Michael Fields Grants Advising is a free service available to farmers, farmer organizations and institutions in the Upper Midwest region of the United States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin. Our grants advisors are available to help identify appropriate grant programs to fit the client’s proposed project, clarify the goals and scope of the project, and review the client’s grant proposal.

The advisors also send out periodic email announcements about state and federal grant programs that may be of interest to farmers and farmer organizations in the target region. To sign up for the email list please email Martin Bailkey, grants@michaelfields.org

The Michael Fields Grants Advising service is jointly funded by the McKnight Foundation, the Wisconsin Farmers Union, and the North Central region of USDA-SARE.

Below is a list of the grant programs and sources of general support we most frequently recommend to clients. If any of these seem to fit the goals of your project, please be in touch!

Primary grants advisor: Martin Bailkey, grants@michaelfields.org

USDA-SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education)

Farmer/Rancher Grant
https://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Farmer-Rancher-Grant-Program

Partnership Program
https://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Partnership-Grant-Program

Professional Development Program
https://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Professional-Development-Grant-Program

Youth Educator Grant
https://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Youth-Educator-Grant-Program

USDA-AMS (United States Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Marketing Service)

Farmers Market Promotion Program
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/fmpp

Local Food Promotion Program
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lfpp

Organic Cost Share Program
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/occsp

Specialty Crop Block Grant (State by State)
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp

Sheep Production and Marketing Grant
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/spmgp

USDA Rural Development

Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP)
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency

Value Added-Producer Grant (State by State)
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/value-added-producer-grants

USDA- NIFA* (National Institute of Food and Agriculture)

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/beginning-farmer-and-rancher-development-program-bfrdp

Community Food Projects Grant
https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/community-food-projects-cfp-competitive-grants-program

Food Safety Outreach Program
https://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/food-safety-outreach-program?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

*NIFA has a variety of specialized agricultural research and innovation grants available: https://nifa.usda.gov/rfa-list

USDA Partnerships and Public Engagement

Outreach and Assistance for Social Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (2501) Program
https://www.outreach.usda.gov/grants/

USDA- NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Conservation Innovation Grants
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/cig/

Conservation Stewardship Program
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/csp/

Environmental Quality Incentives Program
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/eqip/

*NRCS also has a variety of other grant and cost-sharing programs for conservation practices

USDA – Farm Service Agency

Farm Loan Programs
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/index

USDA Risk Management

Education Partnerships (State by State)
https://www.rma.usda.gov/

USDA Support for New Farmers – including Veterans

https://newfarmers.usda.gov

State Departments of Agriculture

State Departments of Agriculture often offer grants for local food marketing, value-added production, urban agriculture, agricultural education, and other areas of interest. Please get in touch with your State Department of Ag for more information.

State Extension Offices

While not sources of funding in themselves, local extension agents provide assistance in various areas of farm planning that can help identify specific areas for which to seek funding, such as pasture improvement or new infrastructure elements.

Foundations*

Annie’s Organics Grants for Gardens
https://www.annies.com/giving-back/grants-for-gardens

Blooming Prairie Foundation
http://www.bloomingprairiefoundation.org/

Clif Bar Small Grants
http://clifbarfamilyfoundation.org/grants-programs/small-grants

FarmAid Grants
https://www.farmaid.org/our-work/grant-guidelines/

FarmAid Farmer Resources Network
https://www.farmaid.org/our-work/resources-for-farmers/farmer-resource-network/

Food Animal Concerns Trust
https://foodanimalconcernstrust.org

Frontera Farmer Foundation
https://www.rickbayless.com/foundation/

Fruit Guys
https://fruitguyscommunityfund.org/

*Local and community foundations are also a great resource for community agriculture projects. Contacting your local chamber of commerce is a good place to start looking for local foundations.

For more on MFAI’s Grant Advising Service and how we can help you check out our resource page.