Grants
For small businesses & producer groups:
FarmRaise
Who can join: Individual producers
FarmRaise is a digital platform that helps producers find the best funding options (be it loans, grants, or cost-sharing). A Funding Advisor is available to assist you and ensure you are prepared to apply.
Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG)
Who can apply: Individual producers, agricultural producer groups
This competitive grant program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to processing and marketing new products. The goals are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. Priority may be given to beginner, socially-disadvantaged, small, or family farms. The grants are administered by the USDA Rural Development group. More information
Farmer’s Market Promotion Program
Who can apply: Agricultural businesses
FMPP grants are available to help direct-to-consumer outlets like farmers markets and roadside stands to develop, improve, and expand operations and to provide outreach, training, and technical assistance. These grants can be used for a variety of projects including market startup, infrastructure, training and education, market analysis and planning, and more. The grants are administered by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). More information
For schools, non-profits & organizations:
Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)
Who can apply: Researchers, extension agents, educators, and graduate students
These are competitive grants to fund research and education projects that advance sustainable agricultural practices in the United States. SARE grants are intended for projects involving research and education only, not to reduce the costs associated with starting a farm. A small percentage of SARE funding may be used to purchase the materials, but generally SARE funding cannot be used to make large purchases for land, equipment or capital investment. More Information
Farmer’s Market & Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP)
Who can apply: Agricultural cooperatives, producer and associations, community supported agriculture (CSA) networks and associations, local governments, nonprofits, public benefit and economic development corporations, food councils, regional farmers market authorities, and tribal governments.
The purpose of this competitive grant is to help the development, improvement, or expansion of farmers markets, CSAs, roadside stands, agritourism, other forms of direct marketing, and/or local and regional food business enterprises. These grants are administered by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture's Agricultureal Marketing Service (AMS). It has two subgroups–the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)–which issue separate Requests for Applications (RFAs) every year.) More Information
Farm to School Grants
Who can apply: Pre-K-12 schools, nonprofits, state and local agencies, agricultural producers, and American Indian tribal organizations.
These competitive grants are meant to help increase local food procurement for school meal programs and to expand educational activities on agriculture and food. There are three types of grants–planning, implementation, and support–which can be used for training and technical assistance, planning, purchasing equipment, developing school gardens, developing partnerships, and implementing farm to school programs. They are administered by the USDA and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). More Information
Community Food Project Grant
Who can apply: Nonprofits, tribal organizations, and food program service providers
The grant is a one-time infusion of federal assistance for projects that increase food distribution, participation in federally assisted nutrition programs, or improve access to food in low-income communities in order to increase self-sufficiency and food security. The grant is administered by the USDA and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). More Information
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP)
Who can apply: State department of agriculture.
The purpose of the SCBGP is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops including floriculture. The grant includes marketing, training, food safety, and pest/disease management for specialty crops. Projects should be sustainable and have a measurable impact. These grants are administered through individual State Agriculture Departments. More Information
Incentives
Farming Incentives:
Solar power
The Federal government offers a Federal Solar Tax Credit, allowing you to deduct 30% of the cost of your Solar Electric System and installation from your federal tax bill. You can combine the federal tax credit with a solar rebates offered in your state.
Property Taxes
Most states have preferential tax treatment for agricultural land, which usually involves reducing the tax burden of the property to reflect its current use, versus the market value. Qualifications can be based on land acreage, or on annual income from the farmed land. Check out your state tax treatment of agricultural land
Income Taxes
The Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment financed and their first year operating costs. With this code, you can fully depreciate your equipment in one year, instead of over the lifetime of the equipment, which can help save you money. To take advantage of Section 179, you need to purchase your equipment and have it in service by the end of the 2019 calendar year. Calculate your savings
Additional Resources
Beginner Farmers
Urban Farming
Your Next Steps:
The first step to finding your funds is research. Reading this webpage should give you a good sense of the general landscape, but we can’t give you details on the specifics of your local bank offerings, or state-specific incentives. Spend some time talking and emailing with professionals to get the full picture.
One thing to keep in mind: even if you don’t have income or operating data from your new farm business, most banks will be able to give you a loan based on previous business experience, as long as you file for funding under an existing business ID. Freight Farms has contacts with individuals at National Funding, CIT Direct Capital, and Farm Credit East who can all consult you on the best approach to get the funds you need!
Your Business Planning Tools:
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This interactive tools lets you toggle the four inputs that have the greatest effect on your bottom line: crop type, price per unit, electricity rate, and wages (if you hire additional farm labor).
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Use our robust business planning tool see your yields, profits, and expenses for up to four crops at once. Use local data to adjust sale and electricity prices for the most accurate profit data. Additionally, input all farm and business expenses, including costs of labor, rent, delivery, and packaging.
Download Business Planning Tool
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Once you have used the calculator and business planning tool to determine how to structure your business, it's time to organize everything into a comprehensive business plan to show financiers, potential customers, or local government officials.
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As you start a Freight Farms project in your community,
you might be wondering who to sell to, which crops to grow, and what prices to set. This guide explores the three most successful customer segments for Freight Farmers: restaurants, direct-to-consumer, and grocery stores.
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From one-time to recurring costs, here are all the details, visit Freight Farms pricing to learn more