Farm Bill Programs and Grants
The charts below provide a quick-guide to 2008 Farm Bill Programs and Grants, including relevant links and deadlines. This information is updated regularly as new Requests for Applications (RFAs) are released.
Important announcements like new RFAs are also announced in our blog and sent out in the NSAC Weekly Roundup. You can click here to sign up to receive regular NSAC updates.
For more in-depth information on each of these grant programs and other key programs in the Farm Bill, use the navigation bar at the left to browse to your area of interest.
* The left column of this chart links to USDA program websites, except when a website isn’t available, or is out-of-date.
| Programs for Producers and Entrepreneurs | Description: | Next Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Crop Block Grant Program | Grants to state depts of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. | Deadline July 29, 2010. For more information on what projects your state is funding, contact your state department of agriculture. |
| Biomass Crop Assistance Program | Financial assistance for producers or entities that deliver eligible biomass material to designated biomass conversion facilities for use as heat, power, biobased products or biofuels. | Ongoing. Apply through your FSA county office. |
| Down Payment Loan Program for Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers | FSA's special loan program to assist socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers in purchasing a farm. Retiring farmers may use this program to transfer their land to future generations. | Ongoing, apply via your local FSA office. |
| Environmental Quality Incentives Program | Provides technical and financial assistance to address natural resource concerns. | Deadline differs by state, apply early in the year (before mid-Jan) via your local NRCS office. |
| Conservation Stewardship Program | Voluntary program providing financial and technical assistance to eligible producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. | Ongoing. Apply via your local NRCS office. |
| Wetlands Reserve Program | provides technical and financial support to help landowners with their wetland restoration efforts | Ongoing. Apply via your local NRCS office. |
| Rural Energy for America Program | Provides funds to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. | Next application announcement in 2010. Applications are due to your state office. |
| Value-Added Producer Grants | Grants for planning activities and for working capital for marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm-based renewable energy. | 2009 funds should be awarded by May 3, 2010 per the Federal Register, look out for 2010 RFA in summer to fall 2010. Applications are due to your state office. |
| Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Producer Grants | Competitive grants program providing grants to researchers, agricultural educators, farmers and ranchers, and students in the United States. | Next Call for Proposals begins March 2010; see regional websites for specific dates. |
| Business and Industry Local Food Enterprise Loans -- USDA, (no specific information on reserved funding for "local & regional") | NSAC | Loans and loan guarantees to establish and facilitate the growth of local and regional food markets under the B&I program; at least 5 percent of B&I funding is reserved each year for this purpose. | The loan program is ongoing, but applications for extra funds from the Stimulus Bill must be submitted by September 15, 2010, per the Federal Register. Applications are due to your state office. |
| Conservation Loans -- USDA (doesn't exist) | NSAC | Loans by lending institutions subject to Federal or State supervision, and guaranteed by FSA, may be used to implement soil and water conservation measures. | No funds were appropriated for Conservation Loans in FY09, but FSA has made loans for conservation purposes under its regular farm loan authority. Loans are ongoing. To apply, consult your local FSA office. |
| Conservation Reserve Programs-Transition Option -- USDA (no specific information on Transition Option) | NSAC | Special incentive of two years of extra CRP rental payments to owners of land, which is currently in the CRP but will be rented or sold to beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers who will use sustainable grazing practices, resource-conserving cropping systems, or transition to organic production. | No information on deadlines. |
| EQIP Organic Initiative -- USDA, out of date | NSAC | A special initiative within EQIP, targeting organic producers and producers transitioning to organic practices. | 2010 signup ended March 12, 2010, except for an extension in 8 states. |
| National Organic Certification Cost Share Program -- USDA (out of date) | NSAC | States reimburse eligible producers or handlers up to 75 percent of organic certification costs, not to exceed $750. | As of 1/20/10, the AMS website is out of date. For up-to-date information on your state's deadlines, get in touch with your state contact. |
| Programs for Nonprofits Organizations, Researchers and Educators | Description | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program | Provides funding for fundamental and applied research, extension, and education to address food and agricultural sciences. | 2010 Request for Application expected March 2010. Deadlines for letters of intent likely to follow soon thereafter. |
| Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program | Grants to new and established local and regional training, education, outreach and technical assistance initiatives that address the needs of beginning farmers and ranchers | April 6, 2010. See Grants.gov or the RFA for more information. |
Commodity Partnerships for Risk Management Education | Grants for projects that deliver training in management of risk. The program gives priority to educating producers of crops currently not insured under Federal crop insurance, specialty crops, and underserved commodities, including livestock and forage. | April 15, 2010. Click here for the RFA. |
| Community Outreach and Assistance Program | Grants for organizations to conduct risk management and crop insurance education, community outreach and assistance, and research and development activities in close cooperation with RMA staff. | April 15, 2010. Click here for RFA. and here for the application packet. |
| Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program | Grants for projects to meet the food needs of low-income people; increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs; and promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues. | Look out for next application round in fall 2010 |
| Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initative | Enables the use of three conservation programs and resources of eligible partners to provide financial and technical assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands. | Look out for the 2010 application round in late spring to summer 2010. |
| Farmers Market Promotion Program | Grants to help improve and expand domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agri-tourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. | April 15, 2010. Click here for full application. |
| Federal State Marketing Improvement Program | Matching funds to appropriate State agencies to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and improve the marketing system. Contact your state Dept. of Ag to discuss a project. | The 2010 grant cycle closed February 10, 2010. Look out for the next round in early 2011. |
| Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) | Funds research, education, and extension projects that enhance the ability of producers and processors to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. | The 2010 grant cycle closed February 22, 2010. Look out for the next round in early 2011. |
| Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers | Outreach and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to successfully acquire, own, operate, and retain farms and ranches. | The 2010 grant cycle closed March 1, 2010. Look out for the next round in early 2011. |
| Rural Business Enterprise Grant | Grants for rural projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses help fund distance learning networks, and help fund employment related adult education programs | If funds are still available, look out for 2010 application round in early spring. Applications are due to your state office. |
| Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program -- USDA no website | Center for Rural Affairs | Grants to organizations that provide training, technical assistance or make small loans to new and existing rural small businesses. | Look out for first application round in early 2010 |