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

Application forms are available from the department, agricultural education instructors, and county extension agents, or can be downloaded here. Applications must be approved by the local loan committee, with final approval determined by the Montana Department of Agriculture Loan Committee. A written summary of past experience or education relating to the proposed project must accompany the application. A map showing directions to the applicant's farm or ranch is also required with the application.

Walt Anseth

The Montana Junior Agriculture Loan Program was developed to assist and encourage members of agricultural youth organizations in financing agricultural projects. Projects can involve crop and livestock production, custom farming, marketing and distribution, processing, and other financially feasible activities. Loans are made from the assets of the Agricultural Finance Program. Program support and technical assistance are provided by the [Montana State University Extension Service](http://www.msuextension.org/), Montana agricultural educators, and private financial institutions.


By providing financial encouragement to young men and women to establish and expand agricultural projects, the program aims to:

- Foster the interest of young people in agriculture, thereby preserving Montana's agricultural future;

- Provide financial experience and training through personal involvement;

- Build experience and equity in agriculture to provide a foundation for future vocations; and

- Provide support to Montana agriculture education and Extension Service youth programs.



The Montana Junior Agriculture Loan Program was developed to assist and encourage members of agricultural youth organizations in financing agricultural projects. Projects can involve crop and livestock production, custom farming, marketing and distribution, processing, and other financially feasible activities. Loans are made from the assets of the Agricultural Finance Program. Program support and technical assistance are provided by the Montana State University Extension Service, Montana agricultural educators, and private financial institutions.

By providing financial encouragement to young men and women to establish and expand agricultural projects, the program aims to:
- Foster the interest of young people in agriculture, thereby preserving Montana's agricultural future;
- Provide financial experience and training through personal involvement;
- Build experience and equity in agriculture to provide a foundation for future vocations; and
- Provide support to Montana agriculture education and Extension Service youth programs.

Active members of FFA, 4-H and other recognized agricultural youth organizations are eligible for this program. The Montana Department of Agriculture may also make direct loans to youths unable to participate as members of such organizations. Parents or guardians must be willing to cooperate with prospective borrowers and have ample facilities available to provide for the project. Applicants should be between the ages of nine and 21, Montana residents, and citizens of the United States.

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

Loan

- Montana Junior Agriculture Loan Program: Loan Terms & Application
- Montana Junior Agriculture Loan Program: Application Instructions & Forms

Cash Rent

Business Plan

Refinancing

Transition

Stewardship

Trade Relief

Succession

Marketing

The amount of a loan depends on the project, but cannot exceed $3,500 for applicants ages 9-11, or $8,500 for applicants ages 12-21. Applicants may refinance loans, providing they still qualify and do not exceed the $8,500 maximum. More than one family member may qualify for individual loans. Individuals may borrow up to 90% of the total first year cost of a project. Loan repayments periods can be one to five years, depending on the project. Payments are usually made annually. Additional terms, as well as information about the Local Loan Committee, are detailed below under the Loan Terms & Application tab, or download the Montana Junior Agriculture Loan Program Loan Terms & Application.

Funding decisions are made by NCR-SARE’s regional Administrative Council, after receiving feedback from a review committee. The Administrative Council is a collection of farmers, ranchers, university representatives, nonprofit representatives, Extension and NRCS people, other government employees, and agribusiness representatives. This group sets research priorities and recommends projects for funding.

NCR-SARE can provide grant applications, reports from other projects, lists of funded projects, or other sustainable agriculture information.

Before writing a grant proposal, determine a clear project goal and explore previous research. It often helps to contact NCR-SARE, local agriculture groups, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and/or Extension educators to share ideas and invite participation.

Joan Benjamin

NCR-SARE recognizes that youth programs are a way to introduce new and exciting farming and ranching options to youth, parents, and community members. The Youth Educator program provides opportunities for youth to learn about Sustainable Agriculture (farming and ranching that is ecologically sound, profitable, and socially responsible). Youth Educator grants support projects by youth educators that encourage youth to try sustainable practices and explore sustainable agriculture as a viable career option.



