Massachusetts Agricultural Commissions

Funding Opportunities: Federal

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Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Conservation Reserve Program
Emergency Programs
Extension (CSREES)
Grants


UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA)
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

http://www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov

Please contact your local NRCS Field Office for more information on any of the programs listed below.
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ma

 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was reauthorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) to provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land.

EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practices and a maximum term of ten years. These contracts provide incentive payments and cost-shares to implement conservation practices. Persons who are engaged in livestock or agricultural production on eligible land may participate in the EQIP program. EQIP activities are carried out according to an environmental quality incentives program plan of operations developed in conjunction with the producer that identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address the resource concerns. The practices are subject to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions. The local conservation district approves the plan.

EQIP may cost-share up to 75 percent of the costs of certain conservation practices. Incentive payments may be provided for up to three years to encourage producers to carry out management practices they may not otherwise use without the incentive. However, limited resource producers and beginning farmers and ranchers may be eligible for cost-shares up to 90 percent. Farmers and ranchers may elect to use a certified third-party provider for technical assistance. An individual or entity may not receive, directly or indirectly, cost-share or incentive payments that, in the aggregate, exceed $450,000 for all EQIP contracts entered during the term of the Farm Bill.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Through WHIP USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service provides both technical assistance and up to 75 percent cost-share assistance to establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat. WHIP agreements between NRCS and the participant generally last from 5 to 10 years from the date the agreement is signed.
WHIP has proven to be a highly effective and widely accepted program across the country. By targeting wildlife habitat projects on all lands and aquatic areas, WHIP provides assistance to conservation minded landowners.
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 reauthorized WHIP as a voluntary approach to improving wildlife habitat in our Nation. Program administration of WHIP is provided under the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Conservation Security Program (CSP)
CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working lands. Working lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pasture, and range land, as well as forested land that is an incidental part of an agriculture operation. The program is available in all 50 States, the Caribbean Area and the Pacific Basin area. The program provides equitable access to benefits to all producers, regardless of size of operation, crops produced, or geographic location.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides technical and financial assistance to eligible farmers and ranchers to address soil, water, and related natural resource concerns on their lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner. The program provides assistance to farmers and ranchers in complying with Federal, State, and tribal environmental laws, and encourages environmental enhancement. The program is funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). CRP is administered by the Farm Service Agency, with NRCS providing technical land eligibility determinations, conservation planning and practice implementation.

The Conservation Reserve Program reduces soil erosion, protects the Nation's ability to produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in streams and lakes, improves water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, and enhances forest and wetland resources. It encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filterstrips, or riparian buffers. Farmers receive an annual rental payment for the term of the multi-year contract. Cost sharing is provided to establish the vegetative cover practices.

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)
The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance grasslands on their property. Section 2401 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize this program. The Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency and Forest Service are coordinating implementation of GRP, which helps landowners restore and protect grassland, rangeland, pastureland, shrubland and certain other lands and provides assistance for rehabilitating grasslands. The program will conserve vulnerable grasslands from conversion to cropland or other uses and conserve valuable grasslands by helping maintain viable ranching operations.

Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP)
The Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) is a voluntary program established for the
purpose of restoring and enhancing forest ecosystems to: 1) promote the recovery of
threatened and endangered species, 2) improve biodiversity; and 3) enhance carbon
sequestration.

The HFRP was signed into law as part of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003.
The program is authorized to be carried out from 2004 through 2008.

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property.  The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial support to help landowners with their wetland restoration efforts.  The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the program.  This program offers landowners an opportunity to establish long-term conservation and wildlife practices and protection.

 Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP)
The FPPA is intended to minimize the impact Federal programs have on the unnecessary and irreversible conversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses. It assures that—to the extent possible—Federal programs are administered to be compatible with state, local units of government, and private programs and policies to protect farmland.

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RURAL DEVELOPMENT
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ma/

Please contact your local Rural Development Office for more information on any of the programs listed below. http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ma/massachusetts.htm

 Section 9006: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the Farm Bill) established the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program under Title IX, Section 9006. This program currently funds grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small business for assistance with purchasing renewable energy systems and making energy efficiency improvements.

Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG)
Grants are made to assist public bodies and non-profit corporations to finance and facilitate development of small and emerging private business enterprises. Small and emerging businesses have 50 or less employees and less than $1.0 million in gross revenues. Grants are primarily to be used by eligible non-profits or public entities to provide technical assistance or establish a revolving loan fund. Revolving loan funds can provide micro-loans to small business which may be for the purchase of land, construction of facilities, and other business purposes.

Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG)
Grants may be used for planning activities and for working capital for marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm-based renewable energy. Eligible applicants are independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures.

