Funding Opportunities

Proposals are due by December 30, 2021.
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is accepting proposals from state and local governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and individual farmers for projects that will advance urban food production in the Commonwealth. MDAR’s Urban Agriculture Program seeks proposals that demonstrate strategies for municipalities to increase access to affordable, fresh food for urban residents, address the challenges of small-scale farming in densely populated centers, and create direct markets in low-moderate income neighborhoods. This program will provide grant awards of $5,000 to $50,000 for commercial urban agriculture projects and community projects and $1,000 to $15,000 for community garden/food production projects. Funding will also be available for land acquisition proposals. Matching funds of 25% are required for requests over $15,000.

Applications are due January 24, 2022.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture will award a total of $60,000 in 80:20 cost-share reimbursement for costs of approved practices to prevent wolf-livestock conflicts. Eligible expenses for the grant program include any or all of the following items: Purchase of guard animals; Veterinary costs for guard animals; Installation of wolf-barriers which may include pens, fladry, and fencing; Installation of wolf-deterring lights and alarms; Calving or lambing shelters; and Other measures demonstrated to effectively reduce wolf-livestock conflicts. Eligible producers must live within Minnesota’s wolf range, as designated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, or on property determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture to be affected by wolf-livestock conflicts.

Applications are due by January 21, 2022.
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture is accepting pre-applications for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative from Federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations, foundations, or corporations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, Cooperative Extension Services, individuals, or groups consisting of two or more of these entities. Grants to support research and extension that address key challenges of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture, including conventional and organic food production systems. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas identified online.

Applications must be submitted by January 20, 2022.
Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) awards competitive grants up to $3,000 to working, independent farmers located in the United States who raise beef cattle, bison, broiler chickens, dairy cows, ducks, geese, goats, laying hens, pigs, sheep, and/or turkeys. Grants are available for farmers who are pursuing animal welfare certification, farmers who are already welfare-certified and want to build capacity or maintain certification, or farmers who want to improve or expand pasture for their animals.

Proposals must be submitted by January 13, 2022.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is accepting applications for $551,000 through the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Urban Agriculture Grant. Eligible applicants serve communities within cities with a population over 10,000 or cities with population of at least 5,000 where at least 10% of the population is living at or below 200% of the poverty line or comprised of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Tribal communities are also eligible, regardless of population size. Eligible project expenses include equipment purchases and physical improvements, and dedicated staff/contractor time. Applicants may request a maximum of $50,000 per project, and up to 100% of the total project cost may be covered by the grant.

Applications are due by December 17, 2021.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant H.R. 133 Stimulus Program. The program is in addition to the annual Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, and offers approximately $350,000 in funding. Proposals should focus on the specialty crop industry through leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops, assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops, expanding availability and access to specialty crops, and addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers. Priority consideration will be given to projects that consider resiliency and mitigation of COVID-19 related disruptions. Grant funds may be used to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), COVID-related facility adjustments for worker and product safety, and costs related to vaccination of employees.

Concept proposals are due January 13, 2022.
Washington State Department of Agriculture is accepting proposals for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. WSDA anticipates receiving approximately $4.6 million to award to projects enhancing the competitiveness of Washington’s specialty crops. Grant requests can range from $25,000 to $250,000. Nonprofit organizations; local, state, federal government entities, including tribal governments; public or private colleges and universities; and for-profit organizations are eligible to apply.

Applications are due by January 7, 2022.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection administers a Dairy Processor Grant program to foster innovation, improve profitability, and sustain the long-term viability of Wisconsin’s dairy processing facilities. Eligible applicants must operate a licensed dair​y processing plant engaged in pasteurizing, processing, or manufacturing milk or dairy products. Recipients are chosen through a competitive process. A total grant up to $50,000 is available per dai​ry processor per year. The recipient must provide a match of at least 20% of the grant amount. Grants can be used to hire consultants to address a wide range of business needs, including food safety, staff training, or modernization.

