Key Takeaways

• The Arizona Citrus Research Council created a grant program to help Arizona citrus producers identify solutions to production issues. The application deadline for the next series of grants is November 19, 2021.
• The Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) provides grants to farmers in the Western region of the US, including Arizona. The maximum amount awarded is $25,000. The application deadline for the next series of grants is November 1, 2021.
•  Food Animal Concerns Trust offers Fund-a-Farmer Grants to farmers for projects that improve animal welfare. The next application period is in mid-November 2021.

Introduction

Grants Available to Small Farmers in Arizona

Arizona Citrus Research Council (ACRC)

• The ACRC established a grant program to help Arizona citrus producers identify solutions to production issues.

• A link to the website is here.

• The application deadline for the next series of grants is 5:00 p.m. (MST) on November 19, 2021.

Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education

• The Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) provides grants to farmers in the Western region of the US, including Arizona. Grants are offered to individual farmers who are required to work with an agricultural professional (technical adviser) to develop a project that conducts both research and outreach on a sustainable agriculture topic. The maximum amount awarded is $25,000.
• A link to the website is here.

• The application deadline for the next series of grants is November 1, 2021.

Livestock Forage Disaster Program

• The Livestock Forage Disaster Program assistance gives payments to farmers who have covered livestock and are producers of grazed forage crop acreage that have suffered a loss of grazed forage due to a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for certain counties. Counties in Arizona eligible for the payments are Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, and Yuma.
• A link to the website is here.
• Eligible livestock producers who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage must apply for payment and provide supporting documentation to their FSA office within 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the grazing loss occurred.

Other Grants for Small Farmers

Farmer Grant Program

• Farmer Grants are made to commercial producers with an innovative idea to test on-farm demonstration or a field trial. Projects should seek new knowledge that can be used by other farmers. The grant is available to farmers in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

• A link to the website is here.

• The application deadline for the next grant is 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

Fund-a-Farmer Grants

•  Food Animal Concerns Trust offers Fund-a-Farmer Grants to farmers for projects that improve animal welfare.

• A link to the website is here.

• The next application period is in mid-November 2021.

Small Business innovation Research Program

• The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program offers grants to qualified small businesses to support opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefits. The program encourages participation by women-owned small businesses, including women farmers.
• A link to the website is here.
• The application deadline for the Small Business Innovation Research Program — Phase I is November 3, 2021.

Organic Certification Cost Share Program

• To encourage organic farming, the Organic Certification Cost Share Program provides cost share assistance to farmers of agricultural products to obtain or renew their certification under the National Organic Program. Certified operations may receive up to 50% of their certification costs paid during the program year (up to $500) per certification scope.

• A link to the website is here.

• The application deadline for the next series of grants is November 1, 2021.

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program

• The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial assistance to eligible farmers to purchase Agricultural Land Easements that protect the agricultural use. For working farms, the program helps farmers keep their land in agriculture. NRCS contributes about 50% of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement.

• A link to the website is here.

• The program seems like an ongoing one and no deadlines were available.

The National Organic Initiative

• The National Organic Initiative is a grant funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program that provides technical and financial assistance for farmers interested in transitioning to organic farming.

• A link to the website is here.

• The program seems to be ongoing and no application deadline was available.

Lakewinds Organic Field Fund

• The Lakewinds Organic Field Fund provides funding to farmers working on the development and sustainability of organics.
• A link to the website is here.
• The applications for the 2022 season will be available in late 2021.

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

• The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is awarded to farmers to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Organizations or individuals are to contact their state department of agriculture for more information.

• A link to the website is here.

• The program runs every fiscal year. The deadline for 2021 was June 11, 2021.

National Sheep Industry Improvement Center

• The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center provides grants for the Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program to foster improvements in the U.S. sheep industry.
• A link to the website is here.
• The program seems like an ongoing one. The deadline for submitting applications in 2021 was September 15, 2021.

The Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program

• The Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program provides grants to food processors, distributors, farmers markets, and producers to respond to coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against COVID-19.

• A link to the website is here.

• The application deadline for the next series of grants is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 22, 2021.

The Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives

• The Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives program supports dairy farmers in the development, production, marketing and distribution of dairy products.
• A link to the website is here.
• No application deadline for the next series of grants is available.

The Local Food Promotion Program

• The Local Food Promotion Program funds projects, including farmers, that develop, coordinate, and expand local and regional food business enterprises.

• A link to the website is here.

• It seems like an annual program. The application deadline for 2021 was June 21, 2021.

Research Strategy