Issue 55  ·  Week of October 16, 2026  ·  Nebraska Edition

Grant Harvester

Weekly funding alerts for the rural entrepreneur

This week: three newly opened SARE producer grants lead the list, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 across the Northeast and South. Five federal and local opportunities that expired between October 9 and October 15 have cleared off the list. The next stretch starts October 26, when the Northeast SARE Farming Community and Western SARE Farmer/Rancher deadlines land two days apart, followed by November and December rounds for 1890 institutions, Southern producers and agricultural professionals.

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. farms reported having internet access in 2025?
A) 65%    B) 75%    C) 85%
The answer is near the bottom of this issue.

🌿 Fresh Dirt Alert  ·  Sponsored

ONE RED: Nebraska’s Irrigation Engine Rebate Program

Nebraska’s ONE RED initiative — Opportunity for Nebraska: Reducing Emissions & Decarbonization — is putting $307 million in federal climate funding to work across the state, and the piece most farmers have asked about is the ONE RED Irrigation Engine Program: rebates covering 60% of the cost, up to $23,000, to convert a diesel irrigation engine to an electric motor or grid-connected pump. The first application window closed back in January 2025, and the Department of Water, Energy and Environment currently lists it as closed for new applications, so this isn’t a right-now opportunity. A second piece of ONE RED — a $160.4 million ag registry and incentive program for regenerative practices and precision equipment — is still being designed, and DWEE has said future diesel-engine funding may also flow through the state’s Clean Diesel Rebate Program. If you’re weighing a conversion down the road, email [email protected] now so you hear about the next round early.

In the meantime, Sentinel Ag is a tool you can leverage. Satellite field data gives you a running record of irrigation timing and field conditions — the kind of documentation that can support a future ONE RED or carbon-registry application without you having to reconstruct it from memory.

Northeast SARE Farming Community GrantOct 26
~$1.5M available for multi-state or regional projects grounded in community partnerships and farmers' lived experience · Typical requests $250,000–$500,000 · Due 4 p.m. ET

Western SARE Farmer/Rancher GrantOct 28
Up to $35,000 for one- to three-year producer-led research and outreach projects in the Western region · A technical advisor is required · Due noon Mountain Time

1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building GrantsOpen
$56M total · $50,000–$750,000 awards · No match · Eligible 1890 Land-grant Institutions only · Due Nov 4

Southern SARE Producer GrantOpen
Up to $20,000 for an individual farmer or rancher and $25,000 for a producer organization for two-year sustainable-agriculture research · Requires at least $1,000 in documented farm income, a cooperator and an outreach plan · Due Nov 6 at noon ET

Southern SARE On-Farm Research GrantOpen
Up to $30,000 for two-year projects led by agricultural professionals who regularly work with farmers or ranchers · Requires at least one farmer or rancher cooperator and an outreach plan · Due Nov 13 at noon ET

Easement Restoration and StewardshipOpen
$250,000–$5M cooperative agreements with no match · Four expected awards for organizations supporting NRCS easement restoration, monitoring and technical assistance · Due Nov 19

Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program — Phase 3 Round 2Open
$50,000–$2M grants cover up to 80% of eligible costs (20% cost share) for processors expanding invasive wild-caught catfish processing capacity · Due Dec 7

Northeast SARE Farmer GrantOpen
$5,000–$50,000 reimbursement grants for commercial farm business owners and employees testing sustainable-agriculture ideas through research, demonstrations, marketing initiatives or prototypes · One proposal per farm · Due Dec 8 at 4 p.m. ET

Powered by GrantSnap

Powered by GrantSnap

Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Grants
December cycle open · Due Dec 1 at 4 p.m. ET · $500–$10,000 · Organizations strengthening agriculture, forest production or commercial fishing in New England, NY and NJ · Individual farms and capital projects ineligible

Farm Credit Services of America Working Here Fund
Nonprofits in IA, NE, SD, WY · $15,000 or $25,000 requests due Dec 31 · The up-to-$5,000 tier closed September 30

Beginning with Compeer Grant
Open · Up to $1,500 based on lending relationship plus up to $500 for qualifying multi-year training · Beginning farmers in Compeer territory

AgCountry Rural Community Grant FundOct 31
Up to $50,000 · Western North Dakota community-development needs including infrastructure, housing, health, safety, environment and education

Section 179 Expensing — 2026
$2.56M maximum deduction · Phaseout begins when qualifying property placed in service exceeds $4.09M · Coordinate asset classification and timing with a tax professional

100% Bonus Depreciation
Available for certain qualifying property acquired after January 19, 2025 · Eligibility depends on asset type, acquisition and placed-in-service rules

Federal Fuel Tax Credit — Farm and Off-Highway Use
Qualifying nontaxable farm and other eligible off-highway business fuel use may generate a refundable federal credit · Retain fuel-use records and use current IRS filing instructions

Farm Credit Services of America Young & Beginning Producer Financing
Specialized financing for qualifying young and beginning producers in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming, including a Development Fund with financing up to $250,000 for eligible uses

FSA Entity & Payment-Limitation Changes — September 15 Deadline Passed

The September 15 farm-operating-plan deadline for affected pass-through entities has passed. Qualifying LLCs, S-corporations and similar entities that did not file should contact their FSA office now about their filing status. 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 rules. FSA details

Farmer Trivia — Answer: C) 85%

C) 85%. USDA NASS reports that 85% of U.S. farms had internet access in 2025. Half of farms used the internet to purchase agricultural inputs, up from 2023.

The question: What share of U.S. farms reported having internet access in 2025?   A) 65%   B) 75%   C) 85%

Issue 55 adds three independently verified SARE openings, clears five expired federal and local rounds, and keeps this week's focus on the October 26 through December 8 action dates. Confirm fit on the linked official page before committing application time, match dollars or purchases. Forward Grant Harvester to a farmer, rural business owner or community leader who could use it.