By Sonia Howlett, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
The Agency of Agriculture, Food & 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 to agricultural wastes to State waters, improve water quality of State waters, reduce odors from manure application, separate phosphorus from manure, mitigate greenhouse gases, or reduce costs to farmers. Eligible applicants include custom applicators, nonprofit organizations, phosphorus extraction equipment providers, and Vermont farms required to comply with the Required Agricultural Practices.
Eligible Equipment Purposes and Funding Rates:
|
Equipment Purpose
|
Examples of Eligible Equipment |
Funding Rates Award amount may vary depending on the project type, cost and expected results. |
|
Precision Agriculture - To accurately and digitally observe, monitor and respond to field variability and improve nutrient management planning. |
- GPS, Flow Meter & Display Unit - Manure or Yield Constituent Sensor - Precision Feed Equipment |
90% cost-share up to $25,000 per applicant |
|
Conservation Tillage – To reduce the frequency or intensity of tillage operations. |
- No-Till Planter - No-Till Grain Drill primarily for reseeding pastures or hayland - Planter Downforce |
90% cost-share up to $30,000 per applicant |
|
Cover Crop Equipment – To increase or improve cover cropping implementation. |
- No-Till Grain Drill primarily for planting cover crop - Roller Crimper |
90% cost-share up to $50,000 per applicant |
|
Waste Management – To improve waste and nutrient management, nutrient application efficiency and methods. |
- Injectors - Waste irrigation - Dragline system - Methane capture - Composting equipment (for compost principally produced and used on farm) |
90% cost-share up to $60,000 per individual farmer
90% cost-share up to $100,000 per custom applicator, group of farmers, or nonprofit organization.
NOTE: A precision manure record keeping system [GPS, Flow Meter & Display Unit] must be used with waste management equipment funded under the CEAP program. If applicant does not have guaranteed access to an operational precision system to use with their waste management equipment, a precision system must be included in application. |
|
Feed Management – To reduce impacts from silage leachate and reduce feed imports. |
- Balers/Wrappers |
90% cost-share up to $50,000 per applicant |
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. Please note that shipping/freight fees are not reimbursable costs.
CEAP applications are due by November 1, 2023. Application requirements include completion of the CEAP Application, an applicant questionnaire, and quotes for the requested equipment. Letter/s of support are optional and should add relevant and helpful information about your application if submitted. Please refrain from including letters of support which may clearly be biased. We highly encourage applicants to apply online to ensure a timely receipt of applications. This method of submission also provides applicants with confirmation that their application has been received.
Notification of grant awards will occur by February 1, 2024, and equipment purchase will be required after award notice and before June 1, 2024.
To learn more about the Capital Equipment Assistance Program or to review the application and program details, including application ranking criteria, visit agriculture.vermont.gov/ceap. Contact Sonia Howlett (Sonia.Howlett@Vermont.gov or (802) 522-4655) with additional questions.
Photo Caption: Agency staff and Geordie Lynd discuss how a 2020 grant for a Wastewater Hard Hose Traveler has improved efficiency of waste management on Northwind Farm. Northwind Farm irrigates a network of pastures with their liquid waste using this CEAP equipment. In dry years, they have seen greatly improved regrowth in irrigated pastures. This system also enables them to manage the remainder of their waste as solids, which can be spread on more distant fields using existing farm equipment.