www.ams.usda.gov/localfood • Updated February 2021 • USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider, and lender.

Agriculture and Food 

Research Initiative (NIFA)

Beginning Farmer and Rancher 

Development Program (NIFA)

Community Prosperity Funding Opportunity (OPPE)

Conservation Technical Assistance (NRCS)

Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military 

Veterans (AGVETS) (NIFA)

Extension Risk Management (NIFA)

Federal State Marketing 

Improvement Program (AMS)

Food Safety Outreach Program (NIFA)

Organic Research & Extension Initiative (NIFA)

Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and 

Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program 

(2501 Program) (OPPE)

Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RD)

Small Business Innovation Research (NIFA)

Socially Disadvantaged Group Grant (RD)

Specialty Crop Block Grants (AMS)

Specialty Crop Research Initiative (NIFA)

Sustainable Agriculture Research and 

Education Program (NIFA)

RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ALONG THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Environmental Quality 

Incentives Program (NRCS)

Farm Microloans (FSA)

Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSA)

Grass Fed Small and Very Small 

Producer Program (AMS)

Noninsured Crop Disaster 

Assistance Program and 

Other Disaster Assistance 

Programs (FSA)

Organic Cost Share (FSA)

Rural Energy for

America Program (RD)

Urban Agriculture and Innovation 

Grants (NRCS)

Whole-Farm Revenue 

Protection (RMA)

PRODUCTION

Agricultural Innovation 

Center (RD)

Business and Industry 

Guaranteed Loans (RD)

Community Facilities

 Loans and Grants (RD)

Local Food 

Promotion Program (AMS)

Regional Food Systems 

Partnership Grants (AMS)

Rural Business

 Development Grants (RD)

Urban Agriculture and Innovation 

Grants (NRCS)

Value Added 

Producer Grants (RD)

PROCESSING

Business and Industry 

Guaranteed Loans (RD)

Community Facilities

 Loans and Grants (RD)

Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSA)

Local Food 

Promotion Program (AMS)

Regional Food Systems 

Partnership Grants (AMS)

Rural Business

Development Grants (RD)

Specialty Crop

Block Grants (AMS)

AGGREGATION/

DISTRIBUTION

Community Food Projects 

Competitive Grants (NIFA)

Farm to School 

Grant Program (FNS)

Farmers Market

Promotion Program (AMS)

Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive 

Program (formerly FINI) (NIFA)

Regional Food Systems 

Partnership Grants (AMS)

Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition 

Program (FNS)

Specialty Crop 

Block Grants (AMS)

Urban Agriculture and Innovation 

Grants (NRCS)

WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition 

Program (FNS)

MARKETS/

CONSUMERS

Agricultural Conservation 

Easement Program (NRCS)

Community Compost and 

Food Waste Reduction Project 

Cooperative Agreements (NRCS)

Conservation Reserve 

Program (FSA)

Conservation Stewardship 

Program (NRCS)

Conservation Innovation 

Grants (NRCS)

Environmental Quality 

Incentives Program (NRCS)

Solid Waste Management 

Grants (RD)

LAND 

CONSERVATION

USDA PROGRAMS IN THE LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

USDA is committed to supporting robust regional food economies 

across the food chain through the programs noted below.
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (NRCS)https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/acepAgriculture and Food Research Initiative (NIFA)https://go.usa.gov/xQEyHAgricultural Innovation Center (RD)https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/agriculture-innovation-center-programBeginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (NIFA)https://go.usa.gov/xQEVaBusiness and Industry Guaranteed Loans (RD)https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-industry-loan-guaranteesCommunity Facilities Loans and Grants (RD)https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities-direct-loan-grant-programCommunity Food Projects Competitive Grants (NIFA)https://go.usa.gov/xQEyfCommunity Prosperity Funding Opportunity (OPPE)https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/centers-of-community-prosperityConservation Innovation Grants (NRCS)https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/cigConservation Reserve Program (FSA)https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/conservation-reserve-program/indexConservation Stewardship Program (NRCS)https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/cspConservation Technical Assistance (NRCS)https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/technical/cta/Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans (NIFA)https://go.usa.gov/xQdzcEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program (NRCS)https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/eqipExtension Risk Management (NIFA)https://nifa.usda.gov/program/extension-risk-management-education-programFarm Microloans (FSA)https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/microloans/indexFarm Storage Facility Loans (FSA)

Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (formerly FINI) (NIFA)https://nifa.usda.gov/program/gus-schumacher-nutrition-incentive-grant-programGrass Fed Small and Very Small Producer Program (AMS)https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/grass-fed-SVSLocal Food Promotion Program (AMS)https://www.ams.usda.gov/lfppNoninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program and Other Disaster Assistance Programs (FSA)https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/noninsured-crop-disaster-assistance/indexOffice of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE)https://www.usda.gov/partnershipsOffice of Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production (NRCS)https://www.farmers.gov/manage/urban/opportunitiesOrganic Cost Share (FSA)https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/occspOutreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (2501 Program) (OPPE)https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/socially-disadvantaged-farmers-and-ranchersRegional Food Systems Partnership Grants (AMS)https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfspRural Business Development Grants (RD)https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-business-development-grantsRural Cooperative Development Grants (RD)https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-cooperative-development-grant-programRural Energy for America Program (RD)https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiencySenior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FNS)https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfmnpSmall Business Innovation Research (NIFA)https://nifa.usda.gov/program/small-business-innovation-research-program-sbirSpecialty Crop Block Grants (AMS)https://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgpSpecialty Crop Research Initiative (NIFA)https://go

usa

gov/xQEyF

USDA PROGRAMS IN THE LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN