Fields being managed with rotational grazing.
By Clark Parmelee, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
The Agency’s Farm Agronomic Practices (FAP) Program invests state funds in soil-based agronomic practices to improve soil quality, increase crop production, and reduce erosion and surface runoff from agricultural fields.
The FAP program can provide funding for the following agronomic practices: cover cropping, conservation crop rotation with or without a nurse crop, conservation tillage, no-till pasture/hay land renovation, manure injection and rotational grazing. The payment rates vary by practice type and applications are due for each practice at least 30 days prior to implementation, except cover cropping, which is due August 1st. There is a maximum of $8,000 available per farm operation from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. Farm operations that meet the threshold for the Required Agricultural Practices are eligible to apply; operations must be in good standing with water quality regulations in order to receive financial assistance.
Farms interested in applying for Rotational Grazing, a new practice available for funding through FAP, need to include a written plan with their application. The written plan should describe the amount of land, amount of livestock and how often the farm intends to move livestock to a new paddock. If the farm receives the grant, they need to provide a list and maps of the fields that were rotationally grazed with their claim for payment. Pastures are eligible for payments only if livestock are excluded from all surface water and adequate perennial vegetation is maintained on pastures. Livestock access to surface water at discrete watering areas and reinforced livestock crossings are allowable under this program. The payment rate for rotational grazing is $25 per acre.
All applications to the FAP program for cover cropping are due by August 1, 2019. Applications for cover cropping received after August 1st may not be eligible for funding through the FAP Program. Broadcast and interseeding is recommended to be completed by October 1st and drilled or otherwise incorporated cover crop is recommended to be completed by October 15th.
The Agency advises farmers to plan ahead as best as possible for implementation of agronomic practices this fall, especially when seeking financial assistance. Any applications that request funding for a specific practice are only eligible for funding as detailed on their application and grant agreement.
Additional financial assistance for conservation practices are available through the federal USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). Any field that has a current EQIP contract for cover cropping will not be eligible for cover cropping assistance through FAP. Any applicant seeking assistance through FAP will be ineligible for financial assistance if the applicant is receiving financial compensation for the same practice under another state or federal agreement.
For more information on the FAP program, the payment rates for each practice type, and to download an application, go to http://agriculture.vermont.gov/fap or call 802-828-2431.
If you have specific questions about practice eligibility, or how the FAP program works, you can contact Clark Parmelee at 802-661-8284.