USDA's $140M Agricultural Research Competition Closes March 26
March 4, 2026 · 2 min read
Jared Klein
The clock is running on one of the largest agricultural research competitions of 2026. USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has $140 million available through its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Strengthening Agricultural Systems program, with full applications due March 26.
Two Tracks, Different Scales
The main SAS track will award 10-12 grants ranging from $2.5 million to $10 million for projects lasting up to 60 months. Proposals must be Integrated Projects combining research, education, and extension components across three sub-priorities: developing new uses and markets for agricultural and forestry products, creating solutions to plant and animal pests and diseases, and combating food and diet-related chronic diseases.
A newer AI for K-12 track offers six grants of $1–2 million each for integrating artificial intelligence into agricultural education. This track requires addressing at least four of seven priorities, including developing AI-literate agriculturalists, adapting classroom AI tools, and training educators. Its deadline extends to April 23.
Who Can Apply — and What's Required
Eligibility is limited to colleges and universities, 1994 Land-grant Institutions, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. Matching funds are only required for commodity-specific, non-national applied research projects — most proposals with national scope carry no cost-share requirement.
Letters of intent were due February 26, but full applications on Grants.gov remain open through March 26. NIFA expects to make awards by September 2026.
Why the AI Track Deserves Attention
The AI for K-12 track reflects USDA's growing interest in agricultural AI workforce development. Proposals that demonstrate measurable impact on education outcomes — particularly at institutions serving underrepresented communities — stand to compete in a less crowded field than the main SAS track.
With $140 million on the table and three weeks remaining, researchers building applications can use tools like Granted to surface complementary funding opportunities across agencies and track federal deadlines in real time.