Browse Ambrook’s collection of educations for agricultural operations.

Has your farm been impacted by a disaster? Use the USDA's Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool to find financial assistance in your area.		



Education

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

Grant

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

Loan

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

Cost Share

- Disaster Assistance Fact sheet (PDF)
- USDA Loan Assistance Tool

Coronavirus

Fencing

Trade Relief

Trees

Weather

Wildfire

Drought

Flood

Hurricane

Tornado

Emergency

See the most recent Request For Applications for instructions on how to apply.

Reinvestment Fund (HFFI Help Desk)

America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) is a USDA-supported program, administered by Reinvestment Fund, that provides grants, loans, and technical assistance to improve access to fresh, healthy, affordable food in underserved urban and&#x2004;rural communities. For the 2026 cycle, HFFI offers three funding opportunities: the 2026 FARE Fund Grants & TA (grants of $20,000-$250,000 for planning and implementation projects, plus technical assistance of up to $75,000 per project for early-stage planning, predevelopment, and business assistance soft costs); the 2026-2028 FARE Fund Loans (loans of $500,000-$3,000,000, with loans over $3 million up to $5 million considered case-by-case); and the 2026 Partnerships Program (the HFFI Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program), which makes $20 million available in grants to public-private partnerships implementing Food Financing Programs in underserved communities. Visit www.investinginfood.com for details, eligibility, and deadlines for each opportunity.



America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) is a USDA-supported program, administered by Reinvestment Fund, that provides grants, loans, and technical assistance to improve access to fresh, healthy, affordable food in underserved urban and rural communities. For the 2026 cycle, HFFI offers three funding opportunities: the 2026 FARE Fund Grants & TA (grants of $20,000-$250,000 for planning and implementation projects, plus technical assistance of up to $75,000 per project for early-stage planning, predevelopment, and business assistance soft costs); the 2026-2028 FARE Fund Loans (loans of $500,000-$3,000,000, with loans over $3 million up to $5 million considered case-by-case); and the 2026 Partnerships Program (the HFFI Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program), which makes $20 million available in grants to public-private partnerships implementing Food Financing Programs in underserved communities. Visit www.investinginfood.com for details, eligibility, and deadlines for each opportunity.

For-profit businesses, cooperative businesses, nonprofit organizations, and state, local, and tribal governments and governmental agencies will be eligible to apply.
The program will support projects aiming to strengthen, expand, and innovate within the food retail supply chain. The program could assist a variety of organizations, business models, and capital needs of ventures that process, distribute, aggregate, market, and sell healthy, fresh, and affordable foods to underserved communities and markets. Projects must demonstrate how their proposed project will contribute to food access through the availability of staple and perishable foods for retail sale.
To be eligible for assistance, applicants must propose a project that:
1. Plans to expand or preserve the availability of staple and perishable foods in underserved areas with low and moderate-income populations; and
2. If the project involves retail sales, accepts benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 USC 2011 et. Seq.)
To be eligible for financial or technical assistance through America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative, applicants must propose a project in an underserved area. Use the interactive map on this page to determine if your project’s proposed location qualifies as underserved.

- RFA Info Session Webinar- Recording
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Online Grants Portal Registration and Application Guide

Local Food

Nutrition & Food Safety

Farmers Market

Applications for most programs are accepted on a continuous basis, but they’re considered for funding in different ranking periods. Be sure to ask your local NRCS district conservationist about the deadline for the ranking period to ensure you turn in your application in time.



The&#x2004;sage grouse, a chicken-like bird uniquely adapted to this habitat, is the poster child of the sagebrush country and is best known for its early-morning dance during mating season.

Large-scale conversion of native rangelands to cultivated fields, housing and energy developments, invading conifers, and catastrophic wildfires have fragmented this vital landscape, reducing its size by half. And many species, including the sage grouse, have seen substantial declines from historic numbers as a result.

Stewardship-minded ranchers are helping reverse this decline by conserving and enhancing sagebrush habitat. And their conservation practices benefit more than just wildlife. They are improving the long-term sustainability of their grazing lands. As the saying goes, “what’s good for the bird is good for the herd.”


NRCS offers technical and financial assistance to help ranchers voluntarily conserve sage grouse habitat on private lands. This assistance helps producers plan and implement a variety of conservation activities, or practices, that benefit the bird and agricultural operations.



