The Agriculture Department will sponsor the establishment of a Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center at an 1870 land-grant college or university.

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Harden said Tuesday that USDA, under authority from the 2014 farm bill, will make $400,000 available to establish the center and that applications are due by September 11 at 5 p.m. at www.grants.gov.

“America’s farmers and ranchers are more diverse than ever before and it is critical that our policies and programs reflect that,” Harden said in a news release.

“This center will serve as another tool for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to get the resources they need. It will also assist us in our efforts to help beginning farmers from all walks of life get their start in agriculture.”

According to the 2012 Agricultural Census, 22 percent of all farmers were beginning farmers that year, meaning that one out of every five farmers operated a farm for less than 10 years.

▪ USDA — Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantages Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program