Available Grant Funds

Extension Risk Management Education Competitive Grants Program Announces Funding Opportunities

The Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) program, in conjunction with the Risk Management Education Centers (see map), announces the availability of grant funds and requests the submission of applications. Awards will fund 18-month projects conducted between April 1, 2027 and September 30, 2028. The grant program offers grant pools to serve educational programs to empower farmers and ranchers with tools to manage their business risks. ERME grant programs:

1. Extension Risk Management Education Competitive Grants Program. The long-term goals for the Extension Risk Management Education Competitive Grants Program are to help producers achieve risk management outcomes that will improve their economic viability. Key objectives are to help producers understand the risks inherent in their operation, the methods and tools available to mitigate these risks, how to effectively use these methods and tools, and how to manage risk by implementing these methods and tools. Funding will be provided for outcomes and outcome-based risk management education projects designed to help producers learn and use tools and approaches that can reduce the adverse effects of the uncertainties of weather, yields, prices, credit, government policies, global markets and other factors, including human resources and legal issues – all of which may result in wide swings in farm income or threaten the economic viability of the farm or ranch. Applications must articulate the primary source(s) of risk faced by their target audience and develop training activities that will help those producers take specific actions that generate measurable outcomes from managing these risks. The maximum award will be $75,000 with a grant duration of 18 months.


2. Risk Management Education for Underutilization of Crop Insurance. The long-term goals for the Risk Management Education for Underutilization of Crop Insurance program are to enhance farm and ranch profitability and economic viability by enabling producers who underutilize crop insurance products or programs to successfully manage one or more of the five primary sources of agricultural risk. Project outcomes may include strategies other than crop insurance; however, the educational focus should align with enhanced understanding and use of crop insurance tools. Examples include recordkeeping, financial literacy, or marketing, as well as risk management strategies to use when a crop insurance program is not available or not applicable. The maximum award will be $100,000 with a grant duration of 18 months.