1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
Rolling/ongoing — apply through local FSA office; no fixed deadline
Farm Service Agency (FSA) Microloan Program is a loan program from the USDA Farm Service Agency that funds operating expenses and equipment for beginning farmers, small family farm operators, and those engaged in niche or non-traditional farming operations.
Designed to provide fast-access, low-barrier financing, the program offers loans of up to $50,000 to help farmers purchase seed, livestock, farm equipment, and other essential inputs without the complexity of traditional farm loan processes. The program also supports climate-smart agriculture and small-scale operations such as organic farming, direct-market sales, and community-supported agriculture.
Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or qualified aliens with satisfactory credit history and farm management experience or education. No specific application deadline is listed; applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Get alerted about grants like this
Save a search for “USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)” or related topics and get emailed when new opportunities appear.
Search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Operating Microloan | Farm Service Agency A **. gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Farm Service Agency U.S. Department of Agriculture * Resources Toggle sub menu for Resources * * Loans Toggle sub menu for Loans * Climate-Smart Agriculture and Farm Loan Programs * Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Program * Highly Fractionated Indian Land Loan Program (HFIL) * Indian Tribal Land Acquisition Loan Program * Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP) * Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) * Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP 2024) * * Conservation Toggle sub menu for Conservation * Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) * Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) * Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP) * Transition Incentives Program * Water-Saving Commodities (WSC) Program * * Disaster Recovery Toggle sub menu for Disaster Recovery * 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance * Disaster Set-Aside Program (DSA) * Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) * Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) * Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) * Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) * Emergency Relief Program (ERP) * Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) * Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) * Milk Loss Program (MLP) * Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) * On-Farm Stored Commodity Loss Program (OFSCLP) * Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) * Tree Assistance Program (TAP) * * Income Support Toggle sub menu for Income Support * Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) & Price Loss Coverage (PLC) * Dairy Indemnity Payment Program (DIPP) * Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC) * Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) * Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program * Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) * Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) * Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment (RTCP) * * General Programs Toggle sub menu for General Programs * Certified Mediation Program (CMP) * Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Grant Program * Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program * * Outreach & Education Toggle sub menu for Outreach & Education * Partner Organization Resources * State Outreach Coordinators * * Price Support Toggle sub menu for Price Support * Loan Deficiency Payments * * Economic and Policy Analysis Toggle sub menu for Economic and Policy Analysis * Commodity Loan Activity Reports * Wool and Mohair Reports * Financial Management Information * * Initiatives Toggle sub menu for Initiatives * Acreage Crop Reporting Streamlining Initiative (ACRSI) * Tools Toggle sub menu for Tools * * Decision-Making Toggle sub menu for Decision-Making * Emergency Livestock, Honey Bees, Fish * * Online Services Toggle sub menu for Online Services * * Informational Toggle sub menu for Informational * Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) * News & Events Toggle sub menu for News & Events * * Laws and Regulations Toggle sub menu for Laws and Regulations * Federal Register Notices * Federal Register Publications & Related Documents * Careers Toggle sub menu for Careers * Climate-Smart Agriculture and Farm Loan Programs * Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Program * Highly Fractionated Indian Land Loan Program (HFIL) * Indian Tribal Land Acquisition Loan Program * Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP) * Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) * Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP 2024) * Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) * Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) * Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP) * Transition Incentives Program * Water-Saving Commodities (WSC) Program * 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance * Disaster Set-Aside Program (DSA) * Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) * Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) * Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) * Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) * Emergency Relief Program (ERP) * Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) * Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) * Milk Loss Program (MLP) * Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) * On-Farm Stored Commodity Loss Program (OFSCLP) * Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) * Tree Assistance Program (TAP) * Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) & Price Loss Coverage (PLC) * Dairy Indemnity Payment Program (DIPP) * Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC) * Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) * Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program * Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) * Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) * Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment (RTCP) * Certified Mediation Program (CMP) * Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Grant Program * Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program * Partner Organization Resources * State Outreach Coordinators * Loan Deficiency Payments * Economic and Policy Analysis * Commodity Loan Activity Reports * Wool and Mohair Reports * Financial Management Information * Acreage Crop Reporting Streamlining Initiative (ACRSI) Operating Microloans, administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), offer financial assistance tailored to the unique needs of beginning farmers, small-scale producers, and those engaged in niche farming operations.
These loans provide funding for various operational expenses, including the purchase of livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and supplies. Operating Microloans aim to help farmers manage and grow their operations, ensuring financial stability and supporting the development of diverse agricultural enterprises.
Eligible applicants include beginning farmers, small family farm operators, and those engaged in niche or non-traditional farming operations. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or qualified aliens with a satisfactory credit history and the ability to demonstrate farm management experience or education.
To apply for an Operating Microloan, producers must complete and submit a loan application to their local FSA office. The application process includes providing detailed financial and production information, as well as a comprehensive farm business plan. Detailed enrollment instructions and deadlines are available through the local FSA office.
* Purchase of livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and farm supplies. * Covering minor farm improvements, repairs, and other essential operating expenses. * Meeting family living expenses.
* Supporting marketing costs for agricultural products. Loan Amounts: Operating Microloans provide up to $50,000 per loan. Interest Rates and Terms: Competitive interest rates set by the FSA.
Repayment terms are flexible, ranging from one to seven years, depending on the loan purpose and the applicant’s financial circumstances. * Simplified Application Process: Designed to be more accessible and easier to complete than traditional farm loans, making it ideal for small-scale and beginning farmers.
* Support for Diverse Operations: Tailored to support a wide range of farming activities, including specialty crops, organic farming, and other niche agricultural operations. * Capacity Building: Helps new and small-scale farmers build their farming capacity, manage risks, and improve their financial stability.
Current FSA Loan Interest Rates * Find Loans and Other Programs Stay up to date on the latest from FSA * Non-Discrimination Statement
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Beginning farmers, small family farm operators, and those engaged in niche or non-traditional farming operations. Must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or qualified aliens with satisfactory credit history and farm management experience or education. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Up to $50,000 per loan Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.