Issue 50 · Week of September 11, 2026 Grant Harvester Weekly funding alerts for the rural entrepreneur |  |
This week: USDA Rural Development opened a new $410M rural-energy loan program, Utah opened two grazing-improvement grants, and Washington moved its Climate Smart Farm Equipment deadline up to today due to heavy demand. Two programs close today: Washington Climate Smart at 5 p.m. PT and Tribal Colleges Research Phase II. The immediate September cluster follows: Missouri Urban Ag and Wisconsin Watershed due September 15, Illinois Section 319 due September 16, New York Dairy and Pennsylvania Most Effective Basin due September 18, Agriculture Risk Management Education due September 21, and Pennsylvania Innovation Grant Round 3 due September 23. |
Farmer Trivia | What share of U.S. farm producers in 2022 had farmed for 10 years or fewer?
A) About 20% B) About 30% C) About 40%
Hold that answer — the explanation is near the bottom. |
Grant Snap We recently started using a satellite imagery tool called Sentinel Ag that records nutrient deficiency in our fields. We didn't even realize that we were able to apply for EQIP 590 until we used Grant Snap. Grant Snap is a free tool that automatically generates a list of programs available specific for your operation. Try it out now! |
Farmer Trivia | What share of U.S. farm producers in 2022 had farmed for 10 years or fewer?
A) About 20% B) About 30% C) About 40%
The answer is near the bottom of this issue. |
🌿 Fresh Dirt Alert · Sponsored | | | PFI Cover Crop Cost-Share Program Cover crops can be hard to justify when you're staring at the input cost with no guarantee of return. Practical Farmers of Iowa's cover crop cost-share program removes that barrier: $15/acre on an unlimited number of acres of fall-seeded cover crops, plus one-on-one agronomic support. Eligible for conventional corn and soybean farmers in Iowa and select counties in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Enrollment is first-come, first-served and closes when acres fill. Cover crops must be seeded by December 1. The program stacks with EQIP, state cost-share programs and Farmers for Soil Health, and includes a complimentary one-year PFI membership. Funded by PepsiCo and Cargill.
To increase your likelihood of success in this program, Sentinel Ag is a tool you can leverage. Satellite imagery helps you pinpoint the right timing and fields for seeding, verify establishment, and document your practice adoption for stacked programs like EQIP — giving you and your agronomist real field-level evidence to work with.   | | |
| Federal Grants & Programs | |
Iowa State Historic Preservation Tax Credit · Due Sep 16 · Iowa income-tax credit up to 25% of qualified rehabilitation expenditures; 2026 large-project Part 2B applications
EQIP · Open · Soil health, nutrient management, livestock, irrigation and energy practices; state ranking dates control timing
FSA Direct Farm Ownership Loans · Open · Farm purchase, enlargement, buildings and ownership transitions; borrower and loan-type limits apply |
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| Private & Foundation Opportunities | |
Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement GrantsNew
December cycle open · Due Dec 1 at 4 p.m. ET · $500–$10,000 · Organizations in New England, NY and NJ · Individual farms and capital projects are ineligible Farm Credit Services of America Working Here Fund
Open · Nonprofits in IA, NE, SD, WY · Up to $5,000 by Sep 30; up to $25,000 by Dec 31 · Ag education, hunger relief, disaster recovery and rural health Beginning with Compeer Grant
Open · Up to $1,500 based on lending relationship + up to $500 for qualifying multi-year training · Beginning farmers in Compeer territory AgCountry Rural Community Grant Fund
Due Oct 31 · Up to $50,000 · Western North Dakota community-development including infrastructure, housing, health, safety, environment and education |
Section 179 Expensing — 2026
$2.56M maximum deduction · Phaseout when qualifying property exceeds $4.09M · Coordinate asset classification and timing with a tax professional before year-end purchases 100% Bonus Depreciation
Qualifying property acquired after Jan 19, 2025 · Asset type and placed-in-service rules determine eligibility · Do not assume same result as Section 179 Federal Fuel Tax Credit — Form 4136
Qualifying nontaxable farm and off-highway fuel use may generate a refundable federal credit · Maintain fuel-use records throughout the year FCSAmerica Young & Beginning Producer Financing
Open · Development Fund up to $250,000 · Startup, livestock, working capital and down-payment support in IA, NE, SD, WY |
| 1. | Washington farm applicants face the accelerated Climate Smart Farm Equipment deadline today at 5 p.m. PT. The program moved up because of heavy demand — this is the last window. | | 2. | Eligible Tribal colleges face the Phase II research deadline today, September 11. Phase III remains open through December 31. | | 3. | Missouri Urban Agriculture and Wisconsin Producer-Led Watershed applications are due September 15. Both require partners or a group — finalize those today if not already done. | | 4. | Pennsylvania producers and ag businesses should finalize the Innovation Grant Round 3 application before September 23. Reimbursement-based with 30%–50% match; screen before committing to equipment purchases. | | 5. | FCSAmerica Working Here Fund smaller-award tier closes September 30. Eligible nonprofits in IA, NE, SD, WY should submit now rather than waiting for December. | | 6. | Rural electric utilities, cooperatives and eligible nonprofits should assess the new PART loan program. Letters of interest are due October 9 — this is a large-dollar opportunity worth screening now. |
FSA Entity & Payment-Limitation Changes — Operating Plans Due Sep 15 Qualifying LLCs, S-corporations and similar pass-through entities receive new payment-limitation treatment for 2026. Affected operations must file updated farm operating plans with FSA by September 15. FSA details |
ARC/PLC Payment Limit Increased to $155,000 The ARC and PLC payment limit increased from $125,000 to $155,000 beginning with crop year 2025, with future inflation adjustments under the new federal rules. FSA details |
Farmer Trivia — Answer: B) About 30% | B) About 30%. USDA NASS counted slightly more than 1 million beginning producers in 2022 — equal to 30% of all U.S. farm producers. Beginning producers are those who had farmed for 10 years or fewer. That is a meaningful share of the industry actively in its early stages. The question: What share of U.S. farm producers in 2022 had farmed for 10 years or fewer? A) About 20% B) About 30% C) About 40% |
| Watch List / Looking Ahead | |
| Utah Grazing Improvement Program Grant | NEW · Up to $200,000 for water developments, fencing and vegetation treatments for Utah livestock operations · Due Dec 31 | | Utah Small Livestock Operation Grant | NEW · Up to $10,000 for operations with 20–75 animal units producing food or fiber for sale · Due Dec 31 · Land/livestock purchases ineligible | | Soil and Water Outcomes Fund | 2027 enrollment active for returning farmers; new farmers may be waitlisted — watch for acreage availability | | Texas Agricultural Water Conservation Grants | FY2026 solicitation closed; program is recurring — watch for next RFA | | FACT Fund-a-Farmer Grants | 2027 cycle expected to open November 2026 for livestock and poultry welfare improvements |
This issue opens PART, adds two Utah grazing grants, flags Washington's accelerated deadline and clears expired August items. Use each linked program as a starting point, then confirm current requirements with the administering agency before committing time, match dollars or purchases. Forward Grant Harvester to a farmer, rural business owner or community leader who could use it. |
Programs change quickly. Confirm eligibility, funding availability and current deadlines with the administering agency before applying. Grant Harvester · Issue 50 · Week of September 11, 2026
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