FAQ
Eligibility & getting farm-ready
What you need in place before applying, and the status that unlocks better terms.
- What's the one thing I need before applying for almost anything?
- An FSA farm number. It's the farm world's equivalent of a federal registration — free, no minimum acreage (urban plots and small leased parcels qualify), and it's required for EQIP/CSP, OCCSP, FSA loans, and disaster programs. Get it at your local USDA Service Center with ID, SSN or EIN, and proof of land control (a recorded deed or signed lease). After that, file an annual acreage report to keep your eligibility current.
- Do I need to be a certain size or type of farm?
- For the farm number, no — there's no acreage minimum. For specific programs, eligibility varies: OCCSP needs organic certification, EQIP works for almost any operation with a conservation need, and VAPG is for value-added ventures. Being small is rarely a disqualifier; it's often an advantage.
- Do I need an LLC or an EIN?
- For most of this, no — a sole proprietor using an SSN is fine (FSA loans, EQIP, OCCSP). You'll want an EIN and a SAM.gov / UEI registration for the grants that run through Grants.gov, like VAPG and (when it returns) REAP. Start SAM.gov at least a month before any deadline — it takes time.
- What is 'historically underserved' status and why does it matter?
- If you're a beginning farmer (10 years or less), limited-resource, or a veteran, you can self-certify at the Service Center — and it unlocks real benefits: set-aside ranking pools in EQIP, higher payment rates, and advance payments (up to 50%) to buy materials before you're reimbursed. It's one of the most valuable boxes a new small farmer can check.
Most of getting farm-ready is a single visit to your Service Center. Do that first — everything else gets easier. Then work through the grant-prep checklist.
Next step
Get matched when we launch
Stalwell is launching soon. Join the waitlist and we'll match your small farms to funding the day it opens — no spam, one email.