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2026 ERME Request for Applications (RFA)

The Southern Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) Center, in conjunction with the North Central, Northeast, and Western Centers announces competitive funding opportunities for educational projects designed to help agricultural producers improve their economic viability through targeted risk management strategies.

Eligibility:

This announcement seeks applications from qualified public and private groups, organizations, and institutions including land grant colleges and universities, Cooperative Extension, other colleges and universities, and other public and private entities with a demonstrated capacity to develop and deliver results/impact-based risk management education projects for agricultural producers and their families. The Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center (SRMEC) serves the following 15 Southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

ERME is soliciting applications under the following program areas:

Risk Management Education Projects

The long-term goals for Risk Management Education projects are to help producers achieve risk management outcomes that will improve their economic viability. Key objectives are to help producers understand the risks inherent in their operation, the methods and tools available to mitigate these risks, how to effectively use these methods and tools, and how to manage risk by implementing these methods and tools. Applications must articulate the primary source(s) of risk faced by their target audience and develop training activities that will help those producers take specific actions that generate measurable outcomes from managing these risks.

The maximum award will be $75,000 with a grant duration of 18 months. Each regional Center anticipates funding 12-15 new grants from this announcement, subject to the availability of funds and the quality of applications received.

Underutilization of Crop Insurance Projects

The long-term goals for Underutilization of Crop Insurance projects are to enhance farm and ranch profitability and economic viability by enabling producers who underutilize crop insurance products or programs to successfully manage one or more of the five primary sources of agricultural risk. Project outcomes may include strategies other than crop insurance; however, the educational focus should align with enhanced understanding and use of crop insurance tools. Examples include recordkeeping, financial literacy, or marketing, as well as risk management strategies to use when a crop insurance program is not available or not applicable. The maximum award will be $100,000 with a grant duration of 18 months. Each regional Center anticipates funding 7-10 new grants from this announcement, subject to the availability of funds and the quality of applications received.

Exploratory Projects

These smaller, simplified projects provide a unique opportunity to initiate ideas and/or explore emerging risk topic areas to better address farmer/rancher risk management education needs. Exploratory projects can be used to organize and host a producer education workshop(s) or conference or be used for development projects that can lead to application for a Risk Management Education or Underutilization of Crop Insurance project in a future year. The maximum award will be $10,000 with a grant duration of 18 months.

How to Apply

  1. RFA: Download and read the 2026 Southern ERME RFA
  2. View the Application Resources which have been developed to help applicants prepare a successful proposal, and which provide a full explanation for every item requested in the application. Applicants are especially encouraged to utilize the Application Tutorial.
  3. Registration Information: If you are already registered in the RVS, skip to step 4. To register, use this link to access the Extension Risk Management Education Results Verification System. Select “Create New Account” and complete the form in order to create a new account. A registration confirmation containing a link back into the system will be sent via email. (If you do not receive the confirmation email within 15 minutes, please check your spam folder.) To complete your registration, visit the enclosed link.
  4. RVS: Login to RVS using your email address and password, which will take you to the “My Projects” page. To begin a new Application, select “Start New Project Application” to see all available funding opportunities. Click the “Southern ERME” tab to see all Southern funding opportunities.
  5. Category: Select the appropriate grant category and click “Apply for this Grant”.
  6. Enter the project information, including: Project Title; Project Director email, Institution Mailing Address, and Financial Contact. You will have the opportunity to edit or update this information once you have created the application.
  7. Complete each section in the Table of Contents on the left sidebar and follow the Instructions accessible on each page of the application via the question mark (?) icon.
  8. Whenever you wish to continue working on your Proposal, return to the Extension Risk Management Education Results Verification System and login. Your active projects will be listed on the “My Projects” page. You may edit your proposal by clicking on the pencil icon.

2026 Award Funding Timeline:

September 15, 2025 – Application Open

November 13, 2025 – Application Deadline

February 14, 2026 – Anticipated Award Notification