Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 006532
The Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) to support research that strengthens alfalfa and forage production, profitability, and market opportunities. For FY 2018, the program is focused on practical, outcomes-driven work that helps producers and the broader forage supply chain by improving both the biological performance of forage crops and the systems used to harvest, store, evaluate, and market them. The funding opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.330 and was released under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA OP 006532.
The scope of AFRP emphasizes several core research themes. One major priority is increasing forage yields and improving quality, which can include efforts related to genetics, agronomy, pest and disease management, soil and water practices, and other strategies that raise productivity while maintaining or enhancing nutritional value. Another priority is improving harvest and storage systems, recognizing that forage quality can be lost quickly through poor timing, handling, drying, fermentation, or storage conditions. The program also calls for the development of methods to estimate forage yield and quality, which can support more accurate marketing, better pricing transparency, and reduced risk for producers and buyers by improving decision-making before and after harvest. In addition, AFRP encourages exploration of new and novel uses for alfalfa, which can broaden demand beyond traditional feed markets and create additional revenue pathways. Finally, it supports life cycle analysis work aimed at understanding environmental and economic impacts from field to market, helping identify efficiencies and strengthen sustainability claims and market access.
Eligibility is broad but still limited to specific applicant types. Applications may be submitted by state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individuals who are U.S. citizens or nationals. The opportunity also allows applications from collaborative groups consisting of two or more of these eligible entities, making it suitable for multi-institution research teams that combine expertise in plant science, engineering, economics, and supply chain or environmental assessment.
For FY 2018, the application deadline (original closing date) was April 18, 2018. The award ceiling listed for the program is $300,000 per award. The opportunity was created on February 21, 2018, and it is administered as a grant through USDA NIFA under the agriculture funding activity category.Apply for USDA NIFA OP 006532
- 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 2018-02-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-04-18. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP) - FAQs
What is the Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP)?
The Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It supports research intended to strengthen alfalfa and forage production, profitability, and market opportunities.
Which federal agency administers AFRP?
AFRP is administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA).
Is AFRP a discretionary grant program?
Yes. AFRP is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.330.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for AFRP (FY 2018)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA OP 006532.
What fiscal year does the information provided apply to?
The information provided describes the program focus and application details for FY 2018.
What is the main focus of AFRP for FY 2018?
For FY 2018, AFRP focuses on practical, outcomes-driven research designed to help producers and the broader forage supply chain. The emphasis includes improving biological performance of forage crops and improving systems used to harvest, store, evaluate, and market them.
What research topics are emphasized under AFRP?
AFRP emphasizes several core research themes: increasing forage yields and improving quality; improving harvest and storage systems; developing methods to estimate forage yield and quality; exploring new and novel uses for alfalfa; and conducting life cycle analysis to understand environmental and economic impacts from field to market.
Does AFRP support research to increase forage yield and quality?
Yes. A major AFRP priority is increasing forage yields and improving quality, including work related to genetics, agronomy, pest and disease management, soil and water practices, and other strategies to raise productivity while maintaining or enhancing nutritional value.
Does AFRP fund pest and disease management research?
Yes. Pest and disease management is specifically listed as an example area within the priority of increasing forage yields and improving quality.
Are soil and water practices within AFRP scope?
Yes. Soil and water practices are included among the example strategies for increasing forage yields and improving quality.
Does AFRP fund research on harvest and storage improvements?
Yes. Another AFRP priority is improving harvest and storage systems, based on the recognition that forage quality can be lost quickly due to issues such as poor timing, handling, drying, fermentation, or storage conditions.
Why does AFRP emphasize harvest and storage systems?
The program notes that forage quality can be lost quickly if harvest timing, handling, drying, fermentation, or storage conditions are not managed well, so it encourages research that improves these systems.
Does AFRP support tools or methods to estimate forage yield and quality?
Yes. AFRP calls for development of methods to estimate forage yield and quality to support more accurate marketing, improved pricing transparency, and reduced risk for producers and buyers by improving decision-making before and after harvest.
How can yield and quality estimation methods help the forage market?
According to the opportunity description, improved estimation methods can enable more accurate marketing, better pricing transparency, and reduced risk for producers and buyers by improving decisions before and after harvest.
Does AFRP encourage research into new uses for alfalfa?
Yes. AFRP encourages exploration of new and novel uses for alfalfa to broaden demand beyond traditional feed markets and create additional revenue pathways.
Does AFRP support life cycle analysis work?
Yes. AFRP supports life cycle analysis aimed at understanding environmental and economic impacts from field to market, helping identify efficiencies and strengthen sustainability claims and market access.
Who is eligible to apply for AFRP?
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 individuals who are U.S. citizens or nationals.
Can private organizations or corporations apply?
Yes. Private organizations or corporations are listed among eligible applicant types.
Can individuals apply, and are there citizenship requirements?
Yes, individuals may apply if they are U.S. citizens or nationals.
Are collaborative or multi-institution applications allowed?
Yes. The opportunity allows applications from collaborative groups consisting of two or more eligible entities.
What kinds of teams does AFRP appear designed to support?
Based on the description, AFRP can fit multi-institution research teams that combine expertise in areas such as plant science, engineering, economics, supply chain topics, or environmental assessment (life cycle analysis).
What was the application deadline for FY 2018?
The original closing date for FY 2018 applications was April 18, 2018.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on February 21, 2018.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for the program is $300,000 per award.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The opportunity is administered as a grant through USDA NIFA.
What funding activity category is associated with AFRP?
The program is administered under the agriculture funding activity category.
What outcomes is AFRP trying to achieve?
AFRP aims to strengthen alfalfa and forage production, profitability, and market opportunities by supporting practical research that improves crop biological performance and improves systems for harvesting, storing, evaluating, and marketing forage.
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