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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 2027 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 12, 2026, 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 2027?

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. Understanding and effectively using farm safety net programs - Federal farm safety net programs are designed to help producers manage risk, reduce the financial impacts of adverse events, and establish a minimum level of economic protection. Recent USDA initiatives that promote a "one farmer, one file" approach and increased coordination among agency programs create opportunities for producers to more effectively access and utilize available risk management resources. Projects are encouraged that provide education on the theory and purpose of risk management programs, including crop insurance, commodity programs, disaster assistance, and conservation incentives. Emphasis should be placed on integrating multiple USDA tools into whole-farm risk management plans that improve long-term economic viability.
2. Tools to mitigate financial stress - Agricultural producers in the Western Region continue to face narrow profit margins, volatile markets, rising production costs, labor challenges, and disruptions in domestic and international supply chains. Farm and ranch businesses requires access to practical decision-making tools that improve financial management and adaptive capacity. Projects are encouraged that help producers understand and calculate their cost of production, evaluate enterprise profitability, assess financial risk exposure, and develop strategies to respond to market disruptions and changing economic conditions. Projects that provide tools, decision aids, and innovative solutions to strengthen business planning, liquidity management, market adaptability, and long-term profitability are strongly encouraged; as well as applying existing tools and technologies developed by partner organizations and/or in collaboration with other western region educators.

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, 2027, and ending no later than September 30, 2028.

What is the Grant Timeline?

Application Deadline: November 12, 2026, by 5:00:59 PM PST

Anticipated Notification of Award Decisions: February 12, 2027

Project Start Date: April 1, 2027

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.