Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Texas Department of Agriculture (TXDA)

Apply via TDA-GO in response to the FY2026-2027 RFGA. Contact TDA's Grants Office at Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov.

Kat Neilson

Mindy Fryer

Director, Contracts and Grants

The Texans Feeding Texans: Agricultural Surplus Grant Program, administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture, provides funding to food banks and charitable feeding organizations to purchase surplus agricultural products from Texas producers — reducing food waste and increasing food access across the state.



Eligible applicants are food banks and charitable feeding organizations that purchase surplus agricultural products.

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

Grant

Local Food

Farmers Market

Food Systems

See the FY2026-2027 Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) for award amounts, match requirements, and deadlines.

Roxana Newton

Economic Development Project Controller

Bon Wier

The Interest Rate Reduction (IRR) Program, administered by the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (TAFA) through the Texas Department of Agriculture, lowers the interest rate on loans used to create or expand an agricultural business in Texas. Following the 2025 HB 43/HB 49 reorganization, the program is open to any person or Texas-based agricultural business and is no longer limited to young farmers.



Any person or Texas-based agricultural business that proposes to use loan proceeds for the creation or expansion of an agricultural business in Texas. There is no age restriction — the former Young Farmer age limits (18–46) no longer apply.

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

Discount

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

Loan

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Buildings

Construction

Fencing

Greenhouse

High Tunnel

Irrigation

Storage

Two authorities set the per-borrower cap: Interest Rate Reduction (Texas Agriculture Code Ch. 44) provides up to $500,000 per borrower; Farmer Interest Rate Reduction (Ch. 58) provides up to $1,000,000 per borrower. Eligible uses: purchase of land or other fixed assets and improvements; capital asset acquisition, including equipment used in an agriculture-related operation; any enterprise based on agriculture; and, when required by the lender to finance an eligible expansion, refinancing of existing debt. The application is completed jointly by the lender and borrower and submitted to TDA; on approval the Texas Comptroller deposits funds once the loan has closed.

Applications must be submitted online through TDA-GO; mailed, emailed, or faxed applications are not accepted. Contact TDA's Grants Office at Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov.

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) administers&#x2004;the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), awarding competitive grant funding to projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of Texas specialty crops and strengthen the long-term success of the state's diverse specialty crop industries. The purpose is to enhance specialty crop competitiveness by leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops, assisting producers with research and development, expanding availability and access to specialty crops, and addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers.



The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) administers the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), awarding competitive grant funding to projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of Texas specialty crops and strengthen the long-term success of the state's diverse specialty crop industries. The purpose is to enhance specialty crop competitiveness by leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops, assisting producers with research and development, expanding availability and access to specialty crops, and addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers.

Responses are accepted from Texas state agencies, universities, institutions, and producer, industry, or community-based organizations involved with or that promote specialty crops.

Certification

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

Trials

Certified Organic

Trade Relief

The 2026 SCBGP competitive application awards grant funding to projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of Texas specialty crops.

Apply through TDA-GO. The extended deadline is October 16, 2026, 4:00 PM Central Time. Contact Kat Neilson, (512) 463-6695, or Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov.

The Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) is a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service program that competitively awards funds to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through funding collaborative, multi-state projects. Projects address food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific issues, and marketing/promotion efforts. In Texas it is administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture.



Eligible participants include state departments of agriculture (participating and nonparticipating states); local governments, Indian tribes, universities, and nonprofits in nonparticipating states; organizations with 501(c) status or accredited institutions; and domestic entities within U.S. territories. Partnerships must include two or more states/territories.

Inputs

Public Health

Compliance

Approximately $14.3 million is available for FY 2026. Grants range from $250,000 to $1,000,000 per project for 3-year projects, with a cost-share requirement of 25% of the federal grant amount.

Check the STAR website to see if a disaster was declared in your area.

Complete the application.

Submit all required paperwork to one of the following three options:
- Email: STARFund@TexasAgriculture.gov
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas 78711
- Physical Address: 1700 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701

**Background:** Texas agricultural farmers, ranchers, producers, and agribusiness owners rebuild&#x2004;and pick up the pieces after devastating natural disasters, and the need for donations continues.


**The Fund:** The STAR Fund (State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund) was created solely with monetary donations from private individuals and entities to fund disaster recovery efforts. STAR Fund money may be used to assist farmers, ranchers and agribusiness owners in rebuilding fences, restoring operations and paying for other agricultural disaster relief. The Program is designed to provide relief to Texas agricultural entities adversely impacted by natural disasters. Drought is not an eligible natural disaster under the STAR Fund; refer to your local Farm Service Agency for drought assistance.


