Who is North Jersey RC&D?

North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development is a non-profit dedicated to fostering agricultural sustainability. North Jersey RC&D works throughout Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union & Warren counties.  Visit our website, www.northjerseyrcd.org, to learn more about our programs, initiatives, and events.

 

How is the project funded?

The funding is provided through a grant provided to North Jersey RC&D through the USDA NRCS Advancing Markets for Producers opportunity.

 

What is the purpose of the project?

Northwestern New Jersey has a strong agricultural heritage and an established farm-based economy. The region is uniquely located within a two-hour drive of over 20 million consumers across the New York-New Jersey-Philadelphia corridor,where interest in locally-grown, locally-sourced agricultural products continues to rise. This positions the region well to support the high consumer demand for local, direct to consumer, sustainably-raised meat. 

 

This project is partnering with 20 livestock producers managing more than 2,500 acres to accelerate the transition to resilient, adaptively grazed livestock systems that build soil health, improve water quality, increase biodiversity, and strengthen farm and rural economies. The project will also expand business, marketing, and distribution opportunities for locally raised, pasture-raised livestock.

 

Our goal is to increase the productivity and long-term viability of pasture lands while improving profitability for farm families. This program emphasizes conservation-based infrastructure as a pathway to sustained profitability for pasture-based livestock. Through cost-share assistance, we aim to help farms invest in conservation practices and continue to grow and sustain pasture-based livestock operations across northern and central New Jersey.  

What is the timeline of this Initiative?

The application period for this opportunity closed on December 31, 2023. All 20 participants were chosen in 2024. 

 

Following a federal halt to the program in 2025, the program was restarted in January 2026 following a USDA-NRCS contract amendment. The Initiative will continue with the initial 20 selected participants. 

 

Farmers have committed to working with North Jersey RC&D until September 29, 2028. 

 

How were the participants chosen?  

Farmers were primarily chosen based off those who currently own and manage livestock, specifically on pasture. Among other factors, farmers were evaluated on pasture management, the number of species on pasture, farm location and acres under control.

 

Can I participate in this Grazing Initiative if I am enrolled in an NRCS EQIP contract or North Jersey RC&D AgAssist agreement?

Yes, in fact we welcome farmers experienced with NRCS conservation practices such as cover crops, fencing, and prescribed grazing. You can have a current or past contract/agreement. This program is completely separate from EQIP and AgAssist, but we will verify that there are no duplicate payments towards specific practice installation. This Grazing Initiative is run by North Jersey RC&D with funding from the USDA Advancing Markets for Producers program.

 

Do I need to have a resource concern to be eligible for one of the NRCS-based conservation practice standards(CPS)? 

No, you do not need to have an established resource concern to be eligible for a specific practice standard. Included in this opportunity are the following practices, but please note this is a project run by North Jersey RC&D, not the NRCS field offices.   

 

1) 329- Residue and Tillage Management

2) 336- Soil Carbon Amendment

3) 340- Cover Crop

4) 381- Silvopasture

5) 382- Fence

6) 390- Riparian Herbaceous Cover

7) 391- Riparian Forest Buffer

8) 512- Pasture and Hay Planting

9) 516- Livestock Pipeline

10) 528- Prescribed Grazing

11) 561- Heavy Use Area Protection (as relates to watering facilities)

12) 575- Trails and Walkways

13) 590- Nutrient Management

14) 592- Feed Management

15) 614- Watering Facility

16) 805- Amending Soil Properties with Lime

17) 810- Annual Forages for grazing systems

18) E512A- Cropland conversion to grass-based agriculture to reduce soil erosion

19) E512C-Cropland conversion to grass for soil organic matter improvement

20) E512L- Diversifying forage base with interseeding forbs and legumes to increase pasture

quality

21) E512M- Forage plantings that improve wildlife habitat cover and shelter or structure and

composition

22) E528A- Maintaining quantity and quality of forage for animal health and productivity

23) E528D- Grazing management for improving quantity and quality of food or cover and

shelter for wildlife

24) E328E- Improved grazing management for enhanced plant structure and composition for

wildlife

25) E528F Stockpiling cool season forage to improve structure and composition or plant

productivity and health

26) E528O- Clipping mature forages to set back vegetative growth for improved forage quality

27) E528P- Implementing Bale or Swath Grazing to increase organic matter and reduce

nutrients in surface water

 

Now that the Grazing Initiative has restarted, have the funded practices changed?

No.The NRCS conservation practices covered in the opportunity have not changed. 

 

How much paperwork is involved? 

Participants will need to have records filed with the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Farmers will also be asked to create Expenditure Plans, keep basic records of forage quality and pasture use to support the Pasture Condition Score and Grazing Plan. In addition, participants will track product marketing activities, including volume sold, number of customers, new sales channels, and other key indicators. Collecting these metrics allows us to document improvements over time and quantify growth across the region.

 

Can I utilize more than one practice?

Yes! Farmers can implement more than one practice on property under their control. For example, a farmer could graze cover crops and get permanent and/or rotational fencing for the same field. 

Do I get to keep the infrastructure after the study is done?

Yes! Any infrastructure, such as fencing or waterers, is yours to keep. 

Will cost-share reimbursements change, now that the Grazing Initiative has restarted? 

Yes, one change is that all payments will now be issued directly to the project participant, who retains full responsibility for contracting with and remitting payments to all contractors and vendors. North Jersey RC&D will require proof of payment for all reimbursed expenses and shall bear no liability for such payments. This requirement reflects compliance with the Advancing Markets for Producers program, which requires incentive payments be made directly to the producer and not to contractors or third parties on the producer’s behalf.

 

What if I need help?

Participants will have access to free 1:1 consultations with North Jersey RC&D Agricultural Specialists, Grazing Specialists, and a grazing cohort. To support the installation of approved practices, North Jersey RC&D has funding available to reimburse required contractual technical assistance, such as engineering or other required services necessary to obtain CPA-52s or complete environmental evaluations. This is not a guaranteed or set amount per participant. If you anticipate that such technical assistance may be required for your operation, please contact North Jersey RC&D to discuss potential support and the approval process.

 

If I don’t sign up this year, can I sign up next year?

No, this is a one-time opportunity. This is a unique funding opportunity of this size and scope. However, North Jersey RC&D remains committed to supporting pasture-based and grazing operations, and we expect to offer other programs and learning opportunities. Please keep an eye out for future announcements, including those available under the Regenerative Farm Network and AgAssist programs.