Browse Ambrook’s collection of grants, loans, discounts, cost shares, easements, and insurance for nutrition & food safety.

Submit the following to apply for program eligibility:
- Dairy Donation and Distribution Plan Form (xlsx)
- Eligible Distributor Certification Form (xlsx)
Once approved for program eligibility, submit the following to receive reimbursement:
- Reimbursement Claim Form (Not Yet Available)
Submit all forms to DDP@usda.gov. 
In addition, for the Dairy Donation and Distribution Plan Form, please create and email a password in a separate email to DDP@usda.gov.

In the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress directed USDA to develop a $400 million Dairy Donation Program (DDP) to facilitate dairy product donations and reduce food waste. Under this program, eligible dairy organizations form partnerships with non-profit feeding organizations that distribute food to individuals and families in need. Those partnerships may apply for and receive reimbursements to cover some expenses related to eligible dairy product donations.



Eligible Dairy Organizations (EDO)
Dairy farmers, cooperatives, and processors purchasing fresh milk or bulk dairy products to process into retailpackaged dairy products may qualify for this program. In addition, the dairy farmer, cooperative or processor must file a Receipts and Utilization report with a Federal milk marketing order (FMMO). For those reporting to a local FMMO office as part of normal business operations, the requirement is already met. For those that do not, please contact us at ddp@usda.gov so that we can help with filing the Receipts and Utilization report. 
Eligible Distributors	
EDOs may form one or more partnerships with nonprofit feeding organizations, called eligible distributors, that distribute food to individuals and families. EDOs can partner with an umbrella organization that includes multiple distribution locations or with an individual (or independent) organization with a single distribution location.

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

Grant

Dairy

Butter

Cheese

Milk

Yogurt

Cow Milk

Goat Milk

- Dairy Donation Program (DDP) Overview (pdf)
- Webinar: USDA’s Dairy Donation Program (DDP)
- Dairy Donation Program (DDP): What Do I Need to Know?
- What Dairy Products are Eligible for Reimbursement?
- Retroactive Reimbursements
- Step-by-Step Detailed Explanation of DDP Forms (pdf)
- August 25, 2021 - Press Release - USDA Establishes Dairy Donation Program, Part of Continuing USDA Pandemic Assistance
- USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers


Nutrition & Food Safety

Trade Relief

Marketing

The DDP reimburses the EDO for
1. Cost of milk to make the donated product - applicable classified price of the fresh fluid milk (or bulk dairy commodity product milk equivalent) used in the donated dairy product;
2. Manufacturing costs—a standard cost for manufacturing the donated dairy product;
3. Transportation costs—portion of the costs to transport donated product between the plant and distribution location.

What About the Milk Donation Reimbursement Program? 
If you participated in the Milk Donation Reimbursement Program (MDRP), you do not need to apply for the DDP. Current participants in the MDRP are automatically enrolled in the DDP. EDOs will receive the same reimbursement for cost of milk, manufacturing, and transportation as DDP participants.

USDA will announce the selected entities later in the summer of 2021. At that point, you can select an entity on the list to receive a loan to resolve the ownership issues. At any time, you can contact the FSA office at your local USDA Service Center, which you can find at farmers.gov/service-locator. Schedule an appointment to meet with the county outreach coordinator to discuss your questions and interests and learn more about USDA programs. To learn more about applying for loans to participate, visit farmers.gov/heirs/relending.

In the meantime, you can get started on getting a Farm Number from USDA to be eligible for this and other programs. Call your local USDA service center to get started.

Have you inherited land without a clear title or documented legal ownership? The Heirs’ Property Relending Program (HPRP) can help you resolve heirs’ land ownership and succession issues on agricultural land. 

[Heirs’ property](https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/heirs-property-eligibility) issues have long been a barrier for many producers and landowners to access USDA programs and services, and this relending program provides access to capital to help producers find a resolution. The program’s benefits go far beyond its participants. It will also keep farmland in farming, protect family farm legacies and support economic viability.  


## **What Is Heirs’ Property?**

Heirs’ property is a legal term that refers to family land inherited without a will or legal documentation of ownership. It has historically been challenging for heirs to benefit from USDA programs because of the belief that they cannot get a farm number without proof of ownership or control of land. Learn more on farmers.gov/heirs.

## **How the Program Works**

This program works differently than other USDA programs. Rather than USDA providing the loan directly to producers, the loan will be provided to intermediary lenders, who then relend the funds to producers like you.

