Browse Ambrook’s collection of grants, loans, discounts, cost shares, easements, and insurance for seed.

Application

Applicants must verify in their application that commercial lender or Farm Service Agency loan proceeds are available to help complete the proposed farming project. Applicants that are awarded grants may not materially deviate from their approved business plans without approval from MARBIDCO and the participating commercial lender.

Mail completed applications to:

MARBIDCO Programs
1410 Forest Dr., Suite 21
Annapolis, MD 21403

Maryland Agriculture & Resource-Based Industry Development Company

Obtaining financing is difficult for most farmers, but particularly for urban farmers. A very small amount of equity capital can make a significant difference in helping these business owners to obtain bank financing (commercial loans).


MARBIDCO’s MUACLIG program addresses the finance needs of urban farmers. With the support of Farm Credit, MARBIDCO provides grant funds to incentivize the urban farmer to try to obtain commercial financing.



Obtaining financing is difficult for most farmers, but particularly for urban farmers. A very small amount of equity capital can make a significant difference in helping these business owners to obtain bank financing (commercial loans).

MARBIDCO’s MUACLIG program addresses the finance needs of urban farmers. With the support of Farm Credit, MARBIDCO provides grant funds to incentivize the urban farmer to try to obtain commercial financing.

Applicants must be qualified Beginning Urban Farmers, which are defined as being farmers (either individuals or incorporated businesses) with the principal operator(s) having:
- Limited personal or business financial resources;
- A food/fiber growing operation located in an urban community (i.e., must be geographically located within an incorporated municipality, or within the Baltimore or Washington beltways including the City of Baltimore);
- Ten or fewer years of commercial farming experience – either in a for-profit or not-for-profit setting; and
- No previous commercial agriculture loan history.

Eligible business activities include the purchase of:
- Agricultural inputs and supplies such as seed, fertilizer, compost, and baskets;
- Farm tools and equipment;
- Greenhouses, high tunnels, refrigeration, and irrigation systems; and
- Hired labor (at no more than 20% of the total eligible project cost).


A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Business Plan

Cash Rent

Refinancing

Transition

Feed

Fertilizer

Pest Management

Seed

Weeds

Waste & Manure Management

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Training

Succession

Historically Underserved

Inputs

Nutrient Management

Infrastructure

Conservation

Water Management

Maximum Grant Amount: $10,000, calculated at no more than 20% of the project’s total cost and no more than 25% of the amount of the approved commercial loan for the project. (The minimum grant amount is $1,000 – with a commercial loan of $4,000, combines for a $5,000 project).

To apply, the applicant must submit completed plans and budgets signed by the project advisor and parent or guardian along with the FSA application for loan assistance.

For more details, see the Application Instructions.

Submit your complete Application packet to your local FSA office.

FSA makes loans to individual young persons to start and operate income-producing projects of modest size in connection with their participation in [4-H clubs](http://4-h.org/), [FFA](https://www.ffa.org/home), a Tribal youth group, or similar agricultural youth organization. The project&#x2004;being financed with an FSA Youth Loan needs to provide an opportunity for the young person to acquire experience and education in agriculture-related skills.


The Youth Loan application requires a recommendation from a project advisor who verifies that he/she will sponsor the loan applicant, has the correct training and experience to supervise your project, and is available to help whenever needed.


If you are between the ages of 10 and 20 years at the time of loan closing, parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) must consent  to the loan application. Young people applying for a Youth Loan are personally responsible for repaying the loan. A co-signer is required only if the project shows possible difficulty in repaying the loan or does not meet security requirements.


**Loan Purposes:**


Youth loan funds must be used only to pay the expenses associated with an approved project.

- Buy livestock, seed, equipment and supplies

- Buy, rent or repair needed tools and equipment

- Pay operating expenses for the project



FSA makes loans to individual young persons to start and operate income-producing projects of modest size in connection with their participation in 4-H clubs, FFA, a Tribal youth group, or similar agricultural youth organization. The project being financed with an FSA Youth Loan needs to provide an opportunity for the young person to acquire experience and education in agriculture-related skills.

The Youth Loan application requires a recommendation from a project advisor who verifies that he/she will sponsor the loan applicant, has the correct training and experience to supervise your project, and is available to help whenever needed.

If you are between the ages of 10 and 20 years at the time of loan closing, parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) must consent  to the loan application. Young people applying for a Youth Loan are personally responsible for repaying the loan. A co-signer is required only if the project shows possible difficulty in repaying the loan or does not meet security requirements.

Loan Purposes:

Youth loan funds must be used only to pay the expenses associated with an approved project.
- Buy livestock, seed, equipment and supplies
- Buy, rent or repair needed tools and equipment
- Pay operating expenses for the project

Project Requirements:

The approved project to be financed must:
- Be able to produce sufficient income to repay the loan amount plus accrued interest in full;
- Be related to agricultural;
- Be educational;
- Be part of an organized and supervised program
- not be a noneligible enterprise.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements:

In addition to the items listed for project requirements, Youth loan applicants also must:
- Be a United States citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified legal alien;
- Have no controlled substance convictions;
- Have no past due debt problems;
- Have not caused the Government a financial loss on previous loan assistance;
- Have not received debt forgiveness from FSA.

Noneligible Enterprises:

Youth loan funds may not finance:
- Exotic animals, birds, or fish not normally associated with agricultural production
- Non-farm animals, birds, or fish ordinarily used for pets, companionship, or pleasure
- Market or process farm products, goods or services not produced by the youth loan applicant, even if it might be agriculturally related

A payment that must be returned to the provider following specified terms of repayment and interest rate.

Loan

- Fact Sheet: Youth Loans
- Educational Resources for Children, Parents and Teachers
- Farm Answers

Stewardship

Equipment

Youth loans accrue at the same interest rate as the Direct Operating loan rate. Loan applicants receive the advantage of always being charged the lower rate in effect at the time of loan approval or loan closing. Interest rates are calculated and posted the 1st of each month.

Repayment periods vary from 1 to 7 years. The length of the loan depends upon the amount of the loan, the loan purpose, and the project.

Applicants must contact their Cooperative Extension agents by Oct. 14 to set up an appointment to discuss their projects. Extension agents will remain a resource for farmers throughout the year as they complete their projects.

After discussing the project with an Extension agent, complete the application and submit either by email or regular mail:
 Email Requirements:
- All proposal documents, including attachments, must be in PDF format.
- All sections of application must be submitted; including SECTIONS VI, VII and Letters of Support (scans are acceptable). If awarded, you will need to provide originals before any money is dispersed.
- Proposal to be in a single PDF file if possible. If file is too big, the attachments can be sent as one document and the application as a separate document.
- Email application to agoptions@wnccommunities.org
- Please include the words 2023 WNC AgOptions Application in the subject line.

Mail or Hand-Delivery Requirements:
If sending a hard copy, a traceable/trackable mailing method is suggested. Mail or Hand Deliver to:
WNC AgOptions Project Coordinator
WNC Communities
594 Brevard Rd.
Asheville, NC 28806

WNC AgOptions Coordinator

IMPORTANT NOTICE: 2025 GRANT CYCLE CANCELLED

Tropical Storm Helene has caused widespread damage to our local communities and agricultural lands in Western North Carolina. Families have been displaced, farms have been devastated, and livelihoods are at risk. While the region recovers from the disaster, we regretfully have made the decision to cancel the upcoming grant cycle. This will allow our family farms to concentrate on recovery efforts and&#x2004;allow the resources in the region to focus on assisting farmers and their families.


Mission of WNC AgOptions: Building sustainable farming communities in our mountain region by providing resources directly to farmers who are diversifying or expanding their operations.

The ultimate goal of WNC AgOptions is to protect mountain farmland by assisting the longevity of farm enterprises and encouraging groups of farmers to solve logistical challenges in the local agricultural system.



IMPORTANT NOTICE: 2025 GRANT CYCLE CANCELLED
Tropical Storm Helene has caused widespread damage to our local communities and agricultural lands in Western North Carolina. Families have been displaced, farms have been devastated, and livelihoods are at risk. While the region recovers from the disaster, we regretfully have made the decision to cancel the upcoming grant cycle. This will allow our family farms to concentrate on recovery efforts and allow the resources in the region to focus on assisting farmers and their families.

Mission of WNC AgOptions: Building sustainable farming communities in our mountain region by providing resources directly to farmers who are diversifying or expanding their operations.
The ultimate goal of WNC AgOptions is to protect mountain farmland by assisting the longevity of farm enterprises and encouraging groups of farmers to solve logistical challenges in the local agricultural system.

Applicants are residents of North Carolina who demonstrate the economic viability of farms in Western North Carolina. Support is provided to individual farmers/farms that are diversifying or expanding their operations to increase farm income and encourage the sustainability of the farm businesses. The farm must be one in which the family holds the financial responsibility, takes the risks, and provides the majority of the management decisions for the farm business. WNC AgOptions awards grants to a variety of farm operations, including: fruits & vegetables, livestock, nurseries, agritourism, beekeeping and value-added processing. While agriculture is a varied and diverse industry that can be defined in many ways, WNC AgOptions favors applicants who operate a business and manage land for the purpose of producing crops for harvest and sale. Any funding requests should be for items directly related to the growing and harvesting of crops for sale, including livestock. WNC AgOptions also favors agritourism operations that are for the purpose of inviting the public on farm to increase sales of farm products.


A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

- Guidelines for Applying
- 2023 Application

Air Quality

Carbon Capture

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Regenerative

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Farmers Market

Local Food

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

Trade Relief

Buildings

Construction

Fencing

Greenhouse

Irrigation

Storage

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Reduced Tillage

Food Systems

Recreation

Labor

Marketing

Disaster Relief

Emergency

Suitable expenses are those associated with the production and marketing of diversified farm enterprises and agri-tourism endeavors. Examples include, but are not limited to: seeds, fertilizer, plants, amendments, livestock, trainings, advertisements, packaging, fences, signage, facilities, supplies, tools and specialized equipment. Items that cannot be funded by the award include: farmer labor, pre-existing farm debt, and expenses that are dated outside of the grant period.

Funds must be used as stated in the applicant’s proposal. Use of funds inconsistent with the proposal will result in forfeiture of award and repayment of funds.

WNC AgOptions will provide cash awards to projects with budgets that are at least 10% higher than the amount of the award request. An award request of $4,000 would require a project budget of at least $4,400 and a $8,000 award request would require a budget of at least $8,800.

The $6,000 awards are only available for farmers who write a business plan for their project.

List of Agricultural Funding for Seed