Cochran Fellowship Program FY2026
🏛 Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for colleges and universities in the United States that engage in agricultural research and education. Eligible applicants include state cooperative institutions and other colleges and universities as defined by federal statute. All applicants must maintain active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) before the deadline. The program supports applied research, extension, and education partnerships between U.S. researchers and counterparts from emerging market economies.
The fellowship program aims to increase American agricultural exports by building international research collaborations. Funded projects focus on applied research and extension education across agriculture sectors. Award amounts are approximately $150,000 per project.
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Program description
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Fellowship Programs, announces this funding opportunity to support the Cochran Fellowship Program by issuing a new award. This opportunity is available to State cooperative institutions or other colleges and universities in the United States, as defined at 7 U.S.C. § 3103. This program is intended to support applied research, extension, and education collaborations between U.S. researchers and their foreign counterparts from selected emerging market economies.
Benefits to the United States:
• This program makes America more prosperous by increasing American agricultural exports to new or expanded overseas markets.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative and justification
- Budget and budget narrative
- Letters of support from international partners
- Proof of SAM.gov registration (or registration number)
Program contact
- 👤 Kendra Arrington Grantor
- 📧 Desiree.Lawrence@usda.gov
- 📞 202-690-5503
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 10.962 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$599,214
-
$37,867
-
$0
-
$0
-
$-6,753
-
$-31,000
-
$-40,906
Top States by Funding
- WI 1 awards $0.6M
- MS 1 awards $0.0M
- OR 1 awards $0.0M
- TX 1 awards $0.0M
- MI 1 awards $0.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.962). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $2,345,978 | |
| 2026 est. | $2,000,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the Cochran Fellowship Program?
State cooperative institutions and colleges/universities in the United States are eligible. Your organization must have active SAM.gov registration before the deadline. Inactive or expired SAM registrations result in automatic ineligibility.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is August 14, 2026. This is a fixed deadline with no rolling acceptance. Plan to submit well before this date to avoid technical issues.
What activities does this grant support?
The program funds applied research, extension work, and education collaborations between U.S. researchers and colleagues from emerging market economies. Projects should strengthen agricultural trade and exports.
How competitive is this grant?
With a $1.05 million pool and approximately $150,000 awards per project, roughly 7 projects are funded nationally. Competition is significant. Strong international partnerships and export potential improve competitiveness.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing or matching funds are required. The grant covers eligible project costs without requiring institutional contribution.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start SAM.gov registration at least 4-6 weeks before the deadline. SAM issues take time to resolve and ineligible registrations disqualify applications automatically.
- Build your international partnership before writing the proposal. The Foreign Agricultural Service prioritizes projects with established relationships and clear export opportunities.
- Focus on emerging market economies. Explain specifically how your collaboration opens new agricultural export markets for U.S. products.
- Show institutional commitment. Include letters of support from department chairs and international partners demonstrating serious engagement.
- Highlight applied outcomes. The program funds practical research and education that lead to tangible trade benefits, not purely theoretical work.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Waiting until the last week to register in SAM.gov or submitting with an inactive registration—automatic disqualification. Not clearly articulating how your project increases U.S. agricultural exports to new markets. Proposing partnerships with countries outside the emerging market economy focus areas.
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