Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

To apply, contact one of NCAFA's Loan Program Officers (Larry Green, Carl Bond or Barbara Smith) by phone or email. The application fee is $500.00 and an origination fee of one percent of the loan amount is assessed. Rate, term and loan limits are under Terms.

Sean McKeon

Executive Director

Larry Green

Loan Program Officer

Carl Bond

Barbara Smith

Agribusiness loans, provided by the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority (NCAFA), assist agribusinesses in obtaining capital to start up, increase, or make changes to their business. They are designed to provide capital to acquire and build facilities.



- North Carolina agribusinesses licensed by the Secretary of State, or a proprietor living in North Carolina.
- Active agricultural businesses in manufacturing, processing, or retail/wholesale servicing the agricultural community, or processing agricultural commodities for sale in general commerce.
- Applicant must be an individual or business entity located in North Carolina.
- Applicant must lack the current financial strength to obtain sufficient capital to acquire or improve their business.

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

Loan

Buildings

Construction

Fencing

Greenhouse

High Tunnel

HVAC

Irrigation

Lighting

Repairs

Storage

Loan limits. "Maximum Loan - Approximately $5 million; Minimum Loan - Normally $100,000.00." Both figures are hedged ("approximately," "normally") on NCDA&CS's own page.

Rate and term. "Maximum term will not normally exceed 15 years. Variable rate based on the Prime Rate published in the Wall Street Journal." No fixed-rate option and no spread over Prime is published, so the actual rate has to come from NCAFA directly.

Fees. "The application fee is $500.00. An origination fee will be assessed for one percent of the loan amount." (On a $1M loan that is $10,000 in origination plus the $500 application fee.)

Match / cost share. None — this is a repayable commercial loan, not a grant or cost-share program.

The eligibility screen cuts both ways. The applicant must be an active NC agricultural business ("manufacturing, processing, or retail wholesale servicing the agricultural community or... processing agricultural commodities for sale in general commerce") that "lacks current financial strength to obtain sufficient capital to acquire or improve their business" — so a borrower who already qualifies for conventional bank credit is not the target.

No security requirement is published for this program (unlike NCAFA's Facilities Disaster Loans, which specify a junior lien).

Verified 2026-09-04.

Apply through the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority. Application fee $75.00; borrower pays direct costs for credit report and recording fees; loan processing fee of one percent of face value of loan. Terms: maximum term of 10 years; fixed interest rate for the life of the loan (the page lists 1.30 percent, noted as valid through 12-31-14); secured by a junior lien on real estate. Loan limits: maximum $40,000.00 for repairs to essential farm structures; minimum $1,000.00.

Agricultural Facilities Disaster Loans, administered by the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority, assist agricultural property owners who have suffered property damage through natural disasters to repair or replace structures and return to their normal work routines as quickly as possible. They are designed to provide loans for damages often not covered by federal disaster funds.



Owners of farm structures at the time of actual damage due to a natural disaster whose losses qualify under a Governor's disaster-area designation or other adequately documented localized natural disaster. The applicant must be an individual or entity located in North Carolina that appears to be a legitimate farming operation, with losses not compensated by insurance or payments from other agencies and losses exceeding $1,000.00.

Coronavirus

Trade Relief

Trees

Weather

Wildfire

Drought

Flood

Hurricane

Tornado

Emergency

Infrastructure

Equipment

Loan limits. "Maximum loans of $40,000.00 for repairs to essential farm structures. Minimum loans will be $1,000.00."

Rate and term. "Maximum term of 10 years. Fixed interest rate for life of loan at 1.30 percent." NCDA&CS attaches its own footnote to that rate reading "valid through 12-31-14" — so treat the 1.30 percent as unconfirmed and get a current quote from the Agricultural Finance Authority before relying on it. The term and the loan limits carry no such footnote.

Fees. "The application fee is $75.00." "Loan processing fee of one (1) percent of face value of loan." "Direct costs for credit report and recording fees must be paid by borrower."

Security. "NCAFA's loans will be secured by a junior lien on real estate. The loan plus any prior debts on the security should not exceed estimated value of property. Security will generally consist of real estate and fixtures only. A Promissory Note and Deed of Trust will be executed in favor of NCAFA."

Loss threshold. The applicant must have "losses not compensated by insurance or payments from other agencies" and "losses exceeding $1,000.00."

No cost-share percentage or match applies — this is a repayable loan, positioned to cover "damages often not covered by federal disaster funds." Verified 2026-09-04.

Apply through your local soil and water conservation district. Refer to the Regional Application Process webpage and the Detailed Implementation Plan for more information regarding allocations.

NCDA&CS Division of Soil and Water Conservation

The Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP), authorized through Session Law 2011-145, helps landowners identify opportunities to increase water use efficiency, availability, and storage and implement best management practices (BMPs) to conserve and&#x2004;protect water resources for agricultural purposes. It is administered by the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission through local soil and water conservation districts, which allocate funds into general District Allocations and a Regional Application Process so districts can implement both local and larger regional projects. Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost, or actual cost up to a cost cap, for each BMP installed, with the applicant responsible for 25 percent of the costs.



The Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP), authorized through Session Law 2011-145, helps landowners identify opportunities to increase water use efficiency, availability, and storage and implement best management practices (BMPs) to conserve and protect water resources for agricultural purposes. It is administered by the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission through local soil and water conservation districts, which allocate funds into general District Allocations and a Regional Application Process so districts can implement both local and larger regional projects. Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost, or actual cost up to a cost cap, for each BMP installed, with the applicant responsible for 25 percent of the costs.

