opportunity?
Yes. USDA will not accept competitive applications for grants or cooperative agreements that propose dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292.
What happens if an applicant submits more than one application?
If an applicant submits duplicate or multiple applications, NIFA will consider only the most recent submission.
Where can first-time federal grant applicants learn more about the process?
Applicants unfamiliar with federal funding are directed to NIFA resources such as "About Grants" to better understand the federal awards process. The opportunity signals that applicants are expected to follow standard federal grant compliance and submission practices.
Does this program prioritize coordinated regional approaches over isolated efforts?
Yes. The program is aimed at improving access to support services through organized regional or multi-entity partnerships, rather than isolated, single-organization efforts.
Is this a discretionary grant opportunity?
Yes. The notice describes FRSAN as a discretionary grant opportunity from USDA NIFA.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
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