Our Services

Business Consulting

From Business plans to value-added strategy to feasibility studies and new retail market places, contact us to discuss new revenue streams.

Grant Writing

We can help your farm scale sustainably by accessing government grants that will allow your operations to grow and thrive! We identify federal and state grants specific to your operational needs. Funding can range from $25,000 up to $2,000,000 depending on your specific goals and operational needs. We work with you and prepare a comprehensive application to maximize chances of success in this competitive process.

Reduce Energy Costs

USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

USDA offers four grant cycles a year to help farmers reduce their energy costs either by funding a renewal energy project (such as a solar build) or to help support efficiency upgrades. Applicants can receive up to $1,000,000 in funding offsetting 50% of the project's eligible budget. Upcoming cycle is open now with applications due by the end of December 2024; Q1 2025 applications due by the end of March 2024. Contact us to discuss planning and specifics of your solar build.

Conserve & Reduce Water Costs

CDFA  State WATER EFFICIENCY & ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (SWEEP)

Upgrade your irrigation system with CDFA's SWEEP funding. Awardees can receive up to $200,000 in grant funding to cover such upgrades as new efficient pumps, drip irrigation, soil moisture sensors, low pressure irrigation systems, and solar installations. We develop site upgrade plans specific and unique to your operation, while also being eligible and competitive for CDFA grant coverage. Grant cycle is once year, typically by the end of the year with applications due by the end of January although we are awaiting CDFA's FY2025 announcement. Depending on your county, other CDFA partnered block grants may be available as well.

Additional funding opportunities:

Whether you are a farm located in California eligible for CDFA funding or in another state, FarmWorks can access irrigation support through NRCS/EQIP and or other state level programs. Contact us to explore options.

Healthy Soils Support

CDFA Healthy Soils Grant and NRCS/EQIP

Increase your soil organic matter with a new on-farm healthy soil practice. If located in California, CDFA supports a wide array of soil health practices from new equipment to reduce tillage to starting an on-farm composting program. Awardees typically receive up to three years of funding for on-going support. Click here to learn more about this grant opportunity, and look for the grant cycle to open by Dec/Jan 2025 with on-going block grant funding available now.

Additional Healthy Soils Resources:

NRCS/EQIP provides a wide array of healthy soil funding opportunities across all states. Contact us to assist in targeting the best healthy soil grant for your project objectives.

Launch A New Revenue Stream

USDA Value-Added Producer Grant

Boost profit margins with a new revenue stream. USDA has a well-funded program to support agriculture producers with up to $250,000 in grant funding to launch a new revenue stream. Grant funds can be used for planning activities or for working capital related to producing and marketing a value-added product with a wide array of eligible projects from bringing your sales direct-to-consumer with e-commerce to adding a new product to your yearly sales.  Contact us to discuss your grant application. We expect the grant cycle to open in Q2 2025 with applications due mid-summer.

Business Builder Funding

While USDA's Value Added grant is geared towards launching a new revenue stream, additional opportunities exist throughout the year to support further development of your current operations. For example, we expect USDA's Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program to renew by the start of the new year and or a similar pilot program to launch supporting producer's middle of the supply chain needs (from specialized equipment purchases to funding for marketing and packaging materials); USDA also launches regional specific business builder grants throughout the year with "Heartland" funding open now. Sign up for our e-newsletter for future program updates.

Capacity Building / Food Hubs

Farm to Community Food Hubs Program

Leverage your collective efforts for middle of the supply chain benefits by launching your own food hub. CDFA, in partnership with Farm to Fork, will be providing $15 million for the Farm to Community Food Hubs Program with applications due to open later this fall. For non-California farms interested in tapping into capacity building programming, we can research your state's resources for a similar funding opportunity.

Livestock Producers Support

Local Meat Capacity Grant

To increase competition in the meat processing sector, the USDA has designed this grant to uplift small to mid-sized independent livestock producers with funding to upgrade and modernize their processing plants. Look for this grant opportunity to open April 2025 with applications due in July 2025, sign up for e-newsletter for updates.

Additional Resources

Contact us to discuss your goals and needs & sign up for our e-newsletter to keep up-to-date with grant announcements as well as current business trends and developments in sustainable agriculture.

Find Additional Resources below:

UC Agricultural Natural Resources

The Land Institute

Environmental Defense Fund

Ag Mission

Natural Resources Defense Council

Patagonia