The is the primary source for agricultural funding. While they rarely offer grants for land acquisition, they provide specialized loans for those who cannot get commercial credit.

Specifically for beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers, this requires only a 5% cash down payment . The FSA provides 45% of the purchase price at a reduced interest rate (as low as 1.875% in early 2026), and the remaining 50% comes from a commercial lender.

State governments often use "Purchase of Development Rights" (PDR) or conservation easements to keep land in agricultural use. Grants and Loans - USDA