Active Grants
These are the federal or state grants of interest currently open as of January 27, 2025. Links to program information are included, but feel free to reach out to KCARD at (859) 550-3972 or kcard@kcard.info for more information as well.
Deadline: February 14, 2025
Funding Amount: Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000
Eligibility: Applicants must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, currently be on active-duty, or serving in the military reserve/National Guard and must be a member of FVC. Applicants must have a for-profit agricultural business in operation, and submit a business plan. Applicants must be willing to fully participate in the Fellowship Program, which includes reporting progress, capturing photos of the purchase, and mentoring aspiring veteran farmers if needed.
Eligible Uses: Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000 to purchase equipment or supplies that will support your farm business.
Deadline: February 15, 2025
Funding Amount: Up to $1,000 with 25% match
Eligibility: KWIA members who have been members for at least 2 years and had over $500 in agricultural sales in past 2 years
Eligible Uses: This grant focuses on production-related expenses for Kentucky Women in Agriculture members.
Restrictions on the use of Grant Funds:
No motorized vehicles
No labor cost
No annual operating expenses (feed, seed, fertilize, jars, plants etc.)
Livestock purchases are limited to breeding stock
Production agriculture grant only (not for purchased products that are processed for resale)
Deadline: March 5, 2025
Funding Amount: Up to $100,000 with a 25% match
Eligibility: Permitted dairy businesses in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico
Eligible Uses: The purpose of awards in this category will be to support operational and management strategies that improve labor, production, and marketing efficiencies to help increase sustainability and competitiveness of Southeastern US dairies.
Below are suggested priority funding areas, but proposals outside of these areas may be considered.
Improvements to existing facilities to reduce the impact of heat stress and seasonal milk production swings
Investments in raw milk storage, cooling capacity, and/or transportation efficiency
Modernization and improvements to milk harvest
Improvements to feed and forage management and storage opportunities
Improvements to animal housing and environment
Water, waste, and manure management improvements
Deadline: March 5, 2025
Funding Amount: Up to $150,000 with a 25% match
Eligibility: Permitted dairy businesses in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico
Eligible Uses: The purpose of awards in this category will be to support the utilization of precision technologies and management strategies to make dairy operations more sustainable and competitive in the Southeastern US. Requests for funds under this RFP should relate to one of the following areas and offer a justification for how the selected technology will:
Improve animal health, wellbeing, and/or performance
Enhance labor efficiency
Reduce energy costs or environmental impact (i.e. carbon-footprint or GHG emissions) by making production activities more efficient
Increase utilization of the farm’s land base
Deadline: March 10, 2025
Funding Amount: Agency expects the amount of each award to range from $100,000 - $250,000
Eligibility:
City or township governments
Nonprofits
Special district governments
Native American tribal organizations
Independent school districts
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Eligible Uses: Projects may target areas of food access; education; business and start-up costs for new farmers; and development of policies related to zoning and other needs of urban production.
Grants are divided into two categories:
Planning projects initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs. Projects may target areas of food access; education; business and start-up costs for new farmers; and development of policies related to zoning and other needs of urban production.
Implementation Projects accelerate existing and emerging models of urban, indoor, and other agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers. Projects will improve local food access and collaborate with partner organizations and may support infrastructure needs; emerging technologies; educational endeavors; and urban farming policy implementation.
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Funding Amount:
Energy Efficiency Grants: up to $500,000
Renewable Energy System Grants: up to $1 million
Match depends on specific grant terms but will be 25% or 50%.
Eligibility: Agricultural producers with at least 50 percent of their gross income coming from agricultural operations.
Small businesses in eligible rural areas
Agricultural producers with at least 50 percent of their gross income coming from agricultural operations.
Eligible Uses: The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.
Applications for this program are accepted year-round at your local office.
Deadline: April 17, 2025
Funding Amount: Planning Grants $75,000; Working Capital Grants: $250,000. Dollar-for-dollar match is required.