Landowners or renters operating a Bonafide Farm for more than one year. The applicant must make less than $250,000; if the applicant makes more than $250,000 annually, 75% or more of their income must be through agricultural operations.

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

Cost Share

Water Quality

Waterway Protection

Wetland Conservation

Air Quality

Carbon Capture

Certification

Landscape

Regenerative

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Reduced Tillage

Water Management

Cost-share reimbursement on installed best management practices (BMPs), not a lump-sum grant. The program page states applicants "can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost or actual cost up to a cost cap for each BMP installed," and that "the applicant is responsible for 25 percent of the costs" — which "may include the use of existing material and labor."

The FY2027 AgWRAP Cost List sets a dollar cost-share cap for each practice and publishes both a 75 percent and a 90 percent column: "For actual cost items, the payment is based on 75 or 90 percent of actual cost, not to exceed the established cost share cap. The cost share cap listed is the maximum amount of cost share reimbursement allowed for that component/BMP." FY2027 caps (75% / 90%) include: agricultural water storage and/or collection system $30,000 / $36,000; agricultural water supply or reuse pond $43,500 / $52,200 (embankment-pond engineering $7,500 / $9,000 low hazard, $10,000 / $12,000 intermediate or high hazard); agricultural pond repair/retrofit $43,500 / $52,200; agricultural pond sediment removal $8,311 / $9,973; conservation irrigation conversion $33,492 / $40,190 plus design $5,000 / $6,000; solar-powered water pump $5,350 / $6,420; pump water supply (pump, pressure tank, power connection) $4,100 / $4,920; water supply well permit $500 / $600; livestock water storage $15,000 / $18,000.

Some components are paid at an average cost rather than a percentage of actual cost: fiberglass pump housing/site built $560 each; temporary storage tanks $1,813 (1,000 gal), $2,129 (1,500 gal), $2,675 (2,500 gal); water supply well construction/head protection $27 per linear foot (East), $30 (Central), $27 (West). Wells carry their own overall limit: "The maximum cost for a well, including all eligible components, is $25,000."

Because the caps are per practice rather than per applicant, no single per-recipient award ceiling is published. The AgWRAP pages and brochure state only the 75 percent rate and do not say who qualifies for the 90 percent rate. Funds reach farmers through local soil and water conservation districts, split between general District Allocations and a Regional Application Process.

Submit an application to your local soil and water conservation district. Applications are ranked based on resource concerns identified in the county. Some cost share and acreage restrictions may apply depending on the BMPs used, the type of operation, or policy set by the local district or the N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Commission.

The Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP), authorized through General Statute 106-850, helps address nonpoint source pollution by providing technical and financial resources through a voluntary, incentive-based program designed to improve water quality through the installation of various best&#x2004;management practices (BMPs) on agricultural lands directly involved with agricultural production. It is administered by the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission through local soil and water conservation districts. Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost for each BMP installed, with the applicant responsible for 25 percent of the costs (which may include existing material and labor). Cost share incentive payments are also available to encourage the use of certain agronomic best management practices.



The Agriculture Cost Share Program (ACSP), authorized through General Statute 106-850, helps address nonpoint source pollution by providing technical and financial resources through a voluntary, incentive-based program designed to improve water quality through the installation of various best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural lands directly involved with agricultural production. It is administered by the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission through local soil and water conservation districts. Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost for each BMP installed, with the applicant responsible for 25 percent of the costs (which may include existing material and labor). Cost share incentive payments are also available to encourage the use of certain agronomic best management practices.

Landowners or renters operating a Bonafide Farm for more than three years are eligible to participate.

Cost share, not a fixed award. The program page states: "Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of a predetermined average cost for each BMP installed. The applicant is responsible for 25 percent of the costs. This may include the use of existing material and labor." Reimbursement is calculated against a preestablished average cost for the practice, not against your actual invoices.

Enhanced rates and maintenance-period tradeoff (FY27 Detailed Implementation Plan). For Critical Area Planting, Cropland Conversion to Grass/Wildlife Plantings, Field Border and Filter Strip: "Participants may elect a ten-year maintenance period at the existing ACSP cost share rates of 75% standard and 90% enhanced (beginning farmers, limited resource farmers, or a farm enrolled in an enhanced voluntary agricultural district) or a five-year maintenance period at cost share rates of 60% standard and 75% enhanced." A BMP enrolled under the five-year option is not eligible for reimplementation for ten years from the implementation date.

Incentive payments. "Cost share incentive payments are also available to encourage the use of certain agronomic best management practices."

Caps. No per-applicant dollar ceiling is published. "There are some cost share and acreage restrictions depending on the BMPs used, the type of operation involved, or policy set by the local soil and water conservation district or the N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Commission," and district boards may decide which BMPs they will offer at all. Each BMP also carries a minimum life-expectancy requirement.

Program funds are a recurring state appropriation of $4,016,998 for BMP allocation (plus $2,448,778 for technical assistance) distributed to districts — that is the statewide pool, not an award size.

Contact the NC CREP specialist for your area and your county USDA Farm Service Agency office, which determines eligibility and payment options. The NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation, in conjunction with the local soil and water district, offers additional payment incentives and administers the conservation easement portion of the program.

