Urban Agriculture at a Glance 1

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

URBAN AGRICULTURE

PROGRAMS

AT A GLANCE
Urban Agriculture at a Glance 2

AND INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION

AGRICULTURE

URBAN

Are you farming or gardening in a city or suburb? 

From community gardens to indoor vertical farms, urban 

agriculture provides critical access to healthy food for local 

communities, as well as jobs, increased green spaces, and 

closer community ties. USDA can provide resources to start, 

expand, and operate your farm or garden, market what you 

grow, and help you recover in case of disaster. 

You can meet face-to-face with our staff at your local USDA 

Service Center to discuss your vision, goals, and ways USDA 

can help. An FSA team member can help you get a farm 

number, the first step toward receiving USDA assistance. 

Even if you are farming on just .01 acres, you can get a farm 

number, regardless of whether your farm/garden generates 

income. Find your local office at farmers.gov/service-locator.

To learn about our available loans, financial assistance, and 

free farming guidance or to sign up for our urban agriculture 

email list, visit farmers.gov/urban. If you’re new to farming, 

you can contact your beginning farmer coordinator at 

farmers.gov/newfarmers; some states even have urban 

farmer coordinators. Your local Extension Office can also 

offer local assistance and resources.

What is Urban Ag?

Urban agriculture includes the 

cultivation, processing, and 

distribution of agricultural 

products in urban and suburban 

areas. Community gardens, 

rooftop farms, hydroponic, 

aeroponic and aquaponic facilities, 

and vertical production, are all 

examples of urban agriculture. 

Tribal communities and small 

towns may also be included.

USDA Agencies and Offices with Urban 

Agriculture Programs

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 

Farm Service Agency (FSA)

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) 

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) 

Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) 

Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP)

Risk Management Agency (RMA) 

Rural Development (RD) 

(non-USDA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
Urban Agriculture at a Glance 3

FUNDING

Producers – Includes resources for farms and gardens run by individuals and those run by community 

organizations, school groups, non-profits, and other entities.

Food System Partnerships – Include resources for organizations and collaborative partnerships 

focused on food system issues. 

Financing Your Farm

PROGRAM AGENCY TYPE DESCRIPTION PRODUCERS PARTNERS

FARM LOAN 

PROGRAMS FSA Loans

Provide access to capital, either directly from FSA or 

through a third-party lender. Farm Ownership loans can 

help you purchase and improve land and Operating Loans 

can be used for shorter-term expenses such as fertilizer, 

labor, and equipment. Microloans are particularly 

beneficial for the unique needs of urban farms. Farm 

Storage Facility Loans can be used for cold storage 

buildings and related equipment, refrigerator trucks, bulk 

tanks, and more.

v

URBAN 

AGRICULTURE 

AND INNOVATIVE 

PRODUCTION 

GRANTS

NRCS Grants

Initiates or expands efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, 

government officials, schools, and others in urban areas. 

Funds projects that improve local food access, support 

farmer infrastructure, or increase production of urban 

farms or food forests.

v v

BUSINESS AND 

INDUSTRY 

GUARANTEED 

LOAN PROGRAM

RD

Loans to 

intermediary 

lenders who 

provide 

guaranteed 

loans to 

individuals

Find guaranteed financing for developing land, buildings, 

equipment, supplies and infrastructure. Projects may be 

funded in either rural or urban areas under the Local and 

Regional Food System Initiative.

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Urban Agriculture at a Glance 4

On-Farm Guidance and Innovation

PROGRAM AGENCY TYPE DESCRIPTION PRODUCERS PARTNERS

CONSERVATION 

PROGRAMS NRCS

Financial 

Assistance, 

Free Guidance

Provides technical and financial assistance for 

conservation practices, including high and low tunnels, soil 

health management systems, composting, irrigation and 

pollinator and beneficial insect habitat.

