We're constantly surveying the landscape of federal, state, local, and private funding opportunities for agriculture and renewable energy projects.
America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Food Access and Retail Expansion (FARE) Fund – due October 14th (Inquiry form) and December 12th (full application) with additional rounds open in Spring and Fall 2025
Up to $250,000 for Implementation grants that involve improving access to healthy food in underserved areas through food retail. Eligible applicants include for-profit businesses, co-ops, nonprofits, colleges, state and local governments, commissions and food policy councils, and tribal governments. Projects must be located in an eligible underserved area.
USDA NIFA Community Food Projects – due November 6th
Up to $400,000 for projects that seek to meet the needs of low-income individuals through food distribution, community outreach to promote participation in federal food assistance programs, or improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service. Eligible applicants are public food program service providers, tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations. A 1:1 match is required. For-profit organizations are not eligible to apply.
USDA NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative – due November 8th
Up to $10.8 million to develop and disseminate science-based tools to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry. Eligible applicants include federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations (businesses), State Agricultural Experiment Stations, individuals, or groups consisting of two or more of these entities.
USDA NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) – Foundational & Applied Science Program - deadlines vary by project type through Nov. 14
Up to $650,000 to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture.
USDA NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) – Education & Workforce Development – deadlines vary by project type through Dec. 5th
Up to $650,000 for projects focused on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Farmworker Training and Education Program for Pesticide Safety – due December 19th
Up to $3.8 million to prevent pesticide illness in farmworker communities by training and education farmworkers on worker protection standards, agricultural pesticide safety, and related rights. There is a national grant track and a local or regional grant track. Only community-based farmworker nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply as the lead applicant.
CDFA Dairy Digester Research & Development Program - due October 18th
Up to $1.6 million (with 50% cost share) for the installation of dairy digesters in California, which will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
CDFA Diary Plus Program - due October 18th
Up to $1.25 million (with 50% cost share) for California dairy farms for the implementation of advanced manure management practices that reduce both methane emissions and nutrient surplus.
CDFA Alternative Manure Mangement Program - due October 18th
Up to $750,000 for the implementation of non-digester manure management practices in California, which will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Minnesota
AGRI Value-Added Grant – due Oct. 23rd
Up to $112,500 for value-added businesses to invest in equipment, with the intention of increasing sales of Minnesota agricultural products by investing in production capacity, market diversification, and market access for value-added products.
AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing (MPEM) Grant – due Oct. 23rd
Up to $112,500 to facilitate the start-up, modernization, or expansion of meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing businesses, with the intention of increasing sales of Minnesota-raised livestock products by investing in equipment and physical improvements that support processing, capacity, market diversification, and market access.
AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant (SustAg) – due Nov. 14th
Up to $25,000 for innovative on-farm research and demonstrations that explore sustainable agriculture practices and systems that could make farming more profitable or resource-efficient.
Vermont
Capital Equipment Assistance Program (CEAP) – due Nov. 1st
Grants for new or used innovative equipment that will aid in the reduction of surface runoff of agricultural wastes to state waters, improve water quality of state waters, reduce odors from manure application, separate phosphorus from manure, mitigate greenhouse gases, and reduce costs to farmers when they apply manure.
Service Provider & Producer Association Grants – due Nov. 7th
Up to $75,000 to develop Vermont-based working lands businesses, including leadership and organizational development, governance, marketing, financial planning, and workforce development.
Farm to Institution Market Development Grants – due Oct. 23
Up to $30,000 to support market development opportunities for local food producers improve access to, and engagement with, schools, hospitals, colleges, correctional facilities, and other local institutions.
Michigan
Underserved, Value Added, and Regional Food Systems Grants – due Oct. 29th
Up to $100,000 to establish, retain, expand, attract and/or develop value-added agricultural processing and underserved development in Michigan; expand or develop regional food systems; and expand access to healthy food. A 30% match is required, or 15% for applicants from underserved groups.
Foundation Grants
Western Sustainable Agricultural Research & Education Foundation (SARE) Farmer/Rancher Research & Education Grant – due October 23rd
Up to $29,900 for agricultural producers to advance on-farm sustainability solutions and innovative producer-driven research and outreach.
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (California Central Valley)
Grants, Incentives, and Equipment Replacement programs for agricultural equipment and vehicles - tractors, pumps, trucks, feed mixing equipment, nut harvesting equipment, and more.
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