The award is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for application is December 17, 2021.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture has funds available for reimbursement to Kansas specialty crop growers who attend an educational conference outside the state with a primary focus on specialty crops. Qualifying conferences may include sessions about production practices, specialized equipment and technology, pest and disease management, specialty crop marketing practices, or business principles for specialty crop producers. Applicants who apply for the reimbursement will be required to attend the eligible conference between December 2021 and June 2022.

Applications are due by January 10, 2022.
USDA awards competitive Farm to School grants that support planning, developing, and implementing farm to school programs. USDA’s Farm to School grants are an important way to help state, regional, and local organizations as they initiate, expand, and institutionalize farm to school efforts. Schools and school districts, agricultural producers, and nonprofits are among those eligible to apply for a total of $12 million in funding.

Applications are due by January 7, 2022.
USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative is offering financial assistance to organic and transitioning producers and handlers through the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP). This program will provide up to $20 million to help eligible applicants cover expenses paid during the 2020, 2021, and 2022 fiscal years. Eligible expenses include organic certification fees, transitional expenses, soil testing, and educational event registration fees.

Applications will be accepted until December 31, 2021.
Healthy Soils Program (HSP) Demonstration Projects aim to improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs). Funding is available for on-farm demonstration projects that collect data and/or showcase conservation management practices that mitigate GHG emissions and increase soil health, and for creating a platform promoting widespread adoption of conservation management practices throughout the state. Type A projects will demonstrate implementation of conservation management practices, measure field GHGs emissions, and conduct analysis on cost/benefits for adoption of the proposed practice(s) and anticipated barriers. Type B projects will demonstrate implementation of HSP conservation management practices and/or conduct analysis on cost/benefits for adoption of the proposed practice(s) and anticipated barriers.

Applications are due by December 28, 2021.
The Maryland Energy Administration is accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2022 Commercial, Industrial & Agricultural Grant Program. Maryland commercial, industrial, farms, and other agricultural entities can apply for grants for the implementation of energy efficiency improvement projects to their facilities. Funding is available for projects that increase the energy efficiency of electric and non-electric fuel consumption of existing facilities or dedicated spaces within buildings. Renewable energy measures are not eligible for funding under the CI&A Program.

Applications are due by December 20, 2021.
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program is soliciting applications to fund Community Food Projects (CFP) and Planning Projects (PP). The purpose of the CFP is to support the development of projects with a one-time infusion of federal dollars to make such projects self-sustaining. CFPs are designed to create community-based food projects with objectives, activities, and outcomes that are in alignment with this program’s primary goals. The purpose of a Planning Project (PP) is to complete a plan toward the improvement of community food security in keeping with the primary goals of this program. Public food program service providers, tribal organizations, or private nonprofit entities, including gleaners, are eligible to apply for a maximum of $400,000.

Applications are due by December 16, 2021.
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture is accepting applications for the Food Safety Outreach Program. Awardees will develop and implement food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance projects that address the needs of owners and operators of small to mid-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. Grant applications are being solicited directly from those in local communities, including from community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, food hubs, farm cooperatives, extension, and other local groups. A total of $10 million is available.

The first-round cutoff date is December 17, 2021.
In fiscal year 2022, EQIP is offering a new funding category titled Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry. In Indiana, this funding will target soil health improvements to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, and ultimately mitigate the impacts of climate change. Producers interested in EQIP funding should submit a signed application to the local NRCS field office.

The application deadline is December 15, 2021.
North Carolina AgVentures provides grants to North Carolina family farms and community organizations, such as farmer associations and farm co-ops, to develop new and innovative agricultural projects that will increase farm profits. Individual Grants are available for North Carolina family farms who are agriculturally dependent and who have viable ideas for innovative agricultural projects to increase farm profits. Community grants are available for community groups and organizations with project ideas that will directly benefit three or more farms. Farms and community organizations in 46 counties listed online are eligible.

Applications are due November 3, 2021.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is accepting applications from States, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, and water districts; State, regional, or local authorities; and other organizations with water or power delivery authority in the western United States for WaterSMART grants. Applicants would cost share with Reclamation on projects that seek to conserve and use water more efficiently; increase the production of renewable energy; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; enable farmers to make additional on-farm improvements in the future, including improvements that may be eligible for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funding; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the western United States.

