External Resources

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides loans to agricultural producers to help start or expand their farming operations, purchase equipment and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs. Click below to view this month’s interest rates for loans offered through FSA.

Applications are being accepted for the City of Pittsburgh Food Justice Fund grants, designed to support vital community-led food initiatives. This funding opportunity aims to strengthen local food systems, improve nutritional access, and advance equity across the region. Eligible applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals before the application window closes on June 30, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report is prepared and released by the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB). This report is released monthly and provides annual forecasts for supply and use of U.S. and world wheat, rice, coarse grains, oilseeds, and cotton. The report also covers U.S. supply and use of sugar, livestock & meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and dairy products; as well as Mexico’s supply and use of sugar.

This monthly report contains crop production data for the U.S., including acreage, area harvested, and yield. The report also contains a monthly weather summary, a monthly agricultural summary, and an analysis of precipitation and the degree of departure from the normal precipitation map for the month.

The WASDE and Crop Production briefings can be watched every month beginning at 12:05 pm ET on NASS’ YouTube Channel. The briefings are streamed live just moments after the reports are made public. 

Applications are currently open for the Young, Beginning, and Small (YBS) Farmer Grant Program, sponsored by Horizon Farm Credit. This initiative will award ten $20,000 grants to support emerging agricultural producers with funding for on-farm improvements, innovation, and business growth. If you are an eligible producer looking to invest in your operation’s future, make sure to submit your application by the August 21, 2026 deadline at 4:00 PM.

Click below to find your state and view local data, USDA resources, and program deadlines.

Use AgPlan, a tool created by the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota, to create your business plan. Features include business-type templates, a feature-rich type editor, tips and samples, and plan reviewers.

Southern University AgCenter is offering free technical assistance certification programs to farmers and small business owners. Certification programs currently available are Foods & Farm Food Safety, Small Business Development, Master Small Ruminant, and Sustainable Urban Agriculture. 

The Southern Risk Management Education Center (SRMEC) has released a stress mitigation workbook to assist farmers and members of the agricultural community in managing the various stressors associated with farming.