PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
The funding for Rural America (FRA) provides funds for rural development programs and for a competitive grant program to support research, education, and extension activities. CSREES administers the competitive grant program for the research, education, and extension component of the Fund for Rural America. The competitive grant program supports unique, innovative, and high-impact research, education, and extension projects to aid farmers, ranchers, and rural communities to address changes and challenges facing agriculture and rural communities as a result of fundamental reforms to Federal farm programs. The broad range of purposes of these projects are to: increase international competitiveness, efficiency, and farm profitability; reduce economic and health risk; conserve and enhance natural resources; develop new crops, new crop uses, and new agricultural applications of biotechnology; enhance animal agricultural resources; preserve plant and animal germplasm; increase economic opportunities in farming and rural communities; and expand locally- owned, value-added processing. The information provided under this entry applies only to the competitive grant program administered by CSREES for research, education, and extension activities supported by the Fund for Rural America.

 ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. AGRICULTURE;
- Research and Development;
2. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT;
- Rural Community Development;

 WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Farmer/Rancher/Agriculture Producer;
- Rural;

 WHO CAN APPLY:
- Federal;
- Private non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);