Black farming grants: a guide to opportunities, funding and support

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    Page written by Ashlyn Brooks. Last reviewed on July 2, 2025. Next review due October 1, 2026.

    In the United States, Black farmers have long faced systemic obstacles in accessing the land, capital, and resources needed to thrive. While recent progress has brought increased attention to equity in agriculture, the financial gap remains wide. That’s where Black farmer grants come in — providing vital funding that doesn’t require repayment and supporting the long-term success of Black-owned farms.

    Whether you’re expanding a heritage operation, launching a first-time market garden, or pivoting toward regenerative practices, knowing where and how to access these grants is key. Swoop is here to break down the landscape, explain what’s available, and show how to position your farm for the support you deserve.

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      Why Black farming grants matter

      This isn’t just about accessing financial capital for Black farmers, it’s about correcting structural imbalances that have historically excluded Black farmers from full participation in U.S. agriculture. For over a century, Black farmers have faced disproportionate barriers to land ownership, credit access, and institutional support. These patterns weren’t just incidental. They were systemic. 

      As recently as 2022, Black farmers were approved for just 36% of USDA direct loans, compared to 72% for white farmers, despite those loans being designed as the most accessible option for producers without other sources of credit.

      This persistent inequity is rooted in a long legacy of discrimination, including the USDA’s own documented history of uneven lending. Landmark cases like Pigford v. Glickman spotlighted how delayed or denied access to essential capital led many Black farmers to lose their land altogether. Even after legal settlements, tens of thousands of eligible claimants were left behind due to bureaucratic hurdles, missed deadlines, and a lack of technical support. In this context, Black farmer grants aren’t a luxury. They’re a tool for repair and reinvestment. 

      These grants make it possible for farmers to:

      • Reclaim or retain family-owned land
      • Invest in essential equipment and infrastructure
      • Transition toward regenerative and climate-smart practices
      • Launch value-added products and enter new markets
      • Provide culturally relevant, healthy food within their own communities

      Challenges facing Black farmers in the U.S.

      Despite representing a significant cultural and historical foundation of American agriculture, Black farmers today make up less than 2% of all U.S. producers, owning only 0.6% of the nation’s farmland. Many operate on smaller plots, face barriers to credit, and lack intergenerational capital or institutional support.

      Common challenges include:

      • Limited access to generational land or collateral
      • Discrimination in lending and federal programs
      • Underrepresentation in extension services
      • Inadequate visibility into grant opportunities
      • A lack of technical support in applying for funding

      Grants designed specifically for Black farmers are helping close these gaps, but accessing them requires knowing where to look and how to navigate the process.

      What types of grants are available?

      Black farmers can tap into a wide range of funding sources, from federal programs to community-driven nonprofits. Here’s a breakdown of the most useful types:

      Government funding programs

      The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) designates a portion of its funding for “Socially Disadvantaged Applicants” (SDAs), which includes Black farmers. These aren’t separate grant programs, but targeted funding pools within existing loan and grant structures.

      Key opportunities include:

      Private and nonprofit grant options

      In addition to federal aid, several nonprofit organizations have stepped in to redistribute capital more equitably.

      • Black Farmer Fund (Northeast): Offers a blend of gifts and low-interest financing to Black-owned food and farm businesses. Decisions are community-led and often paired with business support.
      • Black Food Fund (Pacific Northwest): Focuses on collective wealth-building through grants that support food justice, climate stewardship, and cooperative models. In 2024 alone, the fund awarded $70,000 to 13 recipients.
      • Fund-a-Farmer Grants (via FACT): Supports humane livestock practices, covering equipment like fencing and watering systems.
      • Brighter Future Fund (American Farmland Trust): Offers grants of up to $5,000 per project for farmers of color, women, veterans, and other socially disadvantaged producers focused on regenerative practices or farm infrastructure.

      Specialist grants for innovation and sustainability

      Several grants encourage Black farmers to lead in sustainability, research, and education:

      How to apply for Black farming grants

      Finding a relevant grant is step one, but winning it requires careful preparation and follow-through.

      Eligibility criteria

      Eligibility varies by program, but most Black farmer grant opportunities look for:

      • Ownership or operation of a working farm or food business
      • Socially disadvantaged applicant status (race, ethnicity)
      • A clear project plan with community, environmental, or economic benefits
      • U.S. residency or legal farming status

      Certain programs also prioritize beginning farmers, veterans, or farms located in persistent poverty zones.

      Application process

      Each program has its own format, but most follow this general sequence:

      1. Register your farm: For USDA programs, this means getting a farm number through your local FSA office.
      2. Identify the right grant: Match your goals (conservation, infrastructure, value-added) with a program’s priorities.
      3. Prepare your proposal: This typically includes a description of your operation, the purpose of funding, a budget, and expected outcomes.
      4. Submit supporting materials: These can include tax returns, business plans, letters of support, and photos.
      5. Apply by deadline: Federal grants often have annual or rolling deadlines. Local and nonprofit grants vary, so check dates carefully.

      Tips for a successful application

      TipWhy it mattersHow it helps
      Be specific about your project goalsReviews are more likely to fund clear, results-oriented proposals. Vague goals often get passed over. Helps reviewers visualize how their funding makes a measurable impact on your farm.
      Use the grant’s own languageAligning with the program’s stated mission shows that you understand their prioritiesIncreases your changes of passing the first screening and shows you’re a serious applicant.
      Seek expert feedbackExperienced advisors can help you catch errors, clarify goals, and boost your credibility.Reduces stress and increases the likelihood of submitting a complete and competitive application.
      Build a reusable application toolkitCreating reusable templates saves time and ensures consistency while still allowing for customization. Streamlines future submissions, making it easier to apply to multiple programs without starting from scratch.

      Organisations and support networks for Black farmers

      Having the right community behind you can make the grant process, and the farming journey, far more sustainable. A few standout resources:

      Also, connect with regional FSA offices and Black-led co-ops. These hubs often have the inside scoop on hyperlocal opportunities.

      Addressing barriers to accessing agricultural funding

      It’s no secret that structural barriers remain. Even today, some farmers report challenges with transparency, grant visibility, and bureaucratic friction. That’s why organizations like the ones we noted above are redefining what inclusive financing looks like, centering relationship-building, community design, and economic justice.

      Still, awareness and advocacy go hand in hand with strategy. The more Black farmers apply and share their wins, the more grant structures will evolve to meet real-world needs.

      Get started with Swoop's business funding platform

      Grants can play a powerful role in building long-term resilience for Black-owned farms, but they’re rarely the only financial tool worth considering. Whether you’re investing in infrastructure, scaling up production, or simply managing seasonal cash flow, a broader funding strategy can provide much-needed stability.

      Swoop’s business funding platform is designed to help you explore that bigger picture. By registering your farm, you can discover potential funding matches based on your goals. Think of us as one more resource in your toolkit, especially if you’re navigating funding for the first time or expanding beyond traditional grant options.

      Written by

      Ashlyn Brooks

      Ashlyn is a personal finance writer with experience in business and consumer taxes, retirement, and financial services to name a few. She has been published in USA Today, Kiplinger and Investopedia.

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