Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 006285
The Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). For fiscal year 2017, the program is designed to fund practical, agriculture-focused work that strengthens the alfalfa and broader forage sector by improving productivity, quality, and marketability while reducing risk for producers. The opportunity is framed as an integrated research and extension program, meaning funded projects are expected to generate usable research results and also translate those results into outreach, education, or technology transfer activities that help farmers, industry stakeholders, and other end users put the work into practice.
The core goals of AFRP center on several priority areas. One major emphasis is increasing forage and seed yields, along with improving forage quality, which directly affects livestock nutrition and farm profitability. Another focus is improving forage and seed harvest and storage systems, targeting the real-world challenges that arise after the crop is grown, such as harvest efficiency, handling losses, preservation of nutritional value, and storage-related quality degradation. The program also supports the development of methods to estimate forage yield and quality, which can help producers make better marketing decisions, negotiate fair pricing, plan feeding programs, and reduce uncertainty and financial risk. In addition, AFRP encourages work that explores new and novel uses for alfalfa, supporting innovation and potentially expanding markets beyond traditional forage uses.
In terms of who can apply, AFRP has a broad eligibility scope but restricts submissions to specific categories of applicants. Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individual applicants who are U.S. citizens or nationals. Applications may also be submitted by groups or partnerships made up of two or more of these eligible entity types, which leaves room for collaborative projects that combine academic research capacity, industry expertise, and extension or outreach reach.
Key administrative details reflect a typical federal competitive grant structure. The funding opportunity title is "Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP)," with the opportunity number USDA NIFA OP 006285. The funding instrument is a grant, the funding activity category is agriculture, and the CFDA number associated with the program is 10.330. The original closing date for applications was May 1, 2017, and the opportunity record shows a maximum award amount (award ceiling) of $250,000. The listing indicates that awards were expected, although the specific number of expected awards is not provided in the source data. The opportunity was created on March 30, 2017, which suggests a relatively short application window between posting and the deadline.
Overall, AFRP is aimed at advancing both the science and the on-the-ground adoption of better alfalfa and forage practices, with funded projects expected to improve yield and quality outcomes, strengthen harvest and storage performance, provide better measurement and estimation tools for marketing and risk management, and stimulate new uses that can diversify and expand the value of alfalfa.Apply for USDA NIFA OP 006285
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.330.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-03-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-05-01. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP)
What is the Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP)?
The Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It supports practical, agriculture-focused work intended to strengthen the alfalfa and broader forage sector.
Which federal agency offers this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Is AFRP a research grant, an extension grant, or both?
AFRP is framed as an integrated research and extension program. Funded projects are expected to produce usable research results and also translate those results into outreach, education, or technology transfer activities so end users can put the work into practice.
What is the main purpose of AFRP funding?
The program is designed to fund practical work that improves productivity, quality, and marketability in the alfalfa and forage sector while reducing risk for producers.
What fiscal year is described in the opportunity information provided?
The information provided describes AFRP for fiscal year 2017.
What are the priority areas AFRP aims to support?
AFRP centers on priority areas that include: increasing forage and seed yields; improving forage quality; improving forage and seed harvest and storage systems; developing methods to estimate forage yield and quality; and exploring new and novel uses for alfalfa.
Does AFRP support projects that increase forage and seed yield?
Yes. A major emphasis of AFRP is increasing forage and seed yields as part of strengthening the sector and improving producer outcomes.
Does AFRP support projects focused on forage quality?
Yes. Improving forage quality is a core focus because it directly affects livestock nutrition and farm profitability.
Does AFRP fund work on harvest and storage improvements?
Yes. AFRP supports efforts to improve forage and seed harvest and storage systems, including addressing practical challenges after the crop is grown such as harvest efficiency, handling losses, nutritional value preservation, and storage-related quality degradation.
Are tools or methods for estimating forage yield and quality eligible topics?
Yes. The program supports development of methods to estimate forage yield and quality, which can help producers make better marketing decisions, negotiate fair pricing, plan feeding programs, and reduce uncertainty and financial risk.
Does AFRP encourage new market or non-traditional uses for alfalfa?
Yes. AFRP encourages work exploring new and novel uses for alfalfa to support innovation and potentially expand markets beyond traditional forage uses.
Who is eligible to apply for AFRP funding?
Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individual applicants who are U.S. citizens or nationals.
Can individuals apply to AFRP?
Yes. Individual applicants may apply if they are U.S. citizens or nationals.
Can private companies apply?
Yes. Private organizations or corporations are listed as eligible applicants.
Can federal agencies and national laboratories apply?
Yes. Federal agencies and national laboratories are included in the eligible applicant categories.
Are partnerships or collaborative applications allowed?
Yes. Applications may be submitted by groups or partnerships made up of two or more eligible entity types, allowing collaborative projects that combine research, industry expertise, and extension or outreach capacity.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is agriculture.
What is the opportunity number for AFRP?
The opportunity number is USDA NIFA OP 006285.
What is the CFDA number associated with AFRP?
The CFDA number associated with the program is 10.330.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity record lists an award ceiling (maximum award amount) of $250,000.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The listing indicates that awards were expected, but the specific number of expected awards is not provided in the information available.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 30, 2017.
What was the closing date for applications?
The original closing date for applications was May 1, 2017.
How does AFRP aim to reduce risk for producers?
Based on the opportunity description, AFRP targets risk reduction by improving productivity and quality, strengthening harvest and storage performance, and supporting better yield and quality estimation methods that can reduce uncertainty in marketing, pricing, and feeding decisions.
Who are the intended end users of AFRP project results?
Funded projects are expected to help farmers, industry stakeholders, and other end users by translating research into outreach, education, or technology transfer activities that support real-world adoption.
What kinds of project outcomes does AFRP emphasize?
AFRP emphasizes outcomes that advance both science and on-the-ground adoption, including improved yield and quality outcomes, improved harvest and storage performance, better measurement and estimation tools, and new uses that diversify and expand the value of alfalfa.
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