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

Grant

- Sample Call for Proposal
- PowerPoint about Youth Educator Grant Program

Landscape

High Tunnel

Air Quality

Regenerative

Certification

Carbon Capture

Wildlife Habitats

Soil Health

Cover Crops

Grazing & Grass-Fed

Organic

Strip-Till

No-Till

Applications are available twice a year. Fill out the application available online at the Texas Department of Agriculture’s website www.TexasAgriculture.gov and submit it by posted deadlines for consideration. 

Kat Neilson

Nora Noble-Christoff

Grant Specialist

Pursuant to the Texas Agriculture Code, Section 58.091, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) administers the Young Farmer Grant program (YFGP). The YFGP is administered by TDA under the direction of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (TAFA).


The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance in the form of dollar-for-dollar matching grant funds to young agricultural producers that are engaged or will be engaged in creating or expanding an agricultural business in Texas.


TAFA’s Young Farmer Grant Program aims to:

-  Grow and support Texas agriculture 

-  Help meet a financial need that is otherwise not met 

-  Help grow an operation that also impacts the community 

- TAFA funds will not be used to support hobby farming. A hobby farm is a small-scale farm that is primarily for pleasure instead of being a business venture.



Pursuant to the Texas Agriculture Code, Section 58.091, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) administers the Young Farmer Grant program (YFGP). The YFGP is administered by TDA under the direction of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (TAFA).

The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance in the form of dollar-for-dollar matching grant funds to young agricultural producers that are engaged or will be engaged in creating or expanding an agricultural business in Texas.

TAFA’s Young Farmer Grant Program aims to:
-  Grow and support Texas agriculture 
-  Help meet a financial need that is otherwise not met 
-  Help grow an operation that also impacts the community 
- TAFA funds will not be used to support hobby farming. A hobby farm is a small-scale farm that is primarily for pleasure instead of being a business venture.

Who can apply?
- Grant applications will be accepted from any individual person 18 years or older, but younger than 46 years of age as of the application deadline, who is engaged or will be engaged in creating or expanding agriculture in Texas. 
- Applications that merely propose to sustain an existing agricultural business are not eligible for an award under this program. 
- Corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships or other types of foreign or domestic entities are not eligible for awards under this program. TDA will immediately disqualify any application filed on behalf of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other types of foreign or domestic entity. 
- The applicant must be able to make dollar-for-dollar matching expenditures to sustain, create or expand the proposed project.
- Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen and applicants must reside and operate in Texas.
- Grant funds will not be awarded to multiple family members applying for funding for the same project. 
- To be eligible for a grant, Applicant must have a substantial interest in the agricultural business or operation identified in the application for which the project will impact.
- Each individual grant applicant must clearly describe a distinct project and demonstrate how the individual grant applicant will independently benefit from the grant.
- An applicant that has a family, employment or business relationship with an executive, officer or employee of TDA, or a member of the TAFA Board of Directors, is not eligible for a grant and may not participate in the YFG program. A family relationship is defined as a relationship within the third degree of consanguinity or second degree of affinity as outlined in Chapter 573 of the Texas Government Code.

Deficit / Surplus Commodity Report
- FAQ 
- Texas Farm Fresh
- USDA New Farmer Guide
- USDA New Farmer - Discovery Tool
- Other Financial Assistance
    - Farmers.gov: Funding for Farmers, Ranchers, and forest landowners
    - Farm Loan Discovery Tool
    - USDA Farm Service Agency Microloan Programs


Program Highlights
- Grant recipients that have a current, open grant may not receive a new grant during this cycle. 
- Grant awards range from $5,000 to $20,000 
- Grant funds may not be used toward capital purchases (Personal property or other capital items with a unit cost of more than $5,000) 
- Applicant must be able to make dollar-for-dollar matching expenditures Grant funds are paid to grant recipients on a reimbursement basis. Funds will be distributed to the grant recipient upon TDA’s receipt of documentation, such as cancelled checks, paid invoices or properly issued vendor receipts evidencing that the grant recipient: (1) has expended the required amount of matching funds for the project; and (2)has incurred and paid out total expenses for the project in an amount equal to at least the full amount of the project budget. 
- Costs must be within the term of the grant award. 
- Successful applicants will be issued a legally binding grant agreement that will outline the grant period of performance (start and end dates). Expenses incurred before the grant approved start date or after end date of agreement. Look at the timeline in the Request for Application to help plan expenses related to your project. 

