How to Get a Farm Grant: A Realistic Step-by-Step Guide

Most articles about farm grants promise “free money” and then list 20 programs with no real guidance on how to actually get any of it. That’s not helpful, so this guide takes a different approach.

We’re going to walk through what the process actually looks like, which programs are worth your time, and what you can realistically expect. Some of it might be disappointing. But you’ll leave knowing exactly what to do next.

First, a reality check

There is real money available for farmers through USDA programs. EQIP alone distributes about $1 billion per year. But most of it works differently than people expect.

The majority of USDA “grants” are actually cost-share programs. That means the government reimburses you for part of the cost of approved activities on your farm. You typically pay first, then get money back. There are some true grants (like VAPG), but those are competitive and harder to get.

Also worth knowing: only about 20-30% of EQIP applicants get funded in any given cycle. So this takes patience and sometimes more than one try.

None of that should discourage you. Farmers get funded every year, and the process is simpler than most people think once you understand how it works. But going in with realistic expectations saves you frustration later.

Step 1: Get your farm number

Before you can apply for anything, you need a farm number from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). This is your identifier in the USDA system. Every program requires it.

How to get one: Visit your local USDA service center. Bring a photo ID, your Social Security number, and proof that you have an interest in farmland (a deed, lease, or even a written agreement). The process usually takes one visit.

This costs nothing. If you do nothing else after reading this article, go get your farm number. Everything else depends on it.

Step 2: Figure out which type of funding fits your situation

USDA funding falls into three buckets. Which one you should start with depends on where you are in your farming operation.

Cost-share programs (most accessible): USDA pays 50-90% of the cost for specific conservation practices on your land. Things like cover crops, fencing, high tunnels, irrigation improvements. You apply through your local NRCS office. No formal grant proposal required.

The big ones: EQIP, CSP, CRP.

Competitive grants (harder to get): True grants where you submit a proposal and compete against other applicants. Higher dollar amounts but more work to apply.

The main ones individual farmers can get: VAPG ($75,000-$250,000), SARE ($15,000-$30,000).

USDA loans (easiest to access): Borrowed money at below-market interest rates. You pay it back, but the terms are far better than any bank will offer.

Start here if you need capital: FSA Microloans (up to $50,000), FSA Direct Farm Ownership (up to $600,000).

For a detailed comparison of all three types, see our guide on USDA grants vs loans.

Step 3: Start with EQIP (for most farmers, this is the move)

If you’re reading this and wondering where to begin, EQIP is almost always the answer. Here’s why:

It’s the largest USDA conservation program ($1B+ per year)
You apply through your local NRCS office, not through Grants.gov
No formal grant writing required
Beginning farmers get up to 90% cost-share (vs 75% for everyone else)
You can request advance payments of up to 50% so you don’t have to front all the money
Applications are accepted year-round

EQIP covers a long list of conservation practices. The most popular ones farmers use it for: high tunnels (hoop houses), cover crops, fencing for rotational grazing, irrigation upgrades, and soil health improvements.

The process looks like this:

Call or visit your local NRCS office
Tell them you’re interested in EQIP and what you want to do on your farm
A conservationist sits down with you and identifies your “resource concerns” (soil erosion, water quality, etc.)
They help you develop a conservation plan
You submit your application (form CCC-1200)
Your application gets ranked against others in your area
If funded, you sign a contract and start implementing
NRCS reimburses you as you complete each practice

The whole thing from first visit to contract can take 3-6 months. If you don’t get funded the first time, your application can roll over to the next ranking period.

We have a complete walkthrough of this process in our EQIP Application Guide.

Step 4: If you need money right now, talk to FSA about a Microloan

EQIP is great for conservation improvements, but it won’t help if you need cash for seeds, equipment, or operating expenses this season.

That’s where FSA Microloans come in. Up to $50,000 with a simplified application process. FSA has issued over 50,000 of these since the program started. The requirements are more flexible than any bank loan you’ll find. Education, apprenticeships, and even self-taught farming experience count toward the management requirement.

You apply at the same USDA service center where you got your farm number. Many farmers get both a Microloan and EQIP at the same time.

Step 5: Once you’re established, look at the bigger programs

After you’ve been farming for 2-3 years and have some track record, you can start going after larger funding:

VAPG (Value-Added Producer Grants): If you’re turning raw agricultural products into something more valuable (milk into cheese, grain into flour, produce into a CSA box), VAPG offers planning grants up to $75,000 and working capital grants up to $250,000. But you’ll need matching funds and a real business plan. VAPG details

CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program): If EQIP helped you build conservation practices, CSP pays you annual payments for maintaining them and adding more. Think of EQIP as “build it” and CSP as “keep doing it and get paid.” EQIP vs CSP comparison

SARE Farmer/Rancher Grants: Research grants up to $15,000-$30,000 for testing sustainable agriculture practices on your farm. Less paperwork than VAPG and no matching funds required. SARE details

What if you’re a beginning farmer, veteran, or in a priority group?

USDA gives significant advantages to specific groups:

Beginning farmers (less than 10 years experience): 90% EQIP cost-share, advance payments, priority ranking, reserved FSA loan funds. Full guide
Veterans: Same beginning farmer advantages if you have less than 10 years farming experience, plus Farmer Veteran Coalition grants. Full guide
Women farmers: Qualify as socially disadvantaged, getting priority ranking and reserved loan funds. Full guide
Minority farmers: Priority ranking, 90% cost-share, reserved funds, and access to 2501 Program support organizations. Full guide

If you’re in any of these groups, make sure to identify yourself when you visit your USDA service center. It makes a real difference in your competitiveness.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting to visit your NRCS office. The most common mistake is researching programs online for weeks without actually going in. NRCS conservationists are the people who will help you develop your plan and submit your application. They’re free to work with, and they genuinely want to help you get funded. Call them.

Applying for the wrong program. Don’t go after VAPG when you don’t have a value-added product yet. Don’t apply for CSP when you haven’t established conservation practices. Match the program to where you actually are.

Not following up. After you submit an application, check in periodically. NRCS offices are understaffed right now (2025-2026 workforce reductions hit them hard), and applications can sometimes sit. A polite phone call asking about status is perfectly acceptable.

Giving up after one rejection. Many successful EQIP recipients didn’t get funded on their first try. Applications carry over, and your ranking can improve when you reapply with more information or target different resource concerns.

A realistic timeline

Here’s what a typical path looks like for a small farm getting started with USDA programs:

Month	Action
Month 1	Get farm number from FSA. Visit NRCS to discuss EQIP.
Month 2-3	Develop conservation plan with NRCS. Submit EQIP application. Apply for FSA Microloan if needed.
Month 4-6	Wait for EQIP ranking results. If funded, sign contract.
Month 6-12	Implement EQIP practices. Get reimbursed as work is completed.
Year 2-3	Apply for additional EQIP practices, SARE grants, or VAPG if developing value-added products.
Year 3-5	Transition from EQIP to CSP for ongoing annual payments.

This isn’t a get-rich-quick path. But over 3-5 years, a small farm can realistically access $50,000-$150,000+ in non-repayable cost-share and grant funding while building a more productive, conservation-minded operation.

Your next step

Pick one thing and do it this week:

Don’t have a farm number? Find your local USDA service center and schedule a visit.
Have a farm number but haven’t talked to NRCS? Call them and ask about EQIP.
Already applied for EQIP? Browse our grant calendar to see what else is open.
Want to understand a specific program? Read our EQIP Application Guide or compare programs.

Check all current deadlines on our grant calendar →