USDA & Agriculture Grants Available in August 2025

How Farmers Can Access Funding This Month

If you're a beginning farmer, landowner, or agricultural entrepreneur looking to get funding for your operation, August 2025 offers several open opportunities to help you start, scale, or sustain your farm business.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the top agriculture and USDA funding programs currently active, their deadlines, and what you need to apply.

✅ 1. Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Deadline: August 8, 2025

This USDA program helps you continue grazing and haying on enrolled land while improving soil health and biodiversity. It’s ideal for livestock producers who want to conserve working lands without losing productivity.

Eligible for:

• Ranchers

• Grass-fed beef producers

• Forage-based systems

Benefits include:

• Annual rental payments

• Cost-share for conservation practices

• Long-term resource sustainability

Learn More & Apply → farmers.gov

✅ 2. Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP)

Deadline for Acreage Reports: August 15, 2025

This program provides direct payments to eligible producers affected by commodity losses. While it is retroactive, filing your acreage reports by mid-August is essential for qualifying based on your 2024 production year.

Eligible for:

• Row crop farmers

• Specialty crop producers

• Farmers impacted by weather or disaster-related losses

Learn More → fsa.usda.gov

✅ 3. NIFA Potato Breeding Research Grant

Deadline: August 14, 2025

This research-focused grant supports efforts to improve potato varieties. While specific, it provides researchers and specialty crop developers with up to six-figure funding for varietal improvements.

Best for:

• University-affiliated researchers

• Specialty crop farms with innovation capacity

• Farmer-led research partnerships

Apply through → nifa.usda.gov

✅ 4. Specialty Crop Producer Assistance – MASC (Market Access Support Component)

Status: Open (rolling payouts underway)

Though deadlines vary by state, the USDA has made $2 billion available to specialty crop producers (fruits, vegetables, nursery crops, etc.) who experienced losses or market disruption during the 2023–24 seasons. This includes retroactive payments based on prior-year income and market conditions.

Eligible for:

• Fruit/vegetable farms

• Greenhouse operations

• Local and regional food producers

Check local USDA/FSA offices for availability in your region.

More info → Michigan’s Thumb coverage

✅ 5. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Farmer/Rancher Grants

Status: Regional Openings — Check Your SARE Region

SARE offers $7,000–$25,000 grants to producers for on-farm trials, conservation innovation, and community food systems. Deadlines and details vary by region, but applications typically open in late summer.

Eligible for:

• Small farms

• New and beginning farmers

• Farmers doing regenerative or value-added practices

Explore your region’s deadlines → sare.org

🧾 What You Need to Apply:

Most grants will require the following to be eligible:

• A clear farm business plan

• Land ownership or lease documentation

• Acreage reports or farm records

• Projected budgets and timelines

• Personal identification and tax information

💡 Need Help Applying?

As an agriculture consultant and founder of Norma’s Basket, I work with farmers across the country to:

• Develop custom farm business plans

• Prepare USDA-ready financials

• Submit competitive grant and loan applications

• Structure land use for profit and sustainability

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

📩 DM me “FUNDING” or visit normasbasket.com to apply for 1-on-1 support.

✍️ Final Thoughts

Grants like these won’t stay open forever — and they aren’t just for big farms. If you have a vision, a clear plan, and the willingness to do the work, funding is out there for you.

The question is: Will you take the step?