U. S. Department of Agriculture

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
EQUIP provides technical assistance and cost-sharing or incentive payments to assist livestock and crop producers with conservation and environmental improvements. EQIP activities must follow an EQIP program plan of operations developed with the producer that identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address the resource concerns. Criteria for those concerns are determined at the state level in State Technical Advisory Committees (STAC) and Local Working Groups (LWG). Practices are subject to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions. The local conservation district approves the plan.

Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES)

CSREES Funding Opportunities
CSREES grants mainly target land grant universities. However, many grants are also available for small businesses, governments and other types of institutions. Additionally, many grants require land grant universities to partner with others. The Current Research Information System (CRIS) documents and reports on ongoing and recently completed research projects in agriculture, food and nutrition, and forestry.

Regional IPM Programs
This link provides an overview of the state IPM programs and funds presented at the 4th National IPM Symposium. Each state receives line item funds annually for IPM through their land grant university. Often these funds are diverted to support faculty and technical staff salary and not used directly for IPM projects. For example, the state of Washington receives and $160,000 per year for IPM. With some funding and pressure from EPA, $28,000 became released to support IPM field projects in 2000. To form a collaborative partnership with these programs, get to know the state coordinator in each of your states and determine the status of the IPM grant funds. For more information, see Smith-Lever 3d Funds.

CSREES Integrated Competitive IPM Grants
Funds awarded competitively through Request for Proposals include many programs that include IPM as a component of their focus and combine research, education and extension. Encourage SAI grant applicants to apply for these larger grants or award planning grants to increase their chances competing for these funds. Unless otherwise indicated, only land grants are eligible for these grants but are encouraged to partner with others. Success rates vary from 10 to 25 percent. For example, Region 3 awarded a planning grant to sweet potato researchers and growers that resulted in a $1 million RAMP project. To learn more about these programs, volunteer to sit on a review panel by contacting the CSREES staff person assigned to the program. To search all CSRESS funding opportunities, use the CSREES Custom Funding Opportunities Search.

Crops At Risk (CAR)
This program creates or enhances IPM practices for individual food or fiber crops grown for commercial purposes. It funds integrated multifunctional/multidisciplinary research, education and extension projects for crops with high priority IPM needs as identified by stakeholders. The program has $1.3 million and awards ranging from $39,000 to $450,000. The success rate is 18 percent.

Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program (RAMP)
This program enhances the development and implementation of innovative IPM strategies for multi-crop food and fiber production systems, or production systems on an area wide or landscape basis. The RAMP program will fund long term projects that involve system approaches. The program has $4.1 million and awards ranging from $178,500 to $2 million. The success rate is 14 percent.

Pest Management Alternatives Program (PMAP)
This program supports projects that help farmers respond to the environmental and regulatory issues confronting agriculture. These special grants fund research that provides farmers with replacement technologies for pesticides under consideration for regulatory action by EPA. The grants are open to land grants, non-profits, small businesses and others. The program has $1.4 million and awards ranging from $50,000 to $200,000. The success rate is 25 percent.

Methyl Bromide Transitions Program (MBT)
This program supports the discovery and implementation of practical IPM alternatives for managing soil born pathogens and weeds; post harvest pests; or storage and packing material sanitation affected by the phase-out of methyl bromide. The program has $2.98 million and awards ranging from $100,000 to $583,855. The success rate is 33 percent.

Organic Transitions Program (ORG)
This program funds the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic producers. The program has $1.8 million and awards ranging from $100,000 to $420,000. The success rate is 20 percent. The Request for Applications (due June 10, 2004) also includes the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative which funds research and extension programs that enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards. The program has $2.9 million with no range of awards given.

Biobased Pest Management Grants
This provides information on CSREES programs that support biobased pest management. Many of the programs such as RAMP grants and CAR grants are discussed in more detail in this section.

Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4)
The Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4) program is the principal public effort supporting the registration of crop protection products and biological pest control agents for specialty crops (such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, turf, ornamentals, etc.) and involves the state agricultural experiment stations, CSREES, and the Agricultural Research Service. Since 1963, IR-4 has been granted more than 6,500 food –use clearances. Frequently asked questions about IR-4 are succinctly answered by the University of Idaho’s Pest management Center. Additional information about minor use pesticides can be found at EPA’s New Approaches to Minor Use site.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE)
Competitive grants for sustainable agriculture research and education are awarded by four regional administrative councils and generally range from $30,000 to $200,000. Funds are also awarded to farmers. Successful proposals typically include economic analysis and outreach components. Many SAI specialists help review proposals and sit on regional councils. Collaboration both at the regional level and national level is a good bet.

