Funding & Grants
The PA Veteran Farming Network's Force Multiplier Grant appication period has closed.
Northeast SARE 2027 Farmer Grant Awards of up to $50,000 are available, depending on the complexity of a project. Proposals are due no later than 4:00 p.m. ET on December 8, 2026. The intent is to provide resources for farmers to work with technical advisors to explore new concepts in agriculture conducted through experiments, surveys, prototypes, on-farm demonstrations or other research and education techniques, with long-term practical impacts in mind. Learn more and sign up for one of the weekly Q&A sessions offered throuh November here.
Scroll down for guidance from a prior Farmer Grant awardee in our Network.
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Farm Vitality Grant is open for applications. Funding is intended to enhance the long-term vitality of farms through sound business planning, efficient transitions of farm ownership, strategic farm expansion, and diversification of agricultural production. This REIMBURSEMENT grant has a maximum of $15,000, covering 75% of project costs.
PA's Small Business Advantage grant program is open now and will close March 19, 2027 or when all funds are committed. Project work must start on or after July 1, 2026, and must be completed by June 30, 2027.See https://greenport.pa.gov/elibrary/GetFolder?FolderID=2260826 for eligible entities and project types.
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This reimbursement grant funds from 50% to 80% of eligible project costs to improve energy efficiency or reduce pollution or waste and realize cost savings by: upgrading or replacing equipment or supplies; improving processes; or reducing runoff into affected waterways. Natural resources conservation projects are exempt from savings requirements.
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Maximum grant award amounts will vary from up to $7,500 to up to $12,000, based on the environmental
impact of the project and whether the project location is in an Environmental Justice Area in Pennsylvania.
Dairy Center of Excellence grants: cow or goat dairy farms with at least 35 lactating animals and a milk market may apply.
-Transition Team grants for taking a team approach to growing your dairy operation or formulating a succession plan. Apply
-Dairy productivity grants: apply by Nov 1 for first-time investments in Milking Efficiency Technologies (pipeline, automatic milking technology, robotic milking technology, and direct load milking), Feeding Technologies (TMR mixer, feed tracking and inventory technology), or Activity Monitoring Systems (boluses, collars or tags). Apply
-See https://www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/?s=Grant for other funding opportunities.
Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant
Reimbursement grant for USDA inspected processor creating/expansion, or for projects that will result in your processing facility being USDA inspected at the close of the project. 15% match required for equipment purchases; funding may also be used for safety, technical assistance, and/or training. Read guidelines carefully here. Closes November 6, 2026.
Center for Beef Excellence Pennsylvania Bull Credit Program reimburses PA producers $1,500 towards the purchase of a qualifying bull. Bulls may be purchased through the Livestock Evaluation Center's Bull Test Sale or Private Treaty from another Pennsylvania beef producer. Round 1: September 15 through November 20, 2026. Round 2: January 1 through May 31, 2027.
The Center for Beef Excellence offers cost-share grant funding through the Beef Excellence Initiatives Program. The goal of this program is to assist producers with implementing infrastructure projects that will make a positive impact on their operations and/or the Pennsylvania beef industry as a whole.Funding is subject to availability and is on a cost-share, reimbursement basis
PA Resource Enhancement & Protection (REAP) is a first-come, first-served program that enables farmers, businesses, and landowners to earn PA income tax credits to offset the cost of implementing conservation practices, including energy projects. Credits may be sold. Open until funds are expended. Learn more.
Is there a grant for veterans to obtain farms?
We are not aware of any grant to buy farmland. USDA FSA offers low interest loans, which can be used to purchase farmland, fund business expenses or make improvements, but there are no grants to buy or start a farm. Horizon Farm Credit has Young and Beginning Farmer loans. If you're eligible for a VA Home Loan, you may be able to use it to buy farmland if it will have your primary residence on the land.
Download slides from Charles Lafferty on his SARE project including tips for applying here.
You must be an established farmer--SARE uses the USDA definition of a 'farm', meaning you must have farm income,
so this is not a grant for entering farmers or to start up a farm.
CJ Lafferty of Skyline Pastures, a PAVFN Board member, is a current recipient for a project on silvopastured pigs.
See his youtube channel here.
Army veteran Bill Hopkins of Hopkins Farmily Farm is using Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program funds to renovate his vegetable packing shed.
Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates as grants open.
Federal cost share programs and grants require a 'Farm Number'--registration with USDA as a farm.
1. Get your 'farm number': Learn about registering your farm property with USDA Farm Services
Agency (FSA), your first step in accessing loans and cost share programs.
2. Lendermatch is a free online tool from SBA (Small Business Administration). Once you have your business plan
you create an account and enter information. Your local SBDC (Small Business Development Center) can assist you
with your business plan. Once you submit you'll be matched with potential lenders for further conversation.
