Farm Grants in Arkansas

Federal and Arkansas grants, cost-share and farm loans, starting with what's open now.

Open or Coming Up

42,200

Farms in AR

319

Avg. Farm Acres

Southern

SARE Region

What's open in Arkansas right now

SARE farmer grant (Southern region) Deadline November 6, 2026
EQIP, CSP and other NRCS conservation programs: apply by this date for fiscal 2027 funding Deadline November 20, 2026
ARC/PLC 2026 enrollment Deadline December 11, 2026
Dairy Margin Coverage 2027 enrollment Deadline December 18, 2026
Organic certification cost share Deadline December 31, 2026
ELAP livestock disaster aid, for 2026 losses Deadline March 1, 2027
LFP grazing loss payments, for 2026 losses Deadline March 1, 2027

Any time: FSA farm loans, including microloans up to $50,000 and farm ownership loans up to $600,000, at your county FSA office.

Key agricultural sectors in Arkansas: poultry, rice, soybeans, cotton, cattle

Open or Coming Up for Arkansas Farmers

grant

11 days left

SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant

USDA NIFA / SARE · Up to $15,000 to $50,000, depending on region

Deadline: November 6, 2026 (state-specific)

Small grants for farmers to explore sustainable agriculture practices through on-farm research and education projects.

cost-share

25 days left

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

USDA NRCS · $5,000 – $450,000

Deadline: November 20, 2026 (state-specific)

Cost-share and financial assistance for conservation practices on working agricultural land. Covers soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and more.

cost-share

25 days left

Organic Transition Initiative - EQIP Organic

USDA NRCS · Up to $140,000 over 5 years

Deadline: November 20, 2026 (state-specific)

Dedicated EQIP funding for farmers transitioning to organic production. Higher payment rates than standard EQIP.

cost-share

46 days left

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.

cost-share

53 days left

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.

cost-share

66 days left

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.

grant

126 days left

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.

grant

126 days left

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.

loan

Rolling deadline

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.

loan

Rolling deadline

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.

Arkansas's own programs

Run by Arkansas agencies, not USDA. Checked on each agency's site on October 15, 2026.

Groundwater Conservation Tax Credit

Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Division

State income tax credits for water projects: 50% of the cost of a reservoir of at least 20 acre-feet, 25% for land leveling that saves irrigation water, and 25% (50% inside a critical groundwater area) for switching from groundwater to surface water. Farm credits are capped at $18,000 a year (or your state income tax due, if less), and unused credit carries forward up to 15 years. Applications go through your local conservation district.

Status: Get approval before construction starts, and keep the project in place 10 years.

Official page →

Arkansas Department of Agriculture grants

Arkansas Department of Agriculture

The department's grant page lists the Specialty Crop Block Grant, the Arkansas Grown Grant pilot for Northwest Arkansas farmers (up to $15,000 in Benton, Washington, Madison and Carroll counties) and the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program.

Status: All three were closed when we checked. The department posts new periods on its grants page; questions go to (501) 225-1598.

Official page →

Farm loans in Arkansas

We know of no federal grant that pays for farmland or a startup farm, but USDA's Farm Service Agency lends to Arkansas farmers year-round through county offices, with no sign-up deadline. The Arkansas FSA state office is at 700 W Capitol Ave., Rm. 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201, phone 501-301-3000.

FSA microloans: up to $50,000, with a shorter application.
Direct farm ownership loans: up to $600,000 to buy or improve a farm.
The Down Payment Loan: beginning, veteran and socially disadvantaged farmers can buy a farm with 5% down.
Emergency loans: after a disaster declaration covering your county.

Agricultural Water Quality Loan Program

Arkansas Department of Agriculture, with local conservation districts and participating banks

Low-interest loans of up to $250,000 for conservation practices that improve water quality. Start at your local conservation district; terms run up to 20 years, with rates set by the bank and the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.

Official page →

Buying land? Read are there grants to buy farmland before you talk to a lender.

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Next Dates Not Announced Yet

These programs run again, but the next sign-up date for Arkansas hasn't been announced. Many USDA programs post new dates between October and January.