Funding & Grants
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Farmer Veteran Coalition's Fellowship Fund program is open through February 17, 2026.
PA's 2026 Small Business Advantage Grant Application Period is open through March 16, 2026.
The Small Business Advantage Grant provides reimbursement grants ranging from 50% to 80% of eligible project costs to Pennsylvania small businesses to improve energy efficiency or reduce pollution or waste by: upgrading or replacing equipment or supplies; improving processes; or reducing runoff into affected waterways. Maximum grant award amounts will vary from up to $7,500 to up to $12,0000.
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PA's Ag Innovation Grant program is open until April 18, 2026.Grants will reimburse expenses for project planning, on-site project implementation, and larger grants for projects that have a regional impact. Read the guidelines thoroughly to learn about project and applicant eligibility and matching fund requirements.
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USDA Rural Development Value Added Producer Grant program is open until April 15, 2026.
The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps U.S. agricultural producers enter into value-added activities that:
Generate new products from raw agricultural commodities
Create and expand marketing opportunities
Increase producer income through enhanced product value and market reach
These grants support either:
Planning activities (e.g., feasibility studies, business and marketing plans)
Working capital needs (e.g., processing, packaging, advertising, inventory, and salaries)
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Funding Overview
Maximum Grant Amounts:
Planning Grants: Up to $50,000
Working Capital Grants: Up to $200,000
Grants are awarded through a nationally competitive process.
Who May Apply? Eligible applicants include:
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Agricultural producers (including harvesters and steering committees)
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Agricultural producer groups
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Farmer- or rancher-cooperatives -
Majority-controlled producer-based business ventures -
Applicants must demonstrate that they: -
Own and produce more than 50% of the raw commodity -
Will retain greater revenue from the value-added product than from the raw commodity alone
How to Check Eligibility: A VAPG Self-Assessment Survey is available to help determine your eligibility. While not required, it is strongly encouraged before beginning the application process. Take the VAPG Self-Assessment Survey
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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.
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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.
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3. Funding Options:
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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.
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VA Home loans can be used to purchase a farm under certain conditions. Fact sheet.
SBA financing options for rural businesses.
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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.
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If you belong to a federal credit union like NFCU, consider them for a land/home loan.
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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.
The SHOT fund provides 0% interest bridge loans for those with an EQIP contract who need funds to complete their projects prior to reimbursement.
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.
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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.​
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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.
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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.
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Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Farmer Grants have closed, but plan ahead for next round. Review the past guidelines.
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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.
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Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates as grants open.
Value Added Producer Grants
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​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.
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Scroll down to download VAPG docs.
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Applications open for Planning grants (typically up to $75,000) and Working Capital grants (typically up to $250,000). Electronic submissions by May 11, 2023.
Paper submissions by May 16, 2023.
There is a 50% match this year. 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.
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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.
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​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
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Veteran Business Enterprise (VBEs) and Service Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (SDVBEs) in PA or with
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Farm tour of Black Valley Kune Kune Farm