LEARN ABOUT
Current Projects and Programs
LEARN ABOUT
Current Projects and Programs
North Jersey RC&D
AgAssist Cost-Share
Supporting Farmers
Protecting Water Quality
​North Jersey RC&D has created opportunities for NJ farmers in certain counties and watersheds to receive funding for practices that improve clean water and healthy soils. The AgAssist Cost-Share Program offers 75-95% reimbursement up to $15,000. Reimbursement can be applied towards supplies and expenses required to implement a variety of best management practices. Farm location will determine opportunities available.
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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.
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WHAT IS FUNDED: Opportunities for funding up to $15,000 are available towards cover crop, livestock exclusion fence, rotational grazing fencing and supplies, roof run-off structures, vegetated treatment areas, composting systems, and/or small manure storage. See below for more information on opportunities. If you are only interested in funding towards cover crop, you can learn more and apply here: www.northjerseyrcd.org/agassist-cover-crop).
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HOW IT WORKS: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and batch processed approximately twice per year or more. North Jersey RC&D will review applications, conduct farm site visits for prospective projects, and rank applications. Selected applicants will be approved for project implementation and sign agreements. Once a project has been completed, NJ RC&D staff will conduct a site visit to verify that the project follows the signed agreement. The participant will supply necessary receipts, maps, and photos pertaining to the project. After the project is verified, within 30 days a reimbursement check will be mailed out to the participant or, if agreed upon, directly to a contractor.
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WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Eligibility and opportunities are based on farm location.
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​All farmers within certain Delaware River watersheds (portions of Musconetcong, Lopatcong, Pequest, Pohatcong, Harihokake, Nishisakawick, Lockatong, Wickecheoke, and Alexauken subwatersheds). Please reference the map below. Farmers within the targeted watershed areas will receive priority for funding and are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
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Livestock Farmers within the counties of the North Jersey RC&D Service Area (Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex, Mercer, Morris, Somerset, and Union);
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Farms producing agricultural products worth $2,500 or more annually.
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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.
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HOW TO APPLY: Use the 'Cost-Share Application' button at the bottom of this page to find the online application.
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HOW WILL APPLICATIONS BE RANKED? Applications will receive ranking based on:
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Impact to water quality and resource concern;
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Highly erodible land (HEL) determination;
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Farm Preservation status
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Past funding received; and
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Historically underserved status.
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*Please note that should you be approved for funding, any equipment, labor, or materials purchased BEFORE signing an Agreement Letter for AgAssist Cost-Share is not eligible for reimbursement.
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HOW IS THIS FUNDED?: The AgAssist Cost-Share Program is made possible through grants awarded to North Jersey RC&D. Current grant funding is made available from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Areas Eligible for Funding
Areas eligible for funding are highlighted on the map below. Eligibility for opportunities is based on farm location. Search for your address using the search bar to determine if your farm is within the focus areas.
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Pink/Light Red areas =Watershed focus areas (All farmers eligible). Priority funding.
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Red outlined counties = RC&D Service Area, Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex, Mercer, Morris, Somerset, and Union (Livestock farmers eligible)
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Funding Opportunities
The AgAssist Cost-Share program has a wide variety of opportunities, each with its own separate funding conditions. Applicants may apply to multiple opportunities but are capped at $15,000 per farm.
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Reimbursement rates are dependent on the practice and historically underserved (HU) status. If you are unsure if you qualify for HU status, please visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/underserved-farmers-ranchers to learn more.
Rotational Grazing Fence & Essential Supplies
to increase rest periods and improve pasture and soil health.
Reimbursement Rate: Up to 75% of total costs (HU Rate 90%)
Reimbursement Not to Exceed: $15,000 ($5,000 for temporary fence and supplies).
Participants must agree to rotate animals based on a grazing plan and have, or be willing to get an Animal Waste Management Plan. Plans can be written by the Owner/Operator or with assistance from a Technical Service Provider or appropriate agent. Please reach out if you would like more information! This opportunity is intended for existing animals, not for expansion, and to assist farms that are overstocked (more than 1 animal unit per grazeable acre). Not sure what animal units/acre are? Click here to learn more
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Eligible expenses may include:​
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Temporary fence for improved rotational grazing.
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Permanent fencing may be allowed under some circumstances.
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Energizers, reels, fence posts, clips, etc. that are necessary for temporary fence installations within a rotational grazing model.
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Water troughs and hoses for watering livestock.
Exclusion Fence
to exclude livestock from waterways.
Reimbursement Rate: Up to 90% of total costs (HU Rate: 95%)
Reimbursement Not to Exceed: $15,000
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Permanent exclusion fence that is directly adjacent to a waterway and excludes livestock from the waterway. Intended for existing paddocks that do not already exclude waterways or whose fence is deteriorating.
Fences shall be installed 35’ or greater from the stream bank. Exceptions may apply for existing exclusion fence that needs replacing.
