Apply for the Agricultural Innovation Grant

Applications must be submitted through the Single Application for Assistance online application system between 8 a.m. on February 2, 2026, and 11:59 p.m. on April 18, 2026. Applications received outside of that application window will not be considered or reviewed.
 

Grants will reimburse expenses for project planning, on-site project implementation, and larger grants for projects that have a regional impact.

Project examples include technology that:

• improves efficiency on the farm or in processing,
• generates energy while reducing nutrient waste leaving the farm,
• supports crops that effectively store carbon or replace non-renewable resources.

Projects may also address practical challenges including data collection, biosecurity, and odor remediation.

• A person who grows an agricultural commodity and who has anticipated sales greater than $2,000 per year.
• A person who processes an agricultural commodity and has anticipated sales greater than $10,000 per year.
• A person who provides technical assistance or services to farmers for conservation, engineering, veterinary care, animal disease management, farm management, agricultural commodity production, nutrient management, or similar services.
• A person or cooperative association that utilizes agricultural commodities to create products or energy.

A person or cooperative association who utilizes innovation:

• to improve energy efficiency, improve water quality, reduce water consumption, reduce odors, or address solid waste concerns.
• to improve production, processing, commercialization, or utilization of agricultural commodities.
• that produces energy from agricultural sources, including manure, food waste or biomass.
• equipment that provides low-carbon or no-carbon energy sources from agricultural commodities.
• technology that assists eligible applicants with the management of their farms, including diagnostic tools and services.
• technology that assists a packer, processor or cooperative in more efficient sorting, grading, or processing of agricultural commodities.
• that improves biosecurity or health of plants or animals.
• that supports cybersecurity or data analytics.

An application for the grant should contain the following information:

• The applicant's name, business address and contact information.
• A statement as to whether the applicant seeks an innovation planning project grant, onsite project grant or regional impact project grant.
• The details of the project for which reimbursement grant money is sought, including the following:
  • A project narrative, including a statement of the maximum amount of grant money sought for the project.
  • A project budget.
  • An addendum that will cover:
    • Alignment with the intent of the Program.
    • Metrics for tracking success.
    • An itemized budget.
    • A timeline
    • Letters of support.