Current Funding Opportunities
September
Soul Fire Farm Braiding Seeds Fellowship | Deadline: September 25th
Goals: The Braiding Seeds Fellowship was founded by Soul Fire Farm Institute, in partnership with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, and it carries on the legacy of the braided seeds by providing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, /or People of Color) beginning farmers with resources, professional development, and mentorship to support their livelihood on land.
Eligibility Factors: Beginning farmers and land stewards, ages 18+, with a minimum of 1 year of farming/land stewardship experience and no more than 3 years of experience running their own farm/land stewardship project, are welcome to apply. The fellowship is for Black, Indigenous, and people of color farmers* based in the northeast and southeast of the United States, in any of the following states: AL, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, LA, ME, MD, MA, MS, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, SC, WV, VA, VT
Funding Limitations: Braiding Seeds fellows receive a $50,000 stipend; a menu of professional development opportunities including 1:1 mentorship, workshops, farm finance and business plan support; cohort gatherings; and individualized coaching. In addition to the 10 fellowship spots, 12 Seed Grants of $2,500 each will also be awarded.
Anticipated Timeline: All applicants will be notified of final decisions on or before December 18, 2026. Seed grant recipients are required to spend down funds by December 2027.
MDAR Natural Disaster Recovery II Program | Deadline: September 30th
Goals: Provides financial assistance to aid agricultural operations that suffered weather-related losses in 2023-2024 to rebuild and recover, with the aim of supporting farm sustainability, building resilience, and enabling ongoing production.
Eligibility Factors: Applicants must meet be is a producer that suffered an Eligible Loss in Massachusetts as a direct result of a weather event in 2023 or 2024 as defined as eligible in the RFR and had an ownership share and a production risk in the crop, livestock, or timber (including timber rights). All losses must have directly impacted production or storage of an agricultural crop. Eligible losses include: crop loss, future economic loss, timber loss, infrastructure loss, and/or bare-ground practices necessary to mitigate land loss.
Funding Limitations: Losses for most categories must represent 15% of the value of the lost crop or infrastructure, and claims must total $2,500 or more for each applicant.
Anticipated Timeline: Estimated Award Date: February 2027. Maximum contract end date September 30, 2027.
USDA Supplemental Disaster Relief Progam Stages 1 & 2 (SDRP) | Deadline: September 30th
Goals: Provides disaster relief payments to producers who suffered revenue, quality or production losses to crops, trees, bushes, or vines due to qualifying disaster events in calendar years 2023 and 2024. The Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) will be administered in two stages. Producers can receive payments in both stages, if applicable, and for one or both years, depending on losses.
Eligibility Factors:
- Stage 1: For producers with indemnified losses. Stage 1 leverages existing Federal Crop Insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) data as the basis for calculating payments.
- Stage 2: For producers with non-indemnified (including shallow losses), uncovered (uninsured), and quality losses. Stage 2 covers eligible crop, tree, bush and vine losses.
- All producers who receive SDRP payments (Stage 1 and Stage 2) are required to purchase federal crop insurance or NAP coverage for the next two available crop years at the 60% coverage level or higher.
Funding Limitations:
- Stage 1 payments are based on the SDRP adjusted NAP or Federal crop insurance coverage level the producer purchased for the crop.
- Stage 2 payments will be determined using several payment calculations depending on whether the eligible loss was insured or not and depending on the type of crop insurance policy.
- Stages 1 & 2 the total SDRP payment to indemnified producers will not exceed 90 percent of the loss. Initial SDRP payments were factored at 35%, but after further analysis, USDA is increasing the payment factor to 70%, meaning producers with approved applications will receive an additional 35% of their calculated SDRP payment. Future SDRP payments will also be made using a 70% payment factor.
Anticipated Timeline: SDRP payments will be processed after all required eligibility forms have been submitted and the COC has reviewed and approved the application.
October
For Farmers Grant | Deadline: October 12th
Goals: This application is your ticket to finding funding for something you need on your farm to help you get to the next level, to get by, to get going. What you apply for is up to you.
Eligibility Factors: Grants are only available to farmers located geographically in the 50 US states, Washington DC and US territories. Your farm must sell most of its products.
