The State Conservation Commission (Commission) was created by the Legislature in 1939 to support conservation districts through financial and technical assistance, administrative and operational oversight, program coordination, and promotion of district activities and services. Conservation districts work with landowners on a voluntary basis, providing incentive-based conservation help on private lands.
The sustainable farms and fields grant program (program) was established in 2020 to distribute funds to conservation districts and other public entities to help implement projects approved by the Commission. No more than 15 percent of funds may be used to develop and publicize the program and no more than 5 percent of funds may be used by the Commission to cover administrative costs of the program. No more than 20 percent of the funds may be awarded to any one applicant.
Allowable uses of grant funds from the program include:
Applicants for equipment purchase grants under the program may be farm, ranch, or aquaculture operations coordinating as individual businesses or as formal cooperative ventures. Conservation districts may apply for grant funds to operate an equipment sharing program. The Commission must attempt to achieve a geographically fair distribution of funds across a broad group of crop types, soil management practices, and farm sizes.
Program grant funds may be used for services to agricultural producers including providing financial assistance to implement best management practices that increase carbon sequestration in soil organic matter levels and standing vegetation, or reduce livestock and soil greenhouse gas emissions. When funds are appropriated through the program to encourage climate-smart agricultural waste management and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through climate-smart livestock management, the funds must be used to provide:
No more than 5 percent of the funding for climate-smart agricultural management and climate-smart livestock management may be used for administration for grant management, advisory committee support, analysis, and reporting. Climate-smart agricultural waste management includes practices that collect, treat, and store manure and waste to reduce emissions. Any applications involving state lands leased from the Department of Fish and Wildlife must include the department's approval.