Farm Agronomic Practices Program
Farm Agronomic Practices Program supports Vermont farms and service providers through soil conservation practices and agricultural water-quality training to protect soil and reduce nutrient runoff.
Funder: Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets
Due Dates: December 15, 2026 (Claims) | April 1, 2027 (Spring and yearlong practices) | August 1, 2027 (Fall-only practices) | At least 30 days before implementation (Practice applications) | At least 45 days before training (Training applications)
Funding Amounts: Up to $10,000 per farm operation per calendar year; 2026 practice payments of $15–$60 per acre
Summary: Grants support soil conservation practices on Vermont farms and water-quality training for farms and service providers.
Key Information: Practices installed before applying cannot be reimbursed.
Description
The Farm Agronomic Practices (FAP) Program, administered by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets, helps Vermont farms install soil conservation practices that protect soil and water quality. Funded practices include cover cropping, crop-to-hay rotation, rotational grazing, no-till crop planting, no-till pasture and hayland renovation, and subsurface manure injection. These practices protect cropland from erosion, reduce nutrient runoff, establish perennial forage, and improve pasture and hayland without tillage.
The program also offers Agronomic Training grants for farms and service providers attending training on agricultural water-quality regulations or the effects of agricultural practices on water quality. Practice funding is awarded in application order rather than through competitive review, and applying does not guarantee a grant agreement.
