Blog

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), through its four regional Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) Centers, is accepting applications for the 2026 Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) Competitive Grants Program.

What is the Extension Risk Management Education Competitive Grants Program?

This initiative supports agricultural producers by funding risk management education projects designed to improve the economic viability of farms and ranches. The program emphasizes equipping producers with tools and strategies for addressing risks related to production, marketing, finances, legal matters, and human resources.

While the four regional ERME centers have released their own, unique Request for Applications (RFA) for these programs, this blog will focus on the RFA released by the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center (Western Center). The Western Center serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. To find out more about RFAs released from the remaining ERME centers, visit this website.

What is the purpose of the program?

The ERME program provides funding for 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 clearly identify what the risk management outcomes will be for producers and how they will improve their economic viability.

Applications must also develop and use measurable outcome verification to evaluate the progress that participating producers make toward achieving the proposed risk management outcomes.

What are the primary risks that projects need to address?

One or more of the following five areas of risk should be addressed through project activities:

1. Production Risk - Any production-related activity or event with a range of possible outcomes which could limit ag producers’ ability to achieve their financial goals is a production risk.
2. Marketing Risk - Marketing is the part of a farm business that transforms production activities into financial success. Marketing risk is any market related activity or event that leads to the variability of prices ag producers receive for their products or pay for production inputs.
3. Financial Risk - Financial risk encompasses those risks that threaten the financial health of the business, including: 1) Capital cost and availability; 2) Ability to meet on-time cash flow needs; 3) Ability to maintain and grow equity; and 4) Ability to absorb short-term financial shocks.
4. Legal Risk - Legal risk involves commitments that have legal implications, such as production activities that fail to take appropriate safety precautions, marketing products which can involve contract laws and human issues dealing with employer/employee rules.
5. Human Risk - Human risk management is the ability to keep all people who are involved in the business safe, satisfied and productive such as: a) Human health and well-being; b) Family and business relationships; c) Employee management; and d) Transition planning.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include any public or private organization that has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other agriculturally related training to producers. This includes, but is not limited to:

• An 1862, 1890, or 1994 land grant institution, or other institutions of higher education, including community colleges, that deliver agricultural education.
• An Indian Tribal community college, an Alaska Native cooperative college, an Indian Tribe, or a national Tribal organization.
• A Hispanic-serving institution of higher education.
• Agricultural organizations, agencies, or other entities.

Individuals are not eligible entities.

What are the application requirements?

Applicants must submit proposals detailing how their projects will address specific risks in agricultural production and how producers will benefit from these risk management tools. Each proposal should include clear risk management outcomes, verification measures, and a logical work plan. Applications must be submitted via the ERME's Results Verification System (RVS) by November 13, 2025, no later than 5:00:59 PM (Pacific Standard Time).

What project activities are eligible for grant funding?

Three types of projects are eligible:

1. Risk Management Education Projects: These projects are to help producers achieve risk management outcomes that will improve their economic viability.
2. Underutilization of Crop Insurance Projects: Applications should 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.
3. Exploratory Projects: Proposals should support innovative projects that address emerging risk topics or ideas, including workshops and development programs.

What are the regional priorities for the Western Center in 2026?

While all proposals will be considered on an equal, competitive basis, the Western Center is particularly interested in encouraging proposals which address the following regional priority areas:

1. Labor - Labor costs are increasing and becoming significantly higher than growth in commodity prices, which threatens profitability and increases financial risk. Western states have higher minimum wages, stricter labor laws and produce a large share of specialty crops that have high labor requirements such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, wine grapes and dairy. Projects addressing innovative labor development strategies, labor retention, and labor regulatory compliance education are encouraged.
2. Disaster Preparedness - Agricultural producers in the Western Region face unique and increasingly frequent disasters that threaten farm viability, rural economies, and food security. Examples include catastrophic wildfires, prolonged drought, flooding, extreme heat, pest and disease outbreaks. The region’s diverse landscapes and agricultural systems require targeted education programs in preparedness and resiliency strategies. This regional priority supports projects that promote education and integration of risk management tools including crop insurance and federal, state and local disaster assistance programs to strengthen producer financial resilience and improve recovery capacity following disasters.
3. Profitability - Many agriculture commodities produced in the Western Region face decreasing sale prices and steep increases in input prices creating challenges to farm and ranch profitability. Sustaining farm economic viability requires innovative strategies that strengthen financial management and decision-making, including the use of crop insurance as a risk management strategy, and implementation of new technologies that lower costs and increase efficiency. Projects in this regional priority will help Western producers sustain profitability, adapt to market pressures, and maintain resilient agricultural operations.
4. Ecological and Environmental Adaptation - Farming and ranching that takes place in sensitive ecosystems or agricultural operations dealing with introduced species, wildlife and feral wildlife can have significant economic and environmental impacts. Projects are encouraged to address this interface with tools for adaptation, including water conservation measures and insurance to mitigate crop and livestock losses. This priority could also be addressed via a seed project in the Exploratory Project category.

What are allowable costs for the program?

Allowable costs include project-specific materials, workshops, educational tools, travel, and personnel costs. The purchase of equipment is not allowed. Indirect costs are capped at 30% of federal funds or the institution's negotiated indirect cost rate.

Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement for this program?

This program does not require matching support, including in-kind services.

What is the funding availability for this program?

The program will award:

• Up to $75,000 for Risk Management Education Projects
• Up to $100,000 for Underutilization of Crop Insurance Projects
• Up to $10,000 for Exploratory Projects

Each project is funded for a maximum of 18 months, beginning April 1, 2026, and ending no later than September 30, 2027.

What is the grant timeline?

Application Deadline: November 13, 2025, by 5:00:59 PM PST

Anticipated Notification of Award Decisions: February 13, 2026

Project Start Date: April 1, 2026

The Western Center ERME Request for Applications (RFA) can be found here. RFAs for the other regions are located on the ERME website.

For more information on these grants or how to apply with Morrison's assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.