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Eligible expenses may include:​
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Contractor fees or labor towards installation.
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Fencing materials, Braces, Gates, and Latches.
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Water troughs and hoses for watering livestock.
Roof Run-off Structures
that divert water away from animal waste concentration areas to improve water quality.
Reimbursement Rate: Up to 75% of total costs (HU Rate 90%)
Reimbursement Not to Exceed: $15,000
Participants must have design and maintenance plan approved prior to installation.
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Eligible expenses may include:​​
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Gutters, downspouts, and outlets.
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Engineering designs.
Small Manure Storage or Composting System
to store manure or organic material, reduce water pollution potential, and allow the material to decompose into a final product to be spread at optimal times as a soil amendment. Livestock operations receive priority.
Reimbursement Rate: Up to 75% of total costs (HU Rate 90%)
Reimbursement Not to Exceed: $15,000
Participants must have or be willing to get a design and maintenance plan approved prior to installation.
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Eligible expenses include:​​​
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Materials, construction and site preparation.
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Push walls, bins.
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Supplies for an Aerated Static Pile (ASP) composting system.
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Composting thermometer.
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Composting plan.
Vegetated Treatment Areas (VTAs)
as part of a small manure storage or composting project to improve water quality by reducing loading of nutrients, pathogens, and other contaminants associated with manure and other wastes.
Reimbursement Rate: Up to 75% of total costs (HU Rate 90%)
Reimbursement Not to Exceed: $15,000
Participants must have or be willing to get a design and maintenance plan approved prior to installation.
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Eligible expenses include:​​
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Construction, vegetative establishments, and outlets.
Soil Tests
Reimbursement Rate: Up to 80% of total costs (HU Rate 95%)
Reimbursement Not to Exceed: $3,000 for the project
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Limited to participants within the Focus Area Watersheds.
Participants must submit receipts and soil results. Participants are responsible for collecting and mailing their samples.
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Eligible expenses include:​​
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Soil tests that emphasize biological assessments and properties are eligible for an 80% cost-share (95% HU). Look for labs that run Haney Tests, Solvita, or CASH for biological assessments.
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Soil tests without a biological assessment are eligible for a 75% cost-share (90% for HU).
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Soil sample shipping costs.
Windbreak/Riparian Buffer Establishment & Renovations
Reimbursement Rate: Up to 75% of total costs (HU Rate 90%)
Reimbursement Not to Exceed: $5,000
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Limited to participants within the Focus Area Watersheds.
Participants must have or be willing to get a planting and maintenance plan approved prior to installation. The participant is responsible for planting and maintenance of the windbreak/riparian buffer.
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Eligible expenses include:​​
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Native plants and tree protection for riparian buffers or windbreaks.
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Does NOT include assistance for invasive species removal or the removal of dead trees.
Fall Cover Crop Seed Expenses (1 - 10acres)
Reimbursement Rate:
​Single Species: $85/ac. (HU Rate $90/ac.)
Multi-Species: $100/ac. (HU Rate $105/ac.)
Organic Seed: $105/ac. (HU Rate $110/ac.)
​Reimbursement Not to Exceed: 10 ac.
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Single species cover crop seed must be planted by December 1st.
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Multi-species cover crop seed must be planted by September 15th.
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Termination date of cover crops must be no earlier than April 1st. Later termination is encouraged.
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Limited to participants in Focus Area Watersheds.
Eligible expenses include:​​
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Single or Multi-species cover crop seed.
- Organic cover crop seed.
If you are only interested in cover crop seed, you can learn more and aply here for a shorter application: www.northjerseyrcd.org/agassist-cover-crop
Fall Cover Crop Seed Expenses (up to 100 acres)
Reimbursement Rate:
​Single Species: $50/ac. (HU Rate $55/ac.)
Multi-Species: $65/ac. (HU Rate $70/ac.)
Organic Seed: $70/ac. (HU Rate $75/ac.)
​Reimbursement Not to Exceed: 100 ac.
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Single species cover crop seed must be planted by December 1st.
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Multi-species cover crop seed must be planted by September 15th.
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Termination date of cover crops must be no earlier than April 1st. Later termination is encouraged.
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Limited to participants in Focus Area Watersheds.
Eligible expenses include:​​
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Single or Multi-species cover crop seed.
- Organic cover crop seed.
If you are only interested in cover crop seed, you can learn more and aply here for a shorter application: www.northjerseyrcd.org/agassist-cover-crop
*Please note that the AgAssist Commitment Programs: Conservation Equipment Commitment and AgAssist Precision Ag Equipment Commitment programs, are completely separate from this AgAssist Cost-Share funding opportunity.
Use the button above to go to the online application.
If you have questions or need help completing the application, please contact Sam Loscalzo at sloscalzo@northjerseyrcd.org or call North Jersey RC&D staff at (908) 574-5368
-Thank-you
Our Partners
AgAssist is made possible through grant funding from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; New Jersey Department of Agriculture; and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
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