​​Introducing the AgAssist Commitment: Small-Scale! This pilot program offers a cost-share on approved conservation equipment for small-scale growers in exchange for a 3-year commitment to: 

• Use the purchased conservation equipment on a dedicated number of acreage;

• Cover crop at least a ¼ acre each year of the commitment;

• Use no- or low-till practices.

 

The goal of this program is to improve soil health and reduce erosion through no- and low-till practices. We realize that small-scale growers face hurdles in adopting these practices and currently there isn’t enough technical assistance or local knowledge to draw from. As such, this is a pilot program that is open to feedback and new requests. We encourage experienced growers who already have a good handle on their weed control and beds or fields with low compaction and good fertility to consider this program, especially if organic weed suppression is planned.

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• WHO IS NORTH JERSEY RC&D:  We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to working through partnerships and with farmers towards agricultural sustainability and water resource protection.          

• WHAT EQUIPMENT IS ELIGIBLE:  

  • No-till drill

  • Strip tiller

  • Flail mower

  • Roller crimper

  • Silage tarp to ‘Crimp & Tarp’

  • Broadfork

  • No-till planter or transplanter 

Other equipment is eligible if a strong case is made for its direct use in a no-till system.             

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• HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?: North Jersey RC&D will provide cost-share on approved equipment purchases plus a partial risk payment in exchange for a 3-year commitment to: 

  • Use the purchased conservation equipment on a dedicated number of acreage

  • Cover crop at least a ¼ acre each year of the commitment

  • Use no- or low-till practices

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Cost-Share:

• A 90% cost-share up to $5,000 on eligible equipment.

• A 98% cost-share up to $5,000 on eligible equipment, for Historically Underserved producers. 

 

Partial Risk Payment:

Reduced yields are often expected for the first 3 years or so when transitioning to no-till and we realize that there is limited local experience to lean on for small-scale no-/low-till and cover cropping so we have a built in partial risk payment:

• Up to $1,000 (based on equipment and conservation practice) for every ¼ acre that is enrolled in the program for no-till/low-till per year. Max of 1 ac.

 

Cover Crops:

• Minimum of a ¼ acre cover cropped each fall (footprint of cover cropping can vary year to year to fit your crop rotations)

• When selecting fields for cover cropping in the fall, we encourage you to cover crop fields that are on a slope and prone to erosion or near an area sensitive to run-off or soil erosion, such as a creek or other water body.

• Multi-species cover crop (3 or more species) or winter-killed cover crop must be planted by Sept. 15th

• Single species planted by Dec. 1st

 

Knowledge Sharing:

• Provide a short report written or over the phone (per each year of enrollment) of lessons learned after cover cropping and using no-/low-till equipment Or

• Attend one network event with other farmers enrolled in the program to share lessons, knowledge, and feedback. 

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• WHO IS ELIGIBLE: 

  • Eligibility is based on farm location. Currently, funding is available for farms within certain Delaware River watersheds (portions of Musconetcong, Lopatcong, Pequest, Pohatcong, Harihokake, Nishisakawick, Lockatong, Wickecheoke, and Alexauken subwatersheds). Please reference the map below.

    • If you don't fall within an eligible region for a program you are interested in, let us know! We will try to secure future grant funding for your area. Keep an eye out for program updates in our newsletter.

  • Farms producing agricultural products worth $2,500 or more annually.

    • A case-by-case determination can be made for farms that do not meet the $2,500 requirement but demonstrate a strong need for assistance to remedy a water quality or soil health issue.

  • Farms may not receive funding from other programs (such as USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service) that provide cover crop or equipment payments for the same equipment, or the same fields for cover cropping, at the same time as the producer is enrolled in this program.