CFPs: Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants Program (US)

Deadline: 21-Sep-2026

The Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants Program (ARME) provides competitive funding for organizations that develop and deliver education and outreach to help U.S. agricultural producers manage financial, production, marketing, and other farm-related risks. The program has an estimated $9.05 million in total funding, with individual awards ranging from $565,800 to $2,121,750. What Is the Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Program? The Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants Program (ARME) is a U.S. agricultural education and outreach funding programme administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The programme was established under Section 133 of the Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 to strengthen producers’ ability to understand and apply effective agricultural risk management strategies. ARME supports projects that provide practical education, technical assistance, and outreach to agricultural producers so they can make better-informed decisions and improve the long-term viability of their farms and businesses. Why Does the ARME Program Matter? Agricultural producers face a wide range of risks, including changing markets, weather conditions, production challenges, financial pressures, and uncertainty in agricultural trade. ARME addresses these challenges by supporting education on multiple risk management tools rather than focusing on a single type of risk. Projects should provide useful information and practical support that agricultural producers can apply to their own operations. Farm Viability and Financial Risk Management A key emphasis of ARME is strengthening farm viability. Farm viability refers to the ability of an agricultural operation to remain financially sustainable and continue operating over the long term. Projects can address this through activities such as: Financial benchmarking. Business planning. Financial risk education. Market analysis. Technical assistance. Succession planning. Enterprise diversification. Insurance education. These activities can help producers understand their financial position and make informed decisions about future investments, production, marketing, and risk. Who Is Eligible? ARME is open to a broad range of qualified public and private entities.

Potential eligible applicants include:

Land-grant institutions. Cooperative Extension Services. Colleges and universities. Federal agencies. State agencies. Local agencies. Nonprofit organizations. For-profit private organizations. Private corporations. Other qualified entities meeting the programme requirements. Applicants must satisfy all applicable eligibility requirements by the application deadline. Can Eligible Applicants Work With Other Organizations? Yes. Award recipients may subcontract with organizations that are not independently eligible to apply when their participation is necessary to conduct the proposed project. This allows funded projects to bring together different types of expertise and delivery partners where appropriate. For example, an eligible university or Extension organization could potentially work with specialized organizations to provide producer training, technical assistance, or outreach. How Much Funding Is Available? The ARME programme has an estimated total funding pool of $9,052,800. Individual awards are expected to range from:

Minimum award: $565,800

Maximum award: $2,121,750

The size of the requested budget should be appropriate to the proposed project, activities, scope, and expected producer impact. How to Apply Applicants should develop proposals that clearly demonstrate how their project will improve agricultural producers’ understanding and use of risk management strategies.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Determine whether your organization qualifies under the ARME applicant requirements.

Step 2: Identify a Producer Risk Management Need

Clearly define the risk management problem facing the agricultural producers the project will serve.

Potential areas include:

Financial risk. Market uncertainty. Production risk. Insurance participation. Debt management. Succession planning. Diversification. Marketing.

Step 3: Develop an Education and Outreach Strategy

Explain how the project will provide producers with practical knowledge and tools. Proposals should explain what producers will learn or change as a result of the project. Useful outcomes may include increased knowledge of risk management tools, improved financial planning, greater use of crop insurance, stronger marketing practices, or improved business planning.

Step 5: Establish Partnerships

Where appropriate, applicants can identify organizations that will contribute specialized expertise or implementation capacity. Subcontracting may be used where permitted and necessary for successful project delivery.

Step 6: Prepare the Budget

Develop a realistic budget that corresponds directly to the proposed activities and expected outcomes. The requested amount should be justified by the project’s scale and producer reach.

Step 7: Submit Before the Deadline

Complete the application and ensure all eligibility and submission requirements are satisfied by the stated deadline. What Makes a Strong ARME Proposal? A competitive application should clearly connect the agricultural risk being addressed with the education and outreach activities proposed.

Strong proposals should demonstrate:

A clearly defined producer need. Practical risk management education. Strong technical expertise. Effective outreach strategies. Measurable producer outcomes. Appropriate partnerships. A realistic implementation plan. A justified and cost-effective budget. Long-term benefits for farm viability. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Failing to demonstrate a clear producer risk management need. Focusing on general agricultural education without a strong risk management component. Listing activities w