Underserved and Veteran Farmers, Ranchers, and Foresters
For information about the funded projects, please view the FY2024 Funded Projects.
The 2501 Program
The 1990 Farm Bill created the 2501 Program to help underserved farmers, ranchers and foresters who have historically experienced limited access to USDA programs and services. The 2014 Farm Bill expanded the 2501 Program to include veterans.
The objective of the 2501 Program is to show USDA’s commitment to ensuring that underserved and veteran farmers, ranchers and foresters can equitably participate in USDA programs. Grants are awarded to community-based and non-profit organizations, higher education institutions and eligible tribal entities with at least 3 years of experience in working with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers or veteran farmers and ranchers. Individual farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply for 2501 Program grants.
Because of differences in demographics, culture, economics, language and other factors, there is no one single approach to identifying solutions that can benefit underserved and veteran farmers, ranchers and foresters. 2501 Program partners are based in local communities and rural areas where they serve a critical role in maximizing USDA’s outreach efforts by identifying systemic barriers that need to be removed and working to increase equitable participation in USDA’s programs and services. Projects funded under the 2501 Program include, but are not limited to, conferences, workshops and demonstrations on various farming techniques and other efforts to connect underserved farmers and ranchers to USDA local officials to help communities increase their awareness of USDA’s programs and services.
From 2010 to 2023, the 2501 program awarded 615 grants totaling more than $194 million.
2501 Fact Sheet 2023 (PDF, 437 KB)
Terms and Conditions
- Grant Agreements Terms and Conditions (September 2024)
- Grant Agreements Terms and Conditions (January 2024) (PDF, 547 KB)
- Grant Agreements Terms and Conditions (2023) (PDF, 524 KB)
- Grant Agreements Terms and Conditions (2021-2022) (PDF, 580 KB)
- Grant Agreements Terms and Conditions (2020) (PDF, 444 KB)
- Grant Agreements Terms and Conditions (2014-2019) (PDF, 262 KB)
- (No grants awarded in 2013)
- Grants Agreements Terms and Conditions (2012) (PDF, 263 KB)
- Grants Agreements Terms and Conditions (2011) (PDF, 391 KB)
- Grants Agreements Terms and Conditions (2010) (PDF, 1.2 MB)
Funded Projects
- FY 2024 Funded Projects
- FY 2023 Funded Projects (PDF, 736 KB)
- FY 2022 Funded Projects (PDF, 769 KB)
- FY 2021 Funded Projects
- FY 2020 Funded Projects
- FY 2019 Funded Projects (PDF, 325 KB)
- FY 2018 Funded Projects (PDF, 805 KB)
- FY 2017 Funded Projects (PDF, 172 KB)
- FY 2016 Funded Projects (PDF, 352 KB)
- FY 2015 Funded Projects (PDF, 365 KB)
- FY 2014 Funded Projects (PDF, 371 KB)
- FY 2010-2012 Funded Projects (PDF, 468 KB)
- Infographic: 2501 Program Statistics, FY 2014-2017 (PDF, 1.0 MB)
Training and Educational Resources
- Find your local USDA Service Center
- www.farmanswers.org
- USDA CARES Partner Portal: Essential resources for diverse communities
- USDA New Farmers website
- USDA Veterans website
- AskUSDA
Socially Disadvantaged Policy Research Center
Alcorn State University administers the Socially Disadvantaged Policy Research Center with support from the 2501 Program. The Center makes policy recommendations to Congress to improve the success of socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers through research, stakeholder engagement and outreach.
Learn more about the Policy Research Center.
Contact Us
2501 Grant Program Team
USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement
Phone: 202-720-6350
Email: 2501Grants@usda.gov
