Grants to Oregon Nonprofits and Agencies to Improve Access to Food in Rural Areas

Grants to Oregon Nonprofits and Agencies to Improve Access to Food in Rural Areas is sponsored by Oregon Department of Agriculture. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Grant Resources – Oregon Farm Link While there are generally more loans available to farmers than grants, there are a some grant and cost-share programs available to farmers and non-profits working on farm and food issues. Grant eligibility requirements, size and deadlines vary and some may not be available every year. Friends of Family Farmers does not administer any of the grants or programs below.

If you are aware of additional grants or cost-share opportunities available for farmers that we have missed, please let us know . USDA’s Resources for Small and Mid-Sized Farmers page provides info on federal grants and loans available for smaller producers. (link) The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has produced an overview of Farm Bill programs and grant opportunities.

(link) The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education 2020 Guide to Federal Programs for Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, Entrepreneurship, Conservation, Food Systems, and Community Development may also be helpful. (link) The Oregon Department of Agriculture has a Grants, Loans and Technical Assistance page that identifies some resources available to Oregon producers.

(link) Federal Grants for Management Practices, Conservation, Value-Added Production and Local Food Systems Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) – provides 50% matching grants to farmers for planning or working capital purposes to implement value-added ventures such as marketing or processing.

(link) The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a USDA Farm Service Agency program which provides rental payments to farmers to manage environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. Sign-ups occur annually.

(link) The CRP Transition Incentives Program (TIP) provides retired or retiring land owners or operators with two additional annual rental payments on land enrolled in expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts, on the condition they sell or rent this land to a beginning farmer or rancher or to a socially disadvantaged group.

(link) Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) – A USDA NRCS program that provides funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies to address pressing natural resource concerns.

(link) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) – USDA NRCS program that encourages producers to address resource concerns by undertaking additional conservation activities and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities.

(link) Healthy Forest Reserve Program (HFRP) — A USDA NRCS program providing cost-share options to encourage landowners to restore, enhance and protect forestland resources to improve habitat for threatened species, biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

(link) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) – A USDA NRCS Program that provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve working agricultural lands and wetlands and their related benefits. (link) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) — A USDA program that provides assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.

(link) Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) grants— aimed at protecting local streams, rivers, wetlands and natural areas (link) The Organic Cost-Share Reimbursement Program administered by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) helps cover costs related to attaining or maintaining USDA Organic certification. Eligible operations are reimbursed up to 75% of their organic certification costs, not to exceed $750 per year.

(link) The ODA also provides Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audits and trainings to assist with food safety planning, and may have funding available for small and beginning farmers (called GAP Cost Share) to cover a percentage of the costs related to attaining GAP certification.

(link) The Energy Trust of Oregon offers technical assistance and funding to offset the costs of energy-efficiency upgrades to buildings and equipment on farms, renewable energy projects, irrigation efficiency investments, and greenhouse upgrades.

(link) Specialty Crop Block Grants are offered annually by ODA, and are accessible to non-profits, local governments, producer groups, universities and other organizations to enhance the production or competitiveness of Oregon’s specialty crop industries. (link) Community Enhancement Grants — Grant program to support small-scale projects aimed at making communities in the Portland Metro region more livable.

(link) Agriculture Research Grants Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE) — Range of grants available for research on farms including Farmer Rancher Grants and Professional and Producer Grants to conduct research and educational outreach. (link) Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) — Funds research projects relevant to certified organic farming systems. Farmers and ranchers are eligible to apply.

(link) Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) — USDA program to fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Available to state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; private organizations; and individuals.

(link) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) — USDA funding for university and Extension research on a range of topics, including research on the profitability of small and medium-sized family farms, including their potential role in building local and regional systems. (link) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) — Wide range of USDA grants available for agricultural research, education and Extension activities.

Eligibility requirements vary. (link) The Rodale Institute offers information on a wide range of grants to directly support certified organic farms and farmers transitioning to organic. The Institute also offers micro-grants for small-scale BIPOC farmers.

(link) Aloha Garden Club Scholarship and Grants – Program for residents of Washington County, Oregon who are planning a course of study in horticulture, landscape design, or natural resource conservation. (link) Friends of Family Farmers provides these resources solely for educational purposes.

Friends of Family Farmers neither favors nor endorses any of the organizations listed on this website, nor are they responsible for any incorrect information that is listed on the hyperlinked external sites. UVM Extension’s New Farmer Project offers this article about two online tools for evaluating farmland rental rates.

(link) The Landholder Toolshed at California Farmlink offers a wealth of resources on leasing, conservation easements and working with service providers. (link) This document from Land For Good offers good advice on Evaluating Farms – what to consider and how to get help. (link) Friends of Family Farmers provides these resources solely for educational purposes.

Friends of Family Farmers neither favors nor endorses any of the organizations listed on this website, nor are they responsible for any incorrect information that is listed on the hyperlinked external sites.