Commercial lenders throughout PA may loan for farms and/or equipment. See what lenders will want to know
before you approach them.
3. Financing Options:
USDA Farm Service Agency—farm and operating loans. FSA lends to those with 3 years farming
business experience but may waive 1 year for military service. Their microloans (up to $50k) have a
lower threshold for acceptance and less paperwork than larger loans.
VA Home loans can be used to purchase a farm under certain conditions. Fact sheet.
SBA financing options for rural businesses.
Horizon Farm Credit finances farms and agribusinesses. In mid-2023 they launched Grow Ahead programming
to support new/beginning farmers. HFC also offers some competitive grants; these will be posted in our newsletter.
PA's Next Generation Farmer Loan Program uses federal tax-exempt financing to reduce a farmer’s interest rate for capital purchases, such as the purchase of farm land or agricultural machinery and equipment. Find the POC in your county at https://dced.pa.gov/ida-idc/
Uses
Agricultural land
Agricultural improvements
Depreciable property
Eligibility
Permanent Pennsylvania resident who are at least 18 at the time of the loan application
Must meet lender’s credit standards
Access to adequate working capital, farm equipment, etc.
Borrower must not have had any prior ownership of a substantial portion of land
Maximum loan amount of $682,000 with no more than $62,500 being used toward the purchase of used equipment.
The lender determines the interest rate and the terms of repayment.
If you belong to a federal credit union like NFCU, consider them for a land/home loan.
3.NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) provides free technical assistance and partial funding for installing conservation best management practices (BMPs) on farm, such as livestock watering, fencing, high tunnel (hoop houses), pollinator habitat, and many more. Your application will be ranked, so the time from application to being offered a contact may be long.
4. County Conservation Districts administer state ACAP (Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program) reimbursement funding for installing conservation best management practices that protect water quality. Contact your CD to learn if funding is available in your county, what types of projects they fund, and how to apply. CD's work with NRCS, so in some cases projects and/or funding can be 'stacked' to decrease out of pocket costs to the landowner.
5. PA Resource Enhancement & Protection (REAP) is a first-come, first-served program that enables farmers, businesses, and landowners to earn PA income tax credits to offset the cost of implementing conservation practices, including energy projects. Credits may be sold.
6. USDA REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.
7. Grants can never be counted on as income in your budget. Most are competitive; some require matching funds (a percentage of the total project cost which you must have 'on hand' to apply). Grant funds, as well as conservation funding from the government, is taxable above a threshold amount; consult your tax attorney. Watch our newsletter and facebook pages for information on open grants. Commonly asked question: "Is there a grant for disabled veterans to buy farms?" No.
Value Added Producer Grants
Go to VAPG page
Examples of Value Added products: fruits made into pies or jams, meats made into jerky, tomatoes and peppers made into salsa, vegetables cut up and packaged for easy cooking, organically grown produce, beeswax into candles.
VAPG is closed now, but bookmark this page for future rounds.
Applications for Planning grants (typically up to $75,000) and Working Capital grants (typically up to $250,000). typically open in the early spring.
There is a usually a 50% match.If your total project budget is $100k, you must have $50,000 in match. Some may be in-kind such as the ag product value you're growing, and some labor costs.
Guidelines
A Value Added Agricultural Commodity meets one of the following methodologies:
1. Has undergone a Change in Physical State (such as milling wheat into flour or making strawberries into jam);
2. Was Produced in a Manner that Enhances the Value of the Agricultural Commodity (such as organically produced products);
3. Is Physically Segregated in a manner that results in the enhancement of the value of the Agricultural Commodity (such as trace-ability of hormone-free livestock);
4. Is a source of Farm- or Ranch-based Renewable Energy, including E-85 fuel; or
5. Is aggregated and marketed as a Locally-Produced Agricultural Food Product.
And as a result of the Change in Physical State or the manner in which the Agricultural Commodity was produced, marketed, or segregated:
1. The customer base for the Agricultural Commodity is expanded and
2. A greater portion of the revenue derived from the marketing, processing, or physical segregation of the Agricultural Commodity is available to the producer of the commodity.
Funded projects must be directly related to the processing and/or marketing of value added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the end goals of the program.
All proposals must demonstrate economic viability and sustainability to compete for funding (you'll need a business plan).
The Pennsylvania Farm to School Grant Program will provide schools with funding to improve access to healthy, local foods and increase agriculture education opportunities for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
Urban Ag
Urban Ag toolkit from USDA, with resources on soil health, land acquisition, business planning, and more.
Surplus Property
PA's veteran owned business surplus property program offers a wide variety of federal and state
surplus property.
Federal Surplus Property Program
Veteran Business Enterprise (VBEs) and Service Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (SDVBEs) in PA or with
Farm tour of Black Valley Kune Kune Farm