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NRCS �2024 PROGRAMS�for�Urban Agriculture

January, 2024

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��EQIP & AMA�

EQIP – Environmental Quality Incentives Program

  • FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES & NON-PROFITS TO SHARE IN THE COST OF CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON A FARM OR COMMUNITY GARDEN

AMA – Agricultural Management Assistance

  • FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR NEW IRRIGATION PROJECTS (funding is limited)

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COMMON�URBAN CONSERVATION PRACTICES

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EQIP�Environmental Quality Incentives Program

HIGH TUNNELS

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  • MUST be a minimum of 6’ tall
  • All crops MUST be grown in-ground or in raised beds

– CANNOT BE GROWN ON TABLES or USED FOR HYDROPONIC GROWING

  • MUST have rollup sides
  • 6 mil plastic w/ 4 year manufacturer warranty required

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EQIP�Environmental Quality Incentives Program

HIGH TUNNELS cont.

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  • Livestock cannot be housed in high tunnels
  • MUST be currently growing crops to be eligible
  • MUST know the size & location before signing contract
  • Higher payment rates available for small size tunnels
  • MUST have landowner permission

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EQIP�Environmental Quality Incentives Program

LOW TUNNELS

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  • 4’ in height maximum
  • Can be for plastic and/or shade/insect netting cover
  • Does not require landowner permission

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EQIP�Environmental Quality Incentives Program

RAISED BEDS

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  • Up to 32” in height (for ADA accessibility)
  • Must have heavy metals, rubble or other impervious surfaces present to qualify for payment
  • Can be made of wood, metal or other materials as approved by NRCS
  • 5 year lifespan

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EQIP�Environmental Quality Incentives Program

OTHER COMMON PRACTICES:

  • HEAVY USE PROTECTION – gravel paths for erosion prevention & ADA access
  • POLLINATOR PLANTINGS
  • SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES (cover crop, crop rotation, reduced till, no-till, nutrient mgmt)
  • MICROIRRIGATION SYSTEM – to improve efficiency of existing systems

- COMPOST FACILITIES

  • ROOF RUNOFF
  • ENERGY AUDITS & EFFICIENCY
  • & MORE!

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EQIP & AMA�HOW PAYMENT WORKS

REGULAR PAYMENTS

  • ALL PAYMENTS ARE REIMBURSEMENTS AFTER THE PRACTICES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED & CERTIFIED
  • PAYMENTS MADE VIA DIRECT DEPOSIT

ADVANCED PAYMENTS (Not available for AMA)

  • UP TO 50% OF THE CONTRACTED AMOUNT
  • ADVANCED PAYMENTS MUST BE REQUESTED PRIOR TO PURCHASE OF MATERIALS
  • INVOICE MAY BE REQUIRED TO VERIFY SIZE/EXTENT
  • IF ADVANCED PAYMENT IS ISSUED & PRACTICE IS NOT INSTALLED YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY MONEY BACK

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CSP�Conservation Stewardship Program

  • 2 CATEGORIES TO APPLY
    • AGLAND (includes crops & pasture)
    • NIPF (Non-industrial Private Forestland)
  • 5 year contract
  • Minimal Annual Payment of $4000 (Min total of $20,00 over 5 years)
    • BASE PAYMENT – based on resource inventory taken during site visit
    • ENHANCEMENT PAYMENT – pays to install practices and enhancements as part of the contract
  • Annual payments typically made every October-November

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CSP�Conservation Stewardship Program

  • MUST ENROLL ENTIRE OPERATION (must include all farms that are owned or operated by applicant)
  • MUST meet Stewardship Threshold to be eligible (based on resource inventory)
  • Program is meant to reward farmers with no major resource concerns – (major erosion, overgrazing, livestock in water or woods are typically not eligible)
  • MUST install at least 1 enhancement on each type of landuse

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APPLICATION PERIOD TYPICALLY DUE FEB-MARCH (but can submit year-round)

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CSP�Conservation Stewardship Program

AND MANY MORE!

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APPLYING FOR NRCS PROGRAMS

STEP 1.

SITE VISIT

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  • Contact your field office staff to schedule a site visit to complete a resource inventory & discuss your options for technical & financial assistance
  • FREE heavy metal soil testing services provided by our soil scientists

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APPLYING FOR NRCS PROGRAMS

STEP 2.

ESTABLISH RECORDS WITH FARM SERVICE AGENCY

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  • Work with your conservation planner to submit your AD-2047
  • Establishes Farm & Tract number

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APPLYING FOR NRCS PROGRAMS

STEP 3.

DEVELOP A CONSERVATION PLAN

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  • Work with your NRCS Conservation Planner to develop a Conservation Plan
  • Outlines goals for conservation on your farm
  • Identifies potential financial assistance options and opportunities

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APPLYING FOR NRCS PROGRAMS

STEP 4.