**Here are additional details:**

1. Intermediary lenders – cooperatives, credit unions, and nonprofit organizations – can apply for loans up to $5 million at 1% interest once the Farm Service Agency (FSA) opens the two-month signup window in late August.  

2. Farm Service Agency (FSA) selects and announces lenders.

3. Heirs can apply -- for up to $600,000 -- directly to lenders for loans and assistance.

4. Heirs and lenders will need to repay the loan as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill.  




Have you inherited land without a clear title or documented legal ownership? The Heirs’ Property Relending Program (HPRP) can help you resolve heirs’ land ownership and succession issues on agricultural land. 
Heirs’ property issues have long been a barrier for many producers and landowners to access USDA programs and services, and this relending program provides access to capital to help producers find a resolution. The program’s benefits go far beyond its participants. It will also keep farmland in farming, protect family farm legacies and support economic viability.  

What Is Heirs’ Property?
Heirs’ property is a legal term that refers to family land inherited without a will or legal documentation of ownership. It has historically been challenging for heirs to benefit from USDA programs because of the belief that they cannot get a farm number without proof of ownership or control of land. Learn more on farmers.gov/heirs.
How the Program Works
This program works differently than other USDA programs. Rather than USDA providing the loan directly to producers, the loan will be provided to intermediary lenders, who then relend the funds to producers like you.
Here are additional details:
1. Intermediary lenders – cooperatives, credit unions, and nonprofit organizations – can apply for loans up to $5 million at 1% interest once the Farm Service Agency (FSA) opens the two-month signup window in late August.  
2. Farm Service Agency (FSA) selects and announces lenders.
3. Heirs can apply -- for up to $600,000 -- directly to lenders for loans and assistance.
4. Heirs and lenders will need to repay the loan as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill.  


Intermediary lenders will make loans to heirs who: 
- Are individuals or legal entities with authority to incur the debt and to resolve ownership and succession of a farm owned by multiple owners; 
- Are a family member or heir-at-law related by blood or marriage to the previous owner of the property;  
- Agree to complete a succession plan. 
If you’re an heir, you may use the loans to resolve title issues by financing the purchase or consolidation of property interests and financing costs associated with a succession plan.
This may also include costs of buying out fractional interests of other heirs to clear the title, which includes closing costs, appraisals, title searches, surveys, preparing documents, mediation, and legal services.   
If you’re an heir, you may not use loans for any land improvement, development purpose, acquisition or repair of buildings, acquisition of personal property, payment of operating costs, payment of finders’ fees, or similar costs. 

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

Loan

- August 3, 2021 Webinar: Applying to be a Relender for the Heirs' Property Relending Program. Interested re-lenders should register at the FSA webinars page. 
- July 29, 2021 Press Conference with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, U.S. Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., and U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos
- July 29, 2021 News Release: Biden Administration to Invest $67 Million to Help Heirs Resolve Land Ownership and Succession Issues
- HPRP Final Rule in the Federal Register
- Frequently Asked Questions about HPRP


Español

Native Americans

People Of Color

Women

Certification

Certified Organic

It recommended that you call and make an appointment with your nearest Farm Loan Officer or Farm Loan Manager. Agency officials are required to:
- Help loan applicants complete FSA forms and gather information necessary for a complete application;
- Explain the application procedure, process, and the requirements for a complete application;
- Assist loan applicants in completing FSA forms and identifying sources of information needed for a complete application, if assistance is requested;
- Inform loan applicants of other technical assistance providers who may be of assistance at minimal or no charge. Some examples include, and are not limited to, the Cooperative Extension Service, non-profit organizations and institutions, the Intertribal Agriculture Council, and other similar organizations; and
- Advise applicants of alternatives that will help overcome any possible barriers to being determined eligible for an FSA loan.

Suggestions for First Meeting with FSA
- Have a general idea of what it is you want to do and be able to identify your goals. What type of operation do you have or want to have? What do you need to operate that farm or ranch? How will you market your product(s)? How much do you need? What are your projections?
- Good recordkeeping is very important. If you do not have your records organized, it is a good idea to try and put all your income and expenses into an understandable format. It does not have to be fancy. Also, what is happening inside the household is just as important as your business needs. Expenses such as food, clothing, mortgage or rent, insurance, taxes, medical costs, credit card payments, education expenses, and other consumer debt are part of the farm plan calculations. Know your costs. Bring your records with you.
- Remember to bring any financial records, which can include tax returns, for the most recent production cycle to assist in projecting the cash flow for your loan proposal. If you need to rely on off-farm income to repay the loan, bring in your last few pay stubs.
- Bring copies of any written leases to the office with you if you are leasing land or equipment.
- It is a prudent idea to check your credit report before applying for a loan. This allows you to spot any errors or research events that may have negatively impacted your credit. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation's credit reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to credit reporting companies.
- Many answers can be found in the booklet, "Your Guide to FSA Farm Loans.