The sage grouse, a chicken-like bird uniquely adapted to this habitat, is the poster child of the sagebrush country and is best known for its early-morning dance during mating season.
Large-scale conversion of native rangelands to cultivated fields, housing and energy developments, invading conifers, and catastrophic wildfires have fragmented this vital landscape, reducing its size by half. And many species, including the sage grouse, have seen substantial declines from historic numbers as a result.
Stewardship-minded ranchers are helping reverse this decline by conserving and enhancing sagebrush habitat. And their conservation practices benefit more than just wildlife. They are improving the long-term sustainability of their grazing lands. As the saying goes, “what’s good for the bird is good for the herd.”

NRCS offers technical and financial assistance to help ranchers voluntarily conserve sage grouse habitat on private lands. This assistance helps producers plan and implement a variety of conservation activities, or practices, that benefit the bird and agricultural operations.

Air Quality

Carbon Capture

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Regenerative

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Reduced Tillage

Conservation

Are you interested in becoming involved in the TOPP network? Let us know using one of the following forms:
- General Interest Form
- Transitioning Producer (Mentee) Application
- Mentor Application

The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) is investing up to $100 million over five years in cooperative agreements with non-profit organizations who are&#x2004;partnering with others to provide technical assistance and wrap-around support for transitioning and existing organic farmers. AMS is building partnership networks in six regions across the United States with trusted organizations serving direct farmer training, education, and outreach activities.

The partner organizations will:

- Connect transitioning farmers with mentors for at least one year after certification.

- Build paid mentoring networks to share practical insights and advice.

- Provide community building opportunities to include:

    - Train-the-mentor support

    - Technical assistance

    - Workshops and field days covering topics including organic production practices, certification, conservation planning, business development (including navigating the supply chain), regulations, and marketing

- Help producers overcome technical, cultural, and financial shifts during and following certification.

- Engage educational and training institutions (including crop advisors and extension agents) on organic workforce training and education and future human capital planning. 

Over time, technical assistance resources will be made available to all candidate and existing organic farmers through the USDA website.

TOPP is a collaborative effort involving many partners working together towards a common goal. The TOPP partnership network covers six regions: the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Plains, Northwest, and West/Southwest. Organizations in these regions are actively forming partnerships to serve transitioning and existing organic farmers. TOPP regions are set geographically and form a mix of states that are well-represented in organic and states that are currently underserved. Additional partners will be added as the initiative unfolds, as it will take more time to identify partners that have been traditionally under-represented in organic.



The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) is investing up to $100 million over five years in cooperative agreements with non-profit organizations who are partnering with others to provide technical assistance and wrap-around support for transitioning and existing organic farmers. AMS is building partnership networks in six regions across the United States with trusted organizations serving direct farmer training, education, and outreach activities.
The partner organizations will:
- Connect transitioning farmers with mentors for at least one year after certification.
- Build paid mentoring networks to share practical insights and advice.
- Provide community building opportunities to include:
    - Train-the-mentor support
    - Technical assistance
    - Workshops and field days covering topics including organic production practices, certification, conservation planning, business development (including navigating the supply chain), regulations, and marketing
- Help producers overcome technical, cultural, and financial shifts during and following certification.
- Engage educational and training institutions (including crop advisors and extension agents) on organic workforce training and education and future human capital planning. 
Over time, technical assistance resources will be made available to all candidate and existing organic farmers through the USDA website.
TOPP is a collaborative effort involving many partners working together towards a common goal. The TOPP partnership network covers six regions: the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Plains, Northwest, and West/Southwest. Organizations in these regions are actively forming partnerships to serve transitioning and existing organic farmers. TOPP regions are set geographically and form a mix of states that are well-represented in organic and states that are currently underserved. Additional partners will be added as the initiative unfolds, as it will take more time to identify partners that have been traditionally under-represented in organic.