Jennifer Roach

CREP Program Manager

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary program to encourage private landowners to take agricultural land along streams, ditches, and wetlands out of production and to establish riparian buffer zones, reducing non-point source pollution and sedimentation from agricultural operations while&#x2004;enhancing native wildlife habitat. CREP is a partnership program between the USDA Farm Service Agency and the state of NC. The program offers financial incentives based on the term of enrollment: landowners choose between 10- or 15-year contracts or a 30-year or permanent conservation easement. Cost share assistance to establish the conservation practices and an annual rental payment are offered for all four enrollment options, with bonus payments and other incentives offered for a 30-year or permanent conservation easement.



The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary program to encourage private landowners to take agricultural land along streams, ditches, and wetlands out of production and to establish riparian buffer zones, reducing non-point source pollution and sedimentation from agricultural operations while enhancing native wildlife habitat. CREP is a partnership program between the USDA Farm Service Agency and the state of NC. The program offers financial incentives based on the term of enrollment: landowners choose between 10- or 15-year contracts or a 30-year or permanent conservation easement. Cost share assistance to establish the conservation practices and an annual rental payment are offered for all four enrollment options, with bonus payments and other incentives offered for a 30-year or permanent conservation easement.

Agricultural lands with a cropping or grazing history in one of the 9 river basins or 76 counties are eligible. Up to 300 feet from a qualifying watercourse can be enrolled in one of the conservation practices, and landowners must have owned the land for at least one year. The USDA Farm Service Agency for the county determines the farm's eligibility and payment options.

Conservation

Paid per acre, not as a lump-sum award. The NCDA&CS CREP brochure (August 2026) lists the economic incentives:

- "Cost-Share Assistance: 75%-100% for the installation of eligible practices"
- "Annual Payments: up to $150 per acre for 15 years."
- "State One-Time Incentive Payment for conservation easement: $250 per acre or $1,000 per acre, depending on term."
- "Possible option to enroll existing forestland within the 100-year floodplain or within 300 feet on the opposite side of the waterbody."

Enrollment terms. "Landowners choose between 10 or 15-year contracts or a 30-year or permanent conservation easement. Cost share assistance to establish the conservation practices and an annual rental payment are offered for all four enrollment options. Bonus payments and other incentives are offered for a 30-year or permanent conservation easement." The one-time state incentive payment applies only to the 30-year and permanent easement options, and enrolling existing forested buffer is available only under the permanent option.

Easement trigger. "When 10 acres or more are enrolled in CREP, a conservation easement must be conveyed."

Who sets your numbers. "The USDA Farm Service Agency in your county will determine your farm's eligibility and payment options," and the NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation with the local district adds the state incentives. Up to 300 feet from a qualifying watercourse may be enrolled. No per-landowner dollar ceiling is published.

Administered by the NCDA&CS grants program. For program information and application materials contact the Director of Agricultural Project Management (Charles Fletcher). No application deadline is stated on the page.

Charles Fletcher

Director of Agricultural Project Management

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Increasing Meat Production, Efficiency and Capacity (IMPEC) grant program is geared to independent state meat and seafood processing facilities. In addition to increasing production, efficiency and/or capacity, projects can also include value-added processing. Project categories can include equipment and infrastructure, contractual/consultation, labor, training and retention, and other identified needs.



To be eligible for grant funding, applicants must contract with independent livestock producers or seafood harvesters to process animals or seafood and must be state or federally inspected, or must produce further processed meat products under state or federal inspection, or be a USDA inspected processor of shelf-stable meat or meat products. Proposals can be for beef, pork, small ruminant, seafood, and catfish processing facilities. Recipients must match $1 in funds or services for every $2 in grant funding; cash or services must come from non-federal and/or state sources, and matching funds cannot be used as a match for any other federal or state cost-share project.

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

Grant

Training

Match is the only quantified term NCDA&CS publishes: "Recipients must match $1 in funds or services for every $2 in grant funding. Cash or services must come from non-federal and/or state sources, and matching funds cannot be used as a match for any other federal or state cost-share project." In practice that means the grant covers up to two-thirds of a project and you bring one-third, in cash or in-kind services.

No award ceiling, floor, or funding-round total is published on the NCDA&CS grants page for the current IMPEC program, and no application deadline is stated. Earlier IMPEC rounds were announced with their own per-project limits, but no current figure is posted — contact the Director of Agricultural Project Management (Charles Fletcher) for the amount available in the current round before budgeting a project.

Eligible spending categories: equipment and infrastructure, contractual/consultation, labor, training and retention, and other identified needs; projects may also include value-added processing.

No contract length, interest rate, or fee applies — IMPEC is a grant to independent state-inspected meat and seafood processing facilities.

Administered annually by the N.C. Agricultural Finance Authority. Submit the program Application (see the Application, FAQs, and Eligible Counties Map linked on the page). No specific application-window date is stated on the page; applications were most recently announced as opening in December.

The Large Animal Healthcare Enhancement Fund is a $130,000 recurring fund created by the N.C. General Assembly in 2023 and administered annually by the N.C. Agricultural Finance Authority. The funding opportunity is available to veterinarians who practice in one&#x2004;of the 70 North Carolina counties with a population of 100,000 or fewer and who spend 30% or more of their patient care on large animal veterinary care. These funds can be used for repayment of educational loans related to the recipient's veterinary degree, to purchase equipment or technology for use in their practice, or for any additional uses the advisory committee determines is appropriate to promote and develop large animal veterinarians to practice in the designated counties.



