Broadband Resources 

for Rural America

Created by the USDA Rural Development 

Innovation Center

Together, America Prospers
Table of Contents

Why is High-speed Broadband Important to Rural America? 3

Illustrating USDA’s Role in Bringing Broadband to Rural Places 5

USDA Rural Broadband Resource Matrix 7

USDA Rural Broadband Resource Matrix 8

USDA Agency and Resource Descriptions 10

Rural Development 10

National Institute of Food and Agriculture 12

Farm Service Agency 14

Natural Resources Conservation Service 15

Forest Service 17
Why is High-speed Broadband Important to 

Rural America?

Affordable, reliable broadband internet service is fundamental to modern American 

life. It ensures rural schoolchildren have equal access to comprehensive educational 

opportunities, and allows rural communities to provide the best health outcomes – at 

reasonable cost – to their residents. High-speed internet service stimulates job creation 

and sparks innovation that enhances rural economic development. This is why USDA 

remains focused on – and committed to – rural broadband expansion.

Rural broadband is the digital superhighway for today 

and tomorrow. Just as rural electrification and telephone 

networks revolutionized the United States in the 20th century, 

we are now witnessing a significant transformation as a 

result of rural broadband expansion. In today’s informationdriven global economy, high-speed broadband isn’t just an 

amenity, it’s essential to safeguarding America’s economic 

competitiveness, and to ensuring all citizens equal access 

to opportunity. The economic benefits of broadband internet 

are significant not just for productivity, but also for education, 

health care, and public safety. 

Our challenge is to help connect the estimated 46 million 

people – spread across 72 percent of our land – who call 

rural America “home.” 

In contrast to their urban neighbors with broadband, many 

rural Americans can’t experience full workplace productivity, 

or access modern, interactive education or quality health 

care. Rural business and industry relies on solid internet 

connections to buy and sell products, process transactions, 

and post job opportunities. Additionally, in order to promote 

a skilled workforce, employers need access to specialized 

training and professional development resources. More often 

than not, these are found online.

Without a robust, home-based connection, rural school 

children cannot readily access digital resources. Many travel 

to public, mobile “hotspots” – often, in fast food parking 

lots – to complete online homework assignments and 

other activities. 

Finally, access to medical services – including telemedicine 

– is also limited where broadband service is deficient. 

Rural patients often must drive long distances to the closest 

provider, creating additional time and financial burdens. 

Our country has the tools to close this digital gap, and we 

must continue to pursue internet access parity with the 

urgency it demands.

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Rural broadband access isn’t just a federal issue. All rural 

stakeholders – federal, state, Tribal, and local – must seek 

partnerships that promote innovation and infrastructure 

modernization. Because Together, America Prospers.

INNOVATION & 

TECHNOLOGY

• Biotechnology 

• Sound Science 

• Productivity 

• Research 

• Development

QUALITY OF LIFE

• Educational 

Opportunities 

• Health 

Services

• Rural Housing

• Community 

Resiliency

• Infrastructure

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Access to 

Capital 

• Tax Reform 

• Natural 

Resources 

• Regulatory 

Reform 

• Global 

Market 

• Infrastructure

WORKFORCE

• Available 

• Skilled 

• Trained 

• Educated 

• Reliable

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Illustrating USDA’s Role in Bringing Broadband to 

Rural Places

USDA’s mission is to provide leadership on agriculture, food and nutrition, rural 

development, natural resources, and related issues based on public policy, the best 

available science, and effective management.

USDA’s Rural Utilities Service oversees Rural 

Development’s telecommunication programs – the 

traditional source for broadband funding in rural America. 

In recent years, $690 million has been appropriated 

annually under the Telecommunications Infrastructure 

Loans and Loan Guarantee Program to provide or 

enhance telephone and broadband service in rural 

areas. Additional broadband loan and grant funds 

are being used to foster private-public partnerships 

to expand high-speed internet service, including 

$216 million allocated to the Distance Learning and 

Telemedicine program in the past three years, alone. 

Authorized by the Consolidated Budget Act of 2018, the 

ReConnect program has helped deploy rural broadband 

to more than 30 states through 181 awarded projects 

totaling $1.51 billion. The Reconnect regulation (7 CFR 

1740) became effective on April 27, 2021.

