Farmer Advancement Mini Grant Application

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2026 Marbleseed Farmer Advancement Mini Grant Application

The Marbleseed Farmer Advancement Mini Grant assists historically underserved farmers and ranchers in fully participating in activities to help create and sustain their transition into farming, assisting in strengthening the future generation of farmers and ranchers.

* NOTE: These funds are NOT loans and DO NOT need to be repaid.

Eligibility:
Who is eligible to apply?
Historically underserved farmers, including BIPOC and new American farmers, beginning (farming for 10 years or less), limited resource, participants in the Marbleseed Mentorship Program, and Veteran farmers and ranchers.

Applicants must be farming in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota, or South Dakota.

Eligible projects:
Examples include: Travel to trainings, attending educational events, purchasing inputs (seeds, fertilizer, breed stocks for free range chickens, ducks, honey bees, sheep and goats), small farm tools, reference materials in farm management, marketing plans, etc. For farmers that lease land, purchase of portable structures that are equipped with solar power to help in post-harvest handling and storage. Grant ranges:

$250-500.00 Travel and time reimbursement to cover farmer education events, farm visits, field days, conferences etc. in the past three years (2023-2026)
$500-1,000.00 Mini-grant for farm infrastructure or inputs, including labor

Farmer Advancement Funds are available in amounts ranging from $250-$1000. The funding pool is open through July 31, 2026.

2026 Application period:
Applications are due July 31, 2026 and decisions will be announced on August 15, 2026.
Funds must be spent by September 14, 2026.

The Farmer Advancement Fund is supported by, USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program 2020-49400-32787

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Farm / Business Name

Home Address*

City*

Country

Farm address (if different from home address). Please include city, state, and zip code

State*

Zip Code*

Please answer all of the following questions.

Are you a Veteran of U.S. Military or National Guard?*

Yes No

Are you a Beginning Farmer?*

No Selection with <1 year experience, menos de 1 año de experiencia with 1-3 years experience, entre 1-3 años de experiencia with 4-6 years of experience, entre 4-6 años de experiencia with 7-10 years of experience, entre 7-10 años de experiencia with 10+ years of experience, más de 10 años de experiencia

Do any of these describe your racial or ethnic identity: African, African American, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Hispanic or Latino/a/x, Middle Eastern, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander?

Yes No

If you answered yes above, using any words, how do you identify your race, ethnicity, tribal affiliation, country of origin, or ancestry?

What do you grow/raise?*

How long have you been farming? Please include time working on farms other than your own.*

How many acres?*

Do you own or rent the land that you farm?*

What are your growing practices?*

If other, please describe

How much money are you applying for? (Minimum $250, maximum $1000)*

Budget: Please include a simple budget for this funding outlining the costs for each item. You can also email it to [email protected]**

How will this funding improve your farm business?*

What else would you like us to know?*

Occupation (check any that apply):

Farmer

Yes No

Ag Professional

Yes No

Student

Yes No

Researcher

Yes No

Veteran

Yes No

Other

Yes No

If you checked "Farmer," please specify:

Certified Organic

Yes No

Transitioning to Organic

Yes No

Non-Organic

Yes No

Beginning (10 years or less)

Yes No

While You're Here...
Sign up or change your subscription settings for MOSES publications and event notices.

Please select which publications you'd like to receive:

Organic Broadcaster newspaper (emailed edition)

Yes No

Organic Link (monthly enews)

Yes No

Organic Farming Conference Guide (mailed late November)

Yes No

We send targeted emails for field days and other events. Select which farming topics you'd like to receive event notices for:

Dairy

Yes No

Vegetables / Fruits

Yes No

Livestock / Poultry

Yes No

Flowers / Herbs

Yes No

Row Crops / Forage

Yes No

In Her Boots (for women)

Yes No

Submit Application

Success! Your Farmer Advancement Mini Grant application has been submitted. You will receive a confirmation email shortly.

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715-778-5775 | [email protected]