Agriculture Grants for Individuals

National Institute of Food and Agriculture · $10K–$650K

The USDA AFRI Education and Workforce Development program funds projects that develop the next generation of food and agricultural sciences professionals, including K-14 educator development, youth education, community-college training, undergraduate research, and pre/postdoctoral fellowships. Eligibility is broad and includes colleges and universities, experiment stations, research institutions, private organizations, federal agencies, and U.S.-citizen or permanent-resident individuals; foreign and international organizations are not eligible. Awards range from about $10,000 to $650,000. Eligibility varies by project type, so applicants should check the NOFO.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture · $10K–$10M

The USDA AFRI Foundational and Applied Science program funds research, education, and extension projects across six agricultural priority areas. Eligibility is broad and includes universities and colleges, state agricultural experiment stations, research institutions, private organizations or corporations, federal agencies, and U.S.-citizen or permanent-resident individuals; foreign and international organizations are not eligible. Awards range widely from about $10,000 up to $10 million depending on project type. Eligibility for specific grant types varies by program area, so applicants should check the RFA.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $15K–$75K

Open to individuals (as legal entities), commercial organizations, state/local/tribal governments, universities, and nonprofits; federal agencies and employees can't apply, and projects must be conducted in Alaska. Funds marine workforce training, seafood-safety and management education, fishing innovation, and consumer outreach. Awards are small, roughly $15,000–$75,000.

Fish and Wildlife Service · Amount varies

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers Cooperative Agriculture Agreements that let private individuals or small businesses farm, hay, or graze on National Wildlife Refuge lands in support of conservation objectives. This is a non-financial program: no federal funds are awarded, and arrangements are cost-sharing or in-kind (labor, equipment, crop yield) and may involve bids or payments to the Service. Pre-application coordination is required, and only private individuals or small business entities are eligible.

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection · Amount varies

Open to businesses, individuals, nonprofits, other legal entities, and public agencies owning 20 to 5,000 acres of forest land in California; this program provides cost-share assistance (not full grants) for forest management planning, reforestation, and related improvement activities performed under a Registered Professional Forester. Broadcast, controlled, or cultural burning is not an eligible cost. No specific award amount or deadline is listed, and applicants should expect to cover part of the cost themselves.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

Open to a broad range of applicants in California, including businesses, individuals, nonprofits, other legal entities, public agencies, and tribal governments, but specifically for livestock producers seeking compensation for confirmed or probable wolf depredation losses. No set award amount or deadline is listed; compensation is determined case-by-case following a CDFW investigation of each incident. Not a general grant program — it only applies to documented wolf-livestock conflict losses in California.