Please review each grant’s Request for Proposals (RFP) before applying to understand all program details and what is required of the applicant. Contact Andrew Holden, Business Management Educator, with any questions at azh6192@psu.edu or by calling 716-640-2656. If you know of a grant that wasn’t listed and would benefit the industry, please contact Andrew.

Grant info was compiled in May of 2026 and is subject to change.

 
Grants and Programs Available for the Lake Erie Region Grape & Wine Industry - February 2026 Handout
 

USDA Issues Second Supplemental Disaster Payment to Farmers, Extends Program Application Deadline to August 12, 2026

(Higginsville, MO, April 24, 2026) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today in Missouri, announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is maximizing disaster assistance support for producers by issuing a second Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) payment to eligible producers who have approved program applications for losses due to natural disasters in calendar years 2023 and 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already provided $6.7 billion in SDRP payments to eligible producers. Additionally, USDA is extending the program deadline to give producers and FSA more time to address any program application changes that could impact payments. The original April 30 deadline has been extended to Aug. 12, 2026, for SDRP Stage 1 and Stage 2.

Initial SDRP payments were factored at 35%, but after further analysis, USDA is increasing the payment factor to 70%, meaning producers with approved applications will receive an additional 35% of their calculated SDRP payment. Future SDRP payments will also be made using a 70% payment factor.

SDRP Stage 1
The first stage, announced in July 2025, remains available to producers who received an indemnity under crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for eligible crop losses due to qualifying 2023 and 2024 natural disaster events.

SDRP Stage 2
Stage 2 of SDRP covers eligible crop, tree, bush and vine losses that were not covered under Stage One program provisions, including non-indemnified (shallow loss), uncovered and quality losses.

Eligibility
Eligible losses must be the result of natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and/or 2024.

These disasters include wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought, and related conditions.

To qualify for drought-related losses, the loss must have occurred in a county rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D2 (severe drought) for eight consecutive weeks, D3 (extreme drought), or greater intensity level during the applicable calendar year.

FSA is establishing block grants with Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, and Massachusetts that cover crop losses; therefore, producers with losses on land physically located in these states are not eligible for SDRP program payments.

More Information
For more information on SDRP, please visit fsa.usda.gov/sdrp.

2026 Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program

$1.7 Million Available for New York Beginning Farmers

New York Farm Viability Institute is pleased to announce that the 2026 NYS Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program (BFCG) is now open as of March 16.

The BFCG is a competitive funding opportunity administered in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The program will provide 1.7 million to support beginning farmers in building financially sustainable, independent, commercial agricultural enterprises throughout New York State. RFP closes on June 14, 2026.

What can be funded?

  • Start-up, improvement, or expansion of farm operations

  • Purchase of land, machinery, equipment, or livestock

  • Construction or improvement of structures

  • Marketing initiatives

  • Worker or apprenticeship training

  • Other business needs tied to financial impact

Note: Vehicles and boats are not allowed

Who is eligible?

  • Applicants must be a New York beginning farmer with 10 years or less of farm operation experience and who will materially and substantially participate in operating a farm in New York State.

  • Applicants must demonstrate the potential for the project to grow the business and improve financial sustainability. All applicants whose farm generated less than $1,000 in the previous year must provide a business plan.

  • Proposals may support a business that produces any type of agricultural product, with the exception of cannabis.

Funding Information

Application Period: March 16 – June 14, 2026
Total Funding Available: $1,700,000
Required Match: 5%

Award Range

Track 1: $5,000 - $50,000
Track 2: $50,001 - $200,000

Project Timeline

Track 1: 18 Months
Track 2: 24 Months

More Information can be found here: https://nyfvi.org/grant-programs/producer-grants/beginningfarmer/2026-bf/

Business Management Contact:

Andrew Holden, Business Management Educator

Mobile (call or text): (716) 640-2656

Office: (716) 792-2800

Email: AZH6192@psu.edu