What does a matching grant mean?

Matching funds are the amount of funds you are pledging in the matching column of the grant application and there is a 1:1 matching requirement. For examples, if you are seeking a grant for $10,000 you will be expected to document a match of at least $10,000 for a total project of $20,000. In other words, for every $2 you spend you will be reimbursed $1, or 50% of each invoice your submit for payment if awarded the grant.

Applicants that indicate a higher matching amount on their grant application will be required to expend/document the amount listed in the budget section of application during the grant term. For example, if you are seeking a grant for $10,000 and said you would match $40,000 it would be the same as saying for every $5 you spend you will be reimbursed $1, or 20% of each invoice your submit for payment if awarded the grant.

- Application & Instructions
- FAQs
- Program Overview

Mindy Fryer

Director, Contracts and Grants

**Objective:** The Young Farmer Interest Rate Reduction (YFIRR) Program is intended to facilitate a lower interest rate to agricultural producers or agribusiness owners who are between 18 and 46 years of age through a commercial lender. The YFIRR program provides an interest reduction to the borrower on a qualifying bank loan for an eligible project. The Comptroller of Public Accounts for the State of Texas deposits funds in a bank (which must be a state approved depository) at a below market interest rate. The bank issues a loan of like amount, at no more than 4% above the interest rate on the state's deposit. The program does not offer a guaranty or participation by the Authority in the loan. 



Objective: The Young Farmer Interest Rate Reduction (YFIRR) Program is intended to facilitate a lower interest rate to agricultural producers or agribusiness owners who are between 18 and 46 years of age through a commercial lender. The YFIRR program provides an interest reduction to the borrower on a qualifying bank loan for an eligible project. The Comptroller of Public Accounts for the State of Texas deposits funds in a bank (which must be a state approved depository) at a below market interest rate. The bank issues a loan of like amount, at no more than 4% above the interest rate on the state's deposit. The program does not offer a guaranty or participation by the Authority in the loan. 

- Any person who is 18 years of age but younger than 46 years who proposes to use loan proceeds for the creation or expansion of an agricultural business in Texas.
- The applicant should discuss the program with his or her lender and have the lender submit the application.
- Eligible lenders include any financial institution that makes commercial loans and is an approved depository for state funds.
- Farm Credit System lenders are not eligible because they are not able to accept deposits form the Comptroller of Public Accounts.
- The lender and the borrower determine the repayment, maturity and collateral for the loan.  

A reduction or waiving of fees for meeting a certain criteria.

Discount

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Greenhouse

Buildings

Fencing

Construction

Storage

Use of Funds:

Loan proceeds may be used for any agriculture-related operating expense, including:
- The purchase or lease of land;
- Fixed asset acquisition or improvement; and/or
- Any enterprise based on agriculture, as identified in the application.
- A loan under this program may be applied to existing debt only when required by the lender to finance the expansion of an eligible project. 

Interest Rate Determination: The Comptroller of Public Accounts places a linked deposit with a participating financial institution. The interest rate on the linked deposit is determined on the date the loan is funded and based on matching the loan maturity date to the closest U.S. Treasury bill or note maturity date or the end of the State’s fiscal biennium (Aug. 31 of each odd numbered year). Typically, YFIRR loans offer interest rates lower than current market rates.

Term Requirements: The lender and the borrower determine repayment, maturity and collateral for the loan.

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.

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 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

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

Inputs

Facilities

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.

All applications must be received by 4:00 PM CT on Thursday, January 14, 2021.

Read the full Request for Proposals (PDF) and apply online. If you need the application in an alternative format, contact the program administrator.

Emily Mehr

The AGRI Urban Agriculture Grant Program encourages urban youth agricultural education and urban agriculture community development within city limits of urban or peri-urban areas.


Grants help organizations and communities obtain the materials and services necessary to successfully promote urban youth agricultural education and urban agriculture community development.



The AGRI Urban Agriculture Grant Program encourages urban youth agricultural education and urban agriculture community development within city limits of urban or peri-urban areas.

Grants help organizations and communities obtain the materials and services necessary to successfully promote urban youth agricultural education and urban agriculture community development.

The following groups are eligible to apply:
- For-profit businesses
- Non-profit organizations
- Schools
- Local government entities
- Native American tribal communities

Project Eligibility:

Eligible grant projects include the purchase and installation of equipment; capital expenditures (costs incurred to make physical improvements to or construct a facility); and/or dedicated staff contractor time. Projects must be located in or serve communities that meet one of the following criteria:
- Cities with a population over 10,000, or
- Cities with a population between 5,000 and 10,000, where at least ten percent of the population is living at or below 200 percent of the poverty line and/or at least ten percent of the population is comprised of people of color and/or Native American tribal community members as determined by the United States Census Bureau, or
- Located within the boundaries of federally recognized tribal land and serving tribal community members, regardless of population size. You'll find a list of eligible cities and tribal areas in the Request for Proposals.

- FAQs
- Resources for Grantees
- Past Projects

This application is designed to guide you through a narrative arc, telling us first about your operation as it is now, then about your longer-term goals. Then, the questions ask you to tell us about the barriers and challenges you face in reaching those goals, and how you will use this funding to help you move past or begin to address some of those barriers. Our evaluation criteria are based on how clear a picture you give us of your operation, where this funding will be used, and what kind of difference it will make for you in your long term goals. Successful applications will leave reviewers with a clear understanding of where the grant funds will be used, and how that use supports you in your farming career.

Reviewers will be considering four main criteria in evaluating applications:
- Contribution to Farmer Goals: These funds are designed to help you get closer to achieving your goals in your career as a farmer. A strong application will illustrate how the use of these funds will contribute to the long-term vision you outline in your application. A strong illustration directly links the steps you make with this funding to your options and potential choices down the road in your farm business.
- Addressing Challenges and Barriers to Success: Priority of selection will be given to applicants who can illustrate how these funds will be used to address a particular challenge they are facing in moving their business forward and the results or changes they expect to see with this funding. Strong applications will illustrate a cause and effect of what this grant funding would allow them to do for their operations and careers.
- Sustainability: One requirement of this grant is that you are making, or intend to make, steps on your operation to preserve and potentially even improve the natural resources of the land you steward for future generations. Your ability to illustrate how you currently implement, or plan to implement, sustainable farming practices and/or ethics will contribute to the strength of your application.
- Financial Need: Because a $5,000 grant with few restrictions on its use is such a unique opportunity to meet costs unmet by other funding options, we will prioritize applicants for whom this money will make a significant difference in their financial ability to meet their goals and for those requests for which other funding opportunities are difficult, or impossible to access.

Other Considerations:

While there are no regional quotas for this program, we will be looking for a geographically well-distributed cohort of 50 grant recipients.

Note on Language:

Though we encourage you to take time and care in writing your application, we will not be evaluating applications by the quality of the prose, but by the content of the proposal. Take advantage of the narrative questions to paint a picture of your operation, your personal and professional goals, and the challenges you face in reaching them. Feel free to write in whatever style or language feels truest and most comfortable to you and to representing your voice in this application.

For applications submitted in Spanish, they will be reviewed first by our Spanish-speaking reviewers in the original language and then will be translated for a final round of review.

Young Farmers

In 2020 The National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers) launched a new grant program to help young and beginning farmers and ranchers start up and grow their businesses. The program provided 50 farmers and ranchers with $5,000 grants in the spring of 2020. Grant recipients also received a one-year membership to the National Young Farmers Coalition.


In 2021 we will be offering 50 grants to a new cohort of young farmers and ranchers – forty-five awards will go to businesses already in operation, and five to projects starting in 2021. This year we have expanded the program to be able to offer grants to farmers and ranchers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, in addition to the 50 states and Washington D.C.


**_What can a Young Farmer Grant do?_**


Young Farmer Grants are designed to provide a flexible financial boost to young farmers building long term careers in agriculture. This fund can be used for anything that will further your goals as a farmer, even if that means just getting started. The goal of this fund is to provide financial assistance for any cost that currently limits your ability to start, run, or grow your operation in the way you’d like.


Grant funding may support completing a project, purchasing a new piece of equipment, covering operating costs such as seeds and compost, building new infrastructure, attending a farmer training program or conference, hiring additional farm labor, or covering personal finances that stand in the way of farm success, including but not limited to childcare, housing, or student loan payments. Funds, once awarded, may be used to match other grant opportunities.



In 2020 The National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers) launched a new grant program to help young and beginning farmers and ranchers start up and grow their businesses. The program provided 50 farmers and ranchers with $5,000 grants in the spring of 2020. Grant recipients also received a one-year membership to the National Young Farmers Coalition.

In 2021 we will be offering 50 grants to a new cohort of young farmers and ranchers – forty-five awards will go to businesses already in operation, and five to projects starting in 2021. This year we have expanded the program to be able to offer grants to farmers and ranchers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, in addition to the 50 states and Washington D.C.

What can a Young Farmer Grant do?

Young Farmer Grants are designed to provide a flexible financial boost to young farmers building long term careers in agriculture. This fund can be used for anything that will further your goals as a farmer, even if that means just getting started. The goal of this fund is to provide financial assistance for any cost that currently limits your ability to start, run, or grow your operation in the way you’d like.

Grant funding may support completing a project, purchasing a new piece of equipment, covering operating costs such as seeds and compost, building new infrastructure, attending a farmer training program or conference, hiring additional farm labor, or covering personal finances that stand in the way of farm success, including but not limited to childcare, housing, or student loan payments. Funds, once awarded, may be used to match other grant opportunities.

These grants are available to farmers of all races and gender identities. To ensure that our grants are contributing to ending inequity in access to agricultural careers, we commit to providing a minimum of 50% of our grants to Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, and 50% of grants to female-identifying, non-binary, and trans farmers. These are not mutually exclusive identity categories and should not be understood as adding up to 100% of available grants.
- This program seeks to support “livelihood farmers and rancher” or those seeking long term careers that financially support them through agriculture. At this time we are not able to offer funding to farmers who are not currently, or working toward making an income farming through long term careers in agriculture.
    - Applicant must be the operation owner or plan to start their own operation in 2021.
    - For non-profit farms without “owners” applicant must be the lead farmer/farm manager.
    - Farmer part-owners of cooperative or collective farms are qualified to apply. Please choose just one owner to represent the operation in the application.
- Young farmers and ranchers between 18-40 years of age as of April 1, 2021.
- Applicant must use farm practices that protect natural resources for future generations.
- Applicant must be farming or ranching in one of the 50 U.S. states, in Puerto Rico, or in the Virgin Islands.
- There are no preferences for what applicants produce on their operations or for current scale of farm.
- We strongly encourage farmers of color, indigenous farmers, and farmers who are facing significant structural barriers to accessing other funding opportunities and success in agriculture to apply.
- Staff and Board members of the National Young Farmers Coalition are not eligible to apply.
- Recipients of the 2020 Young Farmer Grants are not eligible to apply.

- Grant recipients will be required to submit two reports
    - A progress report between in the summer of 2021 detailing progress toward goals and any potential changes to original plan
    - A final brief written report in October 2021 detailing how the funds were used.
- Grant recipients are required to spend the entirety of their $5,000 grant before their report is due in October 2021.
    - Savings accounts for later use are not an eligible application of these funds.
- Applicants must submit a photo with their application. If the applicant is selected, their name and photo will be included in a public announcement of grant recipients on youngfarmers.org and on the Chipotle and the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation websites.
- The National Young Farmers Coalition, Chipotle, and the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation will work with some grant recipients to share their stories nationally through their communications channels; grant recipients have the option to opt out of this coverage.
- Please note that this grant is taxable income.


List of Agricultural Funding for Youth

Montana Junior Agriculture Loan Program

North Central SARE Youth Educator Grant

Texas Young Farmer Grant (YFGP)

Young Farmer Interest Rate Reduction Program (YFIRR)

Youth Loans

Minnesota AGRI Urban Agriculture Grant

National Young Farmers Coalition's Young Farmer Grant