NJ Soil and Water Conservation Grants

The NJ Soil and Water Conservation Grants, offered by the State Agriculture Development Committee, support up to 50% funding for soil and water conservation projects on preserved farms. Eligible projects include erosion control, water management, and sediment retention systems. Farmers must be enrolled in a farmland preservation program and complete projects within three years of funding approval. Priority is given to permanently preserved farms, ensuring that vital agricultural resources are maintained and enhanced for future generations.

The State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) provides grants to help fund up to 50 percent of the costs of approved soil and water conservation projects on farms enrolled in permanent or term farmland preservation programs.
Landowners apply to their local Soil Conservation District, which assists in developing a farm conservation plan and ensure projects are necessary and feasible. Applications are forwarded to the N.J. State Soil Conservation Committee, which recommends projects to the SADC for funding approval.
Projects
Soil and water conservation projects include projects designed
to control and prevent soil erosion and sediment damages; control pollution on farmland; impound, store and manage water for agricultural purposes; or improve management of land and soils to achieve maximum agricultural productivity.
Examples of eligible projects include:

• terrace systems;diversions;
• stream protection;water impoundment reservoirs;irrigation
• systems;sediment retention, erosion or water control systems; drainage systems;animal waste control facilities;agri-chemical
• handling facilities; andland shaping or grading.

Eligibility

Farms must be permanently preserved or enrolled in a term (8-year or 16-year) farmland preservation program. Projects must be completed within three years of SADC funding
approval.Grants may be renewed for a one-year period under certain circumstances, such as seasonal constraints or other unavoidable delays, only upon the approval of the local Soil Conservation District, the State Soil Conservation Committee and the SADC.The State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) provides grants to eligible landowners to fund up to 50 percent of the costs of approved soil and water conservation projects.