The Large Animal Healthcare Enhancement Fund is a $130,000 recurring fund created by the N.C. General Assembly in 2023 and administered annually by the N.C. Agricultural Finance Authority. The funding opportunity is available to veterinarians who practice in one of the 70 North Carolina counties with a population of 100,000 or fewer and who spend 30% or more of their patient care on large animal veterinary care. These funds can be used for repayment of educational loans related to the recipient's veterinary degree, to purchase equipment or technology for use in their practice, or for any additional uses the advisory committee determines is appropriate to promote and develop large animal veterinarians to practice in the designated counties.

Veterinarians who practice in one of the 70 North Carolina counties with a population of 100,000 or fewer and who spend 30% or more of their patient care on large animal veterinary care.

Stewardship

"The maximum award available is $25,000, however the committee only has a pool of $123,500 annually to disperse to grantees" (program FAQ, dated 07/15/2026). The program page describes the underlying appropriation as a "$130,000 recurring fund" created by the General Assembly in 2023.

Use of funds (per G.S. 106-1073): repayment of educational loans related to the recipient's veterinary degree; purchase of equipment or technology for use in the recipient's large animal veterinary practice; or any additional uses the Advisory Committee determines appropriate.

Tax treatment: awards are taxable. Applicants must submit a W-9 with the application, and "you will be required to submit a 1099 form on your tax year that the grant is received."

Clawback: "There is 'clawback' language in legislation in the case your practice migrates away from the 30% large animal practice for any reason. Repayment of the grant is required pursuant to G.S. 106-1073."

Repeat limit: applicants may reapply annually "as long as they have not received two consecutive awards in the previous rounds of funding"; recipients funded in both prior rounds must wait one year to reapply.

Recent scale: $123,500 was awarded to large animal vets in May 2026, and since inception the fund has gone to 16 veterinarians totaling over $250,000.

Apply through the NCDA&CS (Cooperative Grading Service) or at any FSA county office; a Substitute W-9 is required.

Brooke Stephenson

Agricultural Program Manager

Certified organic operations can apply for cost share assistance&#x2004;toward the cost of USDA organic certification through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) or at any Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office. There is no difference in eligibility or reimbursement amount between the agencies; however, the paperwork may differ. Before a product can be labeled USDA organic, a government-approved certifier inspects the operation to ensure it follows all rules needed to meet USDA organic standards, and handlers/processors of organic food must be certified too.



Certified organic operations can apply for cost share assistance toward the cost of USDA organic certification through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) or at any Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office. There is no difference in eligibility or reimbursement amount between the agencies; however, the paperwork may differ. Before a product can be labeled USDA organic, a government-approved certifier inspects the operation to ensure it follows all rules needed to meet USDA organic standards, and handlers/processors of organic food must be certified too.

Certified organic operations — farms and handling/processing operations certified to USDA organic standards.

Nutrition & Food Safety

Marketing

Research

Compliance

Reimbursement rate: 75% of your organic certification costs, up to a maximum of $750 per certification scope, for the 2025 and 2026 program years. This is a per-scope cap rather than a single per-applicant award, so an operation certified under more than one scope may claim up to $750 for each.

NCDA&CS itself publishes no figure — its page routes you to the federal rate and confirms the two application routes are equivalent: "Certified organic operations can apply for cost share assistance through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) or at any Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office. There is no difference in your eligibility or reimbursement amount; however the paperwork may differ between agencies." The governing terms are USDA's OCCSP final rule (91 FR 40859, July 6, 2026), which states: "For the 2025 and 2026 program years, the reimbursement percentage will be 75 percent, up to a maximum of $750 per scope."

The five scopes: crops, wild crops, livestock, handling (processing), and State organic program fees.

Allocating shared costs: "If an allowable cost is incurred for more than one scope, the amount will be divided by the number of applicable scopes."

Deadline: applications for both the 2025 and 2026 program years must be submitted by December 31, 2026. From 2027 on, the deadline is December 31 following the end of the program year.

Conditions: you must have paid certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent, and a State of NC Substitute W-9 is required when applying through NCDA&CS. No match is required.

Apply through the NCAFA. A $150 application fee is required at submission; at closing a fee of 1/8th of 1% of the loan amount is required. NCAFA covers all loan processing costs, including the FSA guarantee fee (1.5% of 90% of principal), appraisal, and docket preparation, and does not charge an origination fee. Terms: prime plus 1.75% (variable, may change quarterly), for periods up to 15 years, secured by liens on the real estate. Loan limit: up to $2,037,000.00 (amount varies annually based on Farm Service Agency guarantee limits).

The&#x2004;North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority (NCAFA), created in 1986 to provide affordable credit to North Carolina farmers and agri-businesses unable to obtain credit from local sources at reasonable rates and terms, offers Series I Farm Real Estate loans. Loan purposes may include buying, improving, or enlarging farms; construction, improvement, or repair of farm homes and service buildings; improvement of on-farm water supplies; installation of pollution control; soil and water conservation measures, irrigation systems, and drainage improvements; refinancing debts; and providing for production of fish under controlled conditions.



The North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority (NCAFA), created in 1986 to provide affordable credit to North Carolina farmers and agri-businesses unable to obtain credit from local sources at reasonable rates and terms, offers Series I Farm Real Estate loans. Loan purposes may include buying, improving, or enlarging farms; construction, improvement, or repair of farm homes and service buildings; improvement of on-farm water supplies; installation of pollution control; soil and water conservation measures, irrigation systems, and drainage improvements; refinancing debts; and providing for production of fish under controlled conditions.

Individuals, farming corporations, partnerships, or joint operations that have sufficient education, training, or experience to manage and operate a farm; are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens maintaining a farming operation in North Carolina; have the legal capacity to incur the loan obligations; are unable to obtain credit elsewhere without an FSA guarantee; have an acceptable credit history; and will be the owner-operator of a family farm after the loan is closed.

