Grants for Women Farmers: Funding Opportunities, Programs, and How to Find Them
Grants for Women Farmers: Funding Opportunities, Programs, and How to Find Them
Quick Answer: Grants for women farmers are no-repay financial awards and support programs that help female led farms start, grow or improve operations and many USDA and other programs in 2026 and beyond include set asides or priorities for women producers.
Key Takeaways
- Federal support exists: USDA’s Women in Agriculture page notes specific outreach, loans and targeted funds for women producers.
- Eligibility varies: Some grants are for beginning farmers (first 10 years), others for established operations or sustainability projects.
- Grant sizes differ: Awards can range from low-5-figures to hundreds of thousands of dollars (e.g., up to $750,000 for certain programs).
- Not just grants but loans too: The FSA’s Minority & Women Farmers program offers special loan terms and down-payment options for women.
- Prepare properly: Have a business plan, defined project, and clear budget ready as most programs expect these.
- Watch policy changes: The USDA announced in 2025 it will end considering sex/race in many farm programs, affecting future access for women.
What Are Farm Grants and How They Work
Let’s start with the basics. A farm grant is money you don’t have to pay back unlike a loan. That doesn’t mean it’s a handout or charity either, rather it’s funding meant to support people who are doing real and otherwise valuable work in agriculture. The key is showing that the money will be used for a clear, measurable purpose that supports farming, food production, conservation or community benefit. Here are a few reasons women often receive grants for their farms:
What Farm Grants Can Be Used For
- Infrastructure upgrades: Building or repairing greenhouses, fencing, irrigation systems, cold storage or farm stands.
- Sustainable practices: Switching to organic methods, adding compost systems, planting cover crops or buying soil sensors to reduce water waste.
- Equipment purchases: Buying a tractor, hoop house, beekeeping equipment or drip irrigation.
- Value-added production: Turning raw crops into products like making jams, cheeses, herbal teas or farm branded sauces.
- Marketing and education: Funding local food branding, website design or community farm tours.
- Research and training: Attending workshops, certifications, or experimenting with new crops or soil health techniques.
- Community projects: Teaching gardening to youth, starting a co-op or donating produce to local food programs.
What They Can’t Be Used For
Most grants don’t cover personal living expenses, paying off old debt or general operating costs like salaries or rent even if other aspects of their expenses include some of the above references. They’re meant for specific projects with lasting impact and not day to day expenses. Or in other words, grants can help make adding a greenhouse, planting pollinator crops, or creating a small farm store happen, but they can’t pay for gas or groceries.
Grants can come from three main places:
- Federal programs, like those run through the USDA.
- State and local agencies, often focused on regional crops or conservation efforts.
- Private foundations and nonprofits, which fund specific missions like women in sustainable farming or climate friendly agriculture.
Each of the above have their own processes when it comes to deciding on who gets what grant. You’ll need to look at each grant individually to see if you qualify and what information is needed to apply. But what all grantors are looking for is that you’ve got a plan, a clear idea of what you’ll do with the money and how it’ll make a difference.
Federal Grants and Programs for Women Farmers
Right now there are actually quite a few federal grants out there, and many are specifically meant for women farmers. Women now represent over 36% of U.S. farm operators, managing more than 407 million acres, but targeted programs help bridge funding gaps. And these are actual grants and programs run by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or related agencies and not loans. But they do come with real criteria and deadlines so we’ll walk you through the top ones so you can better understand who can apply, what they cover and how you can start the grant application process now.
1. Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) Grant Program (via National Institute of Food and Agriculture)
- Who is eligible: Institutions (state agricultural experiment stations, colleges/universities; private organizations) working on research or extension projects that increase the participation of rural women and minorities in STEM fields tied to food/ag/land sciences.
- What the funding covers: Projects that build STEM knowledge, outreach, mentoring, entrepreneurial skills among rural women and minorities. (Note: this is institution-level, not individual farm funding but partnering with these institutions is not only possible, it’s a smart way to take advantage without going through the actual grant process yourself.)
- How to apply: Check for a Request for Applications (RFA) on the NIFA website and follow the instructions in the RFA.
- Pro Tip: If you run or are part of a farm education program, women’s agricultural network, or extension site, you need to explore this. Even if you’re an individual farmer you can team up with a university or nonprofit to strengthen your chance.
URL: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/women-minorities-stem-wams
2. Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (Section 2501) (via USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement)
- Who is eligible: Nonprofits, community-based organizations, Native tribal entities, higher education institutions with expertise working with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (includes women under USDA’s definition).
