Recent Policy Changes Affecting USDA Funding
**December 30, 2025:** Secretary Rollins signed a memo establishing five new research priorities for USDA. Competitive grants in 2026 will be scored against these priorities: farmer profitability, expanding markets and bioenergy, invasive species protection, soil health, and precision nutrition. Applications that align with at least one of these priorities will score higher. **December 31, 2025:** USDA announced payment rates for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, covering 21 crop types from barley to wheat. The $12 billion in emergency payments has a submission deadline of **February 28, 2026**. **January 2026:** The first national batching deadline for the new $700 million Regenerative Pilot Program passed on January 15. NRCS is distributing $400 million through EQIP and $300 million through CSP for regenerative practices. Additional batching rounds are expected.
Farm Bill Extension: What It Covers and What It Doesn't
The 2018 Farm Bill was extended through September 30, 2026. Here is what that extension actually includes. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act separately reauthorized commodity programs (ARC/PLC) through 2031. Conservation programs like CRP received a one-year extension only. Without further congressional action, permanent law takes effect on January 1, 2027 for programs not explicitly reauthorized. Dairy programs would be affected first. For applicants, this creates a practical consideration: USDA conservation and rural development programs are fully funded for 2026, but the authorization behind them becomes uncertain after September 30. Programs that depend on Farm Bill authority could face restructuring. Agencies with budget in hand tend to prioritize obligating funds during periods of legislative uncertainty. The same dynamic occurred in 2023 when IRA appropriations were under threat. Applications submitted in Q1 and Q2 of 2026 may benefit from faster processing as a result.
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How USDA Funding Is Organized by Agency
USDA is not a single funding source. It operates through five separate agencies, each with its own application process, eligibility criteria, and approval timeline. Applying through the wrong agency is a common and avoidable mistake. | Agency | What It Funds | How to Apply | Key Programs | |--------|--------------|--------------|-------------| | NRCS | Conservation, soil, water | Local NRCS office (not Grants.gov) | EQIP, CSP, Regenerative Pilot | | FSA | Farmer loans, disaster relief, commodity payments | Local FSA office | Farmer Bridge ($12B), SDRP ($30B) | | Rural Development | Business, broadband, community infrastructure | Grants.gov + RD office | VAPG ($250K), ReConnect, REAP | | NIFA | University research, extension | Grants.gov (new system in 2026) | AFRI, Specialty Crop Research | | AMS | Marketing, specialty crops, organic certification | Grants.gov + state ag departments | Specialty Crop Block Grants | **NRCS** does not use Grants.gov. Applications go through your county NRCS office, where a conservationist helps build a plan. Applications are then ranked at the state level against local resource priorities. The same application can score very differently in different states. Montana prioritizes sage grouse habitat; Georgia prioritizes poultry waste management. Each state publishes its ranking criteria. **FSA** also operates through local offices. FSA currently administers the two largest funding pools: $12 billion in Farmer Bridge emergency payments (deadline February 28, 2026) and $30 billion in Supplemental Disaster Relief (deadline April 30, 2026). **Rural Development** serves rural communities beyond agriculture, including non-farm businesses, nonprofits, and local governments. Value-Added Producer Grants, energy efficiency programs through REAP, broadband via ReConnect, and Community Facilities grants all fall under Rural Development. The FY2026 budget proposed cutting this agency by $523 million, but Congress is restoring the funding. **NIFA** runs competitive research grants, primarily for universities and research institutions. NIFA is migrating to a new grants management system in FY2026, which may affect application processes. **AMS** administers Specialty Crop Block Grants, which are notable because they require no federal cost-share match. AMS also runs Organic Certification Cost Share, covering 75% of certification costs up to $750 per scope.
Rural Funding Beyond USDA
We track 215 open opportunities from USDA and its sub-agencies. When we search for "rural" across our full database, 118 additional opportunities appear from non-USDA sources. | Source | Open Rural Opportunities | |--------|-------------------------| | Colorado Office of Economic Development | 16 | | Nebraska Energy Office | 12 | | Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) | 11 | | State commerce departments (KS, OK, ID, AK) | 10+ each | Nebraska's Energy Office runs rural efficiency programs that overlap with REAP but often have different timelines and eligibility requirements. HRSA funds rural health clinics, telehealth, and substance abuse treatment programs. These have nothing to do with agriculture but directly serve rural communities. For a broader view of state-level opportunities, see our guide to state government contracts. **USDA opportunities by type:** | Category | Count | |----------|-------| | Procurement contracts | 130 | | Grants | 78 | | Other (RFIs, sources sought) | 7 | 62% of USDA-posted opportunities are procurement contracts, not grants. Forestry services (NAICS 115310) account for 48 opportunities. Organizations providing forestry management, wildfire mitigation, or reforestation services may find consistent contract work through USDA procurement channels.
Largest Open Programs With Near-Term Deadlines
**Farmer Bridge Assistance Program -- $12 billion** Deadline: February 28, 2026. Covers 21 crop types including corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice, and sorghum. One-time emergency payments for market disruptions. Administered through local FSA offices. **Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) -- $30+ billion** Deadline: April 30, 2026. Two-stage program covering 2023-2024 disaster losses. Stage 1 uses Federal Crop Insurance or NAP data. Stage 2 covers losses not previously indemnified. Eligible events include wildfires, hurricanes, floods, drought, excessive heat, winter storms, and smoke exposure. The Emergency Livestock Relief Program has a separate deadline of November 2, 2026. **Value-Added Producer Grants -- up to $250,000** Deadline: April 15, 2026. For agricultural producers adding value to raw commodities through processing, packaging, or farm-based renewable energy. Planning grants ($75,000) and working capital grants ($250,000) are available as separate tracks with different requirements. **Specialty Crop Block Grants -- varies by state** Deadlines vary by state. Recent deadlines include Minnesota (~$1.25M, February 11) and Colorado (~$700K, February 13). No federal match required. Covers fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. Check your state department of agriculture for current application windows. **Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion -- up to $5 million** Local MCap grants range from $10,000 for equipment-only projects to $5 million for full facility expansion. Match requirement drops to 25% for small and underserved business owners.
Common Application Issues
**Reimbursement timing.** Most USDA grants are reimbursement-based. The gap between spending and reimbursement is typically 60-120 days. A $250,000 grant requires having $250,000 in working capital available before any reimbursement arrives. Applicants should model the cash flow impact before applying. **NRCS state-level ranking.** NRCS programs are ranked at the state level, and each state sets its own criteria based on local resource concerns. The same application can produce different outcomes in different states. State NRCS offices publish their ranking criteria and will share current priorities on request. **Value-Added Producer Grant track selection.** Planning grants ($75K) fund feasibility studies. Working capital grants ($250K) require a completed feasibility study or business plan. Submitting a working capital application without a prior study is a common reason for rejection. If you have not completed a feasibility study, apply for the planning track first. **Product of USA labeling rule.** As of January 1, 2026, "Product of USA" labeling requires the animal to be born, raised, and slaughtered domestically. Domestic producers meeting this standard can use AMS marketing grants to fund labeling and marketing around the new differentiation. **Budget uncertainty for Rural Development programs.** The FY2026 budget request proposed eliminating rural business grants, ReConnect broadband, and Community Facilities grants. Congress is restoring funding, but final appropriations remain unsettled. Programs funded through annual appropriations (rather than mandatory Farm Bill spending) face the most uncertainty. Offices with obligated funds from FY2025 continuing resolutions are still processing applications. For related context, see our infrastructure funding guide.
Next Steps by Applicant Type
**Crop producers:** Check eligibility for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program at your local FSA office (February 28 deadline). Review whether you have unreported 2023-2024 disaster losses before the April 30 SDRP deadline. **Value-added agriculture:** Begin your Value-Added Producer Grant application. Determine whether the planning or working capital track is appropriate for your stage before drafting. **Specialty crop operations:** Check your state department of agriculture for the current Specialty Crop Block Grant deadline. No match is required. Search specialty crop grants. **Conservation-focused producers:** Contact your local NRCS office. Ask what practices they are prioritizing for EQIP this cycle and when the next Regenerative Pilot batching deadline will be. **Rural businesses (non-farm):** Rural Development programs are the primary USDA path, but also check your state economic development agency. We track 118 rural-tagged opportunities from non-USDA sources. **Researchers:** Monitor NIFA's transition to their new grants management system. Application requirements may change. Check nifa.usda.gov for program-specific updates. **All applicants:** Verify your SAM.gov registration is current. New registrations take 2-4 weeks to process. Federal applications cannot be submitted without active registration.