NH Conservation Districts
Climate Resilience Grant
Applications are Now Closed
The mission of the NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant is to support and empower local farmers to build climate resilience throughout the Granite State.
This will be done by reducing the impact that local agriculture has on climate change (mitigation) through greenhouse gas emissions reduction and carbon sequestration, and through increasing the resiliency of New Hampshire Farms in a changing climate (adaptation),
while meeting farm’s conservation goals and needs. Extreme weather events, frequent and prolonged droughts, and increased pest pressures are increasing challenges for NH farms.
This grant program, through the NH County Conservation Districts seeks to support farmers in meeting those challenges.
Since 2022, the NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant has distributed $715,000 to 95 farms across New Hampshire!
The 10 New Hampshire Conservation Districts are thrilled to announce the fourth grant round of the NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant.
The NH County Conservation Districts launched this farm viability program to improve the resilience of NH farms in the face of extreme weather events and a changing climate. Direct grants to farms to invest in on-farm infrastructure, equipment, and innovative practices will support farm profitability and the long-term viability for NH’s agricultural sector.
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This grant program is designed with a high level of farmer input to ensure the most pressing needs of farms will be met. The NH Conservation Districts have also worked in close partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other conservation partners to ensure that this statewide program fills the gaps that are not being adequately met by federal funds.
Funds are available for projects that mitigate the impact of agriculture on climate change and enhance the on-farm adaptations to projected climate conditions. Preference will be given to projects that can demonstrate strong potential in mitigation and adaptation.
Explore the Statewide Impact of the Climate Grant!
Contact your County Conservation District & Apply Today!
Interested applicants are encouraged to visit their County Conservation District's website to learn more and apply! Contact your Conservation District, here!
HB.246: Shape a Strong Farm Future!
HB. 246 seeks to support the NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant Program! As climate related challenges grow, additional financial support for this critical program is needed!
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Shape a strong farm future for Granite State farmers! Opportunities for support include attending an upcoming hearing, contacting your representative, or providing testimony on how this grant program has impacted you or why you feel this program is needed!
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This legislation was voted to be considered for funding by the house finance committee during a work session on February 5th and will be directed to the floor for a vote should funding be available. Track the progress of the bill, here!
If you are interested in attending a future hearing to show your support or provide an in person testimony please contact info@cheshireconservation.org to let us know we can contact you for these opportunities!
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One of the most impactful ways to make your voice heard is to attend the hearing and/or contact members of the house finance committee.
View information on what to expect at the hearing and points to highlight for in-person, digital, and phone testimony, here!
Talking points in testimonials in person at hearings or submitted online should focus on how the grant:
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Helps farmers produce more food and be more profitable – tell a story on how this grant has helped farms with increasing production and increasing profitability.
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This is a good investment for NH – invests in strong farm businesses and is good for the agricultural economy
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If you are interested in attending a hearing to show your support or provide an in person testimony please contact info@cheshireconservation.org to let us know that you plan on being there!
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Other Remote Opportunities for Support:
Submit testimony online prior to the hearing of this bill (HB 246):
https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx
For the online submission form: Select the committee:( Finance) and the hearing date (1-23-25) and the bill number (HB 246), then simply type in what you want to say in the box provided or upload a PDF file with what you want to say.
You can view submitted online testimony here:
https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/submitted_testimony.aspx
Call and/or email individual members of the committee and ask that they shape a strong farm future through HB. 246. The committee members are listed here:
https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/links.aspx?x=3&id=22
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Submit a testimony for the districts to share at upcoming hearings through our google form, here!
Applications for 2025 are Closed
View the 2025 RFP Here: 2025 Request for Proposals (RFP)
Watch This Year's Virtual Informational Session
Interested farmers are encouraged to watch the recording of this year’s informational session to learn more about eligibility, project types and grant requirements. Watch the recording on our Youtube channel.
Ready to Apply?
If you have reviewed the RFP above and confirmed that you meet all of the eligibility requirements, please complete an application:
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Applications are due on February 1, 2025
For Current Grant Awardees
To receive final reimbursement, 2023 and 2024 award recipients must fill out the 2023 or 2024 Grant Report below. Please send the completed version to Amanda at amanda@cheshireconservation.org or to CCCD at 11 Industrial Park Dr, Walpole, NH 03608. Please reach out with any questions.
Additional Funding Opportunities for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation:
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The NH Community Loan Fund currently has low interest rates (3.25-4.5%) for farmers who are either currently implementing or planning to implement climate smart practices or energy solutions on their farm. These interest rates can also be used for bridge loans if needed for NRCS projects. The NH Community Loan Fund can also offer this rate to minority-owned farmers who are seeking micro-loans ($2,000-10,000) for equipment and marketing. Learn more here!
