Farm Grant Deadline Calendar
Find upcoming deadlines for USDA grants, cost-share programs, and loans. Filter by your state to see relevant dates.
What's open now
- SARE farmer grants Deadlines vary by region: Oct 28 to Dec 8
- EQIP and CSP sign-up cutoffs Deadlines vary by state: Oct 30 to Dec 18
- Specialty crop block grants Deadlines vary by state: Oct 30 to Nov 2
- ARC/PLC Deadline December 11, 2026
- Dairy Margin Coverage Deadline December 18, 2026
- Organic certification cost share Deadline December 31, 2026
- ELAP livestock disaster aid (2026 losses) Deadline March 1, 2027
- LFP grazing losses (2026) Deadline March 1, 2027
- ARC/PLC 2027 enrollment Opens November 2, 2026
FSA farm loans, including microloans and farm ownership loans, have no deadline: apply any time. Pick your state below to see its dates.
Step-by-step application guides: EQIP, CSP, CRP, Value-Added Producer Grant and beginning farmers.
Not sure where to start? Answer a few questions and we'll tell you which of these programs match your farm.
Find My Programs →Showing 25 programs
Verify all deadlines with your local USDA service center. Dates may vary by state and are subject to change.
Agriculture Risk Coverage / Price Loss Coverage (ARC/PLC)
USDA FSA · Varies by crop and market conditions
Deadline: December 11, 2026
Annual safety net programs for commodity crop producers. ARC protects against revenue loss; PLC protects against price drops.
Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC)
USDA FSA · Payments when margin falls below selected coverage level
Deadline: December 18, 2026
Safety net program that pays dairy producers when the difference between milk price and feed costs falls below selected coverage level.
Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)
USDA FSA · Up to 75% of certification costs, max $750 per scope
Deadline: December 31, 2026
Reimburses organic certification costs for certified organic operations. Up to $750 per scope of certification.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP)
USDA FSA · Varies by loss type
Deadline: March 1, 2027
Financial assistance for losses due to disease, adverse weather, or feed shortages not covered by other disaster programs.
Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)
USDA FSA · Up to 60% of monthly feed cost
Deadline: March 1, 2027
Payments for grazing losses due to drought or fire on federally managed land.
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE)
USDA NRCS · Up to 50% of fair market value
Deadline: Rolling / Open year-round
Protects working farmland by purchasing agricultural land easements. Keeps productive farmland in agriculture.
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE)
USDA NRCS · 100% of easement value for permanent easements
Deadline: Rolling / Open year-round
Restore, protect, and enhance wetlands on eligible land through conservation easements.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
USDA NRCS · $1,500 – $40,000/year
Deadline: Rolling / Open year-round
Annual payments for maintaining and improving existing conservation systems. Rewards farmers already doing good stewardship.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
USDA NRCS · $5,000 – $450,000
Deadline: Rolling / Open year-round
Cost-share and financial assistance for conservation practices on working agricultural land. Covers soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and more.
FSA Direct Farm Ownership Loans
USDA FSA · Up to $600,000
Deadline: Rolling / Open year-round
Low-interest loans to purchase farmland, construct buildings, or improve farms. Special terms for beginning farmers.
FSA Microloans
USDA FSA · Up to $50,000
Deadline: Rolling / Open year-round
Small loans with simplified application for small and beginning farmers. Can be used for operating expenses, equipment, or land.
Organic Transition Initiative - EQIP Organic
USDA NRCS · Up to $140,000 over 5 years
Deadline: Rolling / Open year-round
Dedicated EQIP funding for farmers transitioning to organic production. Higher payment rates than standard EQIP.
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
USDA NRCS · Varies widely; partner-driven projects
Deadline: Rolling / Open year-round
Partners with organizations to deliver conservation across whole regions. Individual farmers participate through partner projects.
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)
USDA NIFA · $250,000 – $750,000 (for organizations providing training)
Deadline: Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: June 16, 2026
Funds education, mentoring, and technical assistance programs for beginning farmers. Apply through organizations, not individuals.
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
USDA NRCS · $200,000 – $2,000,000
Deadline: Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: July 27, 2026
Competitive grants for innovative conservation approaches. On-farm conservation innovation trials available for individual farmers.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) - Continuous Signup
USDA FSA · Annual rental payments + signing bonus up to $100/acre
Deadline: Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: May 1, 2026
Enroll eligible land in CRP at any time for high-priority conservation practices like buffer strips, wetlands, and pollinator habitat.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) - General Signup
USDA FSA · Annual rental payments based on soil rental rates
Deadline: Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: April 17, 2026
Annual rental payments to remove environmentally sensitive land from production and plant resource-conserving covers.
Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP)
USDA NRCS · Easement payments based on land value + cost-share up to 75%
Deadline: Next window not announced yet
Restores and enhances forest ecosystems through easements and financial assistance for threatened and endangered species habitat.
Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP)
USDA AMS · $100,000 – $500,000
Deadline: Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: June 5, 2026
Supports development of local and regional food markets. Includes Farmers Market Promotion Program and Local Food Promotion Program.
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
USDA FSA · Covers 50–65% of expected production at 100% average market price
Deadline: Next window not announced yet
Crop insurance alternative for crops not covered by federal crop insurance. Service fee waived for beginning farmers.
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
USDA Rural Development · $1,500 to $500,000 (energy systems) or $250,000 (efficiency); grant covers up to 25% of cost
Deadline: Next window not announced yet
Grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements on farms and rural small businesses.
SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant
USDA NIFA / SARE · Up to $15,000 to $50,000, depending on region
Deadline: Next window not announced yet
Small grants for farmers to explore sustainable agriculture practices through on-farm research and education projects.
Specialty Crop Block Grants
USDA AMS · $250,000 – $700,000 (state departments distribute to projects)
Deadline: Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: June 8, 2026
Grants to enhance competitiveness of specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, nursery, horticulture). Applied through state departments of agriculture.
Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG)
USDA Rural Development · Up to $50,000 (planning) or $200,000 (working capital)
Deadline: Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: April 22, 2026
Grants for farmers to develop value-added products (e.g., turning milk into cheese, marketing organic beef). Planning and working capital grants.
Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+)
USDA FSA · Varies by loss; covers up to 90% of expected value
Deadline: Closed
Disaster payments for crop, tree, bush, and vine losses caused by hurricanes, wildfires, and related qualifying events.
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