FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 20, 2026
Contact: Maya Martinez, NMFIP Director
maya@farmtotablenm.org
(505) 470-5011

 Micro-Grant Application Opens for
Urban Agriculture Initiative
Up to $114,000 will be awarded to support
increased access to healthy food

SANTA FE, N.M. – Farm to Table's (FTT) New Mexico Farmer Innovation Program (NMFIP) is opening the 2026 Request for Applications (RFA) for the Urban Agriculture Initiative Micro-Grant funding opportunity on
Jan. 20, 2026.

In 2025, NMFIP awarded micro grants to 13 beneficiaries. Through the last two years of grant cycles the farms and projects we have funded have ranged from season extension, farm upgrades, value added, farm start up, irrigation, season extension, soil amendments, high tunnels, greenhouse expansion, a greenhouse hydroponics grow tower expansion project, aquaponics expansion, farm renovation, high desert permaculture, micro-greens, a school hydroponic garden, and weatherizing wash stations. Our work with these farms includes helping to connect many of them with other U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency(FSA) resources as well as state resources and peer networking and resource sharing. 

The 2026 Urban Agriculture Micro-Grant application will open on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. The deadline for applications to be submitted is Monday, Feb. 19, 2026. Grant funds must be expended and projects completed by Nov. 30, 2026. NMFIP will host an informational webinar/Q&A from 4-6:00pm MT on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

NMFIP will award up to $114,000 in competitive grants in amounts of up to $20,000 each to farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers across New Mexico which increase or improve healthy food access in urban and Tribal communities.

These Micro-Grants will be awarded through Farm to Table’s New Mexico Farmer Innovation Program in partnership with USDA’s Urban Agriculture Initiative. Agricultural producers, political subdivisions of the state or local government, Tribal entities and agencies, and non-profit organizations which meet the criteria are eligible to apply. 

The objective and goals of the program are:

• Implement conservation practices that will improve resilience to climate change and on-farm sustainability.
• Increase small farm farmers’ capacity for growing food, expanding operations, implementing climate-friendly practices, and building resilience to a changing climate.
• Provide supplies, equipment and technical assistance to farmers that provide healthy food to urban populations.
• Support farmers who may not qualify for other USDA funding or other forms of funding.

For eligibility criteria, eligible expenses and other information, and to register for the webinar, please visit our website at www.farmtotablenm.org/nm-farmer-innovation-program2

Farm to Table’s mission is to build a local, healthy, equitable and sustainable food system through education and advocacy.