- What the funding covers: Outreach, training and technical assistance to help underserved farmers get access to USDA programs, learn business skills and build farm better enterprises. Federal Register
- Funding amounts: Example: Up to $250,000 for one year and up to $750,000 over 3 years for an organization.
- How to apply: Find the annual solicitation on Grants.gov (or USDA OPPE site) and prepare a proposal that meets program mission areas such as assisting disadvantaged farmers to own and or operate viable farms. apply07.grants.gov
- Pro Tip: If you’re a farmer and not an organization, you might partner with a nonprofit or community group that applies—then you can benefit from the education/training provided.
3. Farm Service Agency (FSA) Microloans & Operating Loans – Special Provisions for Women Farmers
- Who is eligible: Beginning farmers, small-scale, niche operations including women; those who qualify as socially disadvantaged producers get priority. sustainableagriculture.net
- What it covers: Operating microloans up to ~ $50,000 for purchase of livestock, equipment, supplies, seed, marketing and approved minor improvements.
- How to apply: Visit your local FSA office, fill out the loan application, prepare a farm business plan, be ready with financials and operational details. fsa.usda.gov
- Pro Tip: Make sure to tick-off the “women farmer” part of eligibility so you capture priority provisions. Also, even though this is a loan and not a grant, the terms may be more favorable for women and beginning operations.
URL: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/farm-loan-programs/microloans
Also: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/operating-microloan
4. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) – Rural Business & Women-Owned Business Programs
- Who is eligible: Women owned small businesses including those on farms, rural businesses and minority owned firms can all apply.
- What it covers: Loans, microloans, export assistance and business growth tools. This is not always pure grants, but should still be part of your funding toolbox.
- How to apply: Apply through the official SBA website and local SBA offices. You can also speak with Women’s Business Centers and Rural Business Advisors.
- Pro Tip: If your farm includes value added processing like making jam, turning produce into products or you’re running a farm business side-by-side, the SBA tools can help alongside any USDA grants/loans you receive.
URL: https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-your-business/rural-businesses
5. Organic Transition Initiative (OTI)
- What it is: A multi-agency effort by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support farms transitioning to organic production and strengthen organic markets. farmers.gov
- Who it’s for: Farmers who want to convert to organic foods or operations already organic looking to scale.
- What it covers: Mentoring, direct farmer assistance and market development for organic crops.
- How to apply: Visit the program page to review their eligibility requirements or get in touch with your local USDA or organic transition advisor.
- Pro Tip: If your farm is making the organic shift (e.g., “I’ll go chemical-free this next cycle”), this could be a key fit.
- URL: https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/organic/organic-transition-initiative
6. Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) / ORG Program
- What it is: Run by National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under USDA-NIFA — supporting research, education & extension for organic agriculture.
- Who it’s for: Researchers, educators and extension agents, but farmers can partner or lead if you’re doing an on-farm project with education and or outreach programs.
- What it covers: Organic production methods, marketing, environmental outcomes and farm business management in organic systems.
- How to apply: Check NIFA’s funding opportunities page and look for “Organic Transitions (ORG)” or similar calls for proposals.
- Pro Tip: If you’ve done a pilot, say tried a cover crop or alternative pest control and have results to share, you’re in a stronger position to secure this grant.
- URL: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/organic-agriculture-program
7. Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program (SARE)
- What it is: A USDA supported competitive grant program for research and education on sustainable agriculture practices.
- Who it’s for: Farmers, educators or extension agents, especially operations trying new practices or willing to test and or teach them.
- What it covers: Projects like “on-farm experiment of a new crop rotation” or “demonstration of sustainable pest management” can spark ideas within your farm.
- How to apply: Find your region’s SARE site (Northeast, North Central, South, West), look for open calls (often $5k–$30k+).
- Pro Tip: Even if you’re a solo farmer, consider working with a local extension or another farmer for a joint application in order to increase both of your chances!
- URL: https://www.sare.org/grants/
8. Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP)
- What it is: A USDA program offering cooperative agreements to nonprofits and other organizations that then assist transitioning and certified organic producers with training, mentorship and networking. AMS
- Who it’s for: While organizations apply, the benefit flows to farmers. So if you're a woman farmer transitioning to organic, you’d look for partner orgs in your region that receive TOPP funding and offer services you can tap.
- What it covers: For example, one program in Iowa paired certified organic producers (mentors) with transition farmers field days, technical assistance. Iowa State Extension
- How to apply: Monitor USDA/AMS (Agricultural Marketing Service) announcements for open “cooperative agreement” rounds. At the same time, contact regional nonprofits to see if they’re part of the TOPP network.
- Pro Tip: Because you may not apply directly as the farmer, build relationships with nonprofits and show you’re ready for mentorship and training, that makes you a strong fit when their programs rollout.
- URL: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/topp
Quick reference: Federal Grants for women
Additional Resources
- USDA Women in Agriculture Portal: Comprehensive hub with tools, coordinators, and self-eligibility checks for limited-resource provisions. Visit farmers.gov/your-business/women.
- Farm Service Agency (FSA) Microloans: Quick-access loans up to $50,000 for small women led farms that are tailored for equipment or livestock.
- State-Specific Options: Many states (e.g., Texas rural women-owned business grants) layer on federal programs so be sure and check your state's ag department for more options.
- Nonprofits: Groups like the National Women in Agriculture Association offer networking and grant alerts as well as other resources specifically for women.
Start with a farm business plan and visit local USDA Service Centers for free outreach specialists to start the application process. These programs aim to empower women to thrive in ag and representation has grown, but equitable funding is key to sustaining it.
State and Local Grant Opportunities
State and local level programs are often your best option for a number of reasons. First, these programs have fewer applicants than big federal grants since they are locally focused which increases the odds of you securing one. Second, they are designed with local farming realities in mind which means the goal alignment will more naturally fit your own organically. And third, local based grants allow you to work directly with your regional extension office or agriculture department directly. While our list contains only a few states, most states offer these types of grants, and at the end of our list we’ll go more into depth of finding ones in your state if it’s not included in our list.
1. New York – Beginning Farmer Grant Program
- Program: New York Farm Viability Institute (in partnership with New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets) awards grants to farmers who’ve been in business less than 10 years.
- What you get: Awards ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 depending on your project and its complexity.
- Who can apply: For-profit farm businesses in the state NY that will materially and substantially participate in the operation.
- Why this matters: If you’re a woman farmer starting out or under ten years in, this is the kind of state program you can qualify for, with larger grants than many smaller funds.
- URL: https://nyfvi.org/bfcg-program/
2. California – Healthy Soils Program (HSP)
- Program: Healthy Soils Program run by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Focused on soil health, conservation practices, and building resilience.
- What you get: Incentive grants for on-farm practices like cover cropping, compost application and reduced tillage practices. Applicants are allowed to ask for up to $100,000 per project.
- Who can apply: Growers, ranchers and farms in CA including priority for socially disadvantaged farmers.
- Why this matters: If your farm uses or wants to transition to conservation practices, this kind of targeted program might match your project almost perfectly.
- URL: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/incentivesprogram.html
3. California – Beginning Farmer & Farmworker Training Grant Program (BFFTP)
- What it is: A program by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) supporting organizations to train or apprentice beginning farmers and farmworkers with priority for socially disadvantaged and underserved groups which does includes women.
- Why it matters: If you’re in California or considering moving there and you’re early in your farming journey, this is a way to get support, training and secure networking opportunities which often leads into funding.
- URL: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/bfftp/
4. California – Urban Agriculture Grant and Water Efficiency Program
- What it is: Still under CDFA’s grant programs, this one focuses on urban farm infrastructure, land access, equipment purchases and also water and energy efficiency for on farm operations.
- Why it matters: If your farm is smaller, urban, or you’re doing value-added products like processing and are community based, you can apply.
- URL: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/grants/
5. Oregon – Grants via Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA)
- What it is: The Oregon Department of Agriculture lists a range of grants including “New & Small Farms”, “Organic Certification Cost Share”, “Food Systems Infrastructure” and more.
- Why it matters: If you’re in Oregon or willing to look regionally, you can check their catalog and find a grant that aligns with your niche whether its organic, small scale or women-led.
- URL: https://www.oregon.gov/oda/agriculture/pages/grants.aspx
6. Oregon-Washington – Farm2Food Program (Small-scale Women Farmers + Value-added)
- What it is: A program specifically targeting small-scale women farmers & food entrepreneurs in Oregon & Washington, helping them develop food or beverage products using their farm ingredients.
- Why it matters: If you are a woman farmer and interested not just in raw produce but also turning that into jam, pickles, artisan goods or beverages, this is tailored for you.
- URL: https://www.f2faccelerator.org/orwa-program
7. National but State-Accessible – Young Farmer Grant Program (Women-Inclusive)
- What it is: While not strictly state only, this program via the National Young Farmers Coalition offers grants with at least 50% reserved for female-identifying, non-binary or trans farmers.
- Why it matters: If you’re a younger woman farmer or new to the field, this gives you a targetable, smaller scale grant where you can quickly write a good proposal.
