The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is now accepting applications from Colorado’s conservation districts and other eligible entities interested in administering STAR Plus grant funding to agricultural producers who expand or introduce soil health practices in their operations.
Donor Name: Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA)
State: Colorado
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/03/2023
Size of the Grant: $20,000
Details:
Improving soil health, a key component of responding to the effects of climate change in agricultural landscapes, can improve available soil moisture, reduce agricultural runoff, decrease erosion, and support more productive, nutritious crops. Funding for these grants comes from the Climate Smart Commodities grant, awarded to CDA from the United States Department of Agriculture last fall.
The Colorado STAR and STAR Plus programs together make up the Colorado Soil Health Program. Right now, more than 120 producers are enrolled in the STAR plus program through 16 conservation districts and three eligible entities. CDA will award capacity grants to additional conservation districts (CDs) and eligible entities (EEs) to work with farmers and ranchers to implement healthy soil practices. CDs and EEs currently administering the program can apply to support additional producers by filling out the application for existing entities.
Funding Information
- A total of $2.5 million is available for capacity grants and another $5.1 million is available for incentive payments to producers enrolled in the STAR Plus program through their CD or EE.
- Selected CDs and EEs will receive $20,000 to enroll and support up to 10 producers in the STAR Plus Program, and $2,000 per participant per year for ongoing capacity support over the four years of the grant.
Eligibility Criteria
- In addition to conservation districts, eligible entities include non-profit or cooperative organizations, Tribes, grower associations, and research institutions. CDA is seeking applications from organizations that regularly work with a network of producers and are familiar with healthy soil and climate-smart agricultural practices.
- Conservation districts and eligible entities act as local experts and grant administrators and are a key part of the STAR Plus Program.
- Individual producers cannot apply for these grants. They can either participate in the STAR program or, to participate in STAR plus, must go through their local conservation district or eligible entity to enroll.
For more information, visit CDA.
