Access to Capital
Funding for Farmers and Growers
Starting a farm is financially “high risk” but we know the rewards are plentiful. USDA, local funding agencies and nonprofits are working to make it easier to get growing.
Below are some tools and resources to help you navigate and find the right funding source that works best for your business and farm plans.
Start here if you are a new farmer
Not sure if you are ready to apply for funding yet? Use these resources to understand the basics, strengthen your business plan and then come back to the tools on this page.
Get an overview of how to start farming in Arizona on the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Resource page.
Grow your business skills and planning through Ag Business Boot Camp.
The Arizona Economic Resource Center (AZERC) aims to enable eligible Arizona cities, towns, counties, tribal communities and nonprofits to win and implement competitive federal, state, municipal or foundation grants.
An initiative of Local First Arizona, the Arizona Economic Resource Center provides the following services free of charge to qualifying entities.
Local First partners with Community Investment Corporation to service the agreements. Loan applications are reviewed by a steering committee of local community members. Funding comes from Freeport McMoRan and other partners.
USDA Farm Service Agency offers a variety of risk management, disaster assistance, conservation programs and loans to help producers weather through the ups and downs in the market and recover from natural disasters, as well as invest in improvements and expand their operations. There are also targeted loans for youth, beginning farmers and ranchers, minority and women farmers and ranchers, and Native American Tribal Loans.
The Grower Grants make hyper-local food more abundant by providing funds to area growers to expand or enhance their food growing operations! The program was created in order to fill gaps in traditional funding sources for small-scale food growers and producers.
Applicants must be located in Coconino or Navajo County. All individuals, small businesses, or non-profit growers are invited to apply for the grant!
Arizona Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
The Arizona NRCS offers a number of funding opportunities, as well as robust technical assistance, to help simultaneously increase the productivity of your farming operations and conserve natural resources.
Environmental Quality Incentive Program
This voluntary conservation program helps producers make conservation work for them. Together, NRCS and producers invest in solutions that conserve natural resources for the future while also improving agricultural operations. Staff from NRCS will help you develop a conservation plan to guide your use of NRCS resources.
Conservation Stewardship Program
CSP offers enhancements for current conservation practices. For example, if you have been practicing prescribed grazing, CSP would give you options to enhance that practice with activities such as grazing management to improve plants for wildlife, or grazing management to reduce soil compaction, or grazing management to improve riparian function, just to name a few. More on CSP.
Conservation Innovation Grants
CIG has supported projects ranging from the implementation of computer-controlled, automated sprinkler systems that save growers time, money, and water; to the development of quantification tools that support ecosystem services markets and provide a new income stream for producers. More on CIG.
Central Arizona Land Trust (CALT)
CALT is a community-based, nationally accredited Arizona non-profit dedicated to preserving open space, wildlife habitat, working agricultural, and the scenic and cultural values of central and northern Arizona. CALT supports landowners through land protection tools such as conservation easements, education on tax benefits and long-term stewardship, and technical assistance throughout the easement process.