The focus of Microloans is on the financing needs of small, beginning farmer, niche and non-traditional farm operations, such as truck farms, farms participating in direct marketing and sales such as farmers’ markets, CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture), restaurants and grocery stores, or those using hydroponic, aquaponic, organic and vertical growing methods.


**Direct Farm Ownership Microloans:**

- Make a down payment on a farm

- Build, Repair, or Improve farm buildings, service buildings, farm dwelling

- Soil and Water Conservation Projects

- May be used as a Downpayment Farm Ownership Loan

- May be used in Joint Financing


**Direct Farm Operating Microloans:**

- Essential tools

- Fencing and trellising

- Hoop houses

- Bees and bee equipment

- Milking and pasteurization equipment

- Maple sugar shack and processing equipment

- Livestock, seed, fertilizer, utilities, land rents, family living expenses, and other materials essential to the operation

- Irrigation

- GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), GHP (Good Handling Practices), and Organic certification costs

- Marketing and distribution costs, including those associated with selling through Farmers' Markets and Community Supported Agriculture operations

- Pay for qualifying OSHA compliance standards (Federal or State)



The focus of Microloans is on the financing needs of small, beginning farmer, niche and non-traditional farm operations, such as truck farms, farms participating in direct marketing and sales such as farmers’ markets, CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture), restaurants and grocery stores, or those using hydroponic, aquaponic, organic and vertical growing methods.

Direct Farm Ownership Microloans:
- Make a down payment on a farm
- Build, Repair, or Improve farm buildings, service buildings, farm dwelling
- Soil and Water Conservation Projects
- May be used as a Downpayment Farm Ownership Loan
- May be used in Joint Financing

Direct Farm Operating Microloans:
- Essential tools
- Fencing and trellising
- Hoop houses
- Bees and bee equipment
- Milking and pasteurization equipment
- Maple sugar shack and processing equipment
- Livestock, seed, fertilizer, utilities, land rents, family living expenses, and other materials essential to the operation
- Irrigation
- GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), GHP (Good Handling Practices), and Organic certification costs
- Marketing and distribution costs, including those associated with selling through Farmers' Markets and Community Supported Agriculture operations
- Pay for qualifying OSHA compliance standards (Federal or State)

As with the regular Operating loan program, traditional and non-traditional family farms and ranches may be eligible for Microloan financing.

General eligibility requirements include:
- Must not have Federal or State conviction(s) for planting, cultivating, growing, producing, harvesting, storing, trafficking, or possession of controlled substances
- Have the legal capacity to incur the loan obligation
- Be able to show an acceptable credit history
- Is a citizen, non-citizen national or legal resident alien of the United States, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and certain former Pacific Trust Territories
- Have no previous debt forgiveness by the Agency, including a guarantee loan loss payment
- Be unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere, with or without an FSA loan guarantee
- Not be delinquent on any Federal debt, other than IRS tax debt, at the time of loan closing
- Not be ineligible due to disqualification resulting from Federal Crop Insurance violation

- Application Instructions
- Fact Sheet: Microloans
- Direct Loan Making Handbook 3-FLP
- Farm Answers Library
- National Agrability Project
- National Organic Program
- Natural Resources and Conservation Service Resources for Small Farms
- USDA Information for Veterans
- Farmers.gov

HVAC

Lighting

Greenhouse

Buildings

Fencing

Repairs

Construction

Storage

Landscape

High Tunnel

Air Quality

Wildlife and Pollinator Habitat

Soil Health

Reduced Tillage

Weeds

Events

Diversification

Distribution

Cover Crops

Certified Grassfed

Facilities

Conservation

Regenerative

Carbon Capture

Water Management

Inputs

Nutrient Management

Legal & Finance

Local Food

Research

Compliance

Equipment

Disaster Relief

Food Systems

Emergency

Microloan versus FSA's "regular" loan:

Direct Farm Ownership Microloans:
- No appraisal needed
- Verification of non-farm income unnecessary unless required for repayment
- Successful repayment of an FSA Youth loan may be used towards the required 3 years of management experience

Direct Farm Operating Microloans:
- The Microloan program allows for situations where production yield history or reporting is impractical, not relevant to the proposal submitted, or is not available.
- Modified farm managerial experience requirements accommodate smaller farm operations, beginning farmers, and those with no farm management experience. Small business experience plus any farm experience, along with a self-guided apprenticeship, is a way to meet the farm management requirement.
- Rural Youth loan recipients with a successful repayment history, or youth who have participated in an agriculture-related organization, can meet the modified managerial ability requirements with those experiences.