It’s important to note that more than 20 other USDA 

programs can be leveraged in support of rural 

broadband deployment. USDA helps bridge the gap 

between broadband infrastructure and its end-use by:

Æ Supporting technology research

Æ Improving digital skills

Æ Building broadband access 

expansion capacity

Æ Funding associated costs such as 

environmental, engineering, and 

archeological permitting

Supporting access to necessary Æ

Æ Renovating essential community facilities

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For instance:

• A farmer can partner with a local university to undertake 

agricultural technology research. 

• A cooperative can access USDA funding to improve 

technology skills and buy equipment necessary for 

innovative farming practices such as precision agriculture. 

• A local government can finance broadband 

development planning and build partnerships to finance 

broadband infrastructure development using various 

USDA-funded programs.

• A county hospital can commission a feasibility study to 

determine how to best incorporate telemedicine into 

its services, and then fund equipment and facilities 

necessary for the expansion. 

Through direct and guaranteed loans, intermediary 

relending programs, and grants, USDA offers substantial 

opportunities to finance projects with reasonable terms.

Other U.S. Government departments support rural broadband 

expansion with loans and grants for equipment procurement, 

technical assistance, and planning support. 

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National 

Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) 

offers additional resources on its BroadbandUSA web page, 

available at this link: https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/. 

Resources include a broadband community planning 

toolkit, archived webinars on various broadband topics, 

and information about state-based broadband programs. 

The resource matrix in this toolkit illustrates how USDA 

programs across our mission areas and agencies align 

to support a holistic approach to the development and 

deployment of broadband technology. However, each 

program has its own eligibility criteria and priorities that 

must be taken into consideration when determining how 

to finance each project. 

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How to Use the USDA Rural Broadband Resource Matrix

Here is a list of specialists that can help you get started:

USDA Rural Broadband 

Resource Matrix

USDA offers more than 20 programs 

to fund planning, construction, and 

research for rural broadband activities. 

More information can be found at 

usda.gov/broadband.

For resources at other federal agencies, visit the Department of Commerce’s BroadbandUSA site.

STEP 1) Identify the type of customer (matrix rows) 

applying and match it with the type of project 

(matrix columns) the community needs.

STEP 2) Review the list of resources applicable to 

your customer and project types. To get more 

information on each resource, click and follow 

the link to the relevant website. 

STEP 3) Reach out to the USDA specialist associated 

with each resource whose contact information 

can be found online at the locations listed below.

STEP 4) Discuss the eligibility of your project(s) 

and the application process with the USDA 

specialist to ensure feasibility.

STEP 5) Develop an application timeline for your 

project, closely review requirements, and then 

proceed with the application process.

STEP 6) If you have questions, you can follow up with 

your USDA specialist at any time during the 

process, even after submission. 

National Institute of Food and Agriculture: Use the 

NIFA grant database to find contacts for NIFA grant programs.

Natural Resources Conservation Service: Contact 

your local NRCS Service Center to learn more about 

conservation opportunities.

Farm Service Agency: Contact your local FSA Service Center

to learn more about programs for farmers and ranchers.

Forest Service: Visit the FS Special-Use Permits site to 

learn more about use of FS lands.

Rural Development: Contact your local RD state office or 

Telecom General Field Representative to learn more about 

RD loan, grant, and technical assistance programs.

Partnerships: Contact USDA’s Office of Partnership and 

Public Engagement for partnership opportunities with USDA.

Community Solutions: Contact the Rural Development 

Innovation Center for creative solutions to your rural 

community’s broadband needs. 

Office of Tribal Relations (OTR): Serves as a single 

point of contact for Tribal issues, and works to ensure 

relevant programs and policies are accessible, efficient, 

easy to understand, and developed in consultation with 

the American Indians and Alaska Native constituents 

they impact. More information is available at this link: 

https://www.usda.gov/tribalrelations.