Legal & Finance

A guaranteed real-estate loan, fully priced on the NCAFA page.

Rate and term: "NCAFA's Series I Farm Real Estate loans are made at prime plus 1.75%. The rate is variable and may change quarterly. The terms for repayment may be for periods up to 15 years." Loans are secured by liens on the real estate.

Loan limit: "NCAFA's Series I Farm Real Estate loans can be made up to $2,037,000.00 (amount varies annually based on Farm Service Agency guarantee limits)." No minimum loan size is published.

Fees and closing costs: "A $150 application fee is required when the application is submitted. At closing, a fee of 1/8th of 1% of the loan amount is required." NCAFA absorbs most processing costs: it "will cover all loan processing costs, including the FSA Guarantee fee of one and a half percent (1.5%) of 90% of the principal amount of the loan, appraisal cost and docket preparation and not pass these costs on to the borrower," and "NCAFA does not charge an origination fee." The borrower still pays closing costs, "which may include attorney fees, title insurance premiums, recording fees and hazard insurance."

No cost-share percentage or match is involved — this is credit, not a grant. Eligibility turns on being unable to obtain credit elsewhere without an FSA guarantee, and on being the owner-operator of a family farm after closing.

To obtain an application, contact one of NCAFA's Loan Program Officers (Larry Green, Carl Bond or Barbara Smith) by phone or email.

The NCAFA loan request is for no more than 50% of the applicant's need; simultaneously submit an application to the local FSA office for its Down Payment Loan Program (no more than 45% of need); NCAFA accepts the FSA-completed application and evaluates a loan for 50% of the applicant's need. A $75 application fee is required at submission and a closing fee equal to 1% of NCAFA's loan may apply. Terms: variable rate of Prime plus 0.75% (may change quarterly), amortized over 30 years with a balloon payment no earlier than 20 years after origination. Loan limit: up to $333,500.00 for purchasing land.

The Beginning Farmer Loan Program, administered by the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority (NCAFA), provides low cost, long term financing to assist North Carolinians in starting farming careers. Loans are provided by NCAFA in conjunction with the Farm Service Agency's Down Payment Loan Program and may be used for purchasing farmland (including existing improvements). Beginning Farmer Loans carry competitive interest rates for farmers who might otherwise not be eligible for loans.



- Individuals, farming corporations, partnerships, or joint operations may apply.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens.
- Applicants must maintain a farming operation in North Carolina.
- Applicants must have operated a farm for at least 3 years but not more than 10 years.
- Applicants must never have held a direct or indirect ownership interest in substantial farmland, with county-specific farm size figures available from NCAFA.
- Applicants must have access to adequate working capital.
- Applicants must be educated or experienced in the type of farming operation for which the loan is sought.
- Applicants must meet the basic eligibility requirements for an NCAFA Series I Farm Real Estate loan.
- Applicants must have sufficient education, training, or experience in managing and operating a farm or ranch to demonstrate the managerial ability needed to succeed in farming.
- Applicants must have the legal capacity to incur the obligations of the loan.
- Applicants must be unable to obtain credit elsewhere without an FSA guarantee.
- Applicants must have an acceptable credit history.
- Applicants must be the owner-operator of a family farm after the loan is closed.
- Applicants must make a cash down payment of at least 5% of the purchase price.

Business Plan

Cash Rent

Refinancing

Transition

Succession

Historically Underserved

Loan size: "Qualified applicants may finance projects up to $333,500.00 for purchasing land." Proceeds may be used only for "purchasing farmland (including existing improvements)."

Interest rate: "NCAFA loan rate for Beginning Farmer Loan Program is a variable rate of Prime plus .75%, which can change quarterly."

Repayment: "Loans are amortized over 30 years with a balloon payment no earlier than 20 years after loan origination."

Down payment: "The applicant must make a cash down payment of at least 5% of the purchase price."

Fees: "A $75 application fee is required when the application is submitted and a closing fee equal to 1% (1% of NCAFA's loan) may be applicable and payable at loan closing."

Deal structure — the financing is layered with FSA, so NCAFA covers only about half the purchase. The NCAFA application "will be for no more than 50% of the applicants need"; a simultaneous application to the local Farm Service Agency for its Down Payment Loan Program "will be for no more than 45% of the applicants need"; "NCAFA accepts the application as completed by FSA and evaluates making a l[o]an for 50% of the applicant's need." The farmer's 5% cash down payment covers the remainder.

Apply through the NCAFA. Terms: prime plus 1.00% (variable, may change quarterly), for repayment periods up to 30 years, with a balloon payment for outstanding principal due at the mid-year of the original loan term (e.g., end of the 15th year on a 30-year loan). At least one-half (50%) of the loan is made by the Farm Credit System (FCS) jointly with NCAFA (maximum term 20 years with a fixed rate determined at the time of the loan; NCAFA helps contact the local FCS office). Loan limit: NCAFA's portion is limited to $1,392,000.00; FCS participation increases the total loan limit beyond that amount.

The North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority (NCAFA) 'Ag Start' Beginning Farmer Real Estate loans can be made to buy, improve, or enlarge farms. Purposes may include construction, improvement, or repair of farm homes and service buildings; improvement of on-farm water supplies; installation of pollution controls; soil and water conservation measures to develop, conserve, or make proper use of land and water resources; irrigation systems; drainage improvements; refinancing debts; and providing for production of fish under controlled conditions.



