Are there grants for starting a farm?

Question

My husband is in Iraq and when he get's back we are going to buy a ranch and build a farm, over the next few years we hope to make it a self sufficient farm, but this isn't cheap! Do you know of any grants that could help us? We're first time buyers and can do horse rescue as well if either of these help! Thanks!

Answer 1

There are no grants available to help anyone start a farm, but there are a number of loans you can avail of to help you start a farm. In fact, most of the grants listed at the Catalog of Federal Government Assistance CFDA http://www.cfda.gov -- a government site that lists ALL the government grants -- are for farm loans.

Here are the grants available for agriculture -- and NONE of them are "free money" for starting farms http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.FUNCTIONAL_PROGRAM_TXT_RPT.SHOW?p_arg_names=func_cat_cd&p_arg_values=AL

10.055 USDA Direct and Counter-cyclical Payments Program
10.056 USDA Farm Storage Facility Loans
10.080 USDA Milk Income Loss Contract Program
10.307 USDA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative
10.352 USDA Value-Added Producer Grants
10.404 USDA Emergency Loans
10.406 USDA Farm Operating Loans
10.435 USDA State Mediation Grants
10.450 USDA Crop Insurance
10.459 USDA Commodity Partnerships for Small Agricultural Risk Management Education Sessions
15.034 DOI Agriculture on Indian Lands
97.003 DHS Agricultural Inspection

It is hard to find grants to start a business -- even for farmers or war veterans or minorities or women. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Are there grants for starting a farm?
My husband is in Iraq and when he get's back we are going to buy a ranch and build a farm, over the next few years we hope to make it a self sufficient farm, but this isn't cheap! Do you know of any grants that could help us? We're first time buyers and can do horse rescue as well if...

Answer 3

I don't know about grants, but part of the federal stimulus package included low interest loans to first time farmers.

Answer 4

Oh my yes, there are tons! I'd start with your local ag extension office. They have tons of information. And then of course there are governmental farm subsidies.

As for the horses, even contacting PETA could help point you in more directions, or even any other animal rights groups.

Best of luck, and God speed for your husband to come home safely.