(a) Standard BFRDP projects. For standard BFRDP projects, competitive grants will be awarded to support programs and services, as appropriate, relating to the following focus areas and activities:
(1) Mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships.
(2) Resources and referral.
(3) Assisting beginning farmers or ranchers in acquiring land from retiring farmers and ranchers.
(4) Innovative farm and ranch transfer strategies.
(5) Entrepreneurship and business training.
(6) Model land leasing contracts.
(7) Financial management training.
(8) Whole farm planning.
(9) New and emerging issues, facing farmers and ranchers, including climate change and changing world markets.
(10) Conservation assistance.
(11) Risk management education.
(12) Diversification and marketing strategies.
(l3) Curriculum development.
(14) Understanding the impact of concentration and globalization.
(15) Basic livestock and crop farming practices, forestry and range management.
(16) Acquisition and management of agricultural credit.
(17) Environmental compliance.
(18) Information processing.
(19) Tax management, including record keeping and tax form preparation.
(20) Basic agricultural law.
(21) Other similar subject areas of use to beginning farmers or ranchers.
NIFA may include additional activities or focus areas that further address the critical needs of beginning farmers and ranchers as defined in this subpart. Some of these activities or focus areas may be identified by stakeholder groups or by NIFA in response to emerging critical needs of the Nation's farmers and ranchers.
(b) Other BFRDP Projects. In addition to the competitive grants made under paragraph (a) of this section, competitive awards (grants or cooperative agreements) will be made:
(1) to establish beginner farmer and rancher educational enhancement projects that develop curricula and conduct educational programs and workshops for beginning farmers or ranchers in diverse geographical areas of the Unites States; and
(2) to establish and maintain an online clearinghouse. [74 FR 45970, Sept. 4, 2009, as amended at 76 FR 35323, June 17, 2011]