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USDA Rural Broadband Resource Matrix 

Customers: Agriculture Technology Research:

Innovative farming research 

using broadband technology

Technical Assistance, Training, and 

Workforce Development: 

Sharing information, expertise, 

instruction, and skills training in 

broadband technology use

Planning: 

Needs assessment, 

formation of broadband 

development plans, 

or business plans

Farmers & Ranchers:

Individuals who operate 

a farm or ranch

2b) Sustainable Agriculture Program 4c) Agriculture Conservation Easement 

Program

4a) Agricultural Management Assistance

4e) Conservation Stewardship Program

4f) Conservation Technical Assistance Program

4g) Conservation Innovation Grants

4d) Environmental Quality Incentives Program

4b) Regional Conservation Partnership 

Program

3a) Direct Operating Loans

3b) Farm Ownership Loans

3d) Guaranteed Farm Loans

3c) Farm Microloans

3b) Farm Ownership Loans

3d) Guaranteed Farm Loans

3c) Farm Microloans

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

For-profit Businesses: 

Corporations, Limited 

Liability Companies, 

Competitive and Incumbent 

Local Exchange Carriers, 

Sole Proprietorships, 

among others

2b) Sustainable Agriculture Program

2a) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

2c) National Robotics Initiative 2.0

2d) Cyber-Physical Systems Grant Program

2b) Sustainable Agriculture Program

2a) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative 

(AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science 

Program

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

Government Entities: 

State or local governments, 

federally-recognized Tribes, 

or Tribal organizations

2b) Sustainable Agriculture Program

2a) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

2c) National Robotics Initiative 2.0

2d) Cyber-Physical Systems Grant Program

2b) Sustainable Agriculture Program

4g) Conservation Innovation Grants

4b) Regional Conservation Partnership 

Program

1f) Rural Business Development Grants

1h) Community Facilities Technical 

Assistance and Training Grants

1f) Rural Business Development Grants

1h) Community Facilities Technical 

Assistance and Training Grants

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

Cooperatives and 

Nonprofits: 

Telecom and electric co-ops, 

private, nonprofit schools, 

hospitals, libraries, and 

faith-based organizations, 

among others

2b) Sustainable Agriculture Program

2a) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

2c) National Robotics Initiative 2.0

2d) Cyber-Physical Systems Grant Program

2b) Sustainable Agriculture Program

4g) Conservation Innovation Grants

4b) Regional Conservation Partnership 

Program

2a) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative 

(AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science 

Program

1f) Rural Business Development Grants

1h) Community Facilities Technical 

Assistance and Training Grants

1f) Rural Business Development Grants

1h) Community Facilities Technical 

Assistance and Training Grants

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

Universities and Institutes 

of Higher Learning:

Community colleges, 

technology institutes, 

and vocational schools, 

among others

2b) Sustainable Agriculture Program

2a) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

2c) National Robotics Initiative 2.0

2d) Cyber-Physical Systems Grant Program

2b) Sustainable Agriculture Program

4g) Conservation Innovation Grants

4b) Regional Conservation Partnership 

Program

2a) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative 

(AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science 

Program

1f) Rural Business Development Grants

1h) Community Facilities Technical 

Assistance and Training Grants

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

Private Lenders:

Banks, credit unions, and 

intermediary lenders, 

among others

2a) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative 2b) Sustainable Agriculture Program 1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

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Permits: 

Reimbursement for 

environmental, engineering, 

and archeological permits

Broadband Infrastructure: 

Network plant and extension of 

broadband systems through fiber, 

poles, communication towers, 

wireless equipment, and so on

Buying, improving, or renting 

end-use equipment: 

constructing community centers 

and wireless access points, 

and so on

Refinancing: 