- URL: https://swoopfunding.com/us/business-loans/farm-loans-for-women/
8. California Farmer Relief Fund (Small-Scale Family Farms, Priority for Women/Underserved)
- What it is: Via the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) and partner orgs, this fund supports small scale family farms (especially BIPOC, immigrant, and women farmers) impacted by systemic exclusion, high costs and or climate effects.
- Why it matters: If you’re a woman farmer in CA facing the economic squeeze, this is a fund more targeted to your situation than a general “large-farm” grant.
- URL: https://www.csuchico.edu/regenerativeagriculture/resources/funding-opportunities.shtml
How to Find More Programs in Your State
- Visit your state agriculture department website and look for “Grants”, “Funding Opportunities”, “Beginning Farmers”, or “Conservation Incentives”.
- Check your cooperative extension office which is usually usually part of state university system as they often keep lists of local grants, workshops and helpful links to local resources for farmers.
- Use state grant portals or systems like the “Statewide Financial System (SFS)” in New York which lists all agency funding opportunities.
- Search with keywords like: “state grants for women farmers [Your State]”, “local farm funding programs [Your State]”.
- Sign up for any funding newsletters from local farm bureaus, organic associations and minority and women farmer networks as these will often alert you when new rounds open.
Quick State and Local Resources Overview
Private Foundations, Nonprofits, and Corporate Grants
Governments and huge foundations aren’t the only funding opportunities you have. Smaller private foundations, nonprofits and corporate grant options exist for women farmers, and could be one of the best ways to get a quick injection of cash into your business.
1. Patagonia Corporate/Environmental Grants (USA & Canada)
This is a big one if your farming ties into sustainable and regenerative practices.
- What it covers: Grants typically $5,000-$20,000 for grassroots organizations doing direct-action environmental work.
- Who can apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofits or U.S. fiscal sponsors and programs that tackle an environmental problem with measurable outcomes. Individual farmers don’t apply directly unless you’re part of a nonprofit start up group.
- Why it matters for you: If your farm is doing regenerative agriculture, soil rebuilding or biodiversity work or is a women-led farm enterprise tied to those practices, you could partner with a nonprofit or create one to access this funding.
- What to do right away:
- Decide if your farm project has a clear environmental or regenerative angle (e.g., “We’re moving from conventional tillage to no-till & cover crops on X acres to regenerate soil”).
- Find or form a nonprofit or fiscal sponsorship (if you don’t have one).
- Visit the Patagonia “How We Fund” page and check if there’s a current open invitation or submission window.
- Draft a one-page concept: project goal, timeline, budget, how you’ll measure success.
- Set a reminder: May 1 – April 30 is the typical fiscal year for proposals.
- URL: https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/corporate-grant/
2. American Farmland Trust – Women for the Land & Brighter Future Fund
This nonprofit is squarely aimed at helping women in agriculture.
- What it covers: The Women for the Land initiative supports women land-owners and farmers with learning circles, technical assistance, peer networks.
Also the Brighter Future Fund offers micro-grants (e.g., up to $5,000) for beginning, socially disadvantaged, women and veteran farmers. - Why it matters: If you’re a woman farmer wanting funding + network + support to grow your farm, this hits both the money and the community side.
- What to do right away:
- Go to the Women for the Land page and sign up for their newsletter or learning circles.
- Download the Brighter Future Fund guidelines and check if you qualify (beginning, women-led, etc).
- Write down your project idea in plain form: “I will …” “I need …” “This will help …”
- Check their upcoming application dates (they rotate regularly) and mark the next deadline.
- URL: https://farmland.org/women-for-the-land
3. Annie’s Homegrown – Sustainable Agriculture Scholarships/Support
This is a smaller scale but still useful, especially if you’re studying, coaching others or branching into a new farm model.
- What it covers: Scholarships for undergrad/grad students in sustainable/organic agriculture ($2,500–$10,000).
- Why it matters: If you're looking to expand your skill set, get certification, or involve your farm family in studies, this is one route. It’s not a big operational grant for a farm, but helpful.
- What to do right away:
- If you or someone on your farm team is eligible for scholarship, check the application.
- Consider using this as part of a farm-expansion plan: “I’ll get formal training, then apply my learning to this farm project”.
- Explore if Annie’s has other funding for farm projects (their “Our Projects” page mentions funding research/partnerships).
- URL: https://www.annies.com/our-projects
4. Regional Community Foundations & Women’s Business Networks
These don’t always have big public listings but are very valuable because they tend to have less competition and more local relevance.
- What to cover: Search for “women in agriculture grant [Your State]”, “community foundation agriculture grant [Region]”, “women farm business grant [County]”.
- Why it matters: You could get funding for things like equipment, business planning, value-added processing (e.g., turning zucchini into pickles), local marketing.