Individuals, farming corporations, partnerships, or joint operations that are unable to obtain sufficient credit at reasonable rates and terms from other lenders without a Farm Service Agency (FSA) guarantee; are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens maintaining a farming operation in North Carolina; have adequate training or farming experience and have not had substantial farm ownership prior to application; rely on farm income and are recognized in the community as a farmer; have serviced existing debts reliably; have adequate management ability; and will be the owner-operator of a family-size farm after the loan is made.

This is a loan, not a grant.

Interest rate: "NCAFA's 'Ag Start' Beginning Farmer Real Estate loans are made at prime plus 1.00%. The rate is variable and may change quarterly."

Term and balloon: "The terms for repayment will be for periods up to 30 years. A balloon payment for the outstanding principal will be due at the end of the mid year of the original loan (i.e. -at the end of 15th year on 30 year loan.)" — so a 30-year amortization does not mean 30 years of payments; you must refinance or pay out the balance at the halfway point.

Mandatory co-lender: "At least one-half (50%) of the 'Ag Start' loan will be made by the Farm Credit System (FCS) jointly with NCAFA. Maximum term is 20 years with a fixed interest rate to be determined at the time of the loan (NCAFA will help you contact the local FCS office.)"

Loan limit: "NCAFA's portion of 'Ag Start' Beginning Farmer Real Estate loans will be limited to $1,392,000.00. Participation by FCS will increase the total loan limits beyond $1,392,000.00."

Security: loans "may be secured by liens on all the real estate owned and purchased as well as improvements and fixtures."

No origination fee, closing cost, or down-payment percentage is published on the program page.

Firms considering ADBs should contact NCAFA early in the process; NCAFA will advise on how to proceed with a bond issue. Certain steps such as the 'Inducement' should be completed prior to expending money on the project (expenditures prior to inducement may be excluded from the bond issue in certain circumstances). It is highly recommended that the firm discuss letter-of-credit and bond-security requirements with NCAFA before finalizing, to avoid delays.

Agricultural Development Bonds (ADBs) are tax-exempt bonds issued by the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority (NCAFA), which has&#x2004;authority under the North Carolina General Statutes (Chapter 122D) to issue bonds for many purposes. ADBs can be used to finance a wide range of agricultural projects that involve 'processing' or 'manufacturing' of agricultural products as long as the projects qualify for federal tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Code, resulting in lower financing costs to the borrower. Examples of ADB financings include cotton gins, feed mills, meat processing facilities, and agricultural waste to produce green energy. ADBs cannot be used for refinancing.



Agricultural Development Bonds (ADBs) are tax-exempt bonds issued by the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority (NCAFA), which has authority under the North Carolina General Statutes (Chapter 122D) to issue bonds for many purposes. ADBs can be used to finance a wide range of agricultural projects that involve 'processing' or 'manufacturing' of agricultural products as long as the projects qualify for federal tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Code, resulting in lower financing costs to the borrower. Examples of ADB financings include cotton gins, feed mills, meat processing facilities, and agricultural waste to produce green energy. ADBs cannot be used for refinancing.

- Financing is available for projects in North Carolina.
- Firms undertaking agricultural projects that involve processing or manufacturing of agricultural products.
- Projects must qualify for federal tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Code.
- Eligibility under the federal tax code must be determined by bond counsel.
- Projects must be acceptable to NCAFA as an agricultural purpose, even if they qualify as tax-exempt.

Biofuel

Hydro Power

Solar Power

Wind Energy

No bond size limit, interest rate, spread, or issuance fee is published on the program page or elsewhere on the NCAFA site.

What is published: the benefit is the federal tax exemption itself. ADBs "can be used to finance a wide range of agricultural projects that involve 'processing' or 'manufacturing' of agricultural products as long as these projects qualify for federal tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Code. This results in lower financing costs to the borrower." NCAFA's programs page describes its role as "acting as conduit issuer for agribusiness processing, Ag related manufacturing or Ag waste disposal, in order to facilitate lower (tax exempt) interest rates," and notes NCAFA "has statewide bond authority."

Restrictions and process conditions that affect cost:
• ADBs cannot be used for refinancing.
• The "Inducement" step should be completed before money is spent on the project — "expenditures prior to inducement may be subject to exclusion from the bond issue in certain circumstances."
• A letter of credit is normally involved; NCAFA advises discussing its bond-security requirements before agreeing to a final LOC, since failing to do so "may result in delays."
• Eligibility under the federal tax code must be determined by bond counsel, and a project that qualifies as tax exempt may still be rejected by NCAFA as not serving an "agricultural" purpose.

Pricing is set at issuance against the borrower's credit and credit enhancement, so contact NCAFA (Executive Director, 919-664-1740) early for indicative terms.

Funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Submit the Water Testing Cost Share Letter and Water Testing Reimbursement Form (with a Substitute W-9) through the NCDA&CS Cooperative Grading Service for reimbursement of up to $1,000 in certified-laboratory analysis costs.

The Water Analysis Cost Share Program encourages water testing as part of a pre/post-harvest food safety program for fruit and vegetable crops. The program assists in paying for the cost of testing irrigation and/or packing house wash water. The NCDA&CS will reimburse growers up to $1,000 for laboratory analysis to determine the quantitative presence of generic E. coli bacteria in irrigation or wash water by a certified laboratory. Funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.



North Carolina fruit and vegetable growers testing irrigation and/or packing house wash water as part of a pre/post-harvest food safety program.