New financing with a different 

provider for an existing debt owed

3b) Farm Ownership Loans

3d) Guaranteed Farm Loans

3c) Farm Microloans

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

3b) Farm Ownership Loans

3d) Guaranteed Farm Loans

3c) Farm Microloans

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

4a) Agricultural Management Assistance

4g) Conservation Innovation Grants

4b) R egional Conservation Partnership 

Program

3b) Farm Ownership Loans

3a) Farm Operating Loans

3c) Farm Microloans

1g) Business & Industry Loan Guarantees

3b) Farm Ownership Loans

3d) Guaranteed Farm Loans

3c) Farm Microloans

1g) Business & Industry Loan Guarantees

1d) T elecommunications Infrastructure 

Loans

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

1k) ReConnect Program

1a) Community Connect Grants

5a) Forest Service Special Use Permits

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

1d) T elecommunications Infrastructure 

Loans

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

1k) ReConnect Program

1a) Community Connect Grants

1g) Business and Industry Loan Guarantees

1d) T elecommunications Infrastructure 

Loans

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

1k) ReConnect Program

1a) Community Connect Grants

1g) Business & Industry Loan Guarantees

1e) R ural Economic Development Loans & 

Grants

2e) Small Business Innovation Research 

Program

1d) T elecommunications Infrastructure 

Loans

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

1g) Business & Industry Loan Guarantees

1d) T elecommunications 

Infrastructure Loans

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

1k) ReConnect Program

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

1d) T elecommunications Infrastructure 

Loans

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

1k) ReConnect Program

1a) Community Connect Grants

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

4g) Conservation Innovation Grants

1d) T elecommunications Infrastructure 

Loans

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

1k) ReConnect Program

1a) Community Connect Grants

1b) Distance Learning & Telemedicine

Grants

1i) Community Facilities Loans & Grants

1g) Business & Industry Loan Guarantees

1e) R ural Economic Development Loans & 

Grants

1d) T elecommunications Infrastructure 

Loans

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

1g) Business & Industry Loan Guarantees

1d) T elecommunications 

Infrastructure Loans

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

1k) ReConnect Program

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

1d) T elecommunications Infrastructure 

Loans

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

1k) ReConnect Program

1a) Community Connect Grants

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

4g) Conservation Innovation Grants

1d) T elecommunications Infrastructure 

Loans

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

1k) ReConnect Program

1a) Community Connect Grants

1b) Distance Learning & Telemedicine 

Grants

1i) Community Facilities Loans & Grants

1g) Business & Industry Loan Guarantees

1d)T elecommunications Infrastructure 

Loans

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

1g) Business & Industry Loan Guarantees

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

2c) National Robotics Initiative 2.0

4g) Conservation Innovation Grants

1b) Distance Learning & Telemedicine 

Grants

1i) Community Facilities Loans & Grants

1g) Business & Industry Loan Guarantees

1g) Business & Industry Loan Guarantees

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

1g) Business and Industry Loan 

Guarantees

1j) Community Facilities Guaranteed Loans

1g) Business & Industry Loan Guarantees

1j) Community Facilities Guaranteed Loans

1g) Business & Industry Loan Guarantees

For Planning, Construction, Research, and Other Projects and Activities

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USDA Agency and Resource Descriptions

1) Rural Development

Rural Development offers programs designed to holistically improve the rural economy by financing 

infrastructure, business, housing, and essential community facilities projects. While telecom infrastructure 

programs directly fund the planning, development, and end-use of broadband infrastructure, other 

programs that develop essential community facilities and grow businesses also can be used to finance 

facets of rural broadband deployment. Examples include conducting broadband needs assessments, 

preparing broadband development plans, purchasing equipment, and acquiring or upgrading public 

internet access facilities such as schools and libraries.

1a) Community Connect Grants

The Community Connect program helps fund broadband 

deployment in rural communities where it is not yet 

economically viable for private-sector providers to deliver 

service. The grants offer financial assistance to eligible 

service providers that will construct, improve, or expand 

broadband networks in rural areas.

1b) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program helps 

rural communities use telecommunications to connect to 

each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of 

remoteness and low population density. For example, this 

program can link teachers and medical service providers 

in one area to students and patients in another.

1c) Rural Broadband Access Loans

The Rural Broadband Access Loan program provides 

loans and loan guarantees to fund the cost of construction, 

improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment 

necessary to provide high-speed broadband service in 

eligible rural areas. 

1d) Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans

The Telecommunications Infrastructure program provides 

financing for the construction, maintenance, improvement 

and expansion of telephone service and broadband in 

rural areas.

1e) Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants

The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program 

provides funding for rural projects through local utility 

organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local 

utilities which, in turn through to local businesses (“ultimate 

recipients”) for project that will create and retain employment 

in rural areas. The ultimate recipients then repay the lending 

utility directly, and the utility is responsible for repaying USDA.

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1f) Rural Business Development Grant Program

The Rural Business Development program offers a 

competitive grant designed to support targeted technical 

assistance, training, and other activities leading to the 

development or expansion of small and emerging private 

businesses in rural areas that will employ 50 or fewer new 

employees and earn less than $1 million in gross revenue. 

Programmatic activities are separated into enterprise or 

opportunity-type grant activities.

1g) Business and Industry Loan Guarantees

The Business and Industry program bolsters the availability 

of private credit by guaranteeing loans for rural businesses. 

This program improves the economic health of rural 

communities by increasing access to business capital 

through loan guarantees that enable commercial lenders 

to provide affordable financing for businesses in eligible 

rural areas.

