Vermont

  • Vermont Agency of Agriculture: several grant and funding opportunities, including:
    • Pasture & Surface Water Fencing Program (PSWF): 90% cost share program can pay for fencing, pielines, water source development, laneways, stream crossings, and more.
      • Maximum of $15,000 for exclusion of waterways or $10,000 for pasture related projects
      • Must rotationally graze, minimum of 2 moves per week
      • Must fence your animals out of wetlands
    • Visit VT Agency of Ag link above for more opportunities

  • Farm Agronomic Practices: State funding to help Vermont farms implement soil-based agronomic practices that improve soil quality, increase crop production, and reduce erosion and agricultural waste discharges.

  • Vermont Grass Farmers Association: Mini Grants of $500–$1,000 support on-farm research led and designed by farmers

Regional

  • CT River Watershed Alliance: Advocates for conservation-minded farmers throughout Connecticut River watershed. Open to NH and VT farmers. Members receive discounted rental on no-till drills.

Federal

  • Natural Resource Conservation Service of Vermont (NRCS VT): assisting owners of America's private land with conserving their soil, water, and other natural resources
    • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): ➢ Federal program provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits
      • Longer timeline, larger contracts
        ○ Application deadline in November
        ○ If your application ranks high enough, then payment may be the following summer
      • Sometimes partial payment upfront for materials, and the rest when practice is finished
      • Covers everything PSWF covers plus more
      • Pays up to 75-90% cost share, can spend over $50K
      • Can be paid up to $55/acre to do Prescribed Grazing for 3 years
      • Must fence your animals out of wetlands
    • Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): NRCS program that provides compensation for rotational grazing and many other sustainable practices. 5 year contract with an option to renew for an additional 5 year period. Compensates farms for the good work they are already doing (existing activities). Pays for enhancements to existing conservation practices (additional activities)
    • Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP): Plants filter strips, forested buffers, and grassed waterways on streambanks
      • Pays rent for 15-30 years on areas taken out of production
      • Between $80-$298/acre or one time payment at higher rate per acre
      • Pays for native trees and protects them
      • Pays for fence to keep animals 25-35 ft away from waterways
    • Visit NRCS VT