The Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for its Pennsylvania Agriculture Innovation Grant Program.
Donor Name: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
State: Pennsylvania
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 04/18/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Agricultural Innovation Grant Program helps farmers and other agriculture businesses implement new agricultural technologies, conservation, and renewable energy innovations — expanding their potential to generate profits, enrich soil and water resources, and produce energy on the farm.
Grants will reimburse expenses for project planning, on-site project implementation, and larger grants for projects that have a regional impact.
- Project examples include technology that:
- Improves efficiency on the farm or in processing,
- Generates energy while reducing nutrient waste leaving the farm,
- Supports crops that effectively store carbon or replace non-renewable resources.
Types of Grants
Reimbursement Grant Program
Program grants should be reimbursement grants. The following can apply:
- Innovation planning project grant
- An eligible applicant may apply for a grant to develop a strategic plan to utilize innovation to improve agricultural practices, technologies, operations or approaches within a specific business, geographic area, or network. The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection:
- The amount of a grant should be no less than $7,500 and no more than $50,000.
- A grantee must use non-State sourced matching funds equal to at least 30% of the grant amount for the project.
- An eligible applicant may apply for a grant to develop a strategic plan to utilize innovation to improve agricultural practices, technologies, operations or approaches within a specific business, geographic area, or network. The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection:
- Onsite project grant
- An eligible applicant may apply for a grant for a project that focuses on implementing innovation practices, technologies or approaches on an individual farm or property producing or processing an agricultural commodity. The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection:
- The amount of the grant should be no less than $5,000 and no more than $200,000.
- A grantee must use non-State sourced matching funds equal to at least 50% of the grant amount for the project.
- An eligible applicant may apply for a grant for a project that focuses on implementing innovation practices, technologies or approaches on an individual farm or property producing or processing an agricultural commodity. The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection:
- Regional impact project grant
- An eligible applicant may apply for a grant for a project designed to address challenges, promote efficiencies, or achieve specific goals for multiple eligible applicants. The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection:
- The amount of the grant should be no less than $100,000 and no more than $2 million.
- The grantee must use non-State sourced matching funds equal to at least 50% of the grant amount for the project.
- The project must impact two or more persons or businesses or be a cooperative association that grows, harvests, processes, packs or manages an agricultural commodity.
- An eligible applicant may apply for a grant for a project designed to address challenges, promote efficiencies, or achieve specific goals for multiple eligible applicants. The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection:
Eligible Projects
A person or cooperative association who utilizes innovation:
- To improve energy efficiency, improve water quality, reduce water consumption, reduce odors, or address solid waste concerns
- To improve production, processing, commercialization, or utilization of agricultural commodities.
- That produces energy from agricultural sources, including manure, food waste or biomass.
- Equipment that provides low-carbon or no-carbon energy sources from agricultural commodities.
- Technology that assists eligible applicants with the management of their farms, including diagnostic tools and services.
- Technology that assists a packer, processor or cooperative in more efficient sorting, grading, or processing of agricultural commodities.
- That improves biosecurity or health of plants or animals.
- That supports cybersecurity or data analytics.
Eligibility Criteria
- A person who grows an agricultural commodity and who has anticipated sales greater than $2,000 per year.
- A person who processes an agricultural commodity and has anticipated sales greater than $10,000 per year.
- A person who provides technical assistance or services to farmers for conservation, engineering, veterinary care, animal disease management, farm management, agricultural commodity production, nutrient management, or similar services.
- A person or cooperative association that utilizes agricultural commodities to create products or energy.
For more information, visit PDA.
