Small Farm Fund Finder
StateRolling / continuousTechnical assistanceCalifornia only

UC Cooperative Extension — Small Farms Program Advising

University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources

County-based farm advisors offering free one-on-one help on production problems, pest and irrigation questions, food safety training, and regulatory navigation. The most underused free resource for California small farms.

Typical award
Free advising; workshops usually free or low-cost
Deadline
Rolling — contact your county office anytime
Type of support
Technical assistance · Training & farmer education
Who can apply
Individual producer, Beginning / underserved, Non-profit, Tribal
Fits these operations
Vegetables & produce, Cut flowers, Orchard & fruit, Mixed / diversified, Urban farm

Am I eligible?

  • Any California grower or aspiring grower
  • Multilingual advising available in many counties

How to apply

  1. 1Find your county UCCE office and small farms advisor
  2. 2Call or email describing the problem or goal
  3. 3Schedule a site visit or attend a scheduled workshop

What you'll need

  • Description of your operation and the issue you want help with

Timeline & contact

Days to a few weeks for a first conversation
Get help: UC Cooperative Extension county office

Ready to apply?

Applications go through University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources, 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.

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