Grants and Loans

Farmers and ranchers are no stranger to the high costs of food production that creep higher each season. Start up costs for land, equipment, and infrastructure can be a big barrier to new producers and even established producers can struggle with major infrastructure investments and season-to-season cash flow issues.

Federal, state, non-profit, and private capital resources and programs can all help support producers financially. Funding availability and requirements for these programs change frequently and federal programs especially are still in a great deal of flux at this time. We'll do our best to keep this page updated with accurate information about ongoing changes, but be sure to check in with the programs directly for the most up-to-date details.

Grants Project funding with no repayment required. Tends to have limited availability, competitive applications, and strict usage and reporting requirements. Cost share A portion of project costs are covered by a grant, but a set percentage of the costs must be covered through non-grant funding from the recipient or another source. Loans Funds that create a debt that must be repaid with interest. Higher risk funding than grants but with much greater accessibility and flexibility of use.

Federal Resources

USDA has a wide variety of grants, cost share programs, and loans to help support agricultural producers. They're housed in a number of different agencies under a whirlwind of different acronyms, which can get intimidating fast. Here's a non-exhaustive breakdown of some of the key USDA agencies and some of their most relevant producer grants and loans programs. Remember that you don't have to figure all this out alone! Other resources and opportunities for one-on-one technical assistance are also listed below!

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) USDA NRCS helps farmers conserve, maintain and improve natural resources through federal conservation programs. Programs include: Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) - Cost share for high tunnels, organic practices, and other environmental practices Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) - Contracts with annual payments to maintain existing conservation and add addtional conservation practices Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) - Provides an annual payment to farmers who remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) USDA FSA administers credit and loan programs and manages conservation, commodity, disaster, and farm marketing programs. Programs include: Farm Ownership Loans - Finance the purchase of farmland and repair of farm buildings Farm Operating Loans - Finance farm equipment, feed, seed, fuel, annual expenses Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) - Risk management for crops that can’t be insured through traditional crop insurance Organic Certification Cost Share - Provides partial reimbursement for annual certification costs

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) USDA AMS supports strategic and fair marketing of agricultural products. They publish price data, conduct market research, provide audits and accreditation, and help establish organic standards. Programs include: Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Audits - Voluntary audits to help producers demonstrate properly managed food safety risks. Some cost share funds may be available Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) - Funds projects to support direct producer-to-consumer markets Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) - Funds projects to develop, coordinate, and expand local and regional food businesses

Rural Development (RD) USDA RD helps rural areas develop and grow through financial and technical resources to improve quality of life. Programs include: Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) - Planning and capital grants to help eligible businesses develop or improve processing, marketing, or other value-added efforts On Farm Labor Housing Loans - Low interest loans to develop affordable rental housing for domestic, migrant, and seasonal farm laborers Economic Impact Initiative Grants - Funds community facilities in places with under 20,000 residents and unemployment over 19.5%. Can include community gardens, food hubs, greenhouses, etc

Risk Management Agency (RMA) USDA RMA helps equip farmers with the financial tools to manage agricultural risk and administers the Federal Crop Insurance Program. Programs include: Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) - Insurance policy to protect an entire farm operation. Especially useful for diversified, organic, and specialty crop farms Beginning Farmer Crop Insurance Subsidy - Increases crop insurance premium subsidy by 10% for farmers with under 5 years of farm operation experience

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) USDA NIFA provides funding for programs that advance agricultural sciences and ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. They typically fund organizations that conduct agricultural research, education and extension activities. Programs include: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) - Provides grants to organizations that educate, mentor, and assist beginning farmers Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) - Provide both farmer grants and partnership grants to help offset costs of on-farm research and demonstration projects

USDA Farm Number

The first step towards accessing many USDA financial support programs is to register your farm's location and receive a USDA Farm Number. Check out the 5 step "How to Get a USDA Farm Number" Guide for more information!

More Help Navigating USDA Programs

USDA Urban Agriculture Resource Guide

NSAC Guide to USDA Sustainable Ag Programs



How to Get A USDA Farm Number (FSN) 1. Find Your USDA Service Center 2. Call to Schedule an Appointment 3. Gather Required Documentation and Forms 4. Attend Appointment and Receive FSN 5. Stay in Touch

Texas Resources

Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)

TDA facilitates programs for organic certification cost-share, loan guarantees and interest rate reductions, food system infrastructure, and specialty crop block grants, among others. Programs depend on federal and state appropriations, so check TDA's website for up to date details.

Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB)



TSSWCB coordinates soil and water conservation programs among the 216 local soil and water districts in Texas. Find your local district at the link. Most funds are distributed at the local/regional office level. 


Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)


TWDB offers several grants and loans programs for agricultural water conservation.  Funding is typically granted to a local/regional organization that administers infrastructure improvements or subloans to producers.

Non-Governmental Grants

Keeping track of non-governmental funding sources can be a lot of work since their availability is sporadic and fairly unpredictable from year to year. Howeve their applications and requirements are often much simpler than their governmental counterparts. 

Here are some grant alert resources that can help you find opportunities more easily! These websites are businesses that provide free grant alerts and paid assistance with grant applications and financial management. The monthly TOFGA newsletter also highlights relevant grant opportunities.

       Stewards Unlimited   Good Agriculture   Ambrook

Don't forget to keep an eye out for local, geographically based grant opportunities in your community. These can be tough to find, but are great opportunities for more targeted, less competitive funding when they're available. 

Technical Assistance for Funding Applications

Check out the following programs for more personalized assistance navigating and applying for funding opportunities! Technical assistance services are typically grant-funded themselves, so the types of assistance offered may change over time. Check in with these organizations directly for the best insight on their current offerings.

Texas Center for Local Food

Small Producers Initiative


UTRGV Center for Sustainable Ag and Rural Advancement

Private Capital

Finally, here are a few banks and coops that specialize in agricultural lending. They often have special programs and preferential terms for young, beginning and small farmers along with helpful financial educational resources for those getting started!


  Farm Credit    Capital Farm Credit


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