A variety of Financial Assistance programs exist for farmers. Browse below and click on the links provided to find the program that fits your farm’s specific needs.
The Farm Readiness Grant Program provides reimbursement funding for installation-ready capital improvements that help Massachusetts farms maintain and modernize core infrastructure within their existing footprint. The program supports the purchase and installation of durable equipment and systems that improve operational reliability, food production and handling capacity, resource efficiency, environmental performance, and overall farm readiness. This accelerated funding opportunity is designed for farms that are prepared to move forward immediately with commercially available projects that address deferred or time-sensitive needs and can be completed on a short timeline.
AEEP is a competitive, reimbursement grant program that funds the implementation of agricultural conservation practices that reduce or prevent negative impacts to the Commonwealth’s natural resources that may result from agricultural practices while maintaining sustainability and productivity of the agricultural operation. Practices funded include those that prevent direct impacts on water quality, ensure efficient use of water, and address agricultural impacts on air quality or demonstrate other conservation benefits or environmental goals.
The Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture (MEGA) program assists beginning farmers who are between 1 and 6 years in business by providing technical assistance and business planning for farm improvement strategies. Grant funds of up to $10,000 are available on a 1:1 matching cost reimbursement basis to assist farmers whose goal is to raise agricultural products and who aspire to develop their farms into commercially viable operations.
Harold Grinspoon Foundation Local Farmer Awards– The Local Farmer Awards provide grants of up to $2,500 to fund physical infrastructure improvements on farms located in western Massachusetts. Applications are typically accepted during the month of January.
The NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, increased soil health and reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved or created wildlife habitat, and mitigation against increasing weather volatility.
SARE Northeast Farmer Grant– For commercial farmers who want to test a new idea using a field trial, on-farm demonstration, marketing initiative, or other techniques.
The Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture
Grants are awarded based the benefit to agriculture practiced in MA in a manner that is: both economically and environmentally sound, will broaden the knowledge of and support for farmers and farming in Massachusetts, stimulate research in new areas, and would not be likely to receive funding from government or corporate sources, but where a grant from the Society would enhance the chances of such funding by way of matching grants. The range is between $500-$25,000. Application is ongoing, expect to hear back in at least three months.