Small Business Innovation Research: Plant Production and Protection
Panel B deals with biological approaches to improve the efficiency of crop production using innovative methods of biotechnology, including reducing the harmful impact of plant pathogens and insects pests. Program amount not given but awards range from $80,000 to $325,000. Funding success is 13 percent.

National Integrated Water Quality Program
This program improves the quality of surface and groundwater resources through research, education and extension activities. Projects should lead to science-based, decision-making and management practices that improve the quality of water in agricultural and rural watersheds. The program has $10.9 million with awards ranging from $300,000 to $1,950,000. The success rate is 24 percent.

Evaluating the Effects of Conservation Practices on Water Quality within the Biophysical Setting of a Watershed
In this program, CSREES and NRCS seek applications to evaluate the effects of watershed conservation practices, with a focus on understanding how the suite of conservation practices, the timing of these activities, and the spatial distribution influence their effectiveness. The program has $2.7 million and grants can range up to $660,000. This is a new program.

National Water Quality Program
NWQP is supported in part by the Section 406 National Integrated Water Quality Competitive Grants Program. The program shares leadership with representatives from each of the 10 regional EPAs, 1890 and 1994 institutions and the CSREES national program leader for Water Quality. Themes relevant to SAI include nutrient and pesticide management and pollution assessment and prevention. Current areas of emphasis include Regional Coordination, Integrated Projects, Extension Education and National Facilitation.

National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program
The NRI supports research, education and education grants that address key problems of national, regional and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of agriculture. It seeks to advance fundamental science in support of agriculture and coordinate opportunities to build on these discoveries. In FY04, the NRI will accept applications for fundamental research, mission-linked research and integrated research, extension and education projects. Application dates vary by program. Most entities including nonprofits, small businesses and state governments are eligible. The program has $150 million and awards range from $10,000 to $5,000,000. Success rates vary but probably average about 10 percent.

USDA Regional Integrated Pest Management Centers (sponsored by CSREES)

USDA Regional Integrated Pest Management Centers (sponsored by CSREES)
All SAI specialists should become involved with their regional Pest Management Center. These Centers oversee and coordinate activities that support regional IPM efforts including developing an information network, creating crop profiles and pest management strategic plans, reviewing technical documents, identifying IPM priorities for the region, cooperating with state efforts and other federal agencies (i.e. EPA) and establishing advisory committees. USDA is funneling about $1 million to each region, most through competitive grants (see Regional IPM program below). SAI grant applicants should be encouraged to contact their regional IPM centers to make sure their projects fit with regional priorities and to see if other projects underway are relevant to what they propose. SAI project managers should also work directly with the regional IPM centers to explore joint funding and influence priority setting. Forming a collaborative partnership with the regional Pest Management Centers is highly likely.

Regional IPM Competitive Grants Programs
The Regional IPM Competitive Grants Programs support projects that develop individual pest control tactics, integrate individual tactics into an IPM system and develop and implement extension education programs. The specific needs of each region vary. In FY03, each regional center distributed about $600,000 and funded between four to nine projects out of about 75-80 applications. Grants averaged $70,000. One region set aside $100,000 for small grants under $15,000. Another region had a successful matching grant program.

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

Marketing Orders for Fruit and Vegetable Programs
Marketing orders and agreements help stabilize market conditions by allowing farmers to collectively work together to solve marketing problems. Local administrative committees administer the programs for fruits, vegetables and specialty crops. Orders and Agreements may 1) maintain quality; 2) standardize packages and containers; 3) regulate the flow of product; 4) establish reserve pools; and 5) authorize production research (may include IPM), marketing research and development and advertising. To see which programs either authorize research or fund it, see this list of federal marketing orders.

USDA National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

NRCS's Pest Management Standard (595) differs from what is commonly understood as "pest management". The prime function of the pest management component of a conservation plan is to reduce the environmental risk of pest management activities. Learn more about this important distinction by accessing frequently asked questions. It is important to note that planned pest management activities must be screened for potential environmental risks as required by the Pest Management Standard contained in the local Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG), and all identified risks must be mitigated in the overall conservation plan according to quality criteria in the local FOTG. Also note that NRCS uses a three-tiered approach to assess water quality related pesticide risks. They evaluate the potential loss of pesticides to ground and surface waters by modeling pesticide movement, toxicity and crop management techniques under specific weather and soil conditions.