1h) Community Facilities Technical Assistance and 

Training Grants

The Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training 

program provides associations with technical assistance 

and training with respect to essential community facilities 

programs. Furthermore, it helps communities, federallyrecognized Tribes, and nonprofit corporations identify 

and plan for existing regional community facility needs. 

Once those needs are identified, the grantee can help 

find additional public and private resources to support 

the community. 

1i) Community Facilities Loans and Grants

The Community Facilities program provides affordable 

funding to develop essential community facilities in rural 

areas. An essential community facility is defined as a “facility 

that provides an essential service to the local community 

for the orderly development of that community in a primarily 

rural area, and does not include private, commercial, or 

business undertakings.” 

1j) Community Facilities Guaranteed Loans

This program provides loan guarantees to eligible private 

lenders to help build essential community facilities in 

rural areas. 

1k) ReConnect Program Loans and Grants

This program offers loans, loan and grant combinations, 

and grants for the construction, improvement, and acquisition 

of facilities that provide high-speed internet services to 

customers’ premises using technologies suitable for the 

terrain and types of internet use the rural community needs. 

A rural area is eligible if it currently lacks sufficient access 

to broadband.

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2) National Institute of Food and Agriculture

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) provides leadership and funding for programs 

that advance agriculture-related sciences. NIFA applies an integrated approach to ensure that 

groundbreaking discoveries in agriculture-related sciences and technologies reach the people 

who can put them into practice. Programs can be used to conduct research that uses broadband 

technology (for example, precision agriculture) to enhance agricultural production performance. 

NIFA’s programs can also be used for education and training as well as for the implementation of 

innovative technologies to improve the competitiveness and efficiency of American agriculture. 

2a) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – Foundational 

and Applied Science

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative is the nation’s 

leading competitive grants program for agricultural sciences. 

The Foundational and Applied Science program focuses on 

building a foundation of fundamental and applied knowledge 

in food and agricultural sciences critical for solving current 

and future societal challenges. The goal of this program 

is to invest in agricultural production research, education, 

and extension projects for more sustainable, productive, and 

economically-viable plant and animal production systems. 

Grants are awarded in six Farm Bill priority areas: Plant 

Health and Production and Plant Products; Animal Health 

and Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition, 

and Health; Natural Resources, and Environment; Agriculture 

Systems and Technology; and Agriculture Economics and 

Rural Communities. 

2b) Sustainable Agriculture Research and

Education – Professional Development

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education 

Professional Development Program provides training, 

grants, and resources for agricultural professionals to build 

awareness, knowledge, and skills related to sustainable 

agriculture concepts. The program includes two key 

components: (1) competitive grants awarded at the regional 

level for the development of training curricula, outreach 

efforts, communications projects and similar work and (2) 

a network of state coordinators, working part-time for the 

program in each state and island protectorate, who hold 

workshops and field days to share sustainable practices 

and research results, provide travel scholarships for ag 

professionals to attend training events, and generally 

serve as sustainable agriculture resources in their state.

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2c) National Robotics Initiative 3.0: Innovations in

Integration of Robotics

The National Robotics Initiative 3.0: Innovations in 

Integration of Robotics (NRI-3.0) program builds 

upon the preceding National Robotics Initiative 

(NRI) programs to support fundamental research in 

the United States that will advance the science of 

robot integration. The program supports research 

that promotes integration of robots to the benefit of 

humans including safety and human independence.

Collaboration between academic, industry, non-profit, 

and other organizations is encouraged to establish 

better linkages between fundamental science 

and engineering and technology development, 

deployment, and use.

2d) Cyber-Physical Systems (Joint National

Science Foundation) Competitive Grant

The goal of the Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) 

program is to develop the core system science 

needed to engineer complex cyber-physical 

systems people can use or interact with and depend 

upon. These are engineered systems built from, 

and dependent upon, the seamless integration of 

computational algorithms and physical components. 

Advances in CPS will enable capability, adaptability, 

scalability, resiliency, safety, security, reliability, and 

usability that will far exceed the simple embedded 

systems of today. Furthermore, they will transform the 

way people interact with engineered systems - just as 

the internet has transformed the way people interact 

with information. New smart CPS will drive innovation 

and competition in sectors such as agriculture, energy, 

transportation, building design and automation, 

healthcare, and manufacturing. 

