Agricultural Clean Water Initiative Program Grants for local and regional partners to work with farms to improve statewide water quality

Agricultural Clean Water Initiative Program Grants for local and regional partners to work with farms to improve statewide water quality is sponsored by State of Vermont. <a class="widget__inner text-center text-black text-bold display-flex flex-column flex-justify-start height-full border-2px border-transparent radius-md margin-neg-2px" href="/bmp" aria-de Category: Agriculture & Rural Development.

### _VAAFM is not currently accepting applications to this program. The State FY2026 funding opportunity closed January 9, 2026.

_ The Agricultural Clean Water Initiative Program (AgCWIP) from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) Water Quality Division provides grants to local and regional partners to work with farms to support the improvement of water quality across the state of Vermont through education and outreach, technical assistance, and organizational capacity development.

AgCWIP has supported a variety of projects that promote water quality and conservation on Vermont farms.

Past projects include activities such as: Hosting educational events and workshops, supporting farms with grant applications and reporting, Nutrient Management Planning, conservation project identification, consultation and design, precision agriculture training, equipment rental programs, sampling (water, soil, manure), conservation practice surveys, and more.

Grant recipients are required to report routinely to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. Outcomes of these agreements are cumulatively included in the VAAFM Water Quality Division Annual Report and the Vermont Clean Water Initiative Reports.

Eligible Applicants include Vermont businesses such as farm operations or agricultural associations, local government entities, public or private schools or other educational institutions, and non-profit organizations working with Vermont farms. State and federal agencies can collaborate with these groups but cannot be the primary applicant.

_A note for farmers: Funding made available through AgCWIP is prioritized to provide impact and benefit to multiple farm operations at the community, regional, or statewide level rather than an individual farm project. Individual farms are eligible applicants, but the activities that are eligible for funding must benefit more than one farm.

For example, if a farm wanted to mentor other farms or host a workshop series on their farm, they may choose to seek financial support through this funding program. If you are a farm seeing cost-share for an individual conservation project, please visit the Water Quality Assistance Programs webpage.

_ Eligible Projects must address one or more of the following priority outcomes to improve statewide water quality: * Agricultural Water Quality Regulatory Compliance * Agricultural Source Pollution Reduction * Economic and Environmental Viability of Vermont farms ## **FY2026 Request For Grant Applications Overview:** _NOTE: The application period for this funding opportunity closed January 9, 2026.

_ Up to $8 million available through this funding opportunity Proposals must contribute to at least one of the following priority outcomes: * Agricultural Water Quality Regulatory Compliance * Agricultural Source Pollution Reduction * Economic and Environmental Viability of Vermont farms Expected grant performance timeframe is June 2026 - June 2028, 2 years.

### **Full Request For Grant Application:AgCWIP FY2026 Request For Grant Applications** For all questions related to this Request For Grant Applications, please contact Mary Montour, Agricultural Water Quality Program Coordinator. Mary. Montour@Vermont.

gov or (802) 461-6087 ## Current and past AGCWIP Awards and Agreements: **FY 2024 Awards and Summaries**: * **University of Vermont Extension (UVM) - $3,126,268**Funding supports organizational capacity development, education and outreach, and technical assistance to farms across Vermont.

Activities are conducted through UVM Extensions five delivery teams; Agricultural Business Team, Center for Sustainable Agriculture Team, Champlain Valley Crops, Soils, Pasture Team, Northwest Crops and Soils Team, and the Vegetable and Berry Team. This award is partially funded with American Rescue Plan Act Funds related to efforts outlined in Vermont’s Climate Action Plan. To learn more about UVM Extension: https://www.

uvm. edu/extension * **Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Council (NRCC) - $2,500,000** Funding supports organizational capacity development, education and outreach, and technical assistance to farms in all 14 VT counties. Funding to NRCC is sub-awarded to 13 local Natural Resources Conservation Districts.

To learn more and find your local Natural Resources Conservation District:https://www. vacd. org/contact-nrcds/ * **Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition, Inc. (CVFC) - $551,470**Funding supports organizational capacity development, education and outreach, and technical assistance to farms primarily in the Champlain Valley as well as coordination efforts among farmer watershed groups across the State.

To learn more about the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition: https://cvfc-vt. com/ * **Farmer Watershed Alliance (FWA) - $356,910**Funding supports organizational capacity development, education and outreach, and technical assistance to farms primarily in Northwestern Vermont related to general agricultural water quality conservation topics as well as precision agriculture initiatives.

To learn more about the Farmer Watershed Alliance: https://www. farmerswatershedalliance. org/ * **American Farmland Trust (AFT) - $242,163**Funding supports education, outreach, and technical assistance to farms in Vermont.

Activities supported through this grant are focused on climate resiliency planