Female farm grants: funding opportunities and support for women in agriculture

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

Across the United States, more women are stepping into leadership roles on farms, building businesses, revitalizing communities, and reshaping the future of food production.

But let’s not sugarcoat it: breaking into agriculture as a woman comes with unique challenges. Land access, capital, and representation have historically tilted in favor of men, creating structural hurdles that still echo today.

That’s where farm grants for females come in — not as handouts, but as pathways. These grants are designed to address long-standing gaps, empower women-led farm businesses, and support innovation, sustainability, and economic resilience. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, there’s a network of resources out there. You just need to know where to look.

Swoop will unpack the most relevant opportunities, explain the application process, and walk you through how women in agriculture are using funding to lead meaningful change.

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Why female farm grants are important

Women are increasingly shaping the future of American agriculture and the numbers prove it. According to the USDA, more than 1.2 million women are now active in farming operations, accounting for over 36% of all producers nationwide. These producers manage a staggering 407 million acres and generate roughly $222 billion in agricultural sales.

But while representation has grown, access to capital hasn’t always kept pace. Female farmers still face more obstacles in securing land, loans, and investment compared to their male counterparts. This is where farm grants become more than just financial support — they’re a critical mechanism for balancing the scales.

Grants give women the resources to purchase equipment, expand acreage, or launch new ventures. But they also send a deeper message: that women’s roles in agriculture are vital, valuable, and worth investing in. For women juggling everything from crop planning to caregiving, grant funding can offer the momentum and recognition needed to grow something lasting.

Barriers faced by women in farming

So, what’s standing in the way? For many women entering or expanding in agriculture, it’s a mix of tangible and cultural barriers:

Access to land and capital: Historically, land and funding flowed through male family lines or commercial channels less accessible to women.
Representation and visibility: Fewer role models, mentorships, or leadership positions for women in ag mean fewer pathways to opportunity.
Support for caregiving responsibilities: Many female farmers are also primary caregivers, and grant programs haven’t always considered the need for flexibility or work-life integration.
Networking gaps: Informal industry connections and funding opportunities often flow through male-dominated spaces.

Addressing these challenges could be a smart economic strategy. Female-led farms have been shown to prioritize diversification, sustainability, and community-oriented practices, which could bring a nice balance to communities.

What types of grants are available?

You don’t need to be running a multi-acre operation to qualify for support. In fact, many grant programs are designed specifically for small to mid-size or first-time female farmers. Here’s how the options break down:

Government funding for women in agriculture

The USDA’s Socially Disadvantaged Applicant (SDA) designation sets aside funding for women through several loan and grant programs. These include:

Direct Operating and Farm Ownership Loans
Microloans for startup costs or expansion
The Down Payment Loan Program – the only loan program specifically designed for women and beginning farmers

Additionally, grants like the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) can help women enhance and market their farm products — think jam from your berries or soap from your goat milk.

Charities and private organisations offering support

Not all farm funding comes from the government. A growing number of private foundations and nonprofits are backing women in agriculture with education, grants, and mentorship.

Amber Grant Foundation: Monthly awards for women-led businesses, including those in agriculture.
Tory Burch Foundation: Supports women entrepreneurs with education and capital access.
American Agri-Women Foundation: Offers scholarships and convention stipends for women advancing in agriculture.
FruitGuys Community Fund: Microgrants for sustainable ag projects on small farms, including women-owned ones.

These programs often focus on impact, and your commitment to sustainability, local food access, or innovation can boost your odds.

Grants for training, innovation and sustainability

Education is power, and in farming, it’s profit too. Programs like the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grants or the Women and Minorities in STEM (WAMS) grant fund training and research efforts for women tackling agricultural challenges with modern solutions.

Whether you’re testing out no-till methods, improving soil health, or designing a new crop rotation system, these grants can help make experimentation feasible.

Farm grants for first-time female farmers

Starting from square one? You’re not alone, and you’re not left out.

Many female farmers begin without land, capital, or industry experience. If that’s you, look for grants and programs that specifically prioritize beginning farmers:

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP): Offers funding for education, training, and mentoring.
FSA Microloans: Great for low-overhead projects like starting a small greenhouse, purchasing livestock, or leasing land.
Young Farmer Grants (via the National Young Farmers Coalition): $5,000 awards geared toward early-stage farmers with 50% of funds being reserved for women applicants.

Some states also offer first-time farmer support, especially for women from rural or underserved backgrounds. A conversation with your local USDA service center can uncover smaller, regional opportunities that fly under the radar.

How to apply for female farm grants

Applying for grants doesn’t need to feel like filing your taxes on a deadline. The key is to approach it like a growing season: prepare, plan, and plant with intention.

Eligibility requirements

While each grant has its own criteria, here’s what you’ll commonly need:

Female ownership or leadership of the farm
A registered business entity (LLC, sole prop, cooperative, etc.)
A defined project or funding goal (new equipment, fencing, training, etc.)
Farm location within the U.S. and compliance with USDA standards

Some grants prioritize underrepresented farmers, so if you’re a woman of color, veteran, or part of another historically underserved group, you may have access to additional pools of funding.

Step-by-step application guide

Clarify your goal: What do you need the money for? Be specific.
Build a basic business plan: Include costs, timelines, and expected outcomes.
Register your farm: Having a farm number through the USDA makes applying much easier.
Organize your documents: Tax info, lease agreements, cost estimates, photos of your site — gather it all now.
Track deadlines: Some grants run year-round; others have short seasonal windows.
Apply with intention: Customize your applications. Generic copy-paste submissions rarely stand out.

Common mistakes to avoid

Applying before confirming eligibility
Submitting incomplete paperwork
Ignoring the grant’s mission or values
Underestimating reporting and compliance requirements
Waiting until the last minute to submit your application

Networking and support groups for female farmers

Grants are great. But finding a community of like-minded people? That’s where resilience is built.

If you’re looking for shared knowledge, resources, or just someone who “gets it,” explore:

National Women in Agriculture Association (NWIAA)
Annie’s Project – Financial and risk education tailored for women in ag
Women, Food & Agriculture Network (WFAN)
Local extension offices and university-led ag programs for women

Many of these groups offer mentorship, technical assistance, and even referrals for funding programs.

How funding is helping women lead change in agriculture

Sometimes, the clearest proof of what funding can achieve comes from those putting it to work on the ground. In Zambia, entrepreneur Sylvia Chisangano Horemans has grown her seed company, Kamano Seed, into a powerful vehicle for female empowerment and agricultural progress. With backing from the World Bank-supported Zambia Agribusiness and Trade Project (ZATP), Sylvia expanded her reach from supporting just 800 farmers to nearly 3,000 — most of them women.

Kamano Seed doesn’t just produce and distribute high-quality seed for maize, beans, and soy; it also trains smallholders in climate-smart farming and nutrition, equipping women with tools to improve family health and farm productivity. With the project’s support, Sylvia installed one of Zambia’s largest seed processing machines, created new full-time and seasonal jobs, and expanded into neighboring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. Her story is a reminder: when women in agriculture are supported financially, they don’t just grow food — they grow economies, communities, and futures.

Get started with Swoop's business funding platform

Whether you’re navigating your first grant application or comparing funding options for your next expansion, having the right tools matters.

At Swoop, we help women-led businesses — farm-based and beyond — access the capital they need to grow with confidence. From exploring grant matches to comparing business loan options, our platform simplifies the process so you can focus on running your farm, not wrestling with paperwork.

So if you’re ready to get your hands dirty, register with Swoop to explore personalized funding options, including business loans, grant alerts, and financial guidance tailored to your goals. No fluff. No hard pitch. Just support where it counts. Because your farm deserves funding that works as hard as you do.

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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