Farm Grants in Virginia
Federal and Virginia grants, cost-share and farm loans, starting with what's open now.
What's open in Virginia right now
- EQIP, CSP and other NRCS conservation programs: apply by this date for fiscal 2027 funding Deadline October 30, 2026
- AFID Infrastructure Grants Deadline October 30, 2026
- SARE farmer grant (Southern region) Deadline November 6, 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 Virginia: poultry, cattle, dairy, soybeans, corn
Open or Coming Up for Virginia Farmers
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
USDA NRCS · $5,000 – $450,000
Cost-share and financial assistance for conservation practices on working agricultural land. Covers soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and more.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
USDA NRCS · $1,500 – $40,000/year
Annual payments for maintaining and improving existing conservation systems. Rewards farmers already doing good stewardship.
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE)
USDA NRCS · Up to 50% of fair market value
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
Restore, protect, and enhance wetlands on eligible land through conservation easements.
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
USDA NRCS · Varies widely; partner-driven projects
Partners with organizations to deliver conservation across whole regions. Individual farmers participate through partner projects.
Organic Transition Initiative - EQIP Organic
USDA NRCS · Up to $140,000 over 5 years
Dedicated EQIP funding for farmers transitioning to organic production. Higher payment rates than standard EQIP.
SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant
USDA NIFA / SARE · Up to $15,000 to $50,000, depending on region
Small grants for farmers to explore sustainable agriculture practices through on-farm research and education projects.
Agriculture Risk Coverage / Price Loss Coverage (ARC/PLC)
USDA FSA · Varies by crop and market conditions
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
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
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
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
Payments for grazing losses due to drought or fire on federally managed land.
FSA Microloans
USDA FSA · Up to $50,000
Small loans with simplified application for small and beginning farmers. Can be used for operating expenses, equipment, or land.
FSA Direct Farm Ownership Loans
USDA FSA · Up to $600,000
Low-interest loans to purchase farmland, construct buildings, or improve farms. Special terms for beginning farmers.
Virginia's own programs
Run by Virginia agencies, not USDA. Checked on each agency's site on October 15, 2026.
Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program (VACS)
Virginia DCR, through your local Soil and Water Conservation District
State cost-share for conservation practices on cropland, pasture, hay land and forest land. Some practices pay a flat or per-acre rate, others are cost-shared up to 100 percent, and one person can receive up to $300,000 a year.
Status: Apply at your local Soil and Water Conservation District, which ranks applications by local water quality priorities.
Official page →AFID Infrastructure Grants
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
Grants of up to $50,000 for food hubs, farmers markets, commercial kitchens and other value-added facilities. Your county, city or town applies, with a dollar-for-dollar match (2:1 for distressed localities or projects serving several small farms), so farmers bring the project to their locality.
Status: The fall 2026 round runs September 14 to October 30, 2026.
Official page →Virginia Specialty Crop Grant Program
VDACS
Competitive grants for projects that help fruit, vegetable, nursery and other specialty crop growers.
Status: 2026 applications are closed (pre-proposals were due February 6, 2026).
Official page →Farm loans in Virginia
We know of no federal grant that pays for farmland or a startup farm, but USDA's Farm Service Agency lends to Virginia farmers year-round through county offices, with no sign-up deadline. The Virginia FSA state office is at 1606 Santa Rosa Rd., Richmond, VA 23229, phone 804-287-1500.
- 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.
Buying land? Read are there grants to buy farmland before you talk to a lender.
Get Virginia Deadline Alerts
One email a month with the upcoming deadlines for Virginia. Free, no spam.
Next Dates Not Announced Yet
These programs run again, but the next sign-up date for Virginia hasn't been announced. Many USDA programs post new dates between October and January.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) - General Signup
USDA FSA · Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: April 17, 2026
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) - Continuous Signup
USDA FSA · Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: May 1, 2026
Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG)
USDA Rural Development · Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: April 22, 2026
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)
USDA NIFA · Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: June 16, 2026
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
USDA NRCS · Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: July 27, 2026
Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP)
USDA AMS · Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: June 5, 2026
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
USDA FSA · Next window not announced yet
Specialty Crop Block Grants
USDA AMS · Next window not announced yet. Last deadline: June 8, 2026
Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP)
USDA NRCS · Next window not announced yet
Closed or Paused Programs
These programs are currently closed or paused but may reopen in future funding cycles.
Virginia Agricultural Resources
NRCS Virginia
Conservation programs, technical assistance, and EQIP information for Virginia.
FSA Virginia
State office: 1606 Santa Rosa Rd., Richmond, VA 23229. Phone 804-287-1500. Farm loans, disaster aid and commodity programs.
Find Your Local USDA Office
Locate your nearest NRCS or FSA service center in Virginia.
Full Grant Calendar
View all farm grant deadlines with state filtering and program details.
Guides & Resources
Grants to Start a Farm
What startup money actually exists, and what doesn't.
Grants to Buy Farmland?
The honest answer, and the USDA loans that work instead.
Beginning Farmer Guide
Every USDA program with beginning-farmer advantages.
Grants for Small Farms
Programs that work for small acreage and new operations.
EQIP Application Guide
Step-by-step instructions for applying to USDA's largest conservation program.
Grants vs Loans
What farmers actually need to know about USDA funding types.
Verify all deadlines with your local USDA service center. Dates may vary by state and are subject to change.