Investments in the Future – Ensuring Farmers, agribusinesses and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have the resources to continue growing and supporting the state’s $111.1 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry.
For information on a grant program listed below contact:
Charles Fletcher
Director of Agricultural Project Management
(919) 707-3242 or Charles.fletcher@ncagr.gov
| Grant Programs | Forms and Additional Information |
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N.C. Agriculture Innovations & Research With funding provided by the North Carolina General Assembly since 2013, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has led the N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative with the mission to support the research and development of agricultural and forestry-based feedstocks for bioenergy production, agribusiness development and cooperative research for biofuels production within the state. In 2018 the General Assembly allocated funding at the Commissioner’s request for a New and Emerging Crops Program. Its mission is to identify potential new crops and value-added products, and then provide the agricultural research, marketing support and grower education needed to make these crops viable options for North Carolina growers. In 2024 the General Assembly voted to expand the scope of the combined programs to include Innovations to Advance the Agricultural Economy. This expansion is a commitment to address the needs of an ever-evolving agricultural economy by supporting innovative agricultural research projects. News Releases: | Applications and Documents |
NC Specialty Crop Block Grant The NCDA&CS administers annual grant funding received from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace. Through a competitive process the department accepts grant requests from nonprofit organizations, commodity associations, state and local government agencies, colleges and universities. Individuals and businesses (including farms) are not eligible to apply for the Specialty Crop Block Grant. Projects must involve fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, culinary herbs and spices, medicinal plants, nursery, floriculture or horticulture crops. Click here for a full list of eligible crops. News Releases: Application period now open for the 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (1/20/2026) |
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Improving Meat Processing and Efficiency The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Increasing Meat Production, Efficiency and Capacity (IMPEC) grant program, which is geared to independent state meat and seafood processing facilities. In addition to increasing production, efficiency and/or capacity, projects can also include value-added processing. Project categories can include equipment and infrastructure, contractual/consultation, labor; training and retention, and other identified needs. To be eligible for grant funding, applicants must contract with independent livestock producers or seafood harvesters to process animals or seafood and must be state or federally inspected, or it must produce further processed meat products under state or federal inspection or be a USDA inspected processor of shelf-stable meat or meat products. Proposals can be for beef, pork, small ruminant seafood, and catfish processing facilities. Recipients must match $1 in funds or services for every $2 in grant funding. Cash or services must come from non-federal and/or state sources, and matching funds cannot be used as a match for any other federal or state cost-share project. 
| Applications and Documents |
Resilient Food system Infrastructure This initiative is designed to enhance the robustness and sustainability of North Carolina's food supply chain. Funded in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the RFSI program aims to empower North Carolina's agricultural producers by strengthening the middle segments of the food supply chain, excluding meat and poultry. The RFSI program seeks to build resilience within local and regional food systems, fostering economic growth and creating new opportunities for North Carolina's farmers and food producers. By providing targeted support for infrastructure improvements and equipment upgrades, the RFSI program will enhance processing, aggregation, distribution, and storage capabilities across the state in the form of grants for projects that meet these goals. | Applications and Documents |
Large Animal Healthcare Enhancement fund This $130,000 recurring fund was created by the N.C. General Assembly in 2023 and is annually administered by the N.C. Ag Finance Authority. The funding opportunity is available to veterinarians who practice in one of the 70 North Carolina counties with a population of 100,000 or fewer and that spend 30% or more of their patient care involved in large animal veterinary care. These funds can be used for repayment of educational loans related to the recipient’s veterinary degree, to purchase equipment or technology for use in their practice or any additional uses the advisory committee determines is appropriate to promote and develop large animal veterinarians to practice in the designated counties. 
News Releases: Large Animal Grants program accepting applications (12/3/2025) Large animal health enhancement grants awarded to 10 veterinary practices (9/19/2025)
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