By Nina Gage, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is pleased to announce that funding is available for farmers in the Capital Equipment Assistance Program (CEAP). Financial assistance is available for new or used innovative equipment that will aid in the reduction of surface runoff of agricultural wastes to State waters, improve water quality of State waters, reduce odors from manure application, separate phosphorus from manure, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce costs to farmers. Eligible recipients include custom applicators, non-profit organizations, individual farmers or groups of farmers, as well as phosphorus separation equipment providers. Eligible equipment and corresponding funding caps are detailed below:
|
Equipment Type |
Examples of Eligible Equipment |
Funding Rates: |
|
Precision Agricultural Equipment (Educational training on equipment or technology use required if awarded) |
-Manure Application Record Keeping Units* -Scales |
90% cost-share up to $25,000 per applicant |
|
Conservation Tillage Equipment |
-No-Till Corn Planter -Ridge-Till |
90% cost-share up to $10,000 per applicant (90% cost-share up to $20,000 only if applying for equipment AND precision agriculture component to be used in conjunction with equipment system) |
|
Cover Cropping Equipment |
-No-Till Grain Drill -Roller Crimper |
90% cost-share up to $40,000 per applicant |
|
Manure and Silage Management Equipment (Manure management equipment requires purchase or use of existing Manure Application Record Keeping Unit*) |
-Injectors -Irrigation’ -Dragline system -Baling equipment (eligible only as an alternative to leachate management improvement as least cost alternative, and will require VAAFM Engineer approval to ensure eligibility)
|
90% cost-share up to $50,000 per applicant (90% cost-share up to $60,000 only if applying for equipment AND precision agriculture component to be used in conjunction with equipment system) |
|
Phosphorus Extraction Equipment or Technology |
- Dissolved Air Flotation Units - Centrifuge - Digester Add-ons
|
Up to 90% and no more than $300,000 per applicant |
*Equipment listed above is only eligible for funding if record keeping system included in application, or operations unit exists on farm to be used in conjunction with proposed equipment. Single items may be purchased to complete a unit with proof of an existing, operational system. Disablement of a flow meter, display, modules or GPS technology are grounds for cancellation of a CEAP grant.
CEAP is a reimbursement style grant program, which means applicants, once selected for funding, will have to purchase 100% of the equipment and will be reimbursed by the State up to 90% of the actual cost, or up to the corresponding funding cap by category.
The grant application will be available on September 1, 2019 and applications are due, (or must be postmarked by), November 1, 2019. Application requirements include completion of the appropriate CEAP Application as well as a one-page letter of intent, and quotes for the requested equipment. Letter/s of support for your application are advised to be included as well, but applications without these will still be considered complete. Please review program details for application prioritization and ranking. Notification of awarded grant funding will occur by February 1, 2020.
For the CEAP application, program details and additional information visit agriculture.vermont.gov/ceap, call Nina Gage at (802) 622-4098, or email AGR.WaterQuality@Vermont.gov.