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Unclaimed
Discovery tool, not advice. Every figure is the published rule, not a decision on your case.
Grants

USDA Value-Added Producer Grants

Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG)

Status

Status not published

FY2026 round: 'Applications are accepted for processing from Agricultural Producers from February 17, 2026, through 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), April 22, 2026.' Announced annually via a Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Check with the funder
Amount
$200,000

Planning Grants 'Up to $50,000'; Working Capital Grants 'Up to $200,000'. Approximately $25 million was available in the FY2026 round. All grants require a '1:1 match (100% of the grant amount), which may include cash or eligible in-kind contributions'.

You must co-fund 50%. Work out the cash you need

Funder

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (Rural Business-Cooperative Service)

public · national

Deadline: One call a year — FY2026 round: 'Applications are accepted for processing from Agricultural Producers from February 17, 2026, through 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), April 22, 2026.' Announced annually via a Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Your odds
Not published

This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.

Effort
major

Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.

You fund 50% yourself.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are 'Agricultural producers (including harvesters and steering committees)' and 'Agricultural producer groups'. Applicants must 'Own and produce more than 50% of the raw commodity' and show they 'Will retain greater revenue from the value-added product than from the raw commodity alone'. Priority points for beginning farmers/ranchers, veteran farmers, socially disadvantaged producers and small/medium-sized family farms. SAM.gov registration with a Unique Entity ID is mandatory - the practical gate for all federal awards.

How to apply

  1. Confirm you are an eligible independent agricultural producer, producer group, farmer/rancher cooperative or majority-controlled producer-based business venture. — link
  2. Register in SAM.gov to obtain a Unique Entity ID and in Grants.gov. — link
  3. Prepare the application (business/feasibility plan or working capital request) and secure the 1:1 matching funds.
  4. Submit via Grants.gov or to the USDA Rural Development state office before the deadline.

What you will need

Related reading: How grant deadlines actually work · UEI and SAM.gov registration, explained

Apply on the funder's site

Source. https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/value-added-producer-grants

"Applications are accepted for processing from Agricultural Producers from February 17, 2026, through 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), April 22, 2026."

Verified on 14 August 2026

Source: www.rd.usda.gov

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