Compiled by:
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center

Updated January 2007

Print PDF version

There are many good resources on the Internet related to funding opportunities:

The Rural Information Center (RIC) at the National Agricultural Library has an online funding resource: http://ric.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=5
&tax_level=1&tax_subject=319. RIC's Web site includes access to their own directories and comprehensive funding database:

• A Guide to Funding Resources
  (http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/fundguide.html)
• Federal Funding Sources for Rural Areas
  (http://ric.nal.usda.gov/nal_web/ric/ffd.php)
• Small Farm Funding Resources.
  (http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/small_farm_funding.htm)

For more information on their resources and/or hardcopy versions of their directories, contact:

Rural Information Center
National Agricultural Library, Room 132
10301 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
1-800-633-7701 (Nationwide); 1-301-504-5547 (Metropolitan Washington),
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EST
E-mail RIC

Grants.gov, created through a partnership of Federal Agencies, directs grant seekers to over 900 programs offered across 26 Federal grant-making Agencies. (http://www.grants.gov)

Building Better Rural Places: Federal Programs for Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, Entrepreneurship, Conservation and Community Development (2004)
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/betterrural.html
This guide is also available in hardcopy from ATTRA - the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, 1-800-346-9140, M-F 7:00a.m.-7:00p.m. CST.

Other contacts:

• The USDA Rural Development Office in your state. Local contacts may be found on USDA's Rural Development Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.

• Your state or local Cooperative Extension Service agent. A list of Extension resources and contacts by state is available at http://www.csrees.usda.gov/qlinks/partners/state_partners.html. Or check your phonebook's government listings.

• Your state's Department of Agriculture. The USA.gov Web site has a directory of state offices at http://www.usa.gov/Government/State_Local/Ag_Environment.shtml under “Agencies and Organizations.”

• The USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program offers three different types of grants for funding of relevant research projects: Research & Education, Professional Development, and Producer Grants. For more information: http://www.sare.org/grants/index.htm.

• The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service offers information on Farmer Direct Marketing, including a fact sheet, “Where can I get assistance for my market or project?” Available at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/directmarketing/funding.htm.

• The USDA Farm Service Agency administers several assistance, support, and loan programs. Specifically, FSA makes direct and guaranteed farm ownership (FO) and operating loans (OL) to farmers and ranchers, including beginning farmers, who are temporarily unable to obtain private, commercial credit. FSA loans can be used to purchase land, livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and supplies. Loans can also be used to construct buildings or make farm improvements. Contact a local office or USDA Service Center to learn more about programs and information.
  Program information: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=fmlp&topic=landing
  Office Information Locator:
  http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=us&agency=fsa

• The ATTRA - the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (National Center for Appropriate Technology - NCAT) Funding Opportunities directory, updated weekly. Online at:
  http://www.attra.org/funding/

• The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture produces the Federal Sustainable Agriculture Program Primer:
  http://www.sustainableagriculture.net/primer.php