Public Health

Straight reimbursement of certified-laboratory water-testing costs, capped at $1,000 per grower: "The NCDA&CS will reimburse growers up to $1,000.00 for laboratory analysis to determine the quantitative presence of generic E. coli bacteria in irrigation or wash water by a certified laboratory." No cost-share percentage and no match — eligible testing costs are reimbursed up to that ceiling.

The cap covers the whole season, not a single test: "Growers can be reimbursed for one water test or multiple tests throughout the year. For multiple tests please have individual receipts for each test and turn in only one inclusive reimbursement form for all testing throughout the growing season." Funding comes from a USDA specialty crop block grant and is first-come, first-served. For the current cycle the department states: "ALL INVOICES FOR REMITTANCE MUST BE SUBMITTED BY June 1, 2026, Funds will not be available after this date." To be paid you must submit a reimbursement form along with receipts and a completed SUB NC W-9.

Cycle 20 uses a multi-part online application via ncagr.gov/divisions/farmland-preservation/applicants. Key dates: Part 1 Aug 3–31, 2026; Part 2 opens Sept 14, 2026; Conservation Easement Part 2 closes Oct 19 and Part 3 Nov 2–Dec 21, 2026; all other application types' Part 2 closes Dec 21, 2026. Partial/late submissions are ineligible. The Cycle 20 Part 1 period closed on August 31, 2026; only applicants who submitted a Part 1 form may proceed to Part 2.

ADFP Trust Fund Program Office

NCDA&CS trust fund (est. 2006) that funds permanent agricultural conservation easements, agricultural development projects, agricultural plans, and local agricultural growth zones to keep North Carolina working farm, forest, and horticultural land in production. Cycle 20 is currently underway.



Per N.C.G.S. 106-744, applicants for conservation easements, agricultural development projects, and agricultural plans must be non-profit conservation organizations or county agencies. Farmers and landowners cannot apply directly — they must partner with a qualifying non-profit conservation organization or county agency. (No Beehive Grant Fund applications this cycle.)

From the ADFP Trust Fund "Policies and Guidelines (As of June 23, 2026)." Caps differ by application type, and the flagship easement track has none:

- "There is no maximum grant request for agricultural conservation easement applications."
- "The maximum grant request per agricultural development project application is capped at $500,000."
- "The maximum grant request per local agricultural growth zone application is capped at $2,000,000."
- "The maximum grant request per additional conservation easement funds application is capped at 50 percent of the easement purchase value."
- "The maximum grant request per Voluntary Agricultural District application is capped at $8,500."
- "The maximum grant request per Farmland Protection Plan or Cost of Community Services Study application is capped at $17,000."

Easement pricing: "ADFPTF grant funds for the purchase of the conservation easement are limited to 50% or less of the appraised value." Term (non-permanent) easements "will be paid on a percentage of the easement value" — 50-year easement: 60% of easement value; 40-year easement: 40%; 30-year easement: 30%.

Match is required in every category. Permanent-easement matches "can be in-kind, cash, donated easement value, or money from other programs of like kind to the ADFP Trust Fund," and "[p]rograms used for matching must restrict the development rights and have restrictive language attached to the deed" (a USDA Farm & Ranch Protection Program match qualifies; a USDA Conservation Reserve Program match does not). Agricultural development projects "can use in-kind services, cash, land donation, labor hours, and equipment costs as matches but the burden of proof lies on the applicant." "Match may not be from a like kind appropriation source as the ADFP Trust Fund grant funding." "ADFP Trust Fund grants can not be used for indirect costs," and "ADFP Trust Fund monies may not be used to pay for appraisals" — though "an appraisal expense can be used as a matching grant resource."

Monitoring and stewardship money is capped: "Funding is limited to 3% of the appraised easement value being purchased by the ADFP Trust Fund and must be equally matched or up to 1.5% of the appraised easement value of a donated conservation easement without match requirement."

Payment: "Grant contract budgeting and payments shall hold back 10% on all line items until ADFPTF receives all required reports and documentation." Grantees may petition the Commissioner to lower the hold-back, but "[i]f an infraction or late report occurs during the contract period of the grant, the hold back percentage shall be reinstated at 10% or higher."

Contract length: contracts without associated USDA-NRCS funding are "issued under an initial two-year term, a maximum of two extension requests for one year each may be granted, bringing the maximum term to four years"; contracts with NRCS funding start at three years with one one-year extension, also to four years.

One further limit on volume: if total requests exceed the cycle allocation, "the ADFP Trust Fund will fund a maximum of four (4) applications per category (perpetual easements, term easements, agricultural development projects, agricultural plans, additional funds, Agricultural Growth Zones) per applicant." Easements must protect land with an impervious surface limit of "two (2) percent of the total acreage."

Submit application packet electronically (Word/Excel originals) to Allison Medlin by 5:00 PM EST Friday, October 16, 2026, plus one mailed original with signatures. Templates (cover page, information & guidelines, project profile, line-item budget, timeline) at ncagr.gov/grants/NCAIR.

Allison Medlin

Administrative Assistant

Competitive state grant from NCDA&CS (rebranded in 2026 from the Bioenergy Research Initiative / New & Emerging Crops / IAAE programs) funding agricultural innovation and research projects — new and emerging crops, bioenergy, livestock, technology, forestry, and value-added products that enhance the competitiveness of North Carolina agriculture. $1,000,000 available for the FY2026-27 cycle.



Eligible applicants: institutions of higher learning, Cooperative Extension, commodity associations, and non-profit and for-profit organizations. Not available to start-up businesses, for collecting proprietary data, or for indirect/overhead costs. Projects may run up to 3 years; multi-state collaboration allowed.

