The future of America depends on building resilient farmlands today
Together, we can secure our farmlands to foster prosperity and build a resilient future.
River Hill Ranch, Kentucky, Photo by Liz Thomas Photography
Farmer Fund
Accelerating Appalachia has launched an innovative program to support underserved farmers and expand regenerative farming across Central/Southern Appalachia and the rural Southeast.
We provide financial support, technical training in conservation agriculture, connections to business development support, and resources to increase market growth opportunities.
“For more than six years, I’ve had the privilege of advising Accelerating Appalachia and their agriculture accelerator. This new farmer fund they have launched is the most effective initiative I’ve seen for promoting long-term farm success.”
Providing the Resources to Secure the Future of Farming
Cash Incentives
Farmers are encouraged to adopt conservation practices through an $18 million Farmer Fund, which includes $12 million in cash and $6 million in training and marketing services. We offer three types of cash support for program participants: an Implementation Incentive, Participation Incentive, and Travel Incentive.
Implementation Incentive. Helps with the cost of implementing a new practice, we’ve set aside a fund to help cover, or offset that cost. The amount available per acre depends on the practice(s) you implement. Early adopters can also benefit from this incentive. If you’ve already implemented one or more of our approved practices, you are eligible to apply for the program.
Participation Incentive. In order to measure long term soil health benefits, Farmers/Growers must sign up for the duration of the program incentives (3 to 5 years). Farmers must be able to show that they have control over the land tracts entered into the program, either as land owners or a 3 to 5 year lease. Growers must agree to take a yearly soil sample. The Participation Incentive will cover the cost of soil testing and reporting, and other costs associated with program compliance.
Travel Incentive. Participants will receive reimbursements for travel, lodging, and food during attendance to farmer field days.
Networking Opportunities
Farmers enrolled in our farmer funding program access marketing assistance from industry experts and benefit from Accelerating Appalachia’s connections to buyers, processors, and distributors. We foster farmer inclusivity across local and regional markets to create more resilient, robust supply chains in food, fiber and forest farming.
Additional Revenue
As you start to see measurable environmental benefits from implementing and continuing these practices, you’ll gain access to a growing network of lenders and investors. We’ve partnered with Carbon Harvest and Working Trees to help build on Accelerating Appalachia’s regional agriculture-based investment network.
Approved NRCS Practices
These NRCS practices are applicable to the following commodities: beef, livestock, cotton, fruits, pork, row crops, specialty crops and wool.
Although Accelerating Appalachia recognizes the important and impactful contribution that these commodities make to our economy and food system, our program agreement with the USDA does not allow us to incentivize rice, hemp, or crustacean production.
311: Alley Cropping – $1000/acre
328: Conservation Crop Rotations – $75/acre
340: Cover Crops – $75/acre
345: Reduced Tillage – $75/acre
379: Forest Farming – $400/acre
381: Silvopasture – $1000/acre
386: Field Borders – $400/acre
391: Riparian Buffers – $1000/acre
422: Hedgerow Plantings – $400/acre
484: Mulching
528: Prescribed Grazing – $300/acre
Supplemental Practices
The practices listed below can be implemented to supplement the main incentivized practices above. These practices will not be listed on the application, but they can be utilized upon acceptance and enrollment in at least one of the primary practices.
382: Fence
384: Woody Residue Treatment
420: Wildlife Habitat Planting – $400/acre
441: Irrigation System, Microirrigation
490: Tree/Shrub Site Preparation
550: Range Planting
590: Nutrient Management
612: Tree & Shrub est – $1000/acre
645: Habitat management – $1000/acre
660: Tree/Shrub Pruning – $75/acre
666: Forest Stand Improvement – $1000/acre
*Incentives range depending on practices adopted/implemented, with increased incentives for agroforestry due not only to the additional expense, but the significant increase in drawdown and long term soil health benefits.
Required Acreage to Participate
Our funding primarily aims to sequester significant carbon over time and market the value of soil improvement practices. Therefore, projects should be a minimum of 10 acres.
NOTE: The USDA is reorganizing the program previously known as Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities into a new program: Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP). Our team is working quickly to make changes to our program to meet AMP requirements. There may be delays in enrollment as we work to make these changes.