2e) Small Business Innovation Research

The Small Business Innovation Research program 

offers competitively-awarded grants to qualified small 

businesses to support high-quality research related 

to important scientific problems and opportunities 

in agriculture that could lead to significant public 

benefits. The program stimulates technological 

innovations in the private sector and strengthens 

the role of federal research and development in 

support of small businesses. The program also 

fosters and encourages participation by womenowned and socially- or economically-disadvantaged 

small businesses.

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3) Farm Service Agency 

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides America’s farmers and ranchers with a financial safety net, 

while also helping protect natural resources and enhancing food security. FSA offers loan funds to 

farmers, ranchers, and those starting a career in agriculture. An increase is evident in the borrowers’ 

use of loan funds for the purpose of investing in technology and innovative improvements in farming 

and ranching operations. Examples include Global Positioning System (GPS) units and software, seed 

technology, drone technology, management software (fiscal, herd, and so on), and related precision 

agriculture improvements. 

3a) Direct Operating Loans

Direct Operating Loans are used to purchase livestock and 

feed, farm equipment, fuel, farm chemicals, insurance, 

and family living expenses; make minor improvements or 

repairs to buildings and fencing; and fund general farm 

operating expenses. For new agricultural producers, direct 

farm operating loans provide an essential gateway into 

agricultural production by financing the cost of operating 

a farm.

3b) Direct Farm Ownership Loans

Direct Farm Ownership Loans are used to purchase or 

enlarge a farm or ranch, construct new or improve existing 

farm or ranch buildings, and for soil and water conservation 

and protection purposes. There are no current or previous 

farm ownership requirements, and 100 percent financing 

is available. Direct farm ownership loans are a valuable 

resource to help farmers and ranchers become owneroperators of family farms, improve and expand current 

operations, increase agricultural productivity, and assist 

with land tenure to save farmland for future generations.

3c) Farm Microloans

Farm Microloans are direct farm ownership and operating 

loans focused on the financing needs of small and 

beginning farmers, as well as niche and non-traditional 

farm operations. These can include truck farms, farms 

participating in direct marketing and sales (such as farmers 

markets or Community Supported Agriculture), restaurants 

and grocery stores, or those using hydroponic, aquaponic, 

organic, and vertical growing methods. Microloans feature a 

shortened application process and reduced paperwork. 

3d) Guaranteed Loans

Guaranteed Loans enable lenders to extend credit to family 

farm operators and owners who do not qualify for standard 

commercial loans. Farmers receive credit at reasonable 

terms to finance their current operations or expand their 

business; financial institutions receive additional loan business 

and servicing fees, as well as other benefits from the program, 

such as protection from loss.

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4) Natural Resources Conservation Service

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) works with farmers, ranchers, and forest 

landowners across the country to help them boost agricultural productivity and protect our natural 

resources through conservation. Their approach combines locally-led solutions with science and 

research; landowner stewardship; partnerships; and proven conservation practices to produce results 

for agriculture and the environment. Landowners can apply to participate in programs that provide 

technical guidance and financial assistance to obtain and use technology equipment that requires 

connectivity. Examples include acquiring and using technology to conduct yield monitoring, grid soil 

sampling, remote-sensing applications, and drip irrigation. 

4a) Agricultural Management Assistance

Agricultural Management Assistance provides financial and 

technical assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily 

address issues such as water management, water quality, 

and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their 

farming operations. Producers may construct or improve 

water management structures or irrigation structures; 

plant trees for windbreaks or improve water quality; and 

mitigate risk through production diversification or resource 

conservation practices, including soil erosion control, 

integrated pest management, or transition to organic 

farming. This program is available in 16 states where 

participation in the federal Crop Insurance Program is 

historically low: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, 

Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, 

New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, 

Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

4b) Regional Conservation Partnership Program

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) 

encourages partners to join in efforts with producers 

to increase the restoration and sustainable use of soil, 

water, wildlife and related natural resources on regional 

or watershed scales. Through the program, the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service and its partners help 

producers install and maintain conservation activities in 

selected project areas. Partners leverage RCPP funding in 

project areas and report on the benefits achieved.

