Practical Farmers of Iowa Empower Farmers Program

The Empower Farmers Program offers up-front payments to support the success of historically underserved farmers and ranchers by helping to reduce financial barriers. Payments may be used for a range of eligible farming expenses. Applicants may request between $500 and $2,000 in funding.

You are eligible if you: are a historically underserved farmer or rancher as defined by USDA; own or co-own the farming operation or plan to launch your own farm business (only one co-owner may apply per collective operation); produce table-food crops including fruits, vegetables, nuts, mushrooms and meat; and farm in Iowa, Nebraska or Kansas. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible to apply. Funding priority goes to applicants demonstrating a clear farmer commitment, strong project planning/feasibility, high expected economic or community impact, and high expected impact on farm viability and sustainability.

Up-front cash payment, not a reimbursement or cost-share: "Applicants may request between $500 and $2,000 in funding." The application asks for a "Basic budget for your project (proposals may range from $500-$2,000) and an estimated timeline for completing the purchases."

Payments are made before you spend and "may be used for a range of eligible expenses related to farming." No match, no fee, no interest and no repayment is published, and PFI publishes no cost-share percentage and no contract term.

Funding priority (not extra money, just better odds) goes to applicants showing "A clear farmer commitment," "Strong project planning and feasibility," "High expected economic or community impact" and "High expected impact on farm viability and sustainability."

Enrollment is closed at this check: "Enrollment period has ended. Applications will reopen in the fall of 2026."

The enrollment period is closed and will reopen in fall 2026. Applicants will need to submit a basic project budget ($500-$2,000) and timeline, a description of their long-term farm vision, examples of prior professional development/community involvement, an example of a previously completed project or program, a description of community/economic impact, and a description of barriers faced as a historically underserved farmer or rancher. Written or video responses are accepted (video capped at 10 minutes, or 20 with interpretation).