Texas Agricultural Grant

The Texas Agricultural Grant, established under House Bill 43 during the 89th Texas Legislative Session, represents a significant policy shift and expansion of support for agricultural development in the state. Designed to enhance and broaden the reach of the existing Young Farmer Grant Program, this newly authorized initiative will be overseen by the Texas Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (TAFA) Board. The primary purpose of the grant is to increase the impact and accessibility of funding to support a diverse range of agricultural ventures and strengthen the economic viability of rural and agricultural communities across Texas. House Bill 43 officially becomes effective on June 20, 2025. In response to this legislative change, the TAFA Board is tasked with operationalizing the program through a phased and methodical implementation timeline. The board is scheduled to convene on July 30, 2025, to initiate formal discussions on the development of programmatic infrastructure and rulemaking procedures. Subsequent meetings throughout August and September 2025 will focus on drafting amendments to the Texas Administrative Code, which governs the administration of the program. A critical step in the implementation process involves the publication of the proposed rule changes in the Texas Register during November and December 2025. This stage includes a mandatory public comment period lasting at least 30 days, allowing stakeholders and interested parties to provide input on the proposed regulations. Following this public engagement phase, the rules are expected to be formally adopted and filed in the Texas Register by January 2026. Application materials for the Texas Agricultural Grant are anticipated to be released in late January 2026. At that point, prospective applicants will be able to review program guidelines, eligibility criteria, and application requirements. While the exact components of the application are not yet published, applicants are advised to sign up for official email notifications through the Texas Department of Agriculture’s designated portal to stay informed about forthcoming announcements and deadlines. Eligibility requirements, funding levels, allowable expenses, and the evaluation criteria for proposals will be determined during the upcoming TAFA Board meetings and codified in the administrative rules. Given the expansion from the original Young Farmer Grant framework, it is expected that the new program may include broader eligibility to encompass a range of agricultural producers and rural development actors, though precise details are still forthcoming. All inquiries related to the Texas Agricultural Grant may be directed to the Grants Office at the Texas Department of Agriculture via email at grants@TexasAgriculture.gov. Interested individuals and organizations should monitor the agency’s website and register for notifications to ensure they receive timely updates on application materials and the finalized rules once they are published.