Local Fund Pool 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Caledonia County NRCD Announces $200,000 Local Fund Pool for Community- Scale Agricultural Resiliency Projects
The Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District (NRCD) is pleased to announce the availability of a $200,000 Community- Scale Agricultural Resiliency local fund pool to support farmers and land stewards in implementing sustainable production, irrigation water management, and/or pollinator support projects in 2026. Funding comes from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP.) Learn more about VT-NRCS here.
Conservation practices included in this Local Fund Pool are based on priorities identified in by our community through listening sessions, surveys, interviews, and focus groups conducted by the Caledonia County NRCD in 2024 and 2025. Voices included farmers, gardeners, forest stewards, residents, and technical service providers who live and/ or work in Caledonia County. For more information about Local Working Groups and the Locally Led Process, click here.
The deadline to apply for all NRCS programs is August 22, 2025!
Eligibility and Steps to Apply:
1. Determine Eligibility
You must establish records with the Farm Service Agency. Call (802) 424-3144 to get your Farm & Tract numbers.
Who can apply: Individuals, entities, Indian Tribes, and water management entities operating privately-owned or leased agriculture or forest land within Caledonia County. There is no upper or lower acreage limit. You must certify that you meet the adjusted gross income (AGI) and payment limitation requirements annually and stay in compliance with highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements to receive USDA financial assistance.
Additional information about eligibilty and application requirements.
2. (Optional) Contact your Local Conservation District
Contact the Caledonia County NRCD to set up a technical assistance consultation. We will help you determine which programs and practices are best suited for your operation. Email taylor@caledoniacountynrcd.org for assistance.
3. Submit an Application by August 22, 2025
Complete and file the NRCS 1200 form to your local NRCS Service Center. On Question 2, be sure to select "EQIP"
If you need assistance, Caledonia County NRCD staff can help you prepare and submit an application. Applications can also be completed over the phone.
4. Wait for an NRCS or Partner Conservation Planner to Contact You
After submitting an application, you should receive an email or phone call within two weeks to confirm receipt of your Request for Service. It may be several weeks to months until a Conservation Planner meets with you at your farm to discuss your projects, depending on staff workload and the season. Planning and ranking of all EQIP applications for Fiscal Year 2026 will be finished in early spring of that year. Award annoucements for projects that have been selected for funding will occur from May to September of 2026.
It is always okay to check in with your local office for a status update!
Local Fund Pool Practices:
Projects eligible for the 2026 Community- Scale Agricultural Resiliency local fund pool must include at least ONE of the following practices-
- High Tunnel System (325)
- Low Tunnel System (821)
- Conservation Crop Rotation (328)
- Conservation Cover (327)
- Irrigation Pipeline (439)
- Irrigation System, Microirrigation (441)
- Irrigation Water Management (449)
- Soil Carbon Amendment (336)
More information about the design and implementation requirements of these practices, as well as associated Payment Schedules, can be found on the USDA NRCS-VT website.
NRCS Conservation Practice Standards
Is EQIP Right For Me?
EQIP-fact-sheet-10-20-20_0.pdf
Questions? Contact: info@caledoniacountynrcd.org
