Most people start a farming business using long term loans that take years to pay back. If you think you’re ready to make this leap, try checking into Farm grants before applying for a loan. Consider having some part of your farming business be non-profit; this is an excelent way to qualify for grants. Check into State programs as well.
-
November 13, 2008 at 02:31 am
Check this site
http://www.grants.gov/
References : -
November 13, 2008 at 03:06 am
There are many types of land improvement grants depending on the state and area in which you live. Sometimes farming counts as a land improvement project depending on the area. Like the person above said. You can find all the information at http://www.grants.gov . Try using "Farming" or "land improvement" for your search terms. You can also try the USDA grant page "Building Better Rural Spaces" at http://www.attra.org/guide/
References :
http://www.grants.gov
http://www.attra.org/guide/ -
November 13, 2008 at 03:11 am
You can but you have to either have real world experience, or educational experience and you typically have to already have your land or a 10 year lease on land sufficient to graze the animals. ie. 1.5 acres for every cow or 2 acres for every horse.
References : -
November 13, 2008 at 03:23 am
Hi
Well sort of
All the answers I see are good ones…. good links too..
I would like to offer a new twist….
If you are looking to get government money so you can have animals… and you do not want to raise them for food etc…
You might look into grants from both government and Private groups for Sanctuaries.
There are monies avail to start a sanctuary for both domestic animals, farm animals and wild…
There are lots of rules to go with and the requirements vary from grant to grant.. It would not be easy and would not be quick
But it can be done!You may also check your local county Housing authority to see if there are GOV programs to help you get better loans if you are wanting to do a real farm in your area.. Often in certain rural areas there are programs to help as they want to encourage land use and population growth in the county.
Try the USDA as well.
Good Luck
Wismom
References :
Background in Human Medicine, Wildlife rescue and conservation -
November 13, 2008 at 03:42 am
The Department of Agriculture offers Farm Operating Loans http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.PROGRAM_TEXT_RPT.SHOW?p_arg_names=prog_nbr&p_arg_values=10.406 whose objective is "to enable operators of not larger than family farms through the extension of credit and supervisory assistance, to make efficient use of their land, labor, and other resources, and to establish and maintain financially viable farming and ranching operations."
It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.
Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.
Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants — all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.
Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html...
"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."
Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business — THERE'S NONE.
http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.showMost of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program
Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs
For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.
References :
http://www.cfda.gov
http://www.grants.gov
http://gtionline.fdncenter.org
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol66/grants.htm
http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html
