MONTPELIER — Up to $1 million in grant money is available to help farmers improve water quality, the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets recently announced. The Capital Equipment Assistance Program, or CEAP, is available for new or innovative equipment that will aid in the reduction of surface runoff of agricultural wastes to state waters, improve water quality, reduce odors from manure application, separate phosphorus from manure, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce costs to farmers when they apply manure or implement a Nutrient Management Plan.
Eligible recipients include custom applicators, non-profit organizations, and farmers. Grant applications are due by November
1. Complete applications will need to include submission of the CEAP application as well as a one-page letter of intent, equipment quote/s, and a letter of support. Notification of grant funding will occur by February 2019.
This year funding is available through CEAP for a range of innovative equipment such as no-till equipment, manure application record keeping units, manure injection equipment and more. Examples of eligible equipment as well as the corresponding funding rates and caps is available online at agriculture.vermont.gov/ceap.
“These important dollars will help our land, water and Vermont’s farmers. We hope the farm community will take a close look at this program. This is another tool in Vermont’s toolbox to improve our environment,“ said Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts.
For the CEAP application, program details and additional information visit agriculture.vermont.gov/ceap, call the agency at (802) 822-2431 or email [email protected].