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CONSERVATION 

INNOVATION 

GRANTS

NRCS Grants Supports development of new approaches, practices, and 

technologies to further natural resource conservation. v v

COOPERATIVE 

EXTENSION NIFA

Technical 

Guidance

The Cooperative Extension System (CES)a partnership 

between USDA, local and state governments, and the 

nation’s land-grant university system—provides education 

and outreach to farmers, ranchers, hobbyists, and 

communities of all sizes.

v v

BEGINNING 

FARMER 

DEVELOPMENT 

PROGRAM

NIFA

Grants for 

Technical 

Assistance

Provides grants to organizations for education, mentoring, 

and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers. v v

Marketing and Selling Your Farm Products

PROGRAM AGENCY TYPE DESCRIPTION PRODUCERS PARTNERS

FARMER'S 

MARKET 

PROMOTION 

PROGRAM 

AMS Grants

Funds projects that develop, coordinate, and expand 

direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase 

access to and availability of locally and regionally 

produced agricultural products. 

v v

WOMEN, INFANTS, 

AND CHILDREN 

(WIC) FARMERS’ 

MARKET 

NUTRITION 

PROGRAM 

AND SENIORS 

FARMERS MARKET 

NUTRITION 

PROGRAM 

FNS

Financial 

Assistance

Provides coupons to WIC participants for eligible foods 

from state-approved farmers, farmers' markets, or 

roadside stands. Contact your state for eligibility and 

more information on how you can accept WIC as payment 

when selling products directly to consumers.

v v

VALUE-ADDED 

PRODUCER 

GRANT PROGRAM

RD Grants

Helps fund value-added activities related to processing 

and marketing new products, which increases marketing 

opportunities and producer income.

v

ORGANIC 

CERTIFICATION 

COST-SHARE 

PROGRAM

FSA

Financial 

Assistance

Reimburses up to 50% of cost of organic certification 

under the National Organic Program (NOP). v

MARKETING 

ASSISTANCE 

LOANS

FSA Loans

 Provides producers of honey, wool, and mohair with 

financing to enable the delay of selling until market prices 

are more favorable.

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Urban Agriculture at a Glance 5

Protecting Your Farm

PROGRAM AGENCY TYPE DESCRIPTION PRODUCERS PARTNERS

DISASTER 

ASSISTANCE 

PROGRAMS AND 

EMERGENCY 

LOANS

FSA

Loans and 

Financial 

Assistance

FSA offers a suite of programs and loans to help farmers 

recover from natural disasters or build resilience to future 

disasters. 

v

FEDERAL CROP 

INSURANCE RMA Insurance

Manages risk from natural disasters through coverage 

through crop insurance policies for more than 100 crops. 

Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm are 

good options for urban farmers. Insurance is purchased 

through Approved Insurance Providers (and not USDA).

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Expanding Regional and Local Food Systems and Food Access 

PROGRAM AGENCY TYPE DESCRIPTION PRODUCERS PARTNERS

COMMUNITY 

FOOD PROJECTS 

COMPETITIVE 

GRANTS 

PROGRAM

NIFA Grants

Funds community food projects to increase food security 

and self-reliance of community members over their food 

needs.

v

URBAN 

AGRICULTURE 

AND INDOOR 

AND EMERGING 

TECHNOLOGY 

GRANTS

NIFA Grants

Supports research, education, and extension activities to 

extend development of urban, indoor, and other emerging 

agricultural production, harvesting, transportation, 

aggregation, packaging, distribution and markets.

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FARM TO SCHOOL 

PROGRAM FNS

Grants, 

training, 

technical 

assistance, 

research

Helps child nutrition program operators incorporate local 

foods into National School Lunch Program, Summer Food 

Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program. 

Training and guidance for producers seeking to sell to 

schools. Grants promote local food in program meals, 

educate children about where their food comes from, and 

inspire youth toward careers in agriculture.

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REGIONAL 

FOOD SYSTEM 

PARTNERSHIPS 

PROGRAM

AMS Grants

Supports public-private partnerships that plan and 

develop local or regional food systems including 

production, processing, distribution, and eventual 

consumer consumption.