If pesticide application is a component of a funded project, it must undergo a pesticide screening analysis (a pesticide screening analysis typically uses pesticide risk indicators). If the WIN-PST scenario (soil type x a.i. basis) reveals human or aquatic risk concerns (rating of VH or H) then "alternative" pest management or mitigation must be employed for the contract to be valid. The goal is to reduce potential hazards to a low or very low WIN-PST rating. Since conditions vary widely (climate, topography, soils, crop management, distance to water), sets of mitigation techniques that are applicable to specific areas should be developed at the state or area level.

Nutrient and Pest Management considerations are found in NRCS's Pest Management - track and include the Facilitators Guide, powerpoint presentations on implementing pest management, pest management alternatives, mitigation, introduction to WIN-PST and buffers to reduce pesticide loss; the NRCS Pest Management Policy and Pest Management Standard (595) and technical references. Also see pest management policy. The Conservation Tillage Information Center tracks practices approved by Field Office Technical Guides. Although most are password protected, you can view the approved Pest Management practices state by state.
In summary, to leveraging potential with this agency:

• Learn the terminology. USDA NRCS stresses tactics, technical standards, and reducing environmental risks. Biological systems approaches may not be a comfortable fit since past expertise is focused on engineering solutions.

• Encourage projects to use USDA NRCS monitoring criteria if possible. NRCS does not currently monitor for environmental improvements, just if contracted activities have been completed. SAI projects can help show the environmental impacts of Best Management Practices.

• Encourage or request that projects involve NRCS field staff and work with local and state committees to prioritize funding and draft technical standards for IPM practices you feel should be supported.

NRCS Conservation Programs
This link shows a comprehensive listing of NRCS conservation programs providing financial assistance. These funds are for programs that sustain and improve agricultural productivity, provide for safer water supplies and enhance natural resources that support economic development, recreation and other purposes.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
EQUIP provides technical assistance and cost-sharing or incentive payments to assist livestock and crop producers with conservation and environmental improvements. EQIP activities must follow an EQIP program plan of operations developed with the producer that identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address the resource concerns. Criteria for those concerns are determined at the state level in State Technical Advisory Committees (STAC) and Local Working Groups (LWG). Practices are subject to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions. The local conservation district approves the plan.

Conservation Security Program (CSP)
CSP supports ongoing conservation stewardship of agricultural lands by providing assistance to producers to maintain and enhance natural resources. CSP recognizes the contributions of the best land stewards, encourages them to do more, and motivates the rest. CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, and plant and animal life on Tribal and private working lands.

The program is based on conservation accomplishments. To be eligible for funding, producers and their operations must be performing conservation practices at certain levels based on a three-tier structure. For each resource concern, producers are ranked according to the intensity to which they are adopting conservation measures. Pest management intensities may vary from state-to-state. To qualify for payments at the highest level, producers must be addressing all resource concerns at higher intensity levels for the entire operation.

The program was authorized by the most recent Farm Bill, but funding has not been allocated to the levels originally anticipated. At this time, CSP is available in selected priority watersheds only. Producers located within these watersheds are eligible to apply for the program. For more information about the watersheds selected, see the 2004 Conservation Security Program Watersheds.

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. Under CIG, Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds are used to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or non-governmental organizations, Tribes, or individuals. CIG enables NRCS to work with other public and private entities to accelerate technology transfer and adoption of promising technologies and approaches to address some of the Nation's most pressing natural resource concerns. CIG will benefit agricultural producers by providing more options for environmental enhancement and compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations. For this grant, a 50% non-federal match is required which can be perceived as a prohibitive for some applicants.

USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

ARS Opportunities
ARS laboratories are spread across the country and have mandates to work on specific crop production issues. ARS actively looks for opportunities to partner with private sector businesses, other federal agencies, state and local governments, universities, and its customers. These partnerships are designed to augment research programs and expedite research results to the private sector among other activities.

USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA)

Commodity Partnerships for Risk Management Education
Crop Insurance Education in Targeted States
RMA funding is based on USDA regions. This funding can be used by commodity groups for projects to ‘reduce economic risk’ encountered in producing commodities. RMA offers grants under two programs – Commodity Partnerships for Risk Management Education ($3.5 million in FY03) and Crop Insurance Education in Targeted States ($4.25 million in FY03). Partnering opportunities appear remote.

Other USDA Resources

Building Better Rural Places
This publication details federal programs for sustainable agriculture, forestry, conservation and community development. It contains summaries of more than 70 federal grants programs, contact information updated in 2000 and grant-writing tips.