The application cutoff date for federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 REAP funds through this program is November 1, 2021.
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for the Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants. Applications for grants or grant and loan combinations of less than $20,000 are being accepted. The REAP program helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and helps meet the nation’s critical energy needs.

Proposals are due by November 3, 2021.
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is accepting applications for Professional + Producer Research and Education Grants. In this program, an agricultural professional and five producers in the Western Region work together to develop a proposal to conduct both research and outreach on a sustainable agriculture topic. Outreach activities may include on-farm/ranch demonstrations, farmer-to-farmer educational activities, and other approaches to assist producer adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Projects may be one to three years in length. Total funds requested cannot exceed $75,000.

Applications are due by October 15, 2021.
Farm of the Future is a competitive grant program that will be implemented by USDA NIFA to establish an agricultural test bed and demonstration site. It seeks to launch this rural test bed for precision agriculture, smart automation, data connectivity and transfer, and to demonstrate best practices in climate-smart agriculture, forestry, and animal production systems that enhance sustainability and farm profitability. The test bed will evaluate digital and smart technologies to provide accessible, data-driven solutions that support resilient agricultural and value-added practices. Land-grant institutions may apply for $3.93 million.

Applications are due by November 1, 2021.
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) is accepting applications for its farmer-rancher grant program. For this grant, a farmer or rancher (lead) and an agricultural professional (technical advisor) work together to develop a project that conducts both research and outreach on a sustainable agriculture topic. The maximum grant is $25,000, or $29,900 for a project with three or more producers. Projects are one to two years in scope.

Applications are due by November 1, 2021.
Organic producers and handlers can now apply for USDA Organic Certification Cost-Share Program funds to assist with the cost of receiving or maintaining organic certification. This program provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certification under the USDA’s National Organic Program. For 2021, OCCSP will reimburse 50% of a certified operation’s allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $500 for each category of certification.

The next review date is October 31, 2021.
NCR-SARE has limited funds available to support conferences and educational events relevant to sustainable agriculture. To qualify, events should occur within six months of the application deadline and specifically serve the 12-state North Central Region (either in entirety, or a substantial portion of the region), or be national events offered within the North Central Region states. Most funding support will be in the $1,000 to $2,000 range per event. Applications are reviewed four times yearly.

Farmers in Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska who are thinking of planting cover crops this fall can access cost-share funds from one of seven private cost-share programs, thanks to cost-share initiatives Practical Farmers of Iowa has launched over the past seven years with supply-chain partners. Cost-share programs are available for both corn and soybeans. There’s no deadline to enroll, and you are eligible to sign up even if you are separately enrolled in a public cost-share program.

Appalachian Grown is expanding its Farmer Relief Fund to provide assistance to farmers with significant loss due to natural disasters and other emergencies. Many farms in the Appalachian Grown region are currently grappling with enormous loss due to sudden and severe flooding from Tropical Storm Fred. An Immediate Needs Grant can provide up to $500 to cover immediate needs and expenses towards cleaning, replanting, repairing, or other costs not covered through insurance or other available programs that will allow the farm to quickly respond or recover. Qualifying farms must be Appalachian Grown certified. Priority will be given to farmers who: 1) face a significant loss due to flooding or other natural disaster; 2) depend on the farm business for more than 50% of their household income; 3) have limited resources or identify as BIPOC; and 4) will use funds to cover costs not eligible through insurance or other available programs.

USDA announced that it is investing up to $50 million in cooperative agreements to support historically underserved farmers and ranchers with climate-smart agriculture and forestry. The Racial Justice and Equity Conservation Cooperative Agreements are available to entities and individuals for two-year projects that expand the delivery of conservation assistance to farmers who are beginning, limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers. Projects should remove barriers to access and reach historically underserved groups through a combination of program outreach and technical assistance in managing natural resources. Entities and individuals who provide outreach assistance to historically underserved groups are eligible.
Applications must be received by October 25, 2021.