Funding Limitations: Available Grants: Foundational Grants: $500 to $1000 for infrastructure, equipment, supplies, innovation, making up for a loss and more. A minimum of 100 of these grants will be awarded. Land Stewardship Grant: $5,000 for a farm that is committed to caring for the land in ways that strengthen soil, protect natural resources, and support the long-term health of the farm and its surrounding ecosystem. One Land Stewardship Grant will be awarded. Transformational Grant: $10,000 for farm project that has a profound impact on farm operations and the community. At least one Transformational Grant will be awarded.
Anticipated Timeline: Awards will be announced on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving.
ROLLING APPLICATIONS, NO DEADLINE
Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Fund
Goals: To aid Food & Beverage industry professionals with emergency funds to cover essentials in the event of an unforeseen crisis.
Eligibility Factors: To qualify, you must currently be employed in the food and beverage industry, working a minimum of 30 hours per week for at least six months.
Funding Limitations: Each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and funding is determined by the applicant’s demonstrated need and the eligible expenses that Southern Smoke Foundation can support.
Anticipated Timeline: Applicants are eligible for funding once every 12 months and may receive funding twice within a four-year period. Additionally, your unforeseen crisis must have occurred within the six months prior to your application date.
USDA On Farm Labor Housing Loans
Goals: Provides affordable financing to develop or rehabilitate affordable rental housing for very-low to moderate income domestic, migrant, and seasonal farm laborers. It also provides funding used to increase the supply of affordable housing for farm labor; and the ability of the farmer to provide affordable, decent, safe and sanitary housing for farm workers.
Eligibility Factors: Eligible applicants include:
- Individual farm owner
- Family farm partnership
- Family farm corporation
- Association of farmers
Funding Limitations: Total funding pool is $5 million. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted.
Anticipated Timeline: Applications are accepted the first week of every month.
Dairy Promotion Grant for Farmers
Goals: This grant program provides funding to eligible individuals and organizations for activities that improve public perception of dairy farming and/or increase consumption of local dairy products.
Eligibility Factors: Eligible applicants include:
- Dairy farmers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont (applicants must be associated with the production of cow’s milk)
- Retired dairy farmers or agriculture advocates, in partnership with an active dairy producer
- Agriculture organizations (FFA, Farm Bureau, 4-H, etc.) within our five state region
Funding Limitations: $2,400 in funding annually is available per farm.
Anticipated Timeline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Apply at least six weeks prior to your event or activity. Applicants will be notified by email of approval or denial, as well as the total funding amount. You can expect a decision within three weeks of submitting your grant application. Approved applicants will receive funding approximately two weeks after we receive your completed grant paperwork, which includes an LOA, W9, and other documents. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2025. Grant recipients are required to submit a grant report after completion of the event or activity to remain eligible in the next calendar year.
Goals: The Black Farmers Learn educational subsidy will pay tuition or registration fees of up to $500 for Black farmers or land stewards who wish to expand their knowledge or skills via a self-identified training program. This program honors education from structured sources available to the public; this includes schools, farming institutions, land or agricultural collectives, and conferences or training that offer to deepen skills and increase farming capacity.
Eligibility Factors: This program is available to Black farmers or land stewards who are members of the Northeast Farmers of Color (NEFOC) Network and are pursuing publicly available, structured education programs.
Funding Limitations: This program will pay tuition or registration fees up to $500.
Anticipated Timeline: Applications are accepted the first week of every month.
Goals: The goal of this award is to support farmers' self-care needs. Examples include dinner with friends and family, deep tissue massage, gym or yoga membership, therapy sessions, family fun day and more.
Eligibility Factors: Farmers and ranchers operating in the contiguous United States, including all U.S. territories, have an annual farming income of $1,000 or more, and have never received a Real Farmer Care self-care award before.
Funding Limitations: Awards are $100 per applicant. Grants will be distributed via Visa/Mastercard e-gift cards.
Anticipated Timeline: Applications will be accepted and reviewed in the order in which they are received. Funds will be awarded when available and award distribution will occur in seasonal rounds. Applications submitted after the initial window or beyond fund availability will be considered for funding in future rounds.
Black Farmer Fund Rapid Response Fund
Goals: The goal of this award is to provide financial support to Black Farmers and Food Business Owners experiencing a one-time emergency.
Eligibility Factors: Black Farmers and Food Business Owners operating in the Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Rhode Island). The business must be in operation for at least one year. The business has demonstrated engagement, work and support with community members.
Funding Limitations: Up to $10,000 awards granted for general emergencies. For 2025 Funding Freeze/Cancellation emergency award maximum is $50,000.
Anticipated Timeline: Four rounds of funding available per year. See website for timeline.
