# USDA NIFA Awards $4M Plant Breeding Grants

On November 10, 2026, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded $4 million across eight Agriculture and Food Research Initiative projects supporting conventional plant breeding and cultivar development. Five universities received awards: Michigan State University, Montana State University, South Dakota State University, the University of California, Davis, and the University of Missouri. Michigan State received two project awards and UC Davis received three. The funding announcement is complete, not an open solicitation, and signals federal support for public breeding research and locally adapted cultivars.

- **Why this matters:** Universities and research organizations can use the awards as an indication of NIFA’s support for conventional breeding and cultivar development when shaping research portfolios and potential collaborations.
- The awards span institutions in Michigan, Montana, South Dakota, California, and Missouri, reflecting geographically distributed public research activity.
- Contractors and research-service providers may find opportunities to support awarded projects through research, testing, or related services; the announcement does not identify a new solicitation or procurement deadline.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Education
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** November 11, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)

### Vendors
- Michigan State University (awardee)
- Montana State University (awardee)
- South Dakota State University (awardee)
- University of California, Davis (awardee)
- University of Missouri (awardee)

### Sources
- [NIFA Awards $4M to Support Conventional Plant Breeding for Cultivar Development | NIFA](https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/award-announcements/nifa-awards-4m-support-conventional-plant-breeding-cultivar) - NIFA