Trials

Alternative Energy

From the FY2026-27 Information & Guidelines. Award cap: "The maximum grant request amount for 2026-27 will be no more than $100,000." The pool is fixed: "A competitive grant process will support this Program with $1,000,000 for the 2026-2027 grant cycle." No match or cost-share requirement is published.

Project length: "Grant funds will be awarded for projects of up to three (3) years."

Ineligible costs: "Funding from this Program will NOT be granted for start-up businesses, collecting proprietary data, or indirect/overhead costs," and again under allowable costs, "Indirect or administrative costs are not allowed." "Equipment purchases of $10,000 or more must be clearly outlined as to their necessity of the project and the Agency reserves the right to deny any request." Travel follows the State of North Carolina Budget Manual — subsistence rates effective July 1, 2025 are breakfast $10.60 (in-state and out-of-state), lunch $14.00 / $14.00, dinner $24.40 / $27.70, lodging (actual, up to) $94.10 / $111.10, maximum allowed daily subsistence $143.10 in-state / $163.40 out of state, and "Mileage: $.725/mile." "The Program has the right to disallow costs determined inappropriate or unreasonable."

Payment and hold-back: reimbursement-based, "[r]eimbursement requests may be submitted no more than monthly," and "20% of the Grant Total will be withheld until the Final Performance Report is approved by the NCAIR." "Failure to submit timely reports will result in the forfeiture of reimbursements." Interim performance reports are due quarterly; the final report is due within 60 days of project completion or contract expiration. Records must be retained "for a period of five years after completion date indicated in the Contract."

Note the review committee may reshape the deal: "The Program reserves the right to fund the project in part, add or delete tasks, and ask for clarification."

Administered by NCDA&CS in collaboration with USDA AMS. For program information and application materials contact the Director of Agricultural Project Management (Charles Fletcher). NOTE - The application window for this program has closed as of June 15, 2024. North Carolina's 2024 RFSI round has concluded; USDA AMS confirms the state partnered with USDA to award Infrastructure and Equipment-Only Grants to projects supporting the middle of the food supply chain. Applicants will be contacted if additional information is needed during the review process.

The Resilient Food System Infrastructure (RFSI) program is designed to enhance the robustness&#x2004;and sustainability of North Carolina's food supply chain. Funded in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the program aims to empower North Carolina's agricultural producers by strengthening the middle segments of the food supply chain, excluding meat and poultry. By providing targeted support for infrastructure improvements and equipment upgrades, the RFSI program will enhance processing, aggregation, distribution, and storage capabilities across the state in the form of grants for projects that meet these goals.



The Resilient Food System Infrastructure (RFSI) program is designed to enhance the robustness and sustainability of North Carolina's food supply chain. Funded in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the program aims to empower North Carolina's agricultural producers by strengthening the middle segments of the food supply chain, excluding meat and poultry. By providing targeted support for infrastructure improvements and equipment upgrades, the RFSI program will enhance processing, aggregation, distribution, and storage capabilities across the state in the form of grants for projects that meet these goals.

Supports North Carolina's agricultural producers and food businesses working in the middle segments of the local and regional food supply chain — processing, aggregation, distribution, and storage — excluding meat and poultry.

Apply during the annual window at ncspecialtycrops.com/apply. The 2026 window ran Jan 20 – March 10, 2026 (now closed); an optional draft-review deadline was Jan 28. Reopens annually around January. Guidelines, cover page, and project profile templates posted at ncagr.gov/grants/specialty-crops/apply.

Jenni Keith

SCBGP Grant Contact

NCDA&CS administers annual USDA-AMS Specialty Crop Block Grant funding to enhance the competitiveness of North Carolina specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, culinary herbs and spices, medicinal plants, nursery, floriculture, horticulture). Competitive; the program has traditionally received about $1.2 million to fund proposals, with individual grant requests up to $200,000.



Eligible applicants: state and local government units, academia (universities, colleges, local school systems), and non-profit organizations including producer associations, community-based organizations and other specialty crop stakeholders (single or combined entities). Individuals and businesses (including farms) are NOT eligible. Funds cannot benefit or profit a single organization, institution, or individual.

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

Farmers Market

Food Systems

Award ceiling: $200,000 per request. The 2026 NC SCBGP Information & Guidelines state: "The maximum grant request for 2026 can be no more than $200,000." The NCDA&CS press release (1/20/2026) puts it the same way: "The department will accept grant requests of up to $200,000 from the eligible groups listed above." No minimum request is published.

Statewide pool, not an award: "The NCDA&CS anticipates awarding approximately $1.2 million using a competitive review process" and "will award multiple grants from these funds for the fiscal year 2026 grant cycle." Funding is contingent on the USDA-AMS allocation.

You may be offered less than you ask for: "The NCDA&CS reserves the right to offer an award amount less than the amount requested in the application."

Match: the guidelines state no cost-share or matching requirement.

Indirect costs are disallowed entirely: "Indirect or administration costs are not allowed. Please put $0 in this section" of the budget.

Project period: the 2026 cycle anticipates a project start date of January 1, 2026, and "Projects will not be extended past June 30, 2029." Budget adjustments during the project period require a written request.

Structural limit worth knowing: "Grants are not available for projects that directly benefit or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual" — and individuals and businesses, including farms, cannot apply at all. This is a program a farmer benefits from through an association or university partner, not one they draw a check from.

List of North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Funding Opportunities