4c) The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program 

Community Connect Grants 

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program provides 

financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural 

lands and wetlands and their related benefits. Over the past 

25 years, NRCS has worked with landowners to protect more 

than 4.4 million acres of wetlands and agricultural lands, 

a value of over a billion dollars in a diversified real estate 

portfolio that has resulted in improved soil health, water and 

air quality and wildlife habitat. Under the Agricultural Land 

Easements component, NRCS helps federally-recognized 

Tribes, state and local governments, and non-governmental 

organizations protect working agricultural lands and limit 

non-agricultural uses of the land. Under the Wetlands 

Reserve Easements component, NRCS helps restore, 

protect and enhance enrolled wetlands.

4d) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 

From weather to pests, and from a lack of time to markets, 

each American farmer faces a unique set of challenges. 

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps 

agricultural producers confront those challenges – all while 

conserving natural resources like soil, water, and air. 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. Through 

EQIP, NRCS provides agricultural producers with financial 

resources and one-on-one help to plan and implement 

improvements, or what NRCS calls conservation practices. 

Using these practices can lead to cleaner water and air, 

healthier soil, and better wildlife habitats, all while improving 

agricultural operations. Through EQIP, you can voluntarily 

implement conservation practices, and NRCS co-invests in 

these practices with you.

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4e) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) 

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps 

producers build on existing conservation efforts while 

strengthening their operations. Whether you are looking to 

improve grazing conditions, increase crop yields, or develop 

wildlife habitat, NRCS can custom design a CSP plan to help 

meet those goals. NRCS can further help schedule the timely 

planting of cover crops, develop a grazing plan that will 

improve a forage base, implement no-till to reduce erosion, 

or manage forested areas in a way that benefits wildlife habitat. 

4f) Conservation Technical Assistance Program (CTA) 

The voluntary Conservation Technical Assistance Program 

delivers conservation technical assistance and is available 

to any group or individual interested in conserving natural 

resources and sustaining agricultural production. The 

program functions through a national network of locallybased, professional conservationists located in nearly every 

county of the United States.

4g) Conservation Innovation Grants

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) are competitive grants 

that drive public and private-sector innovation in resource 

conservation. Authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill, CIG uses 

Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds to award 

competitive grants to non-federal or nongovernmental 

organizations, federally-recognized Tribes, or individuals. 

Through the program, public and private grantees develop 

the tools, technologies, and strategies to support nextgeneration conservation efforts on working lands and 

develop market-based solutions to resource challenges. 

CIG projects inspire creative problem-solving that boosts 

production on farms, ranches, and private forests, ultimately 

improving water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat. 

Annually, a portion of CIG funding is set aside for projects 

that support historically-underserved, new and beginning, as 

well as military veteran producers in farming and ranching. 

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5) Forest Service

The Forest Service, part of USDA, manages National Forest System (NFS) lands comprised of 154 national 

forests and 20 national grasslands in 43 states as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The 

Forest Service currently administers more than 4,000 special use authorizations for communications 

uses (wired and wireless). NFS lands contribute to our nation’s telecommunications needs by authorizing 

uses that provide critical services to rural communities and urban areas. The facilities included in these 

authorizations support more than 10,000 wireless uses and 563 wired uses (fiber optic rights-of-way). 

5a) Special Use Permits

Each year, the Forest Service receives thousands of 

individual and business applications for authorization 

for use of NFS land for such activities as water 

transmission, agriculture, outfitting and guiding, recreation, 

telecommunication, research, photography and video 

productions, and granting road and utility rights-of-ways. 

The Forest Service carefully reviews each application to 

determine how the request affects the public’s use of NFS 

land. Today, our growing population and mobile society 

have created a demand for a variety of uses of these 

federal lands. Often these diverse needs require specific 

approval. The Forest Service provides services that support 

our national policy and federal land laws. The agency’s 

special-uses program authorizes uses on NFS land that 

provide a benefit to the general public and protect public 

and natural resources values. Currently there are over 

74,000 authorizations on NFS lands representing more 

than 180 types of uses.

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In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating 

in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national 

origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, 

marital status, family or parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political 

beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or 

funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary 

by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information 

(examples include Braille, large print, audiotape, and American Sign Language, among others) should 

contact the responsible agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 

contact USDA through the federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information 

may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint 

Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA 

office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in 

the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or 

letter to USDA by: 

(1) Mail:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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For more information about 

broadband resources at USDA, visit:

usda.gov/broadband

usda.gov/rdinnovation

RD 20002

December 2018

Revised October 2021