Am I eligible for this program?

Applicants must own or operate working farmland in NCLC’s service area, which includes all of Litchfield County and the towns of Brookfield, Newtown, and Sherman in Fairfield County.

Can I apply to this program if I applied to another climate-smart agriculture program?

Applications for the same activities funded by a climate-smart agriculture grant award from the New CT Farmer Alliance (NCTFA), Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC), or UConn Extension will not be considered.

Is there a match requirement?
There is no match requirement for the Climate-Smart Agricultural Assessment or Implementation Grant programs.

Why do I have to submit a landlord consent agreement?
The landlord consent agreement ensures compliance with state requirements. This form tells NCLC that tenant farmers have consent from their landowner to receive an assessment. The form allows applicants who are landowners to attest to their ownership of the farm property.

ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

Is there a deadline to apply?
There is no deadline to apply to the assessment program. However, there is a limited number of assessments available. NCLC will accept and review applications on a rolling basis.

Can I submit an application for multiple parcels of farmland?

Applicants must submit an application for one farm operation, which may include separate parcels in different locations, owned or leased by the producer. NCLC may consider the proximity of the farm fields for purposes of the site visit. Applicants should not submit an application for more than one operation.

What if parcels within the farm operation are located outside of NCLC’s service area?

NCLC will require more information about the fields outside of NCLC’s service area to determine if a site visit should include each location.

How long does the assessment take?

The assessment site visit takes 2–4 hours, depending on the size of the farm and complexity of issues discussed. Awardees will receive their Climate Risk Assessment Plan within two to three weeks of the site visit.

Do I need to apply for an implementation grant after receiving an assessment?

The Climate Risk Assessment Plan is intended to serve as a resource for developing a potential Implementation Grant application. However, awardees are not required to apply for an implementation grant through the Building Resiliency program.

When will I find out if I have been awarded?
Applicants will hear from Shelley Rose, NCLC’s agricultural program manager, in three-four weeks.

IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM

Is there a deadline to apply?

Yes, applicants must pay attention to submission deadlines for the implementation grant program. NCLC plans hold two application rounds in 2024:

• April 1-May 31
• October 1-November 30

Applicants should plan to apply as soon as they are ready. All rounds are contingent on remaining funds after the 2024 grant period.

Can I submit an application for multiple parcels of land?

Applicants must submit an application for one farm operation, which may include separate parcels in different locations, owned or leased by the producer, within NCLC’s service area. Applicants should not submit an application for more than one operation.

What if some parcels are located outside of NCLC’s service area?

Implementation funds cannot be spent outside of NCLC’s service area.

Can I apply for multiple projects?

The applicant should submit one application that describes one project. A single project may involve multiple complementary practices or activities. When determining what to apply for, the applicant should consider their capacity to deliver on all the requirements of the program, including implementation, monitoring, and reporting, within the funding parameters and timeframe of the grant.

If I am selected for an award, when does my project need to begin? When does my project need to be completed?

There is no requirement that projects start within a certain period after contract signing. However, all projects must be completed by the end of 2027.

Can my project expand on existing practices?

Projects may expand on existing practices, so long as the project is likely to deliver measurable outcomes (the Environmental Impacts), through baseline and post-implementation data. The applicant must make this case in the application. Additionally, the project budget cannot include any expenses incurred prior to contract execution.

What if my project falls outside the categories of soil health, nitrogen management, grazing & pasture, and energy use?

NCLC’s categories come from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation Activities List. NCLC will fund projects that have a high probability of delivering Environmental Impacts, as outlined in the program guidance. NCLC will consider applications for any project that meets the requirements of the Building Resiliency program.

Will NCLC prioritize certain practices over others within these categories?

NCLC will not prioritize one primary practice from another within the categories of soil health, nitrogen management, grazing & pasture, and energy use. Certain practices on the NRCS’s list are marked by an asterisk, indicating that the practice is provisional, or difficult to quantify, and subject to removal from the list; facilitating, or necessary for the function of a primary practice, but unable to produce mitigation benefits on its own; or allowable only when implemented in a specific way. These practices may be part of the project proposal but cannot be the primary or sole practice.

Does this program provide funding for solar projects?

Solar projects are eligible for funding. Solar panels must be installed on existing farm related infrastructure. Additionally, the award request must be commensurate with production agricultural use, excluding any residential or other non-agricultural uses powered by solar energy.

Why do I need to measure the impact of my project?

Measuring the impact of each project ensures compliance with state requirements. This information justifies climate-smart agricultural funding, promoting future climate-smart agriculture opportunities like the Building Resiliency subgrant program.

Can I use metrics that are not on the provided list?

Applicants may identify metrics not reflected on NCLC’s provided list. If so, applicants must reach out to shelley@ctland.org prior to submitting the application to discuss potential alternatives. Metrics must be economically feasible and measurable within the timeframe of the grant. Additionally, the methodology for data collection, including the lab used for testing, must be consistent from baseline to post-implementation.

What does it mean to measure at least two types of metrics?

In the program guidance, numbers 1-2 on the provided list indicate “mitigation” related metrics, and number 3 indicates “adaptation” related metrics. Applicants should select at least one mitigation metric, and ideally as many adaptation metrics as possible. While it is acceptable to report on two mitigation metrics and no adaptation metrics, is not acceptable to report on two adaptation metrics and no mitigation metrics. Applicants should select the metrics that make sense for the farm operation and indicate the greatest potential impacts of the climate-smart activities implemented.

When will I find out if I have been awarded?
Applications will be evaluated by a review committee. After applicants are selected for an award, the CT Department of Agriculture must provide final approval. Applicants will hear from Shelley Rose, NCLC’s agricultural program manager, about two months after the submission deadline.

Do I need to receive an assessment in order to apply to the implementation grant program?

Awardees do not need to receive an assessment before applying for an implementation grant. Applicants that received an assessment through NCLC’s program will receive an additional point.