The deadline for partners to apply for the first round of funding through the new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities is Friday, May 6, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. This funding pool includes large-scale proposals from $5 million to $100 million that emphasize the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production, and include direct, meaningful benefits to a representative cross-section of production agriculture, including small and/or historically underserved producers.
“Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity. These pilot projects will create and expand market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices,” said Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Acting State Conservationist, Eric Allness in Wisconsin. “We want a broad array of agriculture and forestry producers and landowners to see themselves in this effort.”
Applicants with proposals from $250,000 to $4,999,999 have until 11:59 Eastern Time on Friday, June 10, 2022, to apply for the second funding pool. These innovative pilot projects should place an emphasis on the enrollment of small and/or underserved producers, and/or monitoring, reporting and verification activities developed at minority-serving institutions.
For the purposes of this funding opportunity, a climate-smart commodity is defined as an agricultural commodity that is produced using agricultural (farming, ranching or forestry) practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon. Funding will be provided to partners through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation.
How to Apply
The primary applicant must be an entity, not an individual. A range of public and private entities may apply, including:
- County, city or township governments
- Special district governments
- State governments
- Small businesses
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Native American Tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American Tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized Tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) (other than institutions of higher education)
- Private institutions of higher education, or
- Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education.
Frequently asked questions are available on the website to help answer questions.
USDA is committed to equity in program delivery and is specifically seeking proposals from entities serving all types of producers, including small or historically underserved producers. Providing sufficient incentives to encourage producer participation and generating both verifiable greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration benefits are critical to project success and will be considered in the evaluation criteria.
More Information
USDA published a Request for Information 
in September 2021 seeking public comment and input on design of this new initiative and used the nearly 400 comments received to inform this funding opportunity.
Visit usda.gov for additional information, including details on Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities and resources to support your application.
