Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ARPA 012381
The Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships (ARME) Competitive Grants Program (Assistance Listing/CFDA 10.520) is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) funding opportunity designed to help agricultural producers better understand and use practical tools for managing risk. The core goal is education and outreach: projects funded under ARME are expected to deliver training, resources, and technical assistance that improve producers' ability to anticipate, reduce, and respond to financial and operational uncertainty in farming and ranching.
ARME supports education covering a wide range of risk management strategies. Topics specifically highlighted include the use of futures and options (including agricultural trade options), crop insurance, cash forward contracting, debt reduction approaches, production diversification, and marketing plans and tactics. It also includes broader efforts aimed at reducing risk across farm resources and operations, plus other appropriate strategies that help producers make informed decisions when prices, weather, input costs, interest rates, and markets shift. In practice, competitive proposals are likely to be strongest when they translate these tools into accessible, producer-focused learning that can be applied in day-to-day management rather than staying at a purely conceptual level.
A major emphasis of the program is farm viability, with particular attention to risk management strategies such as farm financial benchmarking, business planning and technical assistance, market assessment, transfer and succession planning, and efforts that increase meaningful crop insurance participation. The authorizing language also directs special focus toward outreach and education for the farmers and ranchers described in Section 133 of the Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1524(a)). Applicants should expect that proposals will be evaluated not just on the quality of educational materials, but on how well the project targets these priority audiences and demonstrates measurable benefits to producer resilience and long-term business viability.
Eligibility is broad, but applicants must be qualified public or private entities as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Eligible applicants include land-grant institutions, Cooperative Extension Services, colleges and universities (including all colleges and universities), federal, state, and local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit private organizations or corporations, as well as other entities that meet the program requirements. While only eligible entities may apply directly, award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible applicants, as long as those partners are needed to carry out the work. Meeting every eligibility requirement by the application deadline matters: missing a criterion can lead to the application being removed from consideration or can prevent NIFA from making an award even if the proposal is reviewed.
The opportunity is a competitive grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) under the agriculture funding activity category, with the opportunity number USDA NIFA ARPA 012381. The application deadline listed is September 21, 2026, and the opportunity anticipates making about 5 awards. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $2,121,750. Applicants should plan their proposed scope, deliverables, staffing, and outreach footprint to fit within that ceiling while still showing a credible path to impact, adoption, and producer participation.
There are also key compliance and submission rules. Duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed; if an applicant submits more than one or submits duplicates, NIFA will disqualify both applications. In addition, USDA will not accept competitive applications for grant or cooperative agreement funding that involve dangerous gain-of-function research as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292. Finally, the NOFO notes that applicants who are new to federal funding are encouraged to use NIFA resources such as "About Grants" to better understand federal award requirements, expectations, and the overall grants process.Apply for USDA NIFA ARPA 012381
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.520.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-21. (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 $2,121,750.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships (ARME) Competitive Grants Program?
The Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships (ARME) Competitive Grants Program (Assistance Listing/CFDA 10.520) is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) funding opportunity that supports education and outreach designed to help agricultural producers better understand and use practical risk management tools in farming and ranching.
What is the main purpose of ARME funding?
The core goal is education and outreach. Funded projects are expected to provide training, resources, and technical assistance that strengthen producers' ability to anticipate, reduce, and respond to financial and operational uncertainty.
What kinds of risk management topics can ARME projects cover?
ARME supports education across a wide range of risk management strategies. Examples specifically highlighted include:
- Futures and options (including agricultural trade options)
- Crop insurance
- Cash forward contracting
- Debt reduction approaches
- Production diversification
- Marketing plans and tactics
- Other strategies that help producers make informed decisions when prices, weather, input costs, interest rates, and markets shift
What types of activities are ARME-funded projects expected to deliver?
Projects funded under ARME are expected to deliver producer-focused training, educational resources, outreach, and technical assistance. Proposals are likely to be stronger when they translate tools into practical learning that producers can apply in day-to-day farm and ranch management (not just conceptual information).
Does ARME emphasize any particular outcomes or priorities?
Yes. A major emphasis is farm viability and producer resilience, with particular attention to strategies such as farm financial benchmarking, business planning and technical assistance, market assessment, transfer and succession planning, and efforts that increase meaningful crop insurance participation.
Are there specific priority audiences called out for ARME outreach and education?
Yes. The authorizing language directs special focus toward outreach and education for farmers and ranchers described in Section 133 of the Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1524(a)). Proposals can be evaluated based on how well they target these priority audiences and demonstrate measurable benefits to resilience and long-term viability.
Who is eligible to apply for ARME grants?
Eligibility is broad, but applicants must be qualified public or private entities as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The eligible applicant types listed include:
- Land-grant institutions
- Cooperative Extension Services
- Colleges and universities (including all colleges and universities)
- Federal, state, and local government agencies
- Nonprofit organizations
- For-profit private organizations or corporations
- Other entities that meet program requirements
Can ineligible organizations participate on a project?
Yes. While only eligible entities may apply directly, award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible applicants, as long as those partners are needed to carry out the work.
How important is it to meet every eligibility requirement by the deadline?
It is critical. The NOFO notes that missing a criterion can result in the application being removed from consideration or can prevent NIFA from making an award even if the proposal is reviewed.
Is this funding opportunity competitive?
Yes. ARME is described as a competitive grant program (Funding Instrument Type: Grant).
What is the opportunity number for this ARME funding?
The opportunity number is USDA NIFA ARPA 012381.
When is the application deadline?
The listed application deadline is September 21, 2026.
How many awards does the opportunity expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making about 5 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $2,121,750.
How should applicants think about project size and scope given the award ceiling?
Applicants are expected to plan the proposed scope, deliverables, staffing, and outreach footprint to fit within the $2,121,750 ceiling while still presenting a credible path to impact, adoption, and producer participation.
Are multiple or duplicate submissions allowed?
No. Duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed. If an applicant submits more than one application or submits duplicates, NIFA will disqualify both applications.
Are there any research or compliance restrictions mentioned for this opportunity?
Yes. USDA will not accept competitive applications for grant or cooperative agreement funding that involve dangerous gain-of-function research as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292.
What is ARME's general focus: research or education?
Based on the program description provided, ARME is centered on education and outreach, including training, resources, and technical assistance that help producers apply risk management tools in practical ways.
What guidance is offered for applicants who are new to federal funding?
The NOFO notes that applicants who are new to federal funding are encouraged to use NIFA resources such as "About Grants" to better understand federal award requirements, expectations, and the overall grants process.
What factors can make an ARME proposal more competitive based on the description?
The description indicates proposals may be evaluated on more than the quality of educational materials alone, including how well the project targets priority audiences (including those identified in Section 133) and how clearly it demonstrates measurable benefits to producer resilience and long-term business viability, along with practical, usable learning outcomes for producers.
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