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

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  • Applications can be turned in year-round
  • Annual funding cycle deadlines for each year typically are in December/January, varies by year
  • 2024 EQIP APPLICATIONS DUE DECEMBER 15th

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APPLYING FOR NRCS PROGRAMS

STEP 5.

SUBMIT ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTATION

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  • Includes:
    • Direct Deposit information
    • Adjusted Gross Income
    • HEL compliance
    • 902 – for your entity or an individual: shows business structure and signature authority
    • Permission from landowner(if applicable)
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to start this process as soon as possible

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APPLYING FOR NRCS PROGRAMS

STEP 6.

PREAPPROVAL & CONTRACTING

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  • All NRCS programs are competitive and funding is not guaranteed
  • If your contract is Preapproved for funding, field office will contact you to sign a contract
  • Most contracts are typically signed between April-August depending on the program or fund pool

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

NRCS – OFFICE OF URBAN AG & INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION

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Competitive Grants

- grants to initiate or expand food production, provide training/education or support infrastructure needs for urban & innovative growers

- nonprofits and governments eligible

�Composting & Food Waste Reduction Cooperative Agreements

- to develop & implement food waste strategies for local communities

- local & tribal governments eligible

�People’s Garden

- enroll your community or school gardens in the national network of People’s Gardens

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VISIT: usda.gov/topics/urban 

�

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

NRCS – EQUITY IN CONSERVATION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

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- Two-year projects to expand delivery of conservation assistance to producers who are new to farming, are low-income, identify as one or more marginalized race or ethnicity, and/or are military veterans

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- Projects should focus on:

- Improving soil health and water quality,

- Providing habitat for at-risk wildlife,

- Improving natural resources and productivity on agricultural lands,

- Increasing access to conservation staff and resource in urban areas, and/or

- Building and strengthening local and regional food systems and markets

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- Nationally administered program (must apply directly, application does not go through local field office)

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VISIT: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/partner-with-us/outreach-and-partnerships/equity-conservation-agreements�

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

https://www.farmers.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/farmers.gov-urban-ag-programs-guide-10-2022.pdf

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

MARYLAND DEPT OF AGRICULTURE

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Small Acreage Cover Crop Program

- reimbursement paid for expenses related to planting an annual cover crop

- 10 acres or less

- maximum reimbursement of $1500/grower (based on farmer’s expenses)

�Water & Power Infrastructure Grants

- grants for up to 87.5% of expenses for water or electric hookup in urban areas

- to qualify must have $1000 in sales or donations annually & be located in an urban area as defined by Maryland Dept of Agriculture

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�VISIT: mda.maryland.gov/resource_conservation/Pages/Small-Farm-and-UrbanAgricultureProgram

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

MARBIDCO

Maryland Producer Cold Storage Grant Program

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Local Farm Enterprise Food Aggregation Grant Fund Program

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Local Government Ag/RBI Project Cost Share Program 

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The Maryland Value-Added Producer Matching Grant Program (MVAPMG – USDA Option)

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The Southern Maryland Agricultural Equity Incentive Matching Fund

VISIT: https://www.marbidco.org/

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

https://cbtrust.org/grants/

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

DC DOEE – URBAN AGRICULTURE

District of Columbia Urban Agriculture Award Program

Urban Farm Tax Abatement Program

Urban Farming Land Lease Program

https://doee.dc.gov/urbanag

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES

https://www.rafiusa.org/programs/farmers-of-color-network/farmers-of-color-network-infrastructure-fund-grants/

https://farmland.org/brighter-future/

https://smadc.com/farmer-resources/mini-grants/

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

UMD AG LAW EDUCATION INITIATIVE

VISIT: https://www.marbidco.org/

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

UMD EXTENSION URBAN AG PROGRAM

https://extension.umd.edu/programs/agriculture-food-systems/program-areas/urban-agriculture/

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

MD FARM BUREAU

https://mdfarmbureau.com/

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

FOOD POLICY COUNCILS

https://pgcfec.org/

https://dcfoodpolicy.org/

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

DC & MD RESOURCE GUIDES

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=e394eec8e9e44a6a9d33602feff57a44

http://dugnetwork.org/garden-and-urban-agriculture/

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OTHER URBAN AG RESOURCES

SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT

https://www.pgscd.org/

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ANY QUESTIONS?

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OFFICE PHONE: 301-574-5162

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Colleen Kiefer

District Conservationist – NRCS

CELL: 301-542-3081

colleen.kiefer@usda.gov

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Kim Rush Lynch

Urban Ag Conservation

Program Manager

karlynch@co.pg.md.us

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