General Fund Information

See current deadlines on the ATTRA website.

Farm Service Agency
The USDA Farm Service Agency provides a variety of farm loan programs. To see an overview of options, go to the FSA website.

Organic Certification Cost Share Program
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers two organic certification cost share programs. Each program provides cost share assistance, through participating States, to organic producers and/or organic handlers. Recipients must receive initial certification or continuation of certification from a USDA accredited certifying agent (ACA). Program participants may be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of their organic certification costs, not to exceed $750 per year. For more information, find your state rep through the USDA online Organic Cost Share Program Participants Contact List - a state-by-state contact list for the Cost Share Program.

Organic Valley's Farmers Advocating for Organics (FAFO)
A grant fund open to all applicants seeking funding for projects or programs oriented towards protecting, safeguarding, and advancing the organic marketplace through research, education and/or advocacy. FAFO is a voluntary fund contributed to only by Organic Valley and Organic Prairie farmer-members. Once gathered, FAFO funds are distributed by a nine-member farmer committee. The FAFO Committee is interested in hearing from individuals, universities, public/private schools, NGOs, farmers and consumers who are interested in securing funds for their organic specific projects. For more information on application criteria or contact information, please visit www.organicvalley.coop/farmerfund.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) - North Central Region
SARE is a program providing grants to researchers, agricultural educators, farmers and ranchers, and students in the United States. Farmer project grant requests are generally due in the late fall. For more information call (612) 626-3113 or visit the SARE website.

Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
A non-profit foundation that sponsors research, including farmer directed research related to organic farming practices. Proposals are considered twice a year, May and November. For more information call (831) 426-6606, email jane@ofrf.org or visit the OFRF website.

Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG)
Grants may be used for planning activities, for working capital to market value-added agricultural products, and for farm-based renewable energy. Eligible applicants are independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures. Although smaller projects may be funded, multi-year and larger projects can also fit this program, however a large match of funds is required. For more information about the program, contact your State Rural Development Office via 1-800-670-6553 or go to the VAPG map and click on your state to be directed to your state's Rural Development website. Deadlines are typically in mid-summer.

Beginning Farmer/Rancher Program (BFRDP)
The Farm Bill has made available in fiscal year (FY) 2009 $17.2 million to fund a BFRDP. To support the nation's beginning farmers and ranchers, BFRDP will make competitive grants to new and established local and regional training, education, outreach and technical assistance initiatives that address the needs of beginning farmers and ranchers. Project periods will be limited to 3 years. Proposed budget requests must not exceed $300,000 per year. Priority will be given to projects that are partnerships and collaborations led by or including nongovernmental and community-based organizations with expertise in new agricultural producer training and outreach. Learn more about the program by visiting the USDA website, downloading a pdf detailing the program, or downloading a powerpoint presentation explaining the program.

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)
Offers grants to qualified small businesses (including small and medium-sized farms) in support of high quality, innovative research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefit if successfully commercialized. For more information contact Siva Sureshwaran, National Program Leader, at ssureshwaran@csrees.usda.gov, (202) 720-7536 or visit the SBIR website.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land. Any farmer engaged in livestock or crop production on eligible land may apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes cropland; rangeland; pasture; private non-industrial forestland; and other farm or ranch lands, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Approximately two of every five applicants in the statewide signups will be successful in securing an EQIP contract. Since the signups for most practices are handled on a county basis, individual county results may vary from this statewide average.For more information visit the EQIP website.

Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI)
Provides $320 million over the next four years for producers in selected watersheds in the Mississippi River Basin to voluntarily implement conservation practices that avoid, control, and trap nutrient runoff; improve wildlife habitat; and maintain agricultural productivity...more.

Return to TOP