Listing of Grant, Cost-share, Loan & Other Support Resources
September 1, 2020
Michael Fields Grants Advising is a service available to farmers, farmer cooperatives, farm support organizations, and institutions looking for grant funding to support farm-based projects, and other types of financial support for needs not covered by grant sources.
The service is free to producers and organizations in the Upper Midwest region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Our grants advisor can help identify available 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 service also sends out periodic email announcements about state and federal grant programs that may be of interest to farmers and farmer organizations in the Upper Midwest region.
To sign up for the email list please email Martin Bailkey, Grants Advisor, at grants@michaelfields.org
The Michael Fields Grants Advising service is jointly funded by Farm Aid, the Wisconsin Farmers Union, and the North Central region of USDA-SARE.
Below is a list of grant programs and other sources of general support frequently recommended. If any of these seem to fit the goals of your project, please be in touch!
Primary grants advisor: Martin Bailkey, grants@michaelfields.org
Grant Resources
North Central SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) https://www.northcentralsare.org
Farmer/Rancher Grant
https://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Farmer-Rancher-Grant-Program
Partnership Grant
https://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Partnership-Grant-Program
Professional Development Grant
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
Regional Food System Partnerships
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsp
Specialty Crop Block Grant (distributed through individual states)
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp
Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/dbi
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 Grants
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/value-added-producer-grants
USDA- NIFA* (National Institute of Food and Agriculture) https://nifa.usda.gov/grants
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/beginning-farmer-and-rancher-development-program-bfrdp
Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program
https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/community-food-projects-cfp-competitive-grants-program
Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program
https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/food-and-agriculture-service-learning-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=
Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans (AgVets)
https://www.nifa.usda.gov/program/enhancing-agricultural-opportunities-military-veterans-agvets
* NIFA has a variety of specialized agricultural research and innovation grants available: https://nifa.usda.gov/rfa-list
USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement
Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers (2501) Program
https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/socially-disadvantaged-farmers-and-ranchers
USDA- NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/
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/
Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Practices
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/landuse/urbanagriculture/
USDA – Farm Service Agency – Loan Funds Available
Farm Loan Programs
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/index
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loans
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/beginning-farmers-and-ranchers-loans/index
Minority and Women Farmers and Ranchers Loans
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/minority-and-women-farmers-and-ranchers/index
Native American Tribal Loans
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/native-american-loans/index
Youth Loans
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/youth-loans/index
USDA Risk Management
Education Partnerships (State by State)
https://www.rma.usda.gov/Topics/Education-and-Training/Partnership-Program
USDA General Support for New Farmers – including Women and Veterans
https://newfarmers.usda.gov
US Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Veterans Business Development
https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/ovbd/resources/1548576
State Departments of Agriculture
State Departments of Agriculture often offer grants for local food marketing, specialty crops, value-added production, urban agriculture, agricultural education, and other areas of interest. Please get in touch with your State Department of Agriculture 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.
Non-Government Support Organizations and Foundations*
Annie’s Organics Grants for Gardens (focused on food education and youth gardens)
https://www.annies.com/giving-back/grants-for-gardens
BeginningFarmers.Org Funding Resources for Farmers
https://www.beginningfarmers.org/funding-resources/
Blooming Prairie Foundation (for nonprofit organizations supporting sustainable agriculture)
http://www.bloomingprairiefoundation.org/
Center for Rural Affairs (a guide to funding and financing for beginning farmers)
https://www.cfra.org/resources/beginning_farmer/fundingsources
Clif Bar Small Grants
http://clifbarfamilyfoundation.org/grants-programs/small-grants
Farm Aid Grants (for farm-support organizations)
https://www.farmaid.org/our-work/grant-guidelines/
Farm Aid Farmer Resources Network Directory (access to resources including and beyond financial support)
https://www.farmaid.org/our-work/resources-for-farmers/farmer-resource-network/
Farmer Veteran Coalition (for military veterans beginning to farm)
Food Animal Concerns Trust
https://foodanimalconcernstrust.org/grants
https://foodanimalconcernstrust.org/pasture-grants (for pasture enhancements)
Frontera Farmer Foundation (for farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin who market in the Chicago area)
https://www.rickbayless.com/foundation/
Fruit Guys Community Fund
https://fruitguyscommunityfund.org/
Native American Agriculture Fund
https://nativeamericanagriculturefund.org/grants/
* 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.