For the Direct Ownership Microloan, the maximum term is 25 years.

For the Direct Operating Microloan, the repayment period will vary depending upon the purpose of the loan. General operating and family living expenses are due within 12 months or when the agricultural commodities sell. For larger purchases such as equipment or livestock, the term will not exceed 7 years.

Applications must be submitted through the Division of Agriculture’s webpage at www.dem.ri.gov/agriculture. Instructions for using the system can be found in the Request for Proposals. The registration process can take time, so read the instructions and start as soon as you are able.

Before applying, make sure you have met the below preconditions:
In order to qualify, applicants must provide the following:
- Farm information must be enrolled with the Rhode Island Produce Safety Program
- A completed grant application. You may find it helpful to draft your answers first, and then copy and paste into the online forms. Use the FSMA Grant Worksheet for this purpose.
- Applicants must identify produce safety risks on their farm and describe how the project will help prevent or reduce those risks.
 
HOW TO ENROLL IN THE RHODE ISLAND PRODUCE SAFETY PROGRAM: Farms must complete the following steps in order to enroll their farm in the Rhode Island Produce Safety Program:
- Access the RI Produce Safety Program Enrollment form
- Complete the form with all required information.
- Email completed form to Abigail.Phillips@dem.ri.gov or mail to RIDEM – Produce Safety Program, 235 Promenade Street, Providence RI 02908.

Ananda Fraser

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management – Division of Agriculture (RIDEM) is pleased to announce the availability of up to $35,000 of funding in grant opportunities to assist eligible Rhode Island farmers and food businesses with projects that have goals to improve quality, efficiency, and food safety.


Rhode Island Produce Safety Improvement Grants help Rhode Island produce growers implement on-farm food safety practices, transition to compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, and meet market demands for on-farm food safety.



The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management – Division of Agriculture (RIDEM) is pleased to announce the availability of up to $35,000 of funding in grant opportunities to assist eligible Rhode Island farmers and food businesses with projects that have goals to improve quality, efficiency, and food safety.

Rhode Island Produce Safety Improvement Grants help Rhode Island produce growers implement on-farm food safety practices, transition to compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, and meet market demands for on-farm food safety.

This grant is available to farms that are subject to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. To be eligible, farms must:
- Grow, harvest, pack or hold “covered produce” as defined by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR);
- Have annual produce sales, averaged over the past three years, of greater than $25,000*; and
- Have enrolled in the Rhode Island Produce Safety Program
 
*A farm with an average annual monetary value of produce sold during the previous 3-year period of less than $25,000, adjusted for inflation using 2011 as the baseline year for calculating the adjustment, is not covered by the Produce Safety Rule. The average 3-year value for 2017–2019 is $28,075. See FSMA Inflation Adjusted Cut Offs for additional information.

If the applicant has less than three years of sales, take the average of annual produce sales, adjusted for inflation as stated above, for the years that the farm has been in operation.

Eligible uses of program funds:
- Specialized Equipment and Supplies: produce harvest/storage improvement
- Health/Hygiene: cleaning/sanitization tools, signage, compost/manure handling improvements
- Wash and Pack: washroom supplies, single use packaging

Program funds cannot be used for the following purposes:
- Construction and Construction Supplies
- Projects that fail to demonstrate how produce safety risks will be prevented or reduced
- Reimbursement for completed projects

Public Health

Tennessee Department of Agriculture

The Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) was established in 2005 to provide cost share dollars to agricultural producers for the purpose of making long-term investments in Tennessee farms and communities. Participation allows producers to maximize farm profits, adapt to changing market situations, improve operation safety, increase farm efficiency, and make a positive economic impact in their communities.




