FUNDING & PROGRAM ASSISTANCE
Publications and Web Resources
Affording Our Land - A Greenhorns Guidebook
https://greenhorns.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Greenhorns_Affording_OurLand_Guidebook.pdf
Harvest Returns Crowdfunding Program
https://www.harvestreturns.com/
Farm Steward Crowdfunding
Tax Guide: For Owners and Operators of Small and Medium Size Farms - Land Grant University Tax Education Foundation, Inc.
http://www.ruraltax.org/files/uploads/TaxGuide%20Small%20to%20Midsized%20Farms%202011%2007%2014.pdf
The Farmer’s Guide to Agricultural Credit - RAFI-USA
http://rafiusa.org/blog/the-farmers-guide-to-agricultural-credit/
The Farmer’s Legal Guide to Producer Marketing Associations - National Agricultural Law Center
http://nationalaglawcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/assets/articles/obrien_producermarketing_book.pdf
Value Added Producer Grant:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/value-added-producer-grants
Local Food Promotion Program:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lfpp
Cooperative Grant:
https://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/grants-and-loans-farmers
SC Community Loan Fund “Feeding Innovation”:
http://sccommunityloanfund.org/what-we-do/programs/
ACRE Entrepreneurship Competition:
Financial Resource Info:
https://www.agcredit.net/resources/toolbox.aspx
Overview of USDA Lending:
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/
Ag South Farm Credit:
Ag Credit + FSA Loans:
https://www.agcredit.net/loans/fsa-loan-programs.aspx
Arbor One Farm Credit:
Beginning FSA Loans:
Catawba Agribusiness Loan Fund:
http://catawbacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SCALF-Flyer.pdf
Financial Training:
Organizations
SCDA Agriculture Center for Research and Entrepreneurship (ACRE)
ACRE seeks to provide additional economic prosperity for SC agribusiness through housing a unique research platform devoted to addressing specific challenges for industries that can provide more market opportunities to South Carolina agribusinesses and farmers.
AgSouth Farm Credit
1884 Joe S Jeffords Hwy, Orangeburg, SC 29115
803-534-6546 864-585-6234 ext 6725
Contact: contactus@agsouthfc.com
AgSouth Farm Credit has been financing farmers of all types for over 90 years. Loan officers are available to help with the many difficulties involved in beginning a new farm operation, transferring an existing operation, or expanding into new commodities or territories. Loans, leases, services and insurance for agriculture, real estate, operating needs, crop production, livestock, timber, equipment, harvesting, and more.
Arbor One
Mailing Address: PO Box 3699, Florence, SC 29502
Physical Address: 800 Woody Jones Blvd, Florence, SC 29501
843-662-1527 800-741-7332
ArborOne Farm Credit provides rural America with sound, affordable loans, crop insurance, and other financial services. A member of the Farm Credit System since 1916, ArborOne specializes in tailoring lending to the unique needs of each customer. Loan officers work closely with many government and farm organizations, including the FSA Guarantee Program to assist farmers in getting and staying in business.
Rural Tax Education
Utah State University, Applied Economics Department, Logan, UT 84322-3530
435-797-2323
Contact: info@ruraltax.org
Working with the USDA Risk Management Agency, the National Farm Income Tax Extension Committee recently created Ruraltax.org, an online tool that provides agricultural producers with a source for agriculturally related income and self-employment tax information that is both easy to understand and continually updated to reflect changes in tax laws.
South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED)
Charleston, SC
843-579-9855
The South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED) has entered into agreement with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for furthering the production of fruits and vegetables as an important source of fresh food and nutrition to communities lacking access to locally grown produce. This agreement supports USDA’s renewed interest in community gardening. Competitive grants are available for high tunnels and community gardens annually.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Loan Advantage
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans
South Carolina District Office: 1835 Assembly Street Suite 1425, Columbia, SC 29201
803-765-5377 (fax) 803-765-5962
Charleston Alternate Work Site: 5900 Core Drive Suite 403, North Charleston, SC 29406
843-225-7430
A loan guarantee program structured to encourage SBA lenders to make loans for smaller amounts, which often benefit businesses in underserved markets.
SCDA Specialty Crop Block Grant
https://agriculture.sc.gov/divisions/agency-operations/grants/specialty-crop-block-grant/
Each grant application must include a project proposal that will clearly demonstrate that its purpose is to enhance the competitiveness of a specialty crop industry in South Carolina and use funds only for activities benefitting specialty crops. Applications will only be accepted from producer, industry or community-based organizations involved with specialty crops.
Sustainable Farm Lease
601 Emma Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50315
515-271-2205
Administered by the Drake University Agricultural Law Center, and supported by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, SustainableFarmLease.org is intended to assist landowners and farmers develop farm lease arrangements that are profitable and sustainable for the landowner, the farmer, the community, and the land.
USDA Grants, Loans, & Support for Farmers and Rural Community Development https://www.usda.gov/topics/farming/grants-and-loans
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250
202-720-2791
For a wide-ranging listing of USDA grants, loans, and support to assist farmers, help consumers access good food, and support rural community development.
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) - Charleston County
https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?type=ref&county=019&state=45&agency=FSA
2070 Northbrook Blvd. Suite A8, North Charleston, SC 29406
843-727-4160 (fax) 855-602-5204
This agency makes and guarantees various types of loans and provides credit counseling to farmers and ranchers. Types of loans include: farm ownership loans, microloans, emergency farm loans, guaranteed farm loans, minority and women farmers and rancher loans, beginning farmers and ranchers loans, rural youth loans, and farm storage facility loans. A chart summarizing FSA farm loan information can be found here.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - South Carolina
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/sc/home/
Strom Thurmond Federal Building -1835 Assembly Street Room 950, Columba, SC 29201
803-253-3935 (fax) 803-253-3670
NRCS is the primary federal agency working to protect natural resources on private lands. NRCS offers technical and financial assistance to farmers for conservation planning and practices suited to their land and operation.
USDA/Risk Management Agency Crop Insurance Programs - Valdosta, GA Regional Office http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/fields/ga_rso/
106 South Patterson Street Suite 250, Valdosta, GA 31601-5673
229-242-7235 (fax) 229-242-3566 202-690-2803
RMA, through FCIC, provides crop insurance to American farmers and ranchers. Private sector insurance companies sell and service the policies. RMA develops and/or approves the premium rate, administers premium and expense subsidies, approves and supports products, and reinsures the companies. RMA also sponsors educational and outreach programs and seminars on the general topic of risk management.
USDA Rural Development - South Carolina
1835 Assembly Street, Suite 1007, Columbia, SC 29201
803-765-5163 (fax) 765-5633
USDA Rural Development achieves its mission by helping rural individuals, communities, and businesses obtain the financial and technical assistance needed to address their diverse and unique needs.