Funding & Grants
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Open Grants
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2026 Skirted Soldier Mini-grant for women in ag
Application deadline: 5 pm EST Friday, January 23, 2026.
With generous funding from Air Force woman veteran-owned The Skirted Soldier, female veteran farmers residing in Pennsylvania are invited to compete for a $1000 grant for tangible items or equipment to improve their agricultural operations, improve sustainability, and increase profitability.
Eligibility: honorably discharged women veterans with 50% or more ownership and significant involvement in the daily operation of a for-profit farm or agribusiness which has been operating in Pennsylvania for a minimum of the last 12 months.
1. Grant funds may be used for tangible items for use on the farm (marketing materials or advertising are not eligible expenses).
2. Selected applicant must provide proof of honorable service (DD214, NG form 22) upon request. 3. Farm or agribusiness must be 50% or more woman-veteran owned.
4. Applicant agrees to a site visit by a member of grant committee if requested.
5. Awardee agrees to provide photograph(s) of the purchased item(s) on site, including at least one with the awardee in the photo.
6. A 1099 will be issued per IRS guidelines; successful applicant must provide a W-2.
7. Applications will be accepted online only, no later than 5 pm EST Friday, January 23, 2026.
8. All fields on the application are required.
9. Selection of the awardee is final and at the sole discretion of the grantor.
10. Apply here.​​​​​
2026 PA Veteran Farming Network mini-grant
Update: Application deadline Friday, Jan. 16 at 5 pm.
Veteran farmers residing in Pennsylvania are invited to compete for a $1000 grant for tangible items
or equipment to improve their agricultural operations, improve sustainability, and increase profitability.
Eligibility: honorably discharged veterans or currently serving military with 50% or more ownership and significant involvement in the daily operation of a for-profit farm or agribusiness which has been operating in Pennsylvania for a minimum of the last 12 months.
1. Grant funds may be used for tangible items for use on the farm (marketing materials or advertising are not eligible expenses).
2. Awardee must provide proof of honorable service (DD214, NG form 22) upon request.
3. Update: This competitive grant program closes January 16th at 5 pm; the award announcement will be made Feb. 27 at the PA Veteran Farming Conference.
4. Award is taxable per IRS guidelines; a 1099 will be issued.
5. Selection of the awardee is final and at the sole discretion of the grantor.
6. Awardee agrees to provide one or more photos of the purchase with the awardee visible in the photo, and licenses the PA Veteran Farming Network to use it and awardee name in print and digital outlets.
7. More information and application may be found here. App
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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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