A variety of Financial Assistance programs exist for farmers. Browse below to find the program that fits your farm’s specific needs. Click on the links provided in the description to learn about financial opportunities for new and veteran farmers covering a range of project types.
The New England Farmer Microgrants Program, launched by American Farmland Trust in 2020, will assist farmers in New England with financial barriers to land access, expanding onto new land, and farm succession planning.
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.
Young Farmer Grant Program– This program funds 50 grants for new farmers and ranchers around the US. for the amount of $5,000. 45 are to those already in operation, the other 5 to those who are starting up. There is an emphasis on providing 50% of the grants to BIPOC and female and underrepresented genders. Application open December through 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.
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 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.