Eligibility:
Agricultural producers (includes harvesters and steering committees)
Agricultural producer groups
Farmer- or rancher-cooperatives
Majority-controlled producer-based business ventures
Eligible Uses: The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities and increase producer income.
Grant and matching funds can be used for planning activities or for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product. Examples of planning activities include conducting feasibility studies and developing business plans for processing and marketing the proposed value-added product. Examples of working capital expenses include:
Processing costs.
Marketing and advertising expenses.
Some inventory and salary expenses.
Deadline: For priority consideration, submit by January 8th, 2025
Funding Amount: Varies based on implemented practice and incentive type
Eligibility: Farmers implementing relevant NRCS practices in the service area (including all of Kentucky)
Eligible Uses: Eligible NRCS practices are applicable to the following commodities: beef, cotton, fruits, pork, row crops, rice, specialty crops and wool.
Four type of cash incentives are offered:
Implementation Incentive.
Helps with the cost of implementing a new practice. The amount available per acre depends on the practice(s) you implement. If you’ve already implemented one or more of our approved practices, you are eligible to apply for the program.Drawdown Incentive. As you implement these practices, you’ll start to see an increase in organic matter and soil carbon. How well you manage your new practices will play a big role in this. Silvopasture and other agroforestry practices are often more expensive to implement but sequester and retain significantly more carbon in the soil as well as enhancing additional soil benefits.
Participation Incentive. In order to measure long term soil health benefits, Farmers/Growers must sign up for the duration of the program incentives (3 to 5 years). Farmers must be able to show that they have control over the land tracts entered into the program, either as land owners or a 3 to 5 year lease. Growers must agree to take soil samples at least twice a year. The Participation Incentive will cover the cost of soil testing and reporting, and other costs associated with program compliance.
Travel Incentive. BSBE participants will receive reimbursements for travel, lodging, and food during attendance to BSBE-sponsored and other CSAF field days.
Deadline: Ongoing
Funding Amount: $3,000/year for implementing practices + $500/year for completed farm assessment.
Eligibility: Kentucky farm businesses implementing or interested in implementing climate-smart NRCS practices (e.g. cover cropping, perennial planting, rotational grazing), collect data on outcomes and engage with emerging markets seeking positive environmental and climate impacts.
Enrolled acres must produce at least one of the following commodities: vegetables, fruits, beef, lamb, corn, soybeans, small grains, a range of agroforestry products. Participating farmers with enrolled acres are expected to share sales information about climate-verified commodities.
Three types of cash incentives are available:
$500/year when the farmer completes the Global Farm Metric - Farm Sustainability Assessment Tool, which provides an annual snapshot of farm resilience.
$3,000 in year one for implementing climate-smart practices. This is a flat incentive for one or multiple practices on small or large acreage. Farms are encouraged to enroll in the project in subsequent years and will receive an additional incentive payment each year.
$180/year in soil health tests paid for directly by OAK.
Deadline: Ongoing
Funding Amount: $10,000
Eligibility: Farm businesses interested in implementing climate-smart NRCS practices and potentially value added marketing linked to ecologically sound production.
Eligible Uses: Three types of cash incentives are available.
$10,000 to be directly spent on inputs and supplies selected by the farmer to improve their weakest link/greatest need related to their chosen practices.
$750 upon submission of receipts and baseline soil test.
$750 upon final soil sampling in 2028.
Ecological Outcomes Verification baseline and ongoing measurements through Savory Institute hubs paid for directly by Mt. Folly.
Deadline: Quarterly
Funding Amount: Up to 15% reimbursement can be earned on eligible local food purchases.
Eligibility: Kentucky Proud restaurants, caterers, schools and other food service participants that source and support local farms
Deadline: Last Friday of each month
Eligibility: For profit entities/businesses and nonprofit entities
Eligible Uses: Projects must benefit multiple producers as an investment in Kentucky Agriculture