Deadline: For priority consideration, submit by January 8th, 2025

Funding Amount: Varies based on implemented practice and incentive type

Eligibility: Farmers implementing relevant NRCS practices in the service area (including all of Kentucky)

Eligible Uses: Eligible NRCS practices are applicable to the following commodities: beef, cotton, fruits, pork, row crops, rice, specialty crops and wool.

Four type of cash incentives are offered:

• Implementation Incentive.
   Helps with the cost of implementing a new practice. The amount available per acre depends on the practice(s) you implement. If you’ve already implemented one or more of our approved practices, you are eligible to apply for the program.

• Drawdown Incentive. As you implement these practices, you’ll start to see an increase in organic matter and soil carbon. How well you manage your new practices will play a big role in this. Silvopasture and other agroforestry practices are often more expensive to implement but sequester and retain significantly more carbon in the soil as well as enhancing additional soil benefits.

• Participation Incentive. In order to measure long term soil health benefits, Farmers/Growers must sign up for the duration of the program incentives (3 to 5 years). Farmers must be able to show that they have control over the land tracts entered into the program, either as land owners or a 3 to 5 year lease. Growers must agree to take soil samples at least twice a year. The Participation Incentive will cover the cost of soil testing and reporting, and other costs associated with program compliance.

• Travel Incentive. BSBE participants will receive reimbursements for travel, lodging, and food during attendance to BSBE-sponsored and other CSAF field days.

Deadline: January 8, 2025

Funding Amount: Payments will vary based on sales, not to exceed $125,000

Eligibility: New or existing growers of the following specialty crops:

• Fruits (fresh, dried);

• Vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seed);

• Tree nuts;

• Nursery crops, Christmas trees, and floriculture;

• Culinary and medicinal herbs and spices; and

• Honey, hops, maple sap, tea, turfgrass, and grass seed

Eligible Uses: MASC helps specialty crop producers offset higher marketing costs related to:

• Tenderness and perishability of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursery crops and herbs;

• Specialized handling and transport equipment with temperature and humidity control;

• Packaging to prevent damage; 

• Moving perishables to market quickly; and

• Higher labor costs. 

Producers should apply at their local Farm Service Agency office.

Deadline: January 10, 2025

Funding Amount:

• Implementation: up to $500,000 with a 25% match

• Turnkey: up to $50,000 with a 25% match

Eligibility:

• Eligible schools, including non-profit private and charter schools, which operate the NSLP (National School Lunch Program) and/or SBP (School Breakfast Program)

• Eligible child-care institutions, including non-school based institutions that have an agreement with the State agency to operate CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program)

• Eligible summer sponsors, including non-school based institutions that have an agreement with the State agency to operate SFSP (Summer Food Service Program)

• Local agencies

• Indian Tribal Organizations and Alaska Native Corporations

• Agricultural producers

• Non-profit entities

Eligible Uses:

The Turnkey application is simplified, and applicants must follow one the of the predetermined tracks: Action Planning, Agricultural Education, or Edible Gardens. All applicants must demonstrate a commitment to one or more federal Child Nutrition Program(s).

• Action Planning grantees will develop a roadmap for launching or enhancing farm to school activities.

• Agricultural Education grantees will incorporate agricultural education into curricula.

• Edible Gardens grantees will implement a food production operation.

The Implementation application is meant to improve access to local foods in eligible CNP sites through comprehensive farm to school programming that includes both local sourcing and agricultural education efforts. Project proposals should incorporate both elements of the required objective.

Deadline: March 31, 2025

Funding Amount:

• Energy Efficiency Grants: up to $500,000

• Renewable Energy System Grants: up to $1 million

Match depends on specific grant terms but will be 25% or 50%.

Eligibility: Agricultural producers with at least 50 percent of their gross income coming from agricultural operations.

• Small businesses in eligible rural areas

• Agricultural producers with at least 50 percent of their gross income coming from agricultural operations.

Eligible Uses: The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.

Applications for this program are accepted year-round at your local office.

Deadline: Ongoing

Funding Amount: $3,000/year for implementing practices + $500/year for completed farm assessment.

Eligibility: Kentucky farm businesses implementing or interested in implementing climate-smart NRCS practices (e.g. cover cropping, perennial planting, rotational grazing), collect data on outcomes and engage with emerging markets seeking positive environmental and climate impacts.

Enrolled acres must produce at least one of the following commodities: vegetables, fruits, beef, lamb, corn, soybeans, small grains, a range of agroforestry products. Participating farmers with enrolled acres are expected to share sales information about climate-verified commodities.

Three types of cash incentives are available:

• $500/year when the farmer completes the Global Farm Metric - Farm Sustainability Assessment Tool, which provides an annual snapshot of farm resilience.

• $3,000 in year one for implementing climate-smart practices. This is a flat incentive for one or multiple practices on small or large acreage. Farms are encouraged to enroll in the project in subsequent years and will receive an additional incentive payment each year.

  $180/year in soil health tests paid for directly by OAK.

Climate Smart Project (oak-ky.org)