- What to do right away:
- Make a list of 2-3 foundations in your region (state/county) that fund rural or women led businesses.
- Contact them: “Hi, I’m a woman farmer in [County/State], what local grant programs do you have this year that might support farm operations or value added processing?”
- Ask specifically about small grants for like $1k to $10k as those often go fast but have fewer applicants.
- Keep a folder: grant name, when it opens, what's needed and your contacts.
5. Crowdfunding + Hybrid Funding Strategies
Not a “grant” in the strictest sense, but pairing small grants with crowdfunding or community support can work really well and doesn’t need to be paid back like a loan.
- Example: You might raise $5,000 in a month via a local campaign such as “Help us expand our women-led veggie farm & build a market stand” and then add a $2,000 grant from a foundation.
- Why it matters: Grants often require matching contributions or demonstration of community support. Successful crowdfunding shows you have local local support and commitment.
- What to do right away:
- Pick a small, concrete goal for your farm that’s easy to explain. For example go with something like “We need $2,000 to buy a cold storage unit so we can sell vegetables year-round”.
- Create a crowdfunding page with photos and your story, you’re a woman farmer, this is what you do, this is your need and this is how our community benefits.
- Check if any grant you apply for allows “matching funds” or values community backing, then you’re stronger.
- Use your campaign as proof when you apply for local and community based grants, “Hey, we already raised $X from locals, now we need grant $Y.”
Here is a real example that used crowdfunding to raise money for their small farm. Meadow Squire & Josh Brill Farm in Tinmouth, Vermont used a crowdfunding campaign via Kickstarter and raised over $6,000 to expand rice production.
Smaller Grant Overview
Additional Resources and Tools
Finding the right grant is only half the battle. The other half is knowing where to look, who to ask and what tools can make the process faster and easier. Below you’ll find the best extra resources we could find to assist in your grant search. If you know of something we haven’t listed, or even a better tool than we’ve listed, please leave a comment and share it with others below!
USDA Grants & Loans Portal
If you haven’t bookmarked this yet, do it now! The USDA portal is the main hub for almost every federal funding opportunity related to farming. You’ll find grants, microloans, cost-share programs and more and all searchable by type, location and eligibility to make the process as easy as possible!
Tip: Use their “Discovery Tool” to filter for women or beginning farmer programs and then subscribe for updates.
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
This nonprofit does an incredible job breaking down farm policies and grants into plain English. You can learn about new funding programs before they hit mainstream news, and they often post analysis that helps you decide which grants are worth your time.
Local Extension Services
Every state has an agricultural extension network—usually connected to a public university—and they’re one of the best underused resources out there. These offices can point you toward local grants, state-level cost-share programs, or even help review your proposal before you submit it.
- Find yours here: https://nifa.usda.gov/land-grant-colleges-and-universities-partner-website-directory
Free Business Plan Templates
A strong farm business plan is the backbone of almost every grant application. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, there are solid business plan templates already built for small farms.
- Try the free templates at https://sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/write-your-business-plan
Grant Writing Workshops and Mentorship Programs
Grant writing is a skill and like any skill it gets easier with practice and a little guidance. Look for local workshops hosted by extension offices, women’s business centers or nonprofits like the National Young Farmers Coalition that offer these types of classes. Many are free or under $50 and can boost your grant writing confidence overnight.
- Search locally or start here: https://wbc.sba.gov/
Paybee: Simplify Your Fundraising and Community Support
Not every dollar has to come from a grant. Sometimes you can rally your community to help fund your next project, and that’s where tools like Paybee come in handy. Paybee makes it easy to host online fundraising campaigns, collect donations or even set up a virtual auction for your farm’s supporters. Think of it as crowdfunding made professional.
- Visit: https://paybee.io
Wrapping Up
From federal USDA programs to state and nonprofit opportunities, funding now exists to help women in agriculture grow better and more resilient farms. This funding is mostly intentional in that it funds what was once a male dominated industry and helps level the playing field as far as making the farming industry as inclusive as possible. The key here is to have an actual business plan and your goals all clearly written down and hashed out so you can target grants that directly fit your needs and your goals as a farmer. And since these grants aren’t loans and don’t need to be paid back, why wouldn’t you take advantage of some free money to help you reach your dreams!
Start Fundraising
Bill Allen is an expat that has been travelling the world for the past 25 years. He received his MA in writing in New York too long ago to remember, but has been writing on all sorts of subjects far varied publications ever since. When he isn't writing he enjoys meditating and working on his own website, UpscaleDrinks.com. Feel free to connect with him any time.
