Agricultural Funding Resources by Topic

Find 3Rs (animal use alternatives) Funding Opportunities [nal.usda.gov] compiled by the NAL, Animal Welfare Information Center.

Aquaculture Funding Opportunities and Grants [noaa.gov] provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in consultation with the Subcommittee on Aquaculture (SCA).

Special Research Grants Program Aquaculture Research [nifa.usda.gov] through the USDA, National Institute for Food and Agriculture.

Find Funding Opportunity Announcements for food safety research, compiled by NAL Food Safety Research Information Office (FSRIO). [See drop down box on left.]

See Grants and Funding for Invasive Species Management [invasivespeciesinfo.gov] compiled by the NAL, National Invasive Species Information Center.

USDA's Rural Development Energy Programs [rd.usda.gov] offer funding for energy audits and development assistance, energy-systems conversion, solar installation, and more.

Department of Energy (DOE) supports energy projects [energy.gov] through grants, loans, and financing programs.

Search the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency [dsireusa.org] provided by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at North Carolina State University.

Help for Rural Communities [rural.gov] provides listings of funding and technical assistance programs for community improvement and information on assistance for individuals and families.

USDA Rural Development (RD) offers loans, grants, and loan guarantees [rd.usda.gov] to support economic development, emergency services and first responders, utilities/telecommunication, as well as water and conservation projects.

• Search Programs and Services [rd.usda.gov]
• Browse RD Programs by State [rd.usda.gov]

Find a list of Funding Sources for Downtown Revitalization [nal.usda.gov] and economic development efforts compiled by the NAL, Rural Information Center.

Consult the Guide to Funding Resources [nal.usda.gov] for assistance in identifying funding opportunities and preparing successful proposals when applying for an eligible federal grant or cooperative agreement.

Find Fire Service Grants and Funding [usfa.fema.gov] for expenses such as the equipment, apparatus, training and salaries necessary to protect and serve communities.

Financial Resources for Farmers and Ranchers 

"USDA offers numerous programs to help farmers, ranchers, and businesses access the organic market. This page explains USDA's top resources supporting organic agriculture."

 

Grants and Opportunities

USDA. Agricultural Marketing Service.

The Agricultural Marketing Service provides funding opportunities for U.S. growers and producers while also working with organizations supporting rural America and the Nation’s agricultural sector. Grants include opportunities for specialty crops, seafood, dairy, meat and poultry, sheep, local and regional foods, and more.

 

How does USDA support Organic Farms and Businesses?

USDA. Agricultural Marketing Service.

Biomass Crop Assistance Program

USDA. Farm Service Agency

"The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) provides financial assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and non-industrial private forest land who wish to establish, produce, and deliver biomass feedstocks." 

 

Grass Roots Guide to Federal Farm and Food Programs

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalitions. (NSAC)

The guide "provides an in-depth look at dozens of federal programs and policies most important to sustainable agriculture, and details how they can be accessed by farmers, ranchers, and grassroots organizations nationwide."

Growing Opportunity:  A Guide to USDA Sustainable Farming Programs.

USDA, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.  2022

Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities

A Guide to Federal Programs for Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, Entrepreneurship, Conservation, Food Systems and Community Development.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.

Find resources and information on farm funding in AskUSDA's Knowledge Article: How do I fund or start a small sustainable organic or alternative type farm?

NRCS offers four programs:

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, ACEP [nrcs.usda.gov] provides funding to protect agricultural viability through efforts that limit nonagricultural usage and restore, protect and/or enhance both grazing lands and eligible wetlands.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program, EQIP [nrcs.usda.gov] assists farm managers, ranchers, and forest landowners integrate conservation practices into their working lands.

Conservation Stewardship Program, CSP [nrcs.usda.gov] contract participants receive payments to maintain the existing level of conservation (as defined in their contract) or to integrate new conservation practices.

Regional Conservation Partnership Program, RCPP [nrcs.usda.gov] leverages public-private relationships to implement NRCS contracts and conservations efforts between producers and project partners.

Download a document produced by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program titled Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities, A Guide to Federal Programs for Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, Entrepreneurship, Conservation, Food Systems and Community Development [sare.org; PDF, 1.3 MB]

View links to USDA funding programs for urban agriculture [nal.usda.gov] compiled by the NAL, Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC).

USDA. Farm Service Agency

• Conservation Reserve Program

USDA. National Institute of Food and Agriculture

• NIFA Grant Opportunities
• NIFA National Water Quality Program
• Small Business Innovation Research Program

USDA. Natural Resources Conservation Service

• Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
• Agricultural Management Assistance
• Conservation Innovation Grants
• Conservation Stewardship Program
• Emergency Watershed Protection
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program

USDA. Rural Development

• Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs

DOC. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

• Acquisitions and Grants Office
• Habitat Conservation - Funding Opportunities
• Office for Coastal Management
  
  Provides information through its Funding Opportunities and Other Funding Opportunities resources.
• Sea Grant Funding Opportunities
  
  National Sea Grant.

U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)

• WaterSMART Grants
  
  DOI. Bureau of Reclamation.
• USGS Office of Acquisition and Grants
  
  DOI. United States Geological Survey.

DOI. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Financial Assistance
• National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program
• North American Wetlands Conservation Act
• Partners for Fish and Wildlife

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• How to Apply for EPA Grants
  
  View solicitations related to applying for competitive assistance agreements under Find Current Funding Opportunities and by searching Grants.gov."
• Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
  
  U.S. EPA. Office of Wastewater Management.
• Environmental Justice Small Grants Program
• Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP)
• National Center for Environmental Research - Funding Opportunities.
  
  U.S. EPA. National Center for Environmental Research.
• Water Finance Clearinghouse
• Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center
• Wetland Program Development Grants and EPA Wetlands Grant Coordinators.
  
  U.S. EPA. Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds.
• Understanding, Managing, and Applying for EPA Grants

Additional Resources

Assistance Listings

General Services Administration.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grants

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Active Funding Opportunities

National Science Foundation.

Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.

Environmental Finance Center

University of Maryland. School of Architecture, Preservation and Planning.

Programs

Water Research Foundation