Direct and guaranteed loans that finance conservation practices from an approved plan — irrigation efficiency, fencing, waste systems, tree planting, organic transition costs — including for applicants who don't qualify as family-sized farms elsewhere.
Typical award
Up to $500,000 direct; higher for guaranteed
Deadline
Rolling
Type of support
Loans & credit · Conservation
Who can apply
Individual producer, Beginning / underserved, Tribal, Other
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)
Credit history, repayment ability, and collateral are reviewed
Business plan and cash-flow projections generally required
How to apply
1Talk to a USDA Farm Service Agency loan officer about the size and purpose of the loan
2Assemble financials: balance sheet, income history, and projections
3Submit the application with your business plan and collateral information
4Respond to underwriting questions, then close and draw funds
What you'll need
Farm or business name, address, and tax ID / EIN
Three years of tax returns (or projections if you're just starting)
Current balance sheet and cash-flow projection
Business plan and description of what the loan will buy
Collateral list and any existing debt schedule
Timeline & contact
Typically 30–90 days from application to closing, faster for microloans
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.
Funds soil health, water quality and market-based conservation programs, concentrated in the Mississippi River Basin and Colorado River Basin. Farms typically participate through partner organizations.
Open nationwide — check for state-level ranking or set-asides
Non-profits, co-ops, and community organizations may apply
Dozens of regional grant programs funding habitat, pollinator, riparian buffer and soil health work on private agricultural land — often paired with NRCS technical assistance.
Open nationwide — check for state-level ranking or set-asides
Non-profits, co-ops, and community organizations may apply