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

Discount

- Interactive TOPP map with state-by-state partner listings
    - Use this interactive map to explore the partner organizations located in your state. When you click on an individual state, the map will take you to the page in the document that displays contact information for partners in that state. When you click on a region, you will be taken to the first state, listed alphabetically in that region. In the bottom right corner of the contact information page, there is a link to return to the main map.
- Transitional Production Plan (TPP) - Crops (pdf)
- Transitional Production Plan (TPP) – Livestock (pdf)
- TOPP Fact Sheet (pdf)
- TOPP Success Stories
- News Release: Organic Transition Initiative (issued August 22, 2022)
- Transitioning to Organic
- Farmers.gov – Organic Farmers (check here for information on Organic Cost Share, NRCS programs, Insurance and Disaster Assistance and more)
- Organic Regulations


Succession

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

Stewardship

Legal & Finance

Labor

Marketing

Research

Compliance

Open the Women in Agrifoodtech Directory directly on Airtable to browse or search entries: https://airtable.com/shrpANgJqsBsIXYTX

To add your own name to the directory or update your existing information, fill out the survey at: https://airtable.com/shrAbQwD2rjwdtSol

Amy Wu

Connie Bowen

From Farms to Incubators created and maintains the Women in Agrifoodtech Directory, a searchable Airtable directory that lists the names and social media platforms of womxn founders and leaders in agtech in the&#x2004;U.S. and internationally.


The directory is the result of a collaboration among women leaders in AgTech, including Connie Bowen (AgLaunch Initiative), Amy Wu (From Farms to Incubators), Allison Kopf (Artemis Ag), Pam Marrone (Marrone Bio Innovations), and Louisa Burwood-Taylor (AgFunder News). It is intended to be an accessible resource for those seeking to add diverse leaders in agrifoodtech to their events as speakers, to their teams as employees or partners, and to their networks as peers.


The directory is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.



From Farms to Incubators created and maintains the Women in Agrifoodtech Directory, a searchable Airtable directory that lists the names and social media platforms of womxn founders and leaders in agtech in the U.S. and internationally.

The directory is the result of a collaboration among women leaders in AgTech, including Connie Bowen (AgLaunch Initiative), Amy Wu (From Farms to Incubators), Allison Kopf (Artemis Ag), Pam Marrone (Marrone Bio Innovations), and Louisa Burwood-Taylor (AgFunder News). It is intended to be an accessible resource for those seeking to add diverse leaders in agrifoodtech to their events as speakers, to their teams as employees or partners, and to their networks as peers.

The directory is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

- Women in Agrifoodtech Directory (Airtable) -- https://airtable.com/shrpANgJqsBsIXYTX
- Add or update your listing -- https://airtable.com/shrAbQwD2rjwdtSol
- "List of 701+ Women in Agrifood Is Growing, But Are We Making Progress?" -- AgFunder News, March 8, 2022 -- https://agfundernews.com/list-of-701-women-in-agrifood-is-growing-but-are-we-making-progress

Business Plan

Cash Rent

Refinancing

Transition

Socially Disadvantaged

Historically Underserved

Monica Newman

The Agriculture Leadership Development Initiative (ALDI) is a transformative program funded by the USDA 2501 grant, dedicated to empowering underserved farmers. Our mission is to provide vital resources and support to those who need it&#x2004;most, fostering a new era of agricultural leadership and innovation.


**Who is this program for? **

ALDI is designed to equip underserved farmers as defined by the USDA\*\* with the tools they need to succeed, including grant writing assistance, advocacy training, networking opportunities, leadership development, and community building. By offering these essential services, we aim to bridge the gap in access to resources and create a more equitable agricultural landscape.

Our program not only helps farmers navigate the complexities of modern agriculture but also challenges them to shift the narrative and embrace forward-thinking approaches. Through ALDI, farmers are encouraged to lead with confidence, advocate for their needs, and build lasting networks that drive collective success.

Join us in our mission to reshape the future of agriculture and support those who are poised to make a significant impact. Your contribution to ALDI will help cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders and strengthen the fabric of our farming communities.



The Agriculture Leadership Development Initiative (ALDI) is a transformative program funded by the USDA 2501 grant, dedicated to empowering underserved farmers. Our mission is to provide vital resources and support to those who need it most, fostering a new era of agricultural leadership and innovation.

Who is this program for? 
ALDI is designed to equip underserved farmers as defined by the USDA** with the tools they need to succeed, including grant writing assistance, advocacy training, networking opportunities, leadership development, and community building. By offering these essential services, we aim to bridge the gap in access to resources and create a more equitable agricultural landscape.
Our program not only helps farmers navigate the complexities of modern agriculture but also challenges them to shift the narrative and embrace forward-thinking approaches. Through ALDI, farmers are encouraged to lead with confidence, advocate for their needs, and build lasting networks that drive collective success.
Join us in our mission to reshape the future of agriculture and support those who are poised to make a significant impact. Your contribution to ALDI will help cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders and strengthen the fabric of our farming communities.