RD is not yet accepting applications for the 2007 funding cycle, but expects to publish a Notice of Solicitation of Applications in the Federal Register sometime in March 2007. Please check back frequently, because updates will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Guaranteed Loan Program
Notice for Requests for Proposals for Guaranteed Loans under the Section 538; Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) for Fiscal Year 2007.

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USDA-FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA)
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/ma
Please contact your local Farm Service Agency Office for more information on any of the programs listed below. http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ma&agency=fsa

Farm Loan Programs
FSA makes direct and guaranteed farm ownership (FO) and operating loans (OL) to family-size farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank, Farm Credit System institution, or other lender. FSA loans can be used to purchase land, livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and supplies.

Price Support Programs
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is an organization with a legacy of responding quickly to program legislation, being service-oriented, and focusing on producer needs.

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Conservation Programs

Conservation Reserve Program
USDA Announces Results of Intentions to Re-Enroll and Extend CRP Contracts
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced new results of the recent opportunity given to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants to re-enroll or extend their contracts, which are set to expire between 2007 and 2010.

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
This unique Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) state and federal partnerships allows you to receive incentive payments for installing specific conservation practices that help protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard ground and surface water.

Emergency Conservation Program
Get back on your feet after a natural disaster.  USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Emergency funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and for carrying out emergency conservation measures in periods of severe drought.

Farmland Wetlands Program (FWP)
The Farmlands Wetlands Program (FWP) reduces downstream flood damage, improves surface and groundwater quality, and recharges groundwater supplies by restoring wetlands.

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)
The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) helps landowners restore and protect grassland, rangeland, pastureland, and shrub land and provides assistance for rehabilitating grasslands.

Source Water Protection Program
Source water is surface and ground water that is consumed by rural residents.  The Source Water Protection Program is designed to help prevent source water pollution through voluntary practices installed by producers at local levels.

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Emergency Programs

Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003
The Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003 (the Act), signed into law on February 20, 2003, provides assistance to pro-ducers who have suffered losses due to weather-related disasters or other emer-gency conditions. The total estimated cost of the Act is $3.099 billion.

PL 108-324 Emergency Programs for Disaster Assistance, 2003-2005
In October 2004, President Bush signed disaster and drought legislation (PL 108-324) that provides more than $3 billion in financial relief to farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other agricultural producers who incurred losses due to weather conditions in recent years. The legislation funds new and existing programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA)

Emergency Loans
USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters, or quarantine.

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
USDA Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) provides emergency funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and for carrying out emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought. Funding for ECP is appropriated by Congress.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
USDA's Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occurs due to natural disasters.

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USDA-COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION SERVICE (CSREES)
http://www.csrees.usda.gov

Please contact your local Cooperative Extension Office for more information on any of the programs listed below.
http://www.umassextension.org/about/locations.html

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE)
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/funding.cfm

SARE works to increase knowledge about - and help farmers and ranchers adopt - practices that are profitable, environmentally sound, and good to communities. Several types of competitive grants are awarded by four regional administrative councils. Research and education grants, generally ranging from $60,000 to $150,000, fund projects that usually involve scientists, producers and others in an interdisciplinary approach. Professional development grants, generally ranging from $20,000 to $90,000, offer educational opportunities for extension, NRCS, and other agricultural professionals. Producer grants, typically between $1,000 and $15,000, go to farmers and ranchers who test innovative ideas and share the results with their neighbors. Projects address crop and livestock production and marketing, stewardship of soil and other natural resources, economics and quality of life.

Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

http://www.uvm.edu/~nesare/grants.html

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Grants
Farmer Grants test new crops, practices and systems through on-site experiments and share the results with other farmers. Grants average about $5,200, and are capped at $10,000. Farmer Grant applications are due in December.

Partnership Grants
are awarded for on-farm research and demonstration projects developed by agricultural professionals who work directly with farmers. Grants are capped at $10,000. Partnership Grant applications are due in November.
 
Professional Development Grants allow experienced agricultural educators to develop opportunities for extension, NRCS, and other agricultural professionals to learn about sustainable concepts and practices. Proposed projects must address certain priority areas, and awards will likely range from $60,000 and $175,000. Preproposal required; the deadline is in May. Invited full proposals are generally due in early November.

 

Research and Education Grants involve scientists, producers and others in an interdisciplinary approach to important issues in sustainable agriculture. Previous grants have ranged from $4,300 to $331,500; the average grant is around $90,000. Preproposal required; the deadline is in May. Invited full proposals are generally due in early November.

Sustainable Community Grants involve organizations such as community nonprofits, Cooperative Extension, local governments, educational institutions, planning boards, farming cooperatives, and incorporated citizens' groups. The purpose of the Sustainable Community Grants program is to reconnect rural revitalization and farming. Most grants are capped at $10,000. Sustainable Community Grant applications are due in November.

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