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The USDA NIFA SBIR/STTR program funds small business research in agricultural innovation with ten priority topic areas including precision agriculture, crop monitoring, food safety technology, animal health, plant genomics, sustainable forestry, rural broadband, and agricultural AI applications.
Precision agriculture and crop monitoring consistently represent the largest funded topic cluster, including AI-powered technologies for variable-rate application, crop health assessment via remote sensing or ground-based sensors, automated scouting systems, and yield prediction models.
The FY2026 solicitation targets technologies that improve agricultural productivity, food safety, natural resource management, and rural economic development.
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Search similar grants →According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Open to for-profit small businesses that are at least 51% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens. Research must address USDA priority areas in agriculture, food, and rural development. Phase II awards are restricted to previous Phase I awardees. Proposals evaluated on scientific and technical merit (40%), commercial potential (30%), and qualifications of research team (30%). Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows phase I awards up to $175,000 for 8 months (SBIR) or 12 months (STTR). Phase II awards up to $600,000 for 24 months. Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) available: up to $6,500 in Phase I and up to $50,000 in Phase II. USDA distributes $40-50 million in SBIR funding annually. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Applications for USDA NIFA SBIR Program for AI-Enabled Agricultural Innovation and Precision Farming are due July 15, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
USDA NIFA SBIR Program for AI-Enabled Agricultural Innovation and Precision Farming is funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs (USDA NIFA) is sponsored by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The USDA SBIR and STTR programs offer competitively awarded grants to qualified small businesses for high-quality research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefits.
AFRI Education and Workforce Development: Food and Agricultural Non-formal Education (FANE) is a grant from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supporting non-formal education programs that cultivate interest and skills in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Eligible applicants include universities, community organizations, and nonprofits developing programs such as 4-H, extension education, and hands-on agricultural learning experiences. Grants strengthen the pipeline of future agricultural professionals by engaging youth and adult learners outside traditional classroom settings.
While headlines chase AI and defense money, USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture runs a tight summer competitive cycle — Equipment Grants (June 25), Agricultural Genome to Phenome (June 29), New Beginning for Tribal Students (July 2), and Crop Protection and Pest Management (July 6). Here is how the four programs fit together, who is eligible, and why the land-grant system has a structural edge.
Read articleSecretary Rollins and NIFA opened the FY26 Research Facilities Act Program on June 15 with a four-tier award structure scaling from $100K planning grants to $30M facility complexes. The dollar-for-dollar cash match, the one-project-per-institution rule, and the 32-day application window are reshaping how land-grants will prioritize their long-deferred capital backlog.
Read articleUSDA NIFA's AFRI Strengthening Agricultural Systems program awards up to $10 million for integrated research, education, and extension projects. The letter of intent deadline is February 26, 2026.
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