Request for Applications
Advancing Markets for Bison Producers through Coordinated Technical Assistance, Production Support, and Market Development
Issued by Partnership between Flower Hill Institute, Mad Agriculture, and the National Bison Association
Funding Provided through USDA Agricultural Marketing Service – Advancing Markets for Producers Program (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-AMS-TM-BPMGP-G-25-0001)
RFA Release: April 1st, 2026
Letter of Intent Submission Deadline: April 1st-April 29th
Application Deadline: May 27th 2026
Award Notification: June 30th 2026
Project Start: TBD (on a case-by-case basis)
Total Program Funding: $3.38M
Award Range: $50,000 – $150,000 per project
Period of performance: Up to 2 years
Funding Priorities
Projects must align with one or more of the following:
1. Production Improvement & Capacity Expansion
Grazing and land management
Herd health and production systems
Infrastructure supporting operational efficiency
2. Business Development & Financial Viability
Enterprise planning and cost structure development
Scaling production and improving profitability
Risk management strategies
3. Market Access & Value Chain Development
Processing and distribution solutions
Market diversification
Buyer relationships and product positioning
4. Community and Industry Advancement
Tribal and community-based food systems
Producer collaboration and network development
Knowledge sharing and industry learning
Strengthening community food systems and local economies
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
Agricultural Businesses or Cooperatives: Businesses or member-owned entities that provide, hold, deliver, transport, offer, or sell agricultural products or services for member benefit as well as the organization or other businesses that they represent.
Producer Networks or Associations: Producer group- or member-owned organizations or businesses that provide, offer, or sell agricultural products or services through a common distribution system for the mutual member benefit as well as organizations or other businesses that assist, represent, or serve producers or producer networks.
Local Governments: Any unit of government within a State, including a county; borough; municipality; city; town; township; parish; local public authority, including any public housing agency under the United States Housing Act of 1937 (50 Stat. 888 (Pub. L. No. 75—412)); special district; school district; intrastate district; council of governments, whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law; and any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-state, regional, or intra-state or local government.
Nonprofit Corporations: Any organization or institution, including nonprofits with State or IRS 501 (c) status and accredited institutions of higher education, where no part of the organization’s or institution’s net earnings insure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
Economic Development Corporations: Organizations whose missions are to improve, maintain, develop, and/or market or promote a specific geographic area.
Tribal Governments: Governing bodies or governmental agencies of any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community (including any native village as defined in Section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 85 Stat. 688 (43 U.S.C. § 1602)) certified by the Secretary of the Interior as eligible for the special programs and services provided through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Federally chartered Tribal organizations: Tribal corporations chartered under Section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (25 U.S.C. § 5124).
All applicants must be based in the 50 States, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Priority will be given to applicants who:
Are actively engaged in bison production or directly supporting producers
Demonstrate readiness to implement proposed activities
Align with the program goals of production growth and market participation
Examples of Eligible Projects
The following are examples of eligible activities (not exhaustive):
Implementation of adaptive grazing systems, including fencing and water infrastructure
Grazing planning and herd management improvements to increase production efficiency
Business planning, financial modeling, and enterprise expansion strategies
Investments in handling facilities or equipment that improve operational capacity
Projects to increase herd size or improve herd health and performance
Development of regionally appropriate production systems and infrastructure
Improving access to processing, aggregation, or distribution channels
Market development, including new buyer relationships or sales channels
Value-added product development using bison meat or byproducts
Tribal and community-based projects supporting local food systems
Participation in producer case studies, demonstration projects, or data collection
Engagement with technical assistance providers to implement operational improvements
Ineligible or Non-Allowable Activities
The following activities are not eligible for funding:
Land acquisition or real estate purchases
Major construction projects not directly tied to production improvements
General operating expenses not directly tied to project activities
Debt repayment or refinancing
Lobbying or political activities
Research projects without a clear, direct benefit to producer operations
Projects that do not demonstrate a clear connection to bison production or market development
Closely review the Request for Applications (RFA)
Application Process
Eligible entities and people will submit an intent to apply letter prior to full application access, these letters of intent will be reviewed by the selection committee and eligible applicants will be interviewed. If selected they will be provided a link to apply through Google Forms.
Open letter of intent submissions will close at 4 weeks from initial announcements.
