GRANT HARVESTER
Plain English funding alerts for farmers and rural business owners.
VOLUME 12
Federal Programs~
Program
What it pays for
Deadline / Who
First action
Up to $50/ac over 3 yrs for new cover crops
$2/ac one-time existing acres
Enrollment opening soon
Corn/soy row-crop farmers
Submit contact form → get alerts
Prep FSA docs now
Working capital, livestock, inputs,
family living, minor repairs
Rolling
Family farmers (incl. beginners)
Call county FSA → start file
Buy/expand farm, buildings
Down-payment option available
Rolling
Beginning & disadvantaged priority
Pull last 3 yrs tax returns
Grain/forage bins, cold storage,
wash/pack, handling (12-yr)
Rolling
Eligible commodity producers
List specs → ask FSA for rates
Bank loans with FSA backing
Usually better rates/terms
Rolling via lenders
Any family farm
Ask bank if they do FSA-guaranteed
Solar, efficient dryers, HVAC,
lighting upgrades
Rolling via lenders
Farmers & rural biz
Get quotes → ask lender to price REAP
State Programs~
State + Program
What it pays for
Deadline / Who
First action
Tax-exempt financing for land,
equipment, breeding livestock
Rolling
Beginning Iowa farmers
Confirm eligibility with IADD
→ contact lender
State guarantee unlocks bank/CDFI
capital for ag & food businesses
Rolling via lenders
CA small farms & processors
Use Loan Match → find lender
Lower-rate loans for land, buildings,
equipment, livestock, inputs
Rolling (portal windows)
Beginning & part-time farmers
Call lender → apply before close
$5/acre discount on next year’s
crop-insurance premium
By Feb 2026 (first-come)
WI insured producers
Enroll acres & keep records
70–90% guarantee on working capital,
machinery, land, facilities
Rolling via lenders
Texas producers & ag biz
Ask lender to add TAFA guarantee
Interest-rate reduction on value-added
or non-traditional projects
Rolling via lenders + BND
ND farmers/ranchers
Ask lender to structure with PACE
State participation lowers rates
on land & building purchases
Rolling via lenders
MN beginning farmers
Confirm training & financial reqs
Tax-exempt financing for farmland,
machinery, capital purchases
Rolling via issuers
PA beginning farmers
Find county IDA → start app
• USDA Farm Bill updates: 2018 Farm Bill provisions remain in effect through 2025; watch USDA/FSA for 2026 enrollment guidance.
• USDA AMS GHG TA Verifier Program: USDA is standing up a list of qualified carbon-market advisors and third-party verifiers; protocols and provider lists will post here.
• USDA Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator (FD-CIC): Beta tool + interim rule to quantify farm-level carbon intensity for corn/soy/sorghum feedstocks used in biofuels.
• Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG): Draft letters of support, feasibility/marketing plan, and cost estimates so you can file fast when the NOFA drops.
• Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) State rounds: Some states run additional/rolling rounds; monitor your state’s page and scope mid-supply-chain projects.
• EQIP (NRCS conservation cost-share): Continuous signup; check your state cutoff and line up FSA/NRCS records early.
· Call your ag lender about a state guarantee/buy-down (CA SBFC, TX ALG, ND Ag PACE) and request a written term sheet.
· Need storage? Price FSFL versus bank debt and ask FSA for today’s rates and examples.
· In WI, enroll cover-crop acres before funds run out (first-come).
· In MO, submit MOBUCK$ before the portal closes Dec 3, 5 pm CST.
· New/young operators: line up eligibility docs for IA BFLP or PA’s Next Generation Farmer Loan.
Glossary ~
Guarantee (loan guarantee): USDA/State backs part of your bank loan so banks say yes more often.
Interest buydown: A state bank (e.g., BND) pays part of your interest so your effective rate drops.
Tax-exempt bond financing (Aggie Bonds): State issues bonds so your lender can offer a lower rate for first-time farmers.
Sources~
Quick Program Links:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Copyright (C) *2025* *Grant Harvester*. All rights reserved.*Grant/ Program Newsletter*
Our mailing address is:
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can unsubscribe