Welcome to NC AgVentures Farm Grant Application Portal 

The NC AgVentures Farm Grant Program is a NC State Extension grant program that provides grants to NC family farms, and local non-profit community organizations to develop agricultural projects which will increase farm profits. Funding is provided by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. NC AgVentures Farm Grant is a competitive grant based on the merits of an application. 

Overview 

• The goal of this grant is to help established farms increase their profits.
• Maximum award is $10,000. 
• The grant funds are taxable income.
• Grant recipients must provide at least 15% cost of the total project.
• We do NOT fund land or livestock.
• Grant applicants must work with an Extension agent on their project proposal.  If you are not working Cooperative Extension, you will find an office in each county.  Reach out to an Extension Agent about your grant project idea.
• Grant recipients should have insurance to cover the grant project activities.
• Deadline to apply is December 15, 2026 at 6 p.m.
• Submissions are limited to 200 applications. Once 200 applications have been submitted, the application portal will automatically close.

Only one application per farm

• We understand there may be more than one business on a farm, but you can only submit one application per farm.
• Married couples or domestic partners with separate farm operations may submit only one application.

Who is Eligible?

• Family Farms that are organized as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or family corporation that are located in one of the counties listed below.
• Non-profit community organizations (such as livestock associations, farmers markets and Cooperative Extension) that are working directly with family farms in one of the counties listed below.

Eligible counties: Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Cabarrus, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Forsyth, Gaston, Granville,  Greene,  Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Iredell, Johnston, Lincoln, Martin,  Mecklenburg, Nash, Northampton, Orange, Person, Pitt, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Sampson, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Vance, Wake,  Wayne, Wilson, Wilkes, Warren, and Yadkin.  

Eligibility

• Applicants should be a current resident of North Carolina with an established farm operation in North Carolina.
• Grant recipients from the 2025-2026 cycle are not eligible to apply this year.
• Farms that have received three (3) or more grants from NC AgVentures are no longer eligible.
• NC State Extension Agents, their spouses or partners are not eligible to apply for personal grants. Agents can write a Community Grant for the Extension office.
• NC State Employees are not eligible to apply for personal grants.
• One application per farm per year.

Criteria for evaluating the applications 

The most successful project proposals are ones that demonstrate how they will build farm capacity by making the farm stronger, smarter, more efficient, and more resilient.

• Does the project proposal show a good potential for success? 
• Does the grant proposal incorporate Best Management Practices?
• Will your project increase income relative to project cost? 
• Will the project increase or maintain employment opportunities? 
• Has the proposal been adequately researched and is well detailed?
• Is the budget realistic? 
• Does the applicant have the skills to complete the project? 
• Does the project present a new direction or opportunity for the farm? 
• Will the project become self-supporting? 
• Will other farmers in your region benefit from the project?  
• Budget total for the project must be at least 15% higher than the requested award amount.

To Apply

We suggest using chrome or firefox browser. 

You will be asked to create a login and password to set up your own account. Choose a unique password and save a copy of the login and password as you will need them to access your application.

If you have set-up an account in a previous year, you may continue to use the same login and password.

***On the first page of the application in the upper right corner you will see the words "Invite Collaborators." Click on the link, and a new window will open. Put in your Extension agents email address. The Agent will receive an email with a link.

Contact your Extension Agent to let them know you have started working on the application.  We suggest you arrange a time to discuss the application while it is in draft form. 

Grant Awards are Competitive

The awards are based on a competitive process. The review committee will review the applications in January. The awards are announced in February. All applicants will receive a letter to let them know if they did or did not receive and award.

• If you have technical issues with the application form contact submittersupport@submittable.com

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