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American Farmland Trust New England Farmer Microgrants Program
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NOFA-NH Farmer Resilience Fund
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National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) Grant Archive
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NH Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Resource Fact Sheet
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USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Educational Opportunities and Resources for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation:
Past Cheshire County Recipients & their projects:
Abenaki Springs Farm, a diversified vegetable and fruit farm in Walpole, NH, will enhance their cover cropping to promote on-farm soil health. Learn more about Abenaki Springs Farm, here!
Boggy Meadow Farm, located in Walpole, NH, producing farmstead cheeses, will install a Johnson-Su compost bioreactor, to create a fungal-rich compost to improve on-farm soil health. Learn more about Boggy Meadow Farm, here!
Britton Farm, a dairy and maple farm in Walpole, NH, will install a new bulk tank to improve their farm's energy efficiency.
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Brookfield Farm, a certified Organic Dairy Farm in Walpole, NH, will apply potassium to select fields to increase the quality and quantity of forage, improve soil health, and improve plant resilience during extreme weather conditions and drought. Through an additional grant awarded project in 2024, they will also install a fre-heater to increase their farm's energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint! Learn more about Brookfield Farm, here!
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Deer Hill Farm, a diversified farm in Hinsdale, NH, will install a water supply system to support cattle and accommodate and increased rotational grazing to improve soil health. The new water supply system is being designed to prevent unnecessary watering, minimize excessive water runoff, and to decrease soil erosion and pasture destruction from water runoff.
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Dog Days Farm, a 3-season mixed vegetable, fruit and herb farm in Fitzwilliam, NH, purchased a Red Dragon tractor mounted flame weeder. Flame weeding will reduce tillage on open vegetable beds, improving soil health and promoting carbon sequestration. Learn more about Dog Days Farm, here!
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Five Sigma Farm, a diversified farm in Sullivan, NH, selling lamb and eggs, will install a hoop house for laying hens as a method to improve their farm soil health. Learn more about Five Sigma Farm, here!
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Foggy Hill Farm, a diversified farm in Jaffrey, NH, selling vegetables, eggs, herbs, and honey, will install a passive solar greenhouse to improve their farm's energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint. Learn more about Foggy Hill Farm, here!
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Gentile Family Homestead, located in Fitzwilliam, NH, selling pasture based beef and pork directly to the community, will install an automatic cattle watering system, conserving water during periods of drought. Learn more about Gentile Family Homestead, here!
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Lucky 13 Farm, a diversified vegetable farm, located in Winchester, NH, will purchase a stone burrier to improve soil health, reduce tillage, and promote carbon sequestration. Through an additional grant awarded project in 2024, they will purchase a crown bed mulch layer, to improve their farm's soil health and increase their water management efficiency. Learn more about Lucky 13 Farm, here!
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Manning Hill Farm, a diversified dairy farm, located in Winchester, NH, also selling all natural grass beef beef, pasture raised pork, chicken and eggs, and hay will clear pasture pine and install paddock fencing to increase space for rotational grazing. Rotational grazing will improve pasture soil health, promote carbon sequestration, and will also give rest time for fields during periods of drought. Learn more about Manning Hill Farm, here!
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Partners' Gardens, a diversified vegetable and fruit farm in Nelson, NH, will increase their high tunnel's efficiency to improve the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of their farm. Learn more about Partners' Gardens, here!
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Picadilly Farm, a diversified farm in Winchester, NH, selling organically grown vegetables, will purchase a Perfecta Field Cultivator to reduce tillage, improving farm soil health and carbon capture. Learn more about Picadilly Farm, here!
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Stonewall Farm, a diversified vegetable and fruit farm in Keene, NH, will purchase low tunnels as a method of crop protection and climate adaptation. Learn more about Stonewall Farm, here!
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Windyhurst Farm, a dairy and beef farm in Westmoreland, NH, will utilize a no-till corn planter to improve their farm's soil health. Learn more about Windyhurst Farm, here!
This grant program is made possible through grants from the You Have Our Trust Fund, The NH Charitable Foundation, and the generosity of community members. Funding is also provided by the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food. USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider and lender.
If you would like to make a donation to support future funding of the program, please do so here!
Donations to the fund may also be made by mail, checks can be made payable to
"CCCD" and addressed to 11 Industrial Park Dr., Walpole, NH 03608. Please include
“Climate” in the memo line. Contributions of any amount are greatly appreciated and
make a difference!