Surplus Agricultural Products Grant

The Texans Feeding Texans: Surplus Agricultural Products Grant Program is administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture to address food insecurity across the state. The program is grounded in the Texas Agriculture Code and is further supported through appropriations by the Texas Legislature, with specific guidance laid out in the 2026–2027 General Appropriations Act. Its core purpose is to support nonprofit organizations that collect and distribute surplus agricultural products to food banks and charitable organizations serving low-income or needy populations in Texas. This grant program targets organizations that have demonstrated statewide coordination capabilities. Specifically, applicants must be nonprofits with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, operating for religious, charitable, or educational purposes. They must not operate for financial gain nor distribute income to any officers or members. Furthermore, eligibility is restricted to those with at least five years of experience in managing a network of food banks that operate across all Texas counties, and who actively coordinate the transport of surplus agricultural products across that network. Eligible agricultural products include both natural and processed food items meant for human consumption. These range from produce, grains, and vegetables to livestock, poultry, fish, wildlife products, and by-products. “Surplus” is broadly defined to include items beyond a producer’s personal needs, or any food made available voluntarily for charitable distribution. Grant awards are issued on a cost-reimbursement basis, although up to 10% of the total grant amount may be advanced at the beginning of the grant term to address working capital needs. While the total allocation for the program is $19,750,000 across fiscal years 2026 and 2027, strict spending restrictions apply. At least $5 million each year must go directly toward the provision of food and cannot be used for facility upgrades, transportation, staffing, administrative costs, or equipment purchases, including generators. A range of expenses are deemed eligible, such as contracts with third-party vendors, controlled assets, personnel costs, and capital expenditures, but only when directly tied to project implementation. Applications must be submitted online via the TDA-GO system by 11:59 PM CT on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Late, incomplete, or mailed applications will not be accepted. Prior to submission, organizations must be registered in TDA-GO, which can take 48–72 hours for approval. No matching funds or in-kind contributions are required for eligibility. Anticipated award notifications will be issued in October 2025, with projects expected to begin November 1, 2025, and conclude by October 31, 2027. All applicants must complete a detailed project narrative, upload supporting documents including a Texas Identification Number application and direct deposit form, and ensure certification and submission through the system. Evaluation criteria include relevance to program objectives, feasibility of the proposed project, and the expected impact in terms of serving needy populations. TDA reserves the right to amend, partially fund, or terminate the program at its discretion. Questions about the program may be directed to the Grants Office by contacting Kat Neilson at (512) 463-6695 or emailing Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov.

Complete TDA-GO registration 48–72 hours prior. Carefully check budget categories and certify application before submission. Save work regularly and ensure all attachments are uploaded within the system.