Farm of the Future

Farm of the Future is a competitive grant program that establishes an agricultural test bed and demonstration site. Farm of the Future seeks to launch this rural test bed for precision agriculture, smart automation, and data connectivity and transfer to demonstrate best practices in production agriculture and animal systems that enhance sustainability and farm profitability. The test bed will evaluate smart technologies [autonomous robotics, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), satellites], to provide accessible, data-driven solutions that support resilient agricultural and value-added practices. The Farm of the Future seeks to optimize climate-smart agricultural productivity, environmental health, and natural resources management.

A single competitive grant will be awarded to an institution in the land-grant university system Applications may only be submitted by the following entities:
(A) Land Grant Universities only.

Public and private collaborations are encouraged.

Applications are subjected to a system of peer and merit review in accordance with section 103 of the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613) by a panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the NIFA Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the NOFO. Reviewers will be selected based upon training and experience in relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account the following factors: (a) The level of relevant formal scientific, technical education, or extension experience of the individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant research, education, or extension activities; (b) the need to include as reviewers experts from various

From 30 to 60 days. Contact the National Program Leader (NPL), as indicated per CFDA Section # 152 – Headquarters Office regarding dates for specific deadlines, start and end dates, and range of approval/disapproval time. Information is also available via our website and may be obtained via the Grants.gov website. NIFA’s respective links regarding general information are provided below: http://nifa.usda.gov/ http://www.grants.gov. SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for further specific and pertinent details. The most current NOFO is available via: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/farm-future NOFOs are generally released annually. Hence, the NOFOs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Competitive NOFOs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database.