Starting a farm career can be a lucrative way to earn an income, but getting started can be costly. If you don’t have the money upfront to get started, you may wonder how you’ll ever become a farm owner. Luckily, there are grants that can help you get started including grants directly from the USDA.
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We help you understand the necessary steps below.
Decide What you Need
First, before you start applying for grants, decide what type of grants you require. This means you’ll have to do some brainstorming. You’ll want to come up with a business plan of sorts to at least help direct you down the right path.
Start by figuring out what type of farming you will do. This is important as there are grants for specific types of farming. You may find that in your area there is a great need for livestock farming, for example. If that’s the case, there may be a variety of grants specifically for livestock farming. A quick search online for farming grants in your area specific to the type of farming you will do will help you get started.
If you’ll have any ‘niche’ products or services, make sure that you search for grants for those products or services as well. You never know where there will be a grant for the product or service you want to provide.
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Start With the USDA
Once you have an idea of the direction you want your farm to take, you can check out what the USDA has to offer. On their
Grants and Loans page, you’ll find a current listing of the grants they have available. Read through the descriptions carefully to see if any of the grants offer what you need.
Apply for the Grants
Once you find the grants, whether through the USDA or your local government, apply for them. Make sure that you follow the instructions carefully to ensure that you meet the requirements. Your application should include a cover letter, which is your chance to ‘plea your case’ to increase your chances of securing the grant.
Other Places to Look for Farming Grants
If the USDA or your local government doesn’t have any grants that you qualify for, try any of the following resources:
If you have the desire to become a farmer, there is funding out there for you. It may take some time to find the right grant, but with the right effort, you’ll come across the funds you need with a combination of grants and FSA loans (either direct or guaranteed) to get you started on your farm.
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