Funding Tip Tuesday is a weekly series that offers practical guidance to help producers prepare for farm funding.

“I found out about a grant that was perfect for my on-farm project, but I JUST missed the deadline.” 

“Someone shared a funding opportunity that was relevant for my farm, but it was due in a week and I didn’t have the time to get everything together before the deadline.”

Do any of these sound like you? We often have customers explain the challenges of finding funding that matches with their own project timelines.

Why starting early matters

Farmers already understand the value of planning ahead because so much of agriculture depends on timing, preparation, and anticipating the season.

The same principle applies to funding for your farm projects. Beginning your planning a few months ahead gives you time to not only map out what you want the farm to accomplish, but also how you can best fund those projects. 

When you start planning early, you can shape your projects with more intention and choose funding programs that match your needs.

Our recommendation is to look ahead over the next 8-12 months to think about the types of projects or investments you’d like to make on your farm, and therefore, what funding opportunities over that time period.

Getting a head start on your planning also avoids last-minute stress during busy seasons when paperwork is the last thing you want to manage.

For example, we worked with a producer in Minnesota who’s starting his own creamery for ice cream and yogurt. Last year, he found the Dairy Business Builder grant for value-added processing equipment a little over a week before the grant was due. He unfortunately did not get the grant.

We started to work with the producer in January 2025 to learn more about his value-added processing projects and associated purchases. We planned out relevant grants throughout the year that he could apply to for his project. As we’re closing out the year, he has won three grants (Value-Added Producer Grant, AGRI Value-Added Grant, and Dairy Business Builder), representing >$200k for his creamery.

Questions to guide your planning

Thinking through your long-term direction helps you identify the projects that matter most this year. You can use questions like these to focus your planning:

• What outcomes do I want to achieve over the next few years?

• What projects will help me make progress this season?

• What investments will be needed to complete those projects?

  
  

These questions help you connect your day-to-day decisions with your broader goals, which is essential when looking for funding opportunities and building competitive applications.

You can then also use the answers to start finding grants that are relevant to these projects and can contribute to your investment needs.

Strengthen your plans with support

If you want more structure, consider connecting with an extension office, business advisor, or farm planner. They can help you draft a business plan that outlines your goals and upcoming investments. A solid business plan can make your funding applications more competitive and often speeds up gathering the required information for a grant application.

Long-term value

Developing the habit of early planning strengthens every part of your funding strategy. It leads to clearer project designs, better timing, and a smoother application process in future years. Over time, these early steps help your farm stay ready for opportunities as they arise.

One more crucial tip

Most grants will not fund projects that have already started or been completed. Instead, they require you to start the project after you have been awarded the grant.

Planning early gives you time to apply before breaking ground, which protects your eligibility and keeps options open for multiple programs.

Want support preparing early and strengthening your funding strategy? Lasso can help. Our team works with producers to clarify goals, organize project plans, and stay ahead of funding timelines. If you want guidance that fits your operation and your schedule, we are here to help you move forward with confidence. Click here to learn more.

Do you want to stay updated on practical grant tips, funding opportunities, and ways to strengthen your farm’s competitiveness in the application process? Follow us on our Lasso social media pages!

Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin