WALPOLE, N.H. — The 10 New Hampshire Conservation Districts are thrilled to announce the first grant round of the NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant.
The NH County Conservation Districts have launched this farm viability program to improve the resilience of NH farms in the face of extreme weather events and a changing climate. Direct grants to farms to invest in on-farm infrastructure, equipment, and innovative practices will support farm profitability and the long-term viability for NH’s agricultural sector.
The mission of the NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant is to support and empower local farmers to build climate resilience throughout the Granite State. This will be done through reducing the impact of agriculture on climate change (mitigation) through greenhouse gas emissions reduction and carbon sequestration, and to increasing the resiliency of New Hampshire Farms in a changing climate (adaptation), while meeting farm’s conservation goals and needs. Extreme weather events, frequent and prolonged droughts, and increased pest pressures are increasing challenges for NH farms.
This grant though the NH County Conservation Districts seeks to support farmers in meeting those challenges.
This grant program was designed with a high level of farmer input to ensure the most pressing needs of farms will be met. The NH Conservation Districts have also worked in close partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other conservation partners to ensure that this statewide program fills the gaps that are not being adequately met by federal funds.
Funds are available for projects that mitigate the impact of agriculture on climate change and enhance the on-farm adaptations to projected climate conditions. Preference will be given to projects that can demonstrate strong potential in mitigation and adaptation.
This year’s applications will be made available on June 1st and due on July 29, 2022.
An optional zoom informational session for interested applicants will be held on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 7:00PM. Registration Required: https://climategrant.
Interested in applying? Contact your local conservation district for more information, or visit their website to view the full Request for Proposals and Application.
This grant program is made possible through the generous contributions of private donors. If you would like to make a donation to support future funding of the program, please do so on Cheshire County Conservation District’s website: www.
Donations to the fund may also be made by mail, checks can be made payable to “CCCD” and addressed to 11 Industrial Park Dr., Walpole, NH 03608. Please include “Climate” in the memo line. Contributions of any amount are greatly appreciated and make a difference!
Since 1945 and 1946, the ten NH Conservation Districts have promoted the conservation and responsible use of the Granite State’s natural and agricultural resources. For more information about the programs offered in your county, contact your local conservation district.
The Cheshire County Conservation District promotes the conservation and responsible use of our natural and agricultural resources for the people of Cheshire County by providing technical, financial, and educational assistance. Our goal is to encourage the stewardship of healthy soils, productive ecologically sound farms, diverse wildlife, productive sustainable forests, healthy watersheds, and clean water to ensure those resources are available for future generations. Established in 1945, the Conservation District operates out of Walpole NH where we work alongside the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other conservation partners. For more information, contact the Conservation District at 603-756-2988 ext.4.
–Cheshire County Conservation District