Agriculture powers countless communities – but starting a new operation can be daunting. AgWest Farm Credit is here to help, offering the New Producer Grant program which provides 30 $15,000 one-time grants to help aspiring agricultural entrepreneurs bring their vision to life.

Applications opened March 1 and close May 31. Producers must submit detailed proposals outlining their operational goals and planned use of funds. AgWest provides financial and business planning tools to help applicants prepare their submissions.

Throughout the process, grant participants gain valuable insights about the ag lending process. Visit AgWestFC’s website to learn more and apply.

Here are the fine details

• Applications open March 1 and close May 31, 2025
• 30 one-time grants of $15,000 each
• Available across AgWest’s territory
• Includes access to business planning tools and resources

Meet Prior Grant Recipients

Learn how the New Producer Grant transformed operations for past recipients in their stories below, and read on to learn about other grant winners in California making an impact in agriculture.

Little Lighthouse Farm

Finding her way home: Grant winner grows food for her community

Three Sisters Bean Farm

Connecting past with present: Grant winners revive heirloom crop

Luis Arredondo: Elderberry Innovation

First-generation American Luis Arredondo discovered his passion for sustainable agriculture at Allan Hancock College. Luis is now launching an elderberry operation at White Buffalo Land Trust, and the grant enables him to purchase essential equipment and pursue sustainable farming practices while developing a mentorship program for future farmers. Luis is now collaborating with local businesses to create elderberry products. “Having these documents has helped convince other agencies of my project’s viability,” shares Luis. 

Zachary Paschall: Saving a Walnut Farm

Navy SEAL veteran Zachary Paschall used his grant to replace a critical well pump at Deuteronomy 6, his walnut farm. “Without the grant, our trees would have died,” Zachary explains. He and his wife Ann are developing their operation into a community-focused organic farm with unique farm-to-table experiences. “The application made me actually sit down and write out what I was trying to achieve and look at the numbers.”

Ready to apply? Visit the AgWestFC webpage to learn more and apply today.