This page offers a guide to programs, loans, grants, information, and other resources for minority farmers in South Carolina.
The South Carolina Department of Agriculture maintains this guide to promote access for historically underserved communities in the state’s agriculture community. Separately, SCDA also offers resources for military veterans, as well as a more general guide to agricultural organizations and topics in South Carolina. In addition, our Grants programs and our Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship (ACRE) offer various resources for South Carolina farmers.
If you’re looking for something that’s not here or see information that’s out of date, please contact kpfeiffer@scda.sc.gov.
Who is a minority farmer?
A minority farmer is someone who is considered socially disadvantaged by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It is someone who, because of his or her affiliation with a particular group, may have been subject to discrimination in the process of applying for agriculture-related government services. Those groups include women, Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders. Source: University of Missouri Extension
Federal Grant and Loan Programs
USDA Minority & Women Farmers info page
USDA NRCS EQIP Program (5% of Eqip national funding is set aside for minority farmer projects)
The Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant
The Farmers Guide the Microloan Program
Funding Opportunities for Women
Annie’s Project: Empowering Women in Agriculture
South Carolina Organizations and Associations
Southeastern African American Farmers’ Organic Network (SAAFON)
Farmer Veteran Coalition of South Carolina
National Organizations and Associations
National Young Farmers Coalition
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
National Black Farmers Association
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS)
