CFSA maintains this page as a service to our members and others to raise awareness of some USDA -funded grant opportunities that may be relevant to our members. We do not guarantee that the site provides information about all available grants for local, organic growers or processors. For a complete list of grants available from USDA, please visit grants.gov. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition also has a chart that provides a quick guide to Farm Bill related programs and grants, organized by issue and by who is eligible to apply or sign up.
Many of the Farm Bill services that are authorized directly to farmers are administered by local agencies and offices. Please contact your local Farm Services Agency office (NC, SC) or Natural Resource Conservation Service office (NC, SC) to inquire about grants and services available directly to farmers.
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Grant |
Agency |
Eligibility |
Close Date |
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USDA , Farm Service Agency |
Provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occurs due to natural disasters. An eligible producer is a landowner, tenant or sharecropper who shares in the risk of producing an eligible crop and is entitled to an ownership share of that crop. The 2014 Farm Bill specifies that an individual or entity’s average adjusted gross income (AGI) cannot exceed $900,000 to be eligible for NAP payments. Check with your local FSA office for detailed eligibility information and to apply to the program. |
Ongoing |
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USDA, Rural Development |
Funding to support $38.6 million in loans and $9.2 million in grants is currently available. The commitment of program dollars will be made to applicants of selected responses that have fulfilled the necessary requirements for obligation. All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their applications. Please contact your USDA Rural Development State Office to learn more about eligibility and applications. |
Ongoing. 4:30 p.m. on the last business day of each month to be considered for funding in the following month. |
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USDA, Rural Development |
Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDO), including non-profit organizations, Federally recognized tribes, and institutions of higher learning, are eligible to apply. Businesses with 10 or fewer full time employees, and located in an eligible area, are eligible to apply for a loan from the MDO as an ultimate recipient. |
Ongoing. Applicants may apply during a Federal fiscal quarter to be considered for the next quarter’s funding. |
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USDA , Farm Service Agency |
Provides participants who establish long-term, resource-conserving covers with annual rental payments up to 75% of the grazing value of the land. Cost-share assistance also is available for up to 50% of the covers and other practices, such as cross fencing to support rotational grazing or improving pasture cover to benefit pollinators or other wildlife. Participants may still conduct common grazing practices, produce hay, mow, or harvest for seed production, conduct fire rehabilitation, and construct firebreaks and fences. Applications will be scored against published ranking criteria, and approved based on the competiveness of the offer. The ranking period will occur at least once per year and be announced at least 30 days prior to its start. The end of the first ranking period will be Nov. 20, 2015. Contact your local FSA office for more information. |
FSA will accept applications on an ongoing basis beginning Sept. 1, 2015. |
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USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture |
Public food program service providers, tribal organizations, or private nonprofit entities, including gleaners, meeting the following three requirements are eligible to receive a CFP,PP, and T&TA grant: (1) (a) have experience in the area of (i) community food work, particularly concerning small and medium-size farms, including the provision of food to people in low-income communities and the development of new markets in low-income communities for agricultural producers; (ii) job training and business development activities for food-related activities in low-income communities; or (iii) efforts to reduce food insecurity in the community, including food distribution, improving access to services, or coordinating services and programs; (2) demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation; (3) demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, including a plan for dissemination of results; and (4) collaborate with 1 or more local partner organizations to achieve at least 1 hunger-free communities goal. |
11/30/2015 |
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USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture |
For-profit organizations other than small businesses, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education. |
12/16/2015 |