The Farm Readiness Grant Program provides reimbursement funding for installation-ready capital improvements that help Massachusetts farms maintain and modernize core infrastructure within their existing footprint. The program supports the purchase and installation of durable equipment and systems that improve operational reliability, food production and handling capacity, resource efficiency, environmental performance, and overall farm readiness. This accelerated funding opportunity is designed for farms that are prepared to move forward immediately with commercially available projects that address deferred or time-sensitive needs and can be completed on a short timeline.
Projects must
Projects funded through this program must:
- Be installation-ready and commercially available at the time of application
- Result in the purchase, replacement, or upgrade of a durable capital asset
- Be located within the existing farm footprint (no new construction)
- Not require permitting
- Be able to be purchased, installed, and fully completed by June 30, 2026
- Be paid for in full by the applicant prior to reimbursement
- Support active commercial agricultural production in Massachusetts
- Deliver a clear, near-term operational improvement once installed
Who can apply
You are eligible if you:
- Are a Massachusetts farmer engaged in commercial production agriculture
- Have operated on the same property for at least 3 years
- Have legal site control for the project location
- Are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
What you can get
- Maximum award: $50,000 per farm
- Reimbursement grant
- Minimum cash match: 20%
- One application per agricultural operation
What you can use the funding for
Eligible projects must be installation-ready capital improvements in one or more of the following areas:
Energy efficiency retrofits
- LED lighting upgrades
- VFDs
- Insulation
- Plate coolers
- High-efficiency fans
- Greenhouse thermal curtains
- Weatherization improvements
Monitoring & precision agriculture equipment
- Weather stations
- Soil moisture sensors
- GPS guidance / auto-steer
- Irrigation controllers
Soil health equipment
- In-stock no-till drills
- Interseeders
- Roller crimpers
- Mulchers
- Compost spreaders
- Pasture aerators
- Portable shading systems
Food safety & cold storage equipment
- Walk-in coolers
- Refrigeration upgrades
- Stainless wash/pack equipment
- Food-grade harvest bins
- Ice machines
- Modular packing lines
Compost equipment
- Compost turners
- Portable screeners
- Aeration blowers
- Temperature and moisture monitoring systems
- Reusable windrow covers
What is not eligible
Funding cannot be used for:
- New construction or site work
- Projects that require discretionary permits
- Vehicles
- Used equipment
- Routine operating costs or maintenance
- Planning or feasibility studies
- Work started before contract execution
