Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Competitive Grants Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 10.525
- Agency
-
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
- Grant awards
- 71 $79,707,756 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 12-0502-0-1-352
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is funding collaborative regional networks connecting farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers to stress assistance and mental health services under CFDA 10.525, with the most recent grant awards issued September 30, 2025, and an open solicitation due August 10, 2026.
The program funds establishment and operation of regionally-based stress assistance networks delivering mental health and behavioral health support to agricultural producers and their families. Recent awards fund services including 24/7 crisis hotlines staffed by trained operators; counseling voucher programs providing free or subsidized mental health sessions; mental health first aid and suicide prevention training (QPR, MHFA, SafeTalk); peer support groups and peer-led mentoring; financial counseling and stress management workshops; and outreach campaigns addressing stigma around mental health in farming communities. Geographic targeting emphasizes culturally-tailored approaches for underserved and historically marginalized agricultural populations, including BIPOC farmers, farm workers, beginning farmers, women, and LGBTQ+ farmers. Representative recent awards include the Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Partnership Phase 5 (WRASAP V) for $2.35 million serving 13 western states and four territories through quarterly network meetings, mental health literacy training, and expanded crisis hotlines; the Southern Region Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network for $2.35 million using a hub-and-spoke model across 13 southern states and two territories; and the Iowa Concern Hotline expansion for $54 thousand providing 24/7 phone, email, and chat support to southern agricultural populations.
Seventy-one Project Grants totaling $79.7 million have been awarded since 2019, with all funding provided by NIFA. Recent award distribution shows 4 awards in 2025, 5 in 2024, 4 in 2023, 50 in 2021, and 4 in 2020. Awards typically range from $54 thousand to $2.4 million; the largest multi-year awards to regional coordinators (Northeast, North Central, Southern, Western) are approximately $7.3 million across three to five years. Applicants must be collaborative state, Tribal, local, or regionally-based networks or partnerships of qualified public or private entities, including Indian Tribes, state departments of agriculture, cooperative extension services, and NGOs. Project periods do not exceed five years; indirect costs are capped at 30 percent of total federal funding. A new NOFO posted July 21, 2026, closes August 10, 2026.
Objective and description
- Objective
The purpose of the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) Program is to establish a network that connects individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related occupations to stress assistance programs. The establi
- Description
The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) provides stress assistance programs to individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related occupations on a regional basis.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Applications may only be submitted by a collaborative state; Tribal; local or regionally-based network, or partnership of qualified public and/or private entities, as determined by the Secretary. These collaborations may include the following entities: Indian Tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); state departments of agriculture, state cooperative extension services; and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
- Uses of assistance
Section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. 5936, authorizes NIFA to establish a Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network as follows: to establish a network that connects individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related occupations to stress assistance programs.
- Use restrictions
Section 1462(a) and (c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA) limits indirect costs for the overall award to 30 percent of Total Federal Funds Awarded (TFFA) under a research, education, or extension grant. The maximum indirect cost rate allowed under the award is determined by calculating the amount of indirect costs using: 1) the sum of an institution's negotiated indirect cost rate and the indirect cost rate charged by sub-awardees, if any; or 2) 30 percent of TFFA. The maximum allowable indirect cost rate under the award, including the indirect costs charged by the sub-awardee(s), if any, is the lesser of the two rates. Grant funds may not be used to renovate or refurbish research, education, or extension space; purchase or install fixed equipment in such space; or the plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construction of buildings or facilities.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
In accordance with statutory time limits, project periods, including no-cost extensions of time, are not to exceed 5 years.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
NIFA evaluates each application in a two-part process. First, each application is reviewed to ensure that it meets the administrative requirements set forth in the NOFO. Second, a peer-review process (https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-peer-review-process-competitive-grant-applications) is used to evaluate the scientific and technical merit of applications that have met the administrative requirements. After each peer review panel has completed deliberations, the responsible NIFA program staff will either recommend an application for support from available funds or decline an application due to insufficient funds or unfavorable review.
- Award procedure
Within the limit of funds authorized, the NIFA awarding official will make grants to eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the NOFO. A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA), signed by the Authorized Departmental Officer, will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the recipient's Authorized Representative.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network | Closed |
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 71 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Young Farmers Coalition, Inc. | $15,005,611 | 19% |
| 2 | University Of Illinois | $14,531,113 | 18% |
| 3 | Washington State University | $13,999,892 | 18% |
| 4 | University Of Tennessee | $9,382,204 | 12% |
| 5 | North Carolina State University | $2,352,500 | 3% |
| 6 | Department Of Agriculture Nebraska | $559,606 | 1% |
| 7 | Dept Of Agriculture Montana | $559,606 | 1% |
| 8 | KY Department Of Agriculture | $559,606 | 1% |
| 9 | Illinois Department Of Agriculture | $559,606 | 1% |
| 10 | Texas Department Of Agriculture | $559,605 | 1% |
10 of 57 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$2,120,181 |
| FY2025 | $6,507,491 |
| FY2024 | $7,878,385 |
| FY2023 | $9,443,728 |
| FY2022 | $11,863,340 |
| FY2021 | $34,614,993 |
| FY2020 | $9,600,000 |
| FY2019 | $1,920,000 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 10.525?
Assistance Listing 10.525 is Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Competitive Grants Program, a federal grant program run by National Institute of Food and Agriculture (Department of Agriculture).
What is the CFDA number for Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Competitive Grants Program?
Its CFDA number is 10.525: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 10.525 awarded?
71 grant awards under 10.525 have obligated $79,707,756 in federal funds to 57 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 10.525?
The recipients obligated the most under Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Competitive Grants Program are National Young Farmers Coalition, Inc. ($15,005,611), University Of Illinois ($14,531,113) and Washington State University ($13,999,892).
How much did 10.525 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 10.525 obligated $6,507,491 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 10.525?
No opportunity listed under 10.525 is open now. The latest, Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, was posted on July 21, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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