The Enhancement Program is split across 3 Applications for different Enhancement types:
- Application A covers Livestock, Row Crop, and Hay Producers.
- Application B covers Producer Diversification
- Application C covers Poultry Growers
Eligibility for each Application can be found here

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

Cost Share

Row Crops

Livestock

Poultry

Alfalfa

Amaranth Grain

Barley

Buckwheat

Canola

Corn

Cotton

Einkorn

Emmer

Flax

Grains

Guar

Hemp

Indigo

Kenaf

Khorasan

Millet

Mustard

Oats

Oilseeds

Peanuts

Quinoa

Rapeseed

Rice

Safflower

Sorghum

Soybeans

Speltz

Sugar

Sugar Beets

Sunflowers

Teff

Triticale

Wheat

Cattle

Pigs

Sheep

Specialty Livestock

Chickens

Cornish Hens

Ducks

Geese

Turkey

Malting Barley

Sweet Corn

ELS Cotton

Upland Cotton

Crambe

Sesame

Sunflower Seeds

Industrial Rice

Japonica Rice

Long Grain Rice

Medium Grain Rice

Sweet Rice

Wild Rice

Raw Sugars

Refined Sugars

Durum Wheat

Hard Red Spring Wheat

Beef Cattle

Dairy Cattle

Feeder Cattle

Slaughter Cattle

Barrows

Boars

Feeder Pigs

Hogs

Sows

Ewes

Lambs

Rams

Alpacas

Beefalo

Bison

Buffalo

Caribou

Deer

Emus

Equine

Goats

Guinea Pigs

Llamas

Mink

Mohair

Ostrich

Pheasants

Quail

Rabbits

Reindeer

Water Buffalo

Broilers

Chicks

Fryers

Layers

Pullets

Roasters

Ducklings

Goslings

Poults

Toms

Horses

Bucks

Nannies

Slaughter Goats

Farmers Market

Terms are specific to each different program. All details can be found here.

When applications are open you can submit your completed application package by email, regular mail or in person.

Email: 
laura.maul@mass.gov

Mailing Address:
Laura J. Maul
Program Coordinator
Department of Agricultural Resources, Suite 500
251 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02114

Hand-Delivery Address:
Laura J. Maul
Program Coordinator
Department of Agricultural Resources, Suite 500 
251 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02114

Laura J. Maul

The Agricultural Produce Safety Improvement Program (APSIP) supports produce operations that are looking to improve their on-farm food safety practices that help minimize the risk of microbial contamination and food-borne illnesses. In addition, by implementing these practices the goals of the Program is to meet regulatory requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and to increase competitive market access by meeting buyer demands for demonstrated practices that work towards protecting public health and food safety.


Practices that help prevent or reduce on-farm food safety risks on produce farms.


Examples include:

- Water systems, delivery, treatment devices, processing and washing equipment

- Portable restrooms and/or hand washing sinks (mobile or stationary)

- Harvest & storage equipment (bins, totes, bin storage, racks)

- Packing shed walls, ceilings, and light fixtures

- Drainage systems for coolers and washing & packing areas

- Wildlife fencing; Pest deterrent

- Refrigeration/Cooling Equipment

- Pesticide storage



The Agricultural Produce Safety Improvement Program (APSIP) supports produce operations that are looking to improve their on-farm food safety practices that help minimize the risk of microbial contamination and food-borne illnesses. In addition, by implementing these practices the goals of the Program is to meet regulatory requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and to increase competitive market access by meeting buyer demands for demonstrated practices that work towards protecting public health and food safety.

Practices that help prevent or reduce on-farm food safety risks on produce farms.

Examples include:
- Water systems, delivery, treatment devices, processing and washing equipment
- Portable restrooms and/or hand washing sinks (mobile or stationary)
- Harvest & storage equipment (bins, totes, bin storage, racks)
- Packing shed walls, ceilings, and light fixtures
- Drainage systems for coolers and washing & packing areas
- Wildlife fencing; Pest deterrent
- Refrigeration/Cooling Equipment
- Pesticide storage

Eligible applicants include operations that grow, harvest, pack, or hold produce as defined by 21 C.F.R. § 112 and that are principally and substantially engaged in the business of production agriculture or farming for commercial purposes under M.G.L. c. 128, Section 1A.

- Maximum funding per applicant is 80% of total project costs up to $40,000.
- A minimum cash match of 20% of the total project costs is required.

List of Agricultural Funding for Nutrition & Food Safety

List of Agricultural Funding for Nutrition & Food Safety

Dairy Donation Program (DDP)

Heir's Property Relending Program (HPRP)

Microloan Programs

Rhode Island Produce Safety Improvement Grants

Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP)

Agricultural Produce Safety Improvement Program (APSIP)

Connecticut Farm Reinvestment Grant

Connecticut Farmland Restoration Program (FLRP)

Food Safety Audit Cost-Share Program

Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI)

Milk Donation Reimbursement Program (MDRP)

Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Competitive Grants Program (UAIP)

Warner Grants for Sustainable Agriculture