**Assistance:** TDA offers a cost share to qualified agricultural producers. To qualify, the applicant's county must be included in either a declaration of disaster by the Governor of Texas or a declaration of agricultural emergency by the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture; applicants then have 90 days from the date of either proclamation to submit an application. For each future disaster proclamation, TDA and the Texas Agriculture Commissioner determine whether the program should be activated and set specific details, including maximum award amounts. Funds are not intended to compensate for losses incurred, but to help cost-share some of the unexpected expenses associated with the repair or replacement of items necessary for an agricultural operation. Verification of the damage caused by the disaster is required before TDA disburses funds.



Background: Texas agricultural farmers, ranchers, producers, and agribusiness owners rebuild and pick up the pieces after devastating natural disasters, and the need for donations continues.

The Fund: The STAR Fund (State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund) was created solely with monetary donations from private individuals and entities to fund disaster recovery efforts. STAR Fund money may be used to assist farmers, ranchers and agribusiness owners in rebuilding fences, restoring operations and paying for other agricultural disaster relief. The Program is designed to provide relief to Texas agricultural entities adversely impacted by natural disasters. Drought is not an eligible natural disaster under the STAR Fund; refer to your local Farm Service Agency for drought assistance.

Assistance: TDA offers a cost share to qualified agricultural producers. To qualify, the applicant's county must be included in either a declaration of disaster by the Governor of Texas or a declaration of agricultural emergency by the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture; applicants then have 90 days from the date of either proclamation to submit an application. For each future disaster proclamation, TDA and the Texas Agriculture Commissioner determine whether the program should be activated and set specific details, including maximum award amounts. Funds are not intended to compensate for losses incurred, but to help cost-share some of the unexpected expenses associated with the repair or replacement of items necessary for an agricultural operation. Verification of the damage caused by the disaster is required before TDA disburses funds.

To qualify, the applicant's county must be included in either a declaration of disaster by the Governor of Texas or a declaration of agricultural emergency by the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. Applicants then have 90 days from the date of either proclamation to submit an application. Drought is not an eligible natural disaster under the STAR Fund — refer to your local Farm Service Agency for drought assistance.

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

Cost Share

Coronavirus

Trees

Wildfire

Drought

Flood

Hurricane

Tornado

Emergency

Disaster Relief

Weather

Infrastructure

Equipment

TDA offers a cost share to qualified agricultural producers. STAR Fund money may be used to assist in rebuilding fences, restoring operations, and paying for other agricultural disaster relief costs needed to rebuild agricultural operations. For each disaster proclamation, TDA and the Texas Agriculture Commissioner determine whether the program is activated and set specific details, including maximum award amounts (amounts are no longer a fixed 50% / $4,000 cap). Funds are intended to cost-share unexpected repair/replacement expenses, not to compensate for losses incurred. Verification of disaster damage is required before TDA disburses funds.

Apply via TDA-GO. Contact TDA's Grants Office at Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov.

The AgLink Continuity Grant Program, administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture through the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (TAFA), provides financial assistance to agricultural first handlers — such as cotton gins and grain warehouses — that are recovering from natural disaster-related business disruptions. It is one of the grants under the Texas Agricultural Grant umbrella (HB43).



Eligible applicants are agricultural first handlers, such as cotton gins and grain warehouses, recovering from natural disaster-related business disruptions.

The Texas Agricultural Finance Authority awarded nearly $22.5 million through the AgLink Continuity Grant Program in its most recent cycle. Applications were due Wednesday, March 18, 2026 by 5:00 PM Central Time.

Applications are submitted via the TDA-GO Online Application System (https://tda-go.intelligrants.com/IGXLogin). Contact Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov or 833-380-8282.

The Agriculture Production Resource Opportunity (AgPro) Grant Program, administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture under the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (TAFA), provides funding to help Texas producers improve, expand, and strengthen their agricultural operations through strategic investments in equipment, infrastructure, and efficiency. It is one of two sub-grants under the Texas Agricultural Grant created by HB43 (89th Legislature, 2025).



Eligible applicants are agricultural producers — individuals or entities where 50 percent or greater of their gross income is derived from commercial agricultural production (crops, livestock, forestry, hydroponics, nursery stock, or aquaculture) in Texas.

Awards range from $5,000 to $500,000 with a tiered match requirement: $5,000–$100,000 requires a 10% match; $100,000.01–$250,000 a 20% match; $250,000.01–$500,000 a 30% match. The most recent cycle opened April 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM and closed Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM Central Time.

Dr. Zach Nolan

During the 89th Texas Legislative Session, House Bill 43 was passed, creating the Texas Agricultural Grant Program. This program modifies the Young Farmer Grant Program to expand the program's ability to support Texas agriculture.


