U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Grant Opportunities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds research, education, and extension through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its largest competitive program is the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).
Open USDA funding opportunities from Grants.gov are listed below.
USDA / NIFA grant programs
Recurring programs with eligibility, award size, and deadlines. Confirm current details on each official program page.
Open USDA / NIFA funding opportunities
Search all open opportunitiesPosted on Grants.gov and refreshed several times a day, soonest deadline first. Each one opens a page with how to apply.
USDA2 days left
Tribal Colleges Extension Program Special Emphasis
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
USDA-NIFA-SLBCD-012281Closes Nov 2, 2026
USDA2 days left
Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Pre-Applications
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
USDA-NIFA-SCRI-012018Closes Nov 2, 2026
USDA4 days left
1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
USDA-NIFA-CBGP-011698Closes Nov 4, 2026
USDA10 days left
Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
USDA-NIFA-NLGCA-011938Closes Nov 10, 2026
USDA17 days left
Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
USDA-NIFA-SBIR-012221Closes Nov 17, 2026
USDA31 days left
Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives Program (DBI) Fiscal Year 2026
Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA-AMS-TM-DBI-G-26-0011Closes Dec 1, 2026
USDA33 days left
Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
USDA-NIFA-HSI-011903Closes Dec 3, 2026
USDA34 days left
Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program 2026
Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA-AMS-TM-SCMP-G-26-0020Closes Dec 4, 2026
USDA38 days left
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program
Forest Service
USDA-FS-2026-GLRI-CFPCloses Dec 8, 2026
How to apply for USDA / NIFA funding
- Read the request for applications (RFA) for the program and priority area that fits your work.
- Confirm SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations for your institution.
- Submit through Grants.gov by the deadline in the RFA, with the NIFA-specific forms it requires.
Start here
Calculators
Salary & fringe calculatorCalculate requested salary and fringe benefits for every person on a grant, across up to 10 budget years, with annual escalation and an optional NIH salary cap.Grant burn rateCompare the share of a grant spent and encumbered with the share of the award period elapsed, see the average monthly burn, the monthly spend needed to finish on budget, and the projected run-out date.
Forms and submission systems
For any federal award
Guides, templates, and definitions that apply to USDA / NIFA awards and every other federal sponsor.
Proposal submission checklistA pre-submission checklist for research proposals: solicitation review, internal routing, budget, compliance, and sponsor-system steps to hit the deadline cleanly.Direct vs. indirect costsThe difference between direct and indirect costs on research grants, with examples of each, the gray areas like administrative salaries, and how indirect costs are calculated from your F&A rate.De minimis indirect cost rateThe de minimis indirect cost rate explained: the 15% rate under 2 CFR 200.414(f), why NIH awards still use 10%, who is eligible, and how to calculate it on modified total direct costs.Reading your Notice of AwardThe parts of a Notice of Award that determine what you can spend, when, and what needs prior approval, plus the terms that cause disallowed costs if missed.No-cost extensionsWhat a no-cost extension is, NIH and NSF rules for first and subsequent extensions, deadlines, what to include in the justification, and reasons that do not qualify.Grant closeout checklistEverything to submit and reconcile when a federal grant ends: final reports, financials, inventions, subawards, and the 120-day deadlines that can freeze future funding.Grant Budget TemplateA five-year research grant budget in Excel that calculates fringe, the NIH salary cap, the MTDC base, and F&A automatically.Budget Justification TemplateA free budget justification (budget narrative) template for research grants, organized by the federal R&R budget categories, with example language for personnel, fringe, equipment, travel, other direct costs, subawards, and F&A.Grant Letter of Intent TemplateA free grant letter of intent (LOI) template with two versions: the short NIH letter of intent requested in many funding opportunities, and a foundation LOI that pitches the project before a full proposal.Grant Tracking Spreadsheet TemplateA free grant tracking spreadsheet in Excel for proposals, active awards, and deadlines, with burn rate and time-elapsed formulas, days-until-due countdowns, and status flags.F&A & MTDC calculatorBuild the Modified Total Direct Cost base, apply your F&A rate, and see total direct costs, indirect costs, and the full award total, with the usual MTDC exclusions handled.
Frequently asked questions
What is USDA NIFA AFRI?
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, NIFA's flagship competitive grants program for agricultural sciences, covering foundational and applied research, education, and extension.
How are USDA research grants submitted?
Most NIFA competitive grants are submitted through Grants.gov, following the program's request for applications.
Opportunities from other sponsors
Track USDA / NIFA proposals and awards
GrantsManager keeps every deadline, budget, and report in one place for PIs and research administrators.