ALDI is designed to equip underserved farmers as defined by the USDA (Beginning, Socially Disadvantaged, Veterans, Limited Resource) with tools to succeed. Applicants are accepted from MD, DC, VA, WV, DE, and PA; two or more years of farming experience is preferred.

Beginning Farmers

Veterans

Español

Native Americans

People Of Color

Women

2026 Beginning Farmer Training Program Application

Future Harvest Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture

Our Beginner Farmer Training Program (BFTP) offers a 12-month immersive training experience that combines a comprehensive classroom curriculum with hands-on learning at some of the region’s leading sustainable farms. Applications for 2024 have closed. Applications for 2025 will open&#x2004;in the fall of 2024.


- We offer three training levels, designed to meet the specific needs of beginning farmers at different stages in their careers.

    - [Level 1](https://futureharvest.org/programs/beginner-farmer-training-program/hands-on-days/): Interested in farming but not sure where to start? Get your hands dirty with hands-on events and online classroom learning in this flexible program designed for folks who still work full time

    - [Level 2](https://futureharvest.org/programs/beginner-farmer-training-program/training-farms/): The flagship level of our program, designed for folks who have some on-farm experience build their skills and launch their farm businesses

    - [Level 3](https://futureharvest.org/programs/beginner-farmer-training-program/consultants/): A mentorship program for farmers who have started their businesses and seek targeted support in both production and business 

    - Not sure which level is the best fit?

- All three levels of the BFTP are FREE and trainees receive a host of benefits: annual FHCASA membership, free admission to our popular winter conference and year-round field days.

- Join a diverse, inclusive network of new and experienced farmers! We are committed to building a safe, supportive network for all trainees, free from discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, religion, veteran status, military obligations, or marital status.

- This is a region-wide program, open to beginning farmers in MD, VA, DE—including the Delmarva Peninsula—and DC, WV, and PA. We offer in-person farmer-to-farmer training opportunities throughout the Chesapeake region, and classroom requirements are completed online.

- We offer training in diverse operation types, including: vegetables, fruit, cut flowers, herbs, and livestock at urban, peri-urban, and rural farm settings.

- The program is also designed with built-in scheduling flexibility to allow new farmers to further their training while maintaining their own farms or other work.

- Accessibility: We are committed to making the BFTP accessible to all aspiring farmers. While our programs currently best serve folks located within 2 hours of DC or Baltimore or on the Delmarva peninsula, we work to develop custom learning plans for folks across the Chesapeake region. We want to make this work! Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.




Our Beginner Farmer Training Program (BFTP) offers a 12-month immersive training experience that combines a comprehensive classroom curriculum with hands-on learning at some of the region’s leading sustainable farms. Applications for 2024 have closed. Applications for 2025 will open in the fall of 2024.

- We offer three training levels, designed to meet the specific needs of beginning farmers at different stages in their careers.
    - Level 1: Interested in farming but not sure where to start? Get your hands dirty with hands-on events and online classroom learning in this flexible program designed for folks who still work full time
    - Level 2: The flagship level of our program, designed for folks who have some on-farm experience build their skills and launch their farm businesses
    - Level 3: A mentorship program for farmers who have started their businesses and seek targeted support in both production and business 
    - Not sure which level is the best fit?
- All three levels of the BFTP are FREE and trainees receive a host of benefits: annual FHCASA membership, free admission to our popular winter conference and year-round field days.
- Join a diverse, inclusive network of new and experienced farmers! We are committed to building a safe, supportive network for all trainees, free from discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, religion, veteran status, military obligations, or marital status.
- This is a region-wide program, open to beginning farmers in MD, VA, DE—including the Delmarva Peninsula—and DC, WV, and PA. We offer in-person farmer-to-farmer training opportunities throughout the Chesapeake region, and classroom requirements are completed online.
- We offer training in diverse operation types, including: vegetables, fruit, cut flowers, herbs, and livestock at urban, peri-urban, and rural farm settings.
- The program is also designed with built-in scheduling flexibility to allow new farmers to further their training while maintaining their own farms or other work.
- Accessibility: We are committed to making the BFTP accessible to all aspiring farmers. While our programs currently best serve folks located within 2 hours of DC or Baltimore or on the Delmarva peninsula, we work to develop custom learning plans for folks across the Chesapeake region. We want to make this work! Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.


List of Agricultural Educations