Deadline: 22-Nov-24
The Environmental Protection Agency has launched the Grants to Enhance Technical Assistance and Outreach to Farmers on Nutrient Management.
Purpose
- The purpose of this RFA is to increase adoption of nutrient management in the WLEB by increasing technical assistance and outreach to farmers.
- For example, grant recipients could hire or support field staff, or recruit other trusted advisors to help farmers develop and implement economically sound nutrient management practices to avoid loss of nutrients in surface or subsurface runoff. This can include newly applied nutrients as well as ways to drawdown phosphorus that has built up in the soil over time from past applications. Key objectives include:
- Improve management of manure or commercial fertilizers to reduce nutrient losses from agricultural livestock and/or cropland operations.
- Prevent new applications that exceed crop needs.
- Reduce phosphorus runoff to local waterways.
- Increase capacity to provide technical assistance and outreach to farmers.
- Engage landowners and farm managers who currently are not participating in conservation and nutrient management certification programs.
Funding Information
- EPA expects to award approximately $4 million for 5-10 grants ranging from $300,000 to $1,000,000
Project Period
- For this RFA, it is EPA’s expectation that the award, including all subawards, will have a total period of performance of up to four years (e.g., March 2025 – March 2029). The expected start date for the award resulting from this RFA is March 1, 2025.
Outcomes
- Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic in nature, must be quantitative, and may not necessarily be achievable within a grant funding period. For example:
- Adoption of nutrient management is widely expanded in the watershed;
- Farmers’ awareness and implementation of field nutrient drawdown practices is increased;
- Nutrient loads from agricultural runoff in the WLEB is reduced;
- Improved water quality in watersheds and ultimately, Lake Erie;
- Increased communication, development of partnerships and peer networks, and trust building with local organizations, community leaders, and agricultural landowners and managers
Outputs
- Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable over the term of the grant funding period. For example:
- Developing a Quality Management Plan or other quality documentation;
- Preparing and submitting award progress reports; and/or
- Outreach and event materials
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Applicants
- Eligible applicants can be a single entity or a lead entity with collaboration through subawards to other eligible applicant(s). Successful applicants may also procure services through contracts with for profit firms or individual consultants.
- Applicant Eligibility:
- qualified non-federal entities eligible to apply for grants include non-federal governmental entities: State agencies; any agency or instrumentality of local government; interstate agencies; and federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations.
- Institutions of Higher Education and non-profit organizations are also eligible to apply.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.