As implementation progresses, the Texas Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority Board, will continue developing additional funding opportunities to further strengthen the state's agricultural industry.


We encourage you to sign up for email notification for announcements as they become available: https://form.jotform.com/80984196251161



During the 89th Texas Legislative Session, House Bill 43 was passed, creating the Texas Agricultural Grant Program. This program modifies the Young Farmer Grant Program to expand the program's ability to support Texas agriculture.

As implementation progresses, the Texas Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority Board, will continue developing additional funding opportunities to further strengthen the state's agricultural industry.

We encourage you to sign up for email notification for announcements as they become available: https://form.jotform.com/80984196251161

This is an umbrella program created by HB 43, 89th Texas Legislature, with two tracks that treat producers in opposite ways. Read the one that applies to you.

AgPro — Agriculture Production Resource Opportunity (the producer track). Individuals are eligible. "Agricultural Producer is defined as an individual or entity directly engaged in the production of agricultural products for commercial purposes, including crops (including farming); livestock (including ranching); forestry products; hydroponics; nursery stock; or aquaculture, whereby 50 percent or greater of their gross income is derived from those products." Texas base is required: "Applicants, businesses and/or individuals, must be Texas-based entities with operations headquartered in Texas. If awarded, funds must be used to benefit only Texas location(s)." A minor "would be able to receive grant funds for an agricultural project and would need to ensure the application documents how they meet the definition of agricultural producer," with a parent or guardian party to the contract. An Ag/Timber registration number helps but is not required — "If you do not have this number, it will not prevent you from submitting your application." Applications run through the TDA-GO portal, and you "must register for a TDA-GO account AT LEAST 72 hours before the application submission deadline." Note what is NOT published: although this program "modifies the Young Farmer Grant Program," TDA publishes no age limit, no acreage minimum and no years-farming requirement for AgPro. Cost share is required, "with the required match determined in accordance with program guidelines."

AgLink Continuity Grant — producers are explicitly INELIGIBLE. The first criterion is that "The applicant is not a producer of a raw agriculture product but instead is indirectly affected by natural disasters through reduced production by other farmers or ranchers." It funds the facilities between the farm and the processor — "gins, grain warehouses, and rice driers" — and the applicant must be "a critical agriculture facility/operation that takes possession of a raw agricultural commodity directly from a group of producers (farmers, ranchers, or growers) for purposes of marketing, storage, or initial processing." Further tests: the applicant "can show negative financial impact due to decreased raw agriculture production in the surrounding area"; "must be able to match 10% of awarded funds"; must be "located in Texas"; "A business must be domiciled/headquartered in Texas – Businesses domiciled outside of Texas, even if they have business operations in Texas are not eligible"; and "The principal owners of a business must all be U.S. citizens or resident aliens."

Timing — nothing is open right now. AgPro "Opened: April 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM / CLOSED: Thursday, May 14, 2026 by 5:00 PM Central Time"; TDA received more than 1,100 applications and moved award notification to November 15, 2026, and "Future rounds will be dependent on legislative appropriations." AgLink is "CLOSED - All applicants that submitted a proposal have been notified." Sign up for TDA's email notifications and watch for the next Request for Grant Applications.

The Texas Agricultural Grant Program (created by HB 43, 89th Legislature) is an umbrella; the terms live in its two sub-programs. TDA publishes no award figures for the parent program itself.

AgPro — Agriculture Production Resource Opportunity (the producer track). "Grant awards under this program will be made in amounts no less than $5,000 and no more than $500,000 per Grant Recipient. Grant Recipients will be required to provide a cost share toward the total project cost, with the required match determined in accordance with program guidelines." Program details as published: "Competitive application process / Reimbursement-based funding / Matching funds required / Compliance reporting required." Eligible project types: equipment and machinery, facility improvements, livestock systems, irrigation systems, apiary expansion, conservation and technology. Applicant must be an agricultural producer deriving "50 percent or greater of their gross income" from eligible products.

AgLink Continuity Grant — for gins, grain warehouses, rice driers, produce packing sheds and similar facilities. Producers, farmers and ranchers are explicitly ineligible. No award amount is published; the only stated financial condition is "The applicant must be able to match 10% of awarded funds." Applicant must be domiciled/headquartered in Texas.

Status: both rounds are closed. AgPro "Opened: April 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM / CLOSED: Thursday, May 14, 2026"; TDA received more than 1,100 applications and pushed award notifications to November 15, 2026. "Future rounds will be dependent on legislative appropriations." AgLink: "CLOSED - All applicants that submitted a proposal have been notified."

List of Texas Department of Agriculture (TXDA) Funding Opportunities