PROGRAMS

FARMER CARE PROGRAMS

 

Support for farmers' bodies, minds, and spirits — because sustainable agriculture starts with the people who grow our food.

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Real Farmer Care offers a growing suite of programs designed to meet farmers where they are. From direct self-care grants to mental health access and restorative retreats, every program is built around one belief: when farmers are cared for, everything they steward — the land, their families, their communities — is stronger for it.

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FARMER SELF-CARE GRANTS 

 

Since 2020, Real Farmer Care's flagship program has awarded self-care grants directly to farmers and ranchers, with no restrictions on how the money is spent. Farmers can apply online for two grant types:

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• Immediate Care Grant ($200): for a one-time self-care need, such as a massage, a therapy session, a gym or yoga membership, a night away from the farm, or new work boots. Fall 2026 Round open early October

• Sustained Care Grant ($1,000): for ongoing care across a farming season, such as a series of therapy sessions, multiple chiropractic or bodywork appointments, or sustained mental health support. The Sustained Care Grant ($1,000) is not currently open for applications.

 

More than 670 farmers across 46 states, plus Washington, D.C. and U.S. territories, have already received a grant. Each one chose exactly what care looks like for them.

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Eligibility:

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You are eligible to apply if you:

• Are a farmer or rancher, meaning you intentionally cultivate annual or perennial crops or animals for harvest through terrestrial, soils-based production, including agroforestry and silvopasture (equine, forestry, aquaculture, and medicinal cannabis operations are not eligible)

• Farm or ranch in the contiguous United States or any U.S. territory

• Had farm income greater than $1,000 in 2025, or a similar value if your farm engages in barter, exchange, or community supply

• Have not previously received a grant of the same type from Real Farmer Care (a prior $100 or $200/$250 Immediate Care Grant)

 

How It Works:

 

Applications are reviewed for eligibility, authenticity and need, and awards are distributed in seasonal rounds as funds are available. Selected farmers are contacted by email to complete a short payment packet, including a W-9, due within 7 days, and grants are paid by ACH direct deposit. To protect the funds available to farmers, we may ask for additional information to confirm that you are associated with a farm and/or the farm is real before an award is sent. Selected farmers are also asked to share a photo of themselves farming and to give permission to feature their photo, name, farm location and self-care responses on RealFarmerCare.org and social media, to inspire the broader agricultural community about the importance of farmer self-care. 

 

Applicants who are not selected in a round may be placed on a waitlist for the following round. Before an award is sent, we'll check in to confirm your situation and plan. Waitlisted applications expire after 90 days, and farmers are welcome to reapply.

 

Status Notice:

 

Applications for the $200 Immediate Care Grant Fall 2026 Round are now closed. We received more applications in just one week after opening the application than we can fund at the moment, and we're deeply grateful for the response. Applicants will be notified by email, with funds going out before the end of December 2026. To hear about future opportunities, sign up for email updates or follow us on Instagram.

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FARMER SELF-CARE SUPPORT SURVEY

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Share Your Experience:

Farmer voices shape everything we do. If you have 10 minutes, please fill out our anonymous Self-Care Support Survey — your responses directly inform how we develop and expand our programs. We read every one.​

WHAT'S COMING

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Tending the Farmer Retreat

 

This Fall, we will bring a small group of farmers together for a multi-day restorative retreat. Peer connection, healing practices, and guided reflection in a space built entirely around the farmer. Attendance is fully subsidized — lodging, meals, and travel included.
Late October 2026 

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Online Therapy Access

 

We are piloting a program to connect 50–100 farmers with free online talk therapy for up to 12 months. For farmers in rural and isolated regions, access to mental health support is often limited by distance and cost. This program removes both barriers.

Coming 2027

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Every program we offer — and every farmer we reach — depends on donor support. A $200 gift funds one self-care grant. A larger gift helps us build the infrastructure to reach hundreds more.

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