Agricultural Innovation Grant Program

Agricultural Innovation Grant Program is a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture that funds farmers, agricultural processors, and technical service providers implementing new technologies, conservation practices, and renewable energy innovations on Pennsylvania farms. The program is funded with $10 million in the 2025-26 state budget.

Grants range from $5,000 to $2,000,000, covering project planning, on-site implementation, and regional impact projects. Eligible applicants include farmers with annual sales over $2,000, processors with sales over $10,000, and agricultural service providers. Applications must be submitted through the Single Application for Assistance portal by April 18, 2026.

Apply for the Agricultural Innovation Grant | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Apply for the Agricultural Innovation Grant The Agricultural Innovation Grant Program helps farmers and other agriculture businesses implement new agricultural technologies, conservation, and renewable energy innovations — expanding their potential to generate profits, enrich soil and water resources, and produce energy on the farm.

Building on historic investments under the Shapiro Administration, the 2025–26 budget signed by Governor Shapiro includes another $10 million for the nation’s first Agricultural Innovation Grant Program. The initial round funded 88 innovative projects statewide and is already helping farmers adopt cutting-edge technologies, generate clean energy, and protect natural resources.

This next round strengthens Pennsylvania’s leadership in agricultural innovation, ensures farms of all sizes can thrive, and supports a more sustainable and resilient agricultural economy. Applications must be submitted through the Single Application for Assistance online application system between 8 a. m.

on February 2, 2026, and 11:59 p. m. on April 18, 2026.

Applications received outside of that application window will not be considered or reviewed. Applications must be submitted through the Single Application for Assistance online application system between 8 a. m.

on February 2, 2026, and 11:59 p. m. on April 18, 2026.

Applications received outside of that application window will not be considered or reviewed. Grants will reimburse expenses for project planning, on-site project implementation, and larger grants for projects that have a regional impact.

\r\n Project examples include technology that: improves efficiency on the farm or in processing, generates energy while reducing nutrient waste leaving the farm, supports crops that effectively store carbon or replace non-renewable resources. \r\n \r\n Projects may also address practical challenges including data collection, biosecurity, and odor remediation.

Grants will reimburse expenses for project planning, on-site project implementation, and larger grants for projects that have a regional impact. Project examples include technology that: improves efficiency on the farm or in processing, generates energy while reducing nutrient waste leaving the farm, supports crops that effectively store carbon or replace non-renewable resources.

Projects may also address practical challenges including data collection, biosecurity, and odor remediation. A person who grows an agricultural commodity and who has anticipated sales greater than $2,000 per year. A person who processes an agricultural commodity and has anticipated sales greater than $10,000 per year.

A person who provides technical assistance or services to farmers for conservation, engineering, veterinary care, animal disease management, farm management, agricultural commodity production, nutrient management, or similar services. A person or cooperative association that utilizes agricultural commodities to create products or energy.

A person who grows an agricultural commodity and who has anticipated sales greater than $2,000 per year. A person who processes an agricultural commodity and has anticipated sales greater than $10,000 per year.

A person who provides technical assistance or services to farmers for conservation, engineering, veterinary care, animal disease management, farm management, agricultural commodity production, nutrient management, or similar services. A person or cooperative association that utilizes agricultural commodities to create products or energy.

A person or cooperative association who utilizes innovation: to improve energy efficiency, improve water quality, reduce water consumption, reduce odors, or address solid waste concerns. to improve production, processing, commercialization, or utilization of agricultural commodities. that produces energy from agricultural sources, including manure, food waste or biomass.

equipment that provides low-carbon or no-carbon energy sources from agricultural commodities. technology that assists eligible applicants with the management of their farms, including diagnostic tools and services. technology that assists a packer, processor or cooperative in more efficient sorting, grading, or processing of agricultural commodities.

that improves biosecurity or health of plants or animals. that supports cybersecurity or data analytics. A person or cooperative association who utilizes innovation: to improve energy efficiency, improve water quality, reduce water consumption, reduce odors, or address solid waste concerns.

to improve production, processing, commercialization, or utilization of agricultural commodities. that produces energy from agricultural sources, including manure, food waste or biomass. equipment that provides low-carbon or no-carbon energy sources from agricultural commodities.

technology that assists eligible applicants with the management of their farms, including diagnostic tools and services. technology that assists a packer, processor or cooperative in more efficient sorting, grading, or processing of agricultural commodities. that improves biosecurity or health of plants or animals.

that supports cybersecurity or data analytics. Reimbursement Grant Program Program grants should be reimbursement grants. The following can apply: Innovation planning project grant The amount of a grant should be no less than $7,500 and no more than $50,000.

A grantee must use non-State sourced matching funds equal to at least 30% of the grant amount for the project. The amount of a grant should be no less than $7,500 and no more than $50,000. A grantee must use non-State sourced matching funds equal to at least 30% of the grant amount for the project.

An eligible applicant may apply for a grant for a project that focuses on implementing innovation practices, technologies or approaches on an individual farm or property producing or processing an agricultural commodity. The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection: The amount of the grant should be no less than $5,000 and no more than $200,000.

A grantee must use non-State sourced matching funds equal to at least 50% of the grant amount for the project. An eligible applicant may apply for a grant for a project that focuses on implementing innovation practices, technologies or approaches on an individual farm or property producing or processing an agricultural commodity.

The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection: The amount of the grant should be no less than $5,000 and no more than $200,000. A grantee must use non-State sourced matching funds equal to at least 50% of the grant amount for the project.

Regional impact project grant An eligible applicant may apply for a grant for a project designed to address challenges, promote efficiencies, or achieve specific goals for multiple eligible applicants. The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection: The amount of the grant should be no less than $100,000 and no more than $2 million.

The grantee must use non-State sourced matching funds equal to at least 50% of the grant amount for the project. The project must impact two or more persons or businesses or be a cooperative association that grows, harvests, processes, packs or manages an agricultural commodity.

An eligible applicant may apply for a grant for a project designed to address challenges, promote efficiencies, or achieve specific goals for multiple eligible applicants. The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection: The amount of the grant should be no less than $100,000 and no more than $2 million. The grantee must use non-State sourced matching funds equal to at least 50% of the grant amount for the project.

The project must impact two or more persons or businesses or be a cooperative association that grows, harvests, processes, packs or manages an agricultural commodity. An application for the grant should contain the following information: The applicant's name, business address and contact information. A statement as to whether the applicant seeks an innovation planning project grant, onsite project grant or regional impact project grant.

The details of the project for which reimbursement grant money is sought, including the following: \r\n A project narrative, including a statement of the maximum amount of grant money sought for the project. An addendum that will cover: \r\n Alignment with the intent of the Program. Metrics for tracking success.

An application for the grant should contain the following information: The applicant's name, business address and contact information. A statement as to whether the applicant seeks an innovation planning project grant, onsite project grant or regional impact project grant.

The details of the project for which reimbursement grant money is sought, including the following: A project narrative, including a statement of the maximum amount of grant money sought for the project. An addendum that will cover: Alignment with the intent of the Program. Metrics for tracking success.

Ag Innovation Grant - Webinar Ag Innovation Grant - Webinar If you have any questions, please contact Michael Roth at michroth@pa. gov for more information regarding the grant. If you have any questions, please contact Michael Roth at michroth@pa.

gov for more information regarding the grant.