FAQ
Small farm grants: getting started
The first questions every small farmer asks — starting with the biggest myth.
- Does USDA give grants to start or run a farm?
- Largely, no — and this is the single biggest myth in farm funding. The federal money that actually reaches an individual small farmer is mostly conservation contracts (NRCS EQIP/CSP), loans (FSA), and cost-share reimbursements (OCCSP), plus a couple of true grants (VAPG and SARE). Most programs labeled 'farm grants' actually fund organizations that serve farmers, not farmers themselves.
- What's actually open for a small farmer right now?
- As of July 2026: OCCSP organic certification cost-share (75% back, up to $750 per scope, through December 31, 2026), NRCS EQIP/CSP (continuous signup — get in before your state's fall cutoff), FSA loans (year-round), and, in the Mid-Atlantic, Horizon Farm Credit's $20,000 YBS grants (close August 21). REAP grants are paused.
- What's the difference between a grant, a loan, and a contract here?
- It matters a lot. FSA gives loans (you repay them). NRCS EQIP/CSP are contracts (you do conservation work, they pay fixed amounts per practice). OCCSP is a reimbursement (you get a percentage of costs back). Actual competitive grants for individual farmers are a short list: VAPG and SARE. Knowing which is which keeps you from chasing the wrong door.
- Where do I even start?
- Get your FSA farm number. It's free, there's no minimum acreage, and it's the gateway to EQIP/CSP, OCCSP, FSA loans, and disaster programs. Make an appointment at your local FSA office / USDA Service Center and bring ID, your SSN or EIN, and proof you control the land (a deed or signed lease).
Farm funding is full of myths, and believing them costs you time. Start here, then see which programs actually pay the farmer.
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