By Sonia Howlett, 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 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 |
Example: Eligible Equipment |
Anticipated Funding Rates |
|
Precision Agriculture - to accurately and digitally observe, monitor and respond to field variability and improve nutrient management planning. |
- Manure or Yield Constituent Sensor - Precision Planting or 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 for planting small grains or reseeding pastures/hayland - Planter Downforce |
90% cost-share up to $40,000 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 $40,000 per applicant |
|
Waste Management – To improve waste and nutrient management, nutrient application efficiency and methods. |
- Injectors - Wastewater irrigation - Dragline system - Bedded pack management equipment - Composting equipment for compost principally produced and used on farm |
90% cost-share up to $60,000 per farmer or group of farmers 90% cost-share up to $100,000 per custom applicator or nonprofit organization.
NOTE: A precision manure record keeping system [GPS, Flow Meter & Display Unit] must be used with injection and dragline equipment. Include cost of precision system in application if needed. |
|
Feed Management – To reduce impacts from silage leachate* OR reduce import of phosphorus in feed† OR increase haying height |
- Balers/Wrappers to enable feed bunk decommissioning* - Equipment that will reduce feed import to the farm† - High Shoes on mower |
90% cost-share up to $50,000 per applicant * Field visit from AAFM staff required † Whole Farm Nutrient Balance required |
Please note that tractors, frac tanks, manure tanks, manure pumps, solid manure spreaders, and equipment that performs full width tillage, deep tillage, or soil inversion are not eligible.
The focus of the Capital Equipment Assistance Program (CEAP) is to help farms buy equipment that will provide a clear and direct path to water quality improvements on their farm. Applications are competitively ranked and reviewed. Successful applicants clearly show how their requested equipment will increase or improve their installation of conservation practices or otherwise reduce runoff on their farm.
CEAP applications are due by November 1. Notification of grant awards will occur by February 1, 2025, and equipment purchase will occur after award notice and before June 1, 2025. Once grantees purchase and receive their equipment they are then reimbursed by the State up to 90% of the eligible costs up to the funding cap. Shipping/freight fees are not reimbursable.
To apply, ensure that you 1) input basic information about your farm and requested equipment on the CEAP Application, 2) provide written responses to a Questionnaire about how the equipment will improve your management, and 3) research and submit Quotes for the requested equipment. Letter/s of support are optional and should add relevant and helpful information about your application. Applications for equipment to reduce the importation of purchased feed on the farm need to work with UVM Extension to develop a Whole Farm Nutrient Balance.
Learn more and apply at agriculture.vermont.gov/ceap. Contact Sonia Howlett (Sonia.Howlett@Vermont.gov or (802) 522-4655) with additional questions.
Photo Caption: At the 2023 UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Annual Field Day, dairy nutritionists Patrice Vincent and Kurt Cotanch and grazing expert Sarah Flack demonstrated that higher cutting height increases yield, quality, and persistence of forages – and decreases nutrient runoff on haylands. “High skid shoes” for mowers to increase cutting height are low cost – and are also newly eligible for 90% cost share from CEAP in the Feed Management category.