Small Farm Fund Finder
FederalRolling / continuousCost-share / reimbursementNationwide

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)

USDA Farm Service Agency

Cost-share to repair storm and flood damage to farmland: debris removal, fence replacement, restoring conservation structures, and emergency water for livestock and irrigation.

Typical award
Up to 75% cost-share (90% for underserved producers)
Deadline
County sign-up periods after a disaster event
Type of support
Funding / grants · Disaster recovery
Who can apply
Individual producer, Beginning / underserved, Tribal
Fits these operations
Vegetables & produce, Cut flowers, Orchard & fruit, Mixed / diversified, Value-added & food business, Urban farm
The eligibility and application details below are general guidance for this kind of program, not text copied from the funder. The facts above — who runs it, how much, and when it closes — are hand-checked. Always confirm specifics on the official page.

Am I eligible?

  • Open nationwide — check for state-level ranking or set-asides
  • Individual farmers, ranchers, and farm businesses may apply
  • Tribes, tribal producers, and tribal enterprises are eligible
  • Beginning, veteran, and historically underserved producers are prioritized
  • Active SAM.gov registration and UEI number required before award
  • Must be in compliance with USDA/federal program rules (AGI limits, conservation compliance)
  • You pay up front and are reimbursed after the practice is verified
  • Work generally cannot start before the agreement is signed

How to apply

  1. 1Read the current program page or notice of funding to confirm this cycle's rules
  2. 2Contact USDA Farm Service Agency before writing — most funders will tell you if you are a fit
  3. 3Register in SAM.gov and get a UEI (this can take 2–4 weeks — start early)
  4. 4Draft the narrative, budget, and any required letters of support
  5. 5Submit whenever you are ready — rolling review, earlier is usually better
  6. 6Sign the award agreement and track spending for reporting

What you'll need

  • Farm or business name, address, and tax ID / EIN
  • SAM.gov UEI number and active registration
  • Project description and itemized budget
  • Maps, photos, or quotes for anything you plan to build or buy
  • Proof of land ownership or a lease covering the project period

Timeline & contact

Rolling review — expect roughly 1–3 months from submission to decision
Get help: USDA Farm Service Agency — your local USDA Service Center or state office can walk you through it

Ready to apply?

Applications go through USDA Farm Service Agency, not through this site. Open the official page below for eligibility rules, forms, and contacts. For federal programs it's worth calling your local USDA Service Center or Cooperative Extension office first — they help with paperwork for free and know what your county actually funds.

This listing was last hand-checked August 2026.

Similar opportunities

FederalRolling / continuousLoan / credit

FSA Emergency Farm Loans

USDA Farm Service Agency

Within 8 months of a disaster declaration

Low-interest recovery loans for producers in counties with a declared natural disaster — replace lost equipment, replant, restructure debt, or cover living expenses after a bad year.

  • Open nationwide — check for state-level ranking or set-asides
  • Individual farmers, ranchers, and farm businesses may apply

Up to $500,000; up to 100% of actual production or physical loss

Disaster recoveryIndividual producerBeginning / underservedTribal
Official pageFull detailsChecked August 2026