Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Systems
Status: Forecasted
Posted date: April 28, 2026
Archive date: July 12, 2026
Close date: June 12, 2026
Opportunity ID: 362094
Opportunity number: USDA-NIFA-OP-011738
Opportunity category: Discretionary
Agency name: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Agency code: USDA-NIFA
Award floor: $150,000
Award ceiling: $300,000
Cost sharing required: Yes
Funding Instrument Types
- Grant
Category of Funding Activity
- Agriculture
Eligible Applicants
- Others
Categories (use these for quoted searches)
- agency_code:usda_nifa
- category_of_funding_activity:agriculture
- cost_sharing_or_matching_requirement:true
- eligible_applicants:others
- funding_instrument_type:grant
- opportunity_category:discretionary
- status:forecasted
In FY 2026, under Assistance Listing 10.330, ASAFS will support the development of improved alfalfa seed and forage production systems, practices, and supporting technologies. NIFA is soliciting applications for FY 2026 under the following areas:1. Increasing alfalfa forage and seed yields and forage quality through improved management practices, plant breeding, and other strategies to reduce biotic and abiotic stresses and costs of production.2. Improving alfalfa forage and seed harvest and storage systems, including mechanization and automation that reduces labor costs, to optimize economic returns to alfalfa producers as well as end-users including milk producers.3. Developing methods to estimate alfalfa forage yield and quality to support marketing as a livestock feed and instruments to reduce producer risks.4. Exploring new uses for alfalfa such as fish feeds, nutritive supplements, alternative protein sources for human consumption, high-value chemical manufacturing, or other novel uses.5. Developing improved insect, disease and weed management strategies, including spotted aphid, in alfalfa seed production and potential herbicide carry-over issues.