FY27 MDAR GRANT- Natural Disaster Recovery Grant II (NDR2)

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is soliciting applications for the FY27 Natural Disaster Recovery Grant II (NDR2), a non-competitive federal disaster recovery grant funded through USDA Farm Service Agency appropriations, with applications due by 4:00 PM on September 30, 2026.

Eligible applicants must be agricultural producers (including crop, livestock, timber, and bare-ground operations) who sustained documented losses from qualifying weather events between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024, and demonstrate minimum eligible losses of at least $2,500. Five loss categories are available: Crop Loss (minimum 15% value loss), Future Economic Loss (minimum 5% plant loss for perennial crops), Infrastructure Loss (minimum 15% damage threshold), Timber Loss (minimum 10 contiguous forested acres with 25% tree damage), and Bare-Ground Practices (minimum 15% of applicant's land affected). Produce farm operations must be registered under MDAR's Produce Safety and Market Access regulation (330 CMR 34.00); dairy operations must comply with 330 CMR 27.00. Applicants must demonstrate legal control of property where losses occurred and maintain compliance with Agricultural Preservation Restriction requirements if applicable.

Award amounts are calculated based on documented eligible losses and may be prorated based on total program demand and available funding. MDAR may establish a maximum total payment per applicant. Applicants who previously received funding through MDAR's 2023 Natural Disaster Recovery Program remain eligible if they have not already been reimbursed for the same losses; MDAR will consider prior disaster payments to prevent duplication of benefits. There is no match requirement.

Questions are due by 4:00 PM on August 28, 2026. Award notifications are estimated for February 2027, with a maximum contract end date of September 30, 2027. A pre-recorded informational webinar is available on the program webpage. Selected applicants must complete standard Commonwealth contracting forms and establish Electronic Funds Transfer for payment.