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COMPOSTING 

AND FOOD WASTE 

REDUCTION 

COOPERATIVE 

AGREEMENTS

NRCS Cooperative 

Agreements

Supports local and municipal governments, schools, and 

tribal governments/organizations with projects that 

develop and test strategies for municipal compost and 

food waste reduction plans.

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(continued)
Urban Agriculture at a Glance 6

GUS 

SCHUMACHER 

NUTRITION 

INCENTIVE 

PROGRAM

NIFA Cooperative 

Agreements

Funds projects that increase the purchase of fruits and 

vegetables by low-income consumers. v

LOCAL FOOD 

PROMOTION 

PROGRAM 

AMS Grants

Funds projects that develop, coordinate, and expand local 

and regional food businesses and engage in producer-toconsumer marketing to increase access to and availability 

of local and regional agricultural products.

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LOCAL FOODS, 

LOCAL PLACES

USDA 

and EPA

Technical 

Assistance

Supports development of a community action plan 

that protects the environment, provides economic 

opportunities, and improves children’s health and access 

to healthy local food through efforts including the 

creation of farmers markets, community kitchen, co-op 

grocery stores and community gardens.

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Loans for Youth and Legal Land Issues

PROGRAM AGENCY TYPE DESCRIPTION PRODUCERS PARTNERS

YOUTH LOANS FSA Loans

Funds projects for youth ages 10-20 that are incomeproducing projects and help them gain experience and 

education in agriculture. 

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HIGHLY 

FRACTIONATED 

INDIAN LAND 

LOANS 

HEIRS PROPERTY 

RELENDING 

PROGRAM

FSA Loans Help you gain title to inherited land, create a succession 

plan, or reconsolidate land ownership interest. v
Urban Agriculture at a Glance 7

ASSISTANCE FOR FARMS AND GARDENS 

WHERE URBAN AND RURAL MEET

Some farms are not in big cities or rural areas but are in areas between the two. If that describes your 

farm, you may be eligible for the programs above as well as the Rural Development programs below. 

Rural Development Programs

PROGRAM AGENCY TYPE DESCRIPTION

ECONOMIC IMPACT 

INITIATIVE GRANTS RD Grants

Funds development of community facilities – including community gardens, food 

pantries, food hubs, and greenhouses - in economically-distressed communities. 

Cities, villages, and townships with fewer than 20,000 residents and an 

unemployment rate greater than 19.5% may apply.

RURAL COMMUNITY 

DEVELOPMENT 

INITIATIVE GRANTS

RD Grants

Funds housing, community facilities (such as urban farms), and business training 

projects for non-profit housing and community development organizations, lowincome rural communities, and federally recognized tribes.

RURAL 

MICROENTREPRENEUR 

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

RD Loans This loan can be used to help start a business with 10 or fewer full-time 

employees.

BUSINESS AND 

INDUSTRY 

GUARANTEED LOAN 

PROGRAM

RD Loans RD can help producers locate guaranteed financing. Projects may be funded in 

either rural or urban areas under the Local and Regional Food System Initiative.

RURAL ENERGY FOR 

AMERICA PROGRAM 

RENEWABLE 

ENERGY SYSTEMS & 

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

IMPROVEMENT 

GUARANTEED LOANS & 

GRANTS 

RD Grants

Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers 

and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy 

efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy 

efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and 

processing.

VALUE ADDED 

PRODUCER GRANT 

PROGRAM

RD Grants

Helps you enter into value-added activities related to the processing and 

marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new 

products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer 

income.

RURAL BUSINESS 

DEVELOPMENT GRANT RD Grants Supports workforce training and projects that benefit rural areas or towns 

outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more.

More Information

For more information about USDA assistance for urban farmers and the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative 

Production visit farmers.gov/urban and usda.gov/urban.

USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation 

Service, or Rural Development employees for assistance. To find yours, visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator.

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