Horizon Farm Credit JumpStart Farmer Grant
Horizon Farm Credit
$10,000 (up to 15 awards)
$10,000 grants for up to 15 beginning farmers in Horizon Farm Credit's DE/MD/PA/VA/WV territory; 2026 dates TBA.
JumpStart is a beginner farmer grant program from Horizon Farm Credit. Each year the program awards up to 15 farmers a $10,000 grant to help start their agricultural journey. Eligible applicants must be new or beginning farmers with two years or less experience (or planning to start farming in the next two years) and reside in Horizon Farm Credit's Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia territory. The 2026 cycle dates are not yet announced; a waitlist is available.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- $10,000 – $10,000
- Realistic amount
- $10,000 per selected beginning farmer
- Deadline
- 2026 dates to be announced
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- DE, MD, PA, VA, WV
Who qualifies
- New or beginning farmer with two years or less experience, or planning to start farming in the next two years
- Reside in Horizon Farm Credit's territory (DE, MD, PA, VA, WV)
- At least 18 years of age by application close date
- Current Farm Credit customers and non-customers eligible
- Must complete Ag Biz Basics course
- Must create a business plan
Who is not eligible
- Farmers with more than two years of experience (unless starting a new venture/enterprise on a family farm)
- Applicants outside Horizon Farm Credit territory
- Officers, directors, and employees of Horizon Farm Credit and their immediate family members
- Past JumpStart or Farmers on the Rise Award winners
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Tractors and equipment
- Livestock
- Farm operating expenses
- Startup services including business planning, legal fees, or other startup costs
Ineligible expenses
- Personal expenses unrelated to farm business
- Expenses incurred before grant acceptance
How to apply
-
1
Join waitlist or monitor page
Sign up for the waitlist to be notified when applications open.
~0.25 hrs
-
2
Complete Ag Biz Basics and business plan
Finish the free self-paced Ag Biz Basics financial literacy course and prepare a business plan using the provided template or another format.
~8 hrs
-
3
Submit application
Complete contact information and essay sections when the application opens.
~4 hrs
Applicants are judged on a 150-point rubric heavily weighted toward the project plan funding request (50 points) and business plan sections. Complete Ag Biz Basics and use the business plan template.
Deadline & timing
Applications typically open in spring. A waitlist is available for updates on the next cycle.
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Required documents
- Application form (contact info and essays)
- Business plan
- Ag Biz Basics course completion
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Alternatives computed from the live GrantCompass catalog on August 25, 2026 — all 183 open grant programs · filter the database.
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Researched and verified 2026-08-24 against the official program source. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.