grants

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) believes in supporting organic farmers and ranchers in their constant search for innovation and farm profitability. The Farmer Led Trials (FLT) program puts farmers in the driver’s seat and recognizes their wisdom, experimentation, and problem-solving skills. Built in the spirit of curiosity and collaboration, this program will support farmers and ranchers in conducting impactful research that can address their unique challenges.

The California State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) has been a popular program for producers and will be open for applications at the end of November. 

SWEEP offers grants to update irrigation systems to reduce greenhouse gas release and improve water efficiency. Eligible system components or improvements include (among others) soil moisture monitoring, drip systems, switching to low-pressure irrigation systems, pump retrofits, variable frequency drives, and installation of renewable energy to reduce on-farm water and energy use.

Photo of Veronica, OTP cohort 2023, courtesy of Brisa Ranch.

Last month, USDA announced that up to $65 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding is available to support agricultural employers in implementing robust labor standards to promote a safe, healthy work environment for both U.S. workers and workers hired from northern Central American countries under the seasonal H-2A visa program. The program is funded by the Farm Service Agency and will be administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service and the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center.

On Tuesday, October 17 and Thursday, October 19, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension will host webinars to introduce farmers and agricultural professionals to grant opportunities in agriculture. Both webinars will start at 11:30 a.m. CDT and run one hour, with an additional half hour at the end for questions. 

The CCOF Foundation, in partnership with GrubMarket, supports farmers making the transition to organic agriculture practices because we know that organic production is a proven solution to climate change, economic insecurity, and health inequities. We are giving $10,000 grants to underserved small farmers in California who are transitioning to organic practices. 

California Small Agricultural Business Drought and Flood Relief Grant Program is providing relief to small agricultural businesses that experienced a decline in annual gross receipts or gross profits due to drought or flood conditions. 

Follow this link for Drought Relief and follow this link for the Flooding or Winter Storm Relief. 

Accepting applications now for both drought and flooding! 

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA’s) Urban Agriculture Grant Program is a one-time only competitive grant that will fund programs and projects that enhance the viability of agriculture in urban areas across the state of California. 

Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) has created a Farmer Funding Opportunities Database. The funding opportunities database allows farmers to easily see when grants are open for application, which on-farm activities or subjects they fund, paperwork needed for application, and more. This database will help streamline the search process for farmers without losing any time. Once in the database, farmers can view it in its entirety or use the accessible filters to narrow down the search. 

The CCOF Foundation offers relief funding for organic farms experiencing hardship, often due to climate disasters. When fires affect small organic farms, like the recent fires that devastated many communities on Maui and on several of the Hawaiian Islands, the CCOF Foundation is here to help. 

Please consider donating to the CCOF Foundation’s Hardship Assistance program. When we respond to climate disasters like this one, 100 percent of your donation will go directly to farmers in need.