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

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

Kat Neilson

**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

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

Grant

Coronavirus

Fencing

Trade Relief

Trees

Wildfire

Buildings

Construction

Greenhouse

High Tunnel

HVAC

Irrigation

Lighting

Repairs

Storage

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.

Roxana Newton

Economic Development Project Controller

Bon Wier

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&#x2004;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. 



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

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

Loan

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.

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

List of Texas Department of Agriculture (TXDA) Funding Opportunities