Kentucky Small Scale Farm Grant

The Kentucky State University (KYSU) Center for the Sustainability of Farms and Families (CSFF) works to develop resources to provide assistance to small-scale farms. In partnership with the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund (KADF) and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board (KADB), KYSU is able to provide these grants.

This program helps farmers who want to improve their farming operations, improve the marketability of their products with value-added enterprise, and who want to further their farming and agricultural knowledge through educational trainings.

Applications do not "roll over" to the next period, you must submit an application into each period if you wish to be reconsidered.

The Small-Scale Farm Grant is available for operations in the following priority areas:

Aquaculture & Aquaponics

• Fish farming including assistance such as aerators, some pond preparations, harvesting equipment and more.

• Vegetable and/or fish production using recirculating systems (coupled/decoupled).

Certified Organic Agriculture

• Production-related implements, equipment, and supplies including broadfork, walk-behind implements, hand tools, irrigation lines, etc.

Value-Added Products

• Refinement or change of raw agricultural products to a new product of increased market value such as grains to bread or milk to cheese, soap, and lotions.

• Products may include jams, jellies, granola, candles, lotions, as well as cold storage for produce.

Food Insecure Area Production

• Produces or sells in one or more of the 77 eligible counties (see application).

• Does not qualify for other SSFG categories.

• Addresses one or more of the following: hydroponics, poultry/eggs, meats, small ruminants (excluding cattle and dairy cattle), or another unique project that will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Counties Eligible for Food Insecurity Program are here: Food Insecure Counties.

Agroforestry

• Products may include sap syrup, mushrooms, honey, medicinal herbs, black cohosh, goldenseal, fruits, nuts, berries and silvopasture ruminant production (excluding cattle or dairy cattle production).

• Acquiring equipment and non-disposable supplies and materials related to the production, harvesting/collection, processing, storage and packaging of non-timber forest products.

Farmer Education Assistance

• Workshops, conferences, and online trainings.

• Lodging, mileage, and registration fees allowed.

• Reference materials.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines a small scale farm as one that sells less than $250,000 of agricultural products each year. Farmers who are motivated to improve their business and who can demonstrate the ability to document their successes will be considered.

Grant Funds cannot be used for the following:

• Motorized vehicles such as trucks, tractors, walk-behinds.

• Labor costs paid to the applicant or their relatives.

• Consumables or expendables such as jars, seeds, feed, trees, or plant materials.

• Partial funding of equipment greater than $10,000. Up to $10,000 on a single piece of equipment requires verified matching funds up to $5,000.

Fill out the** 202-2025 Small-Scale Farm Grant **form and the relevant supplemental form from this list:

• Agroforestry/Specialty Crops

• Food Systems Resiliency

• Emerging Agricultural Technologies (EAT)

• Certified Organic

• Value-Added Supplemental

• Farmer Education Program

On the application, please:

• Describe plans for improving your business. Please note that your budget plan should overestimate expected expenses.

• Describe who will do the work, when the work will be done, and the expected outcome.

Return via email to:

Allison Noel

allison.noel@kysu.edu

or via regular mail to:

M. Allison Noel

Kentucky State University

400 East Main Street

CEB-218

Frankfort, KY 40601

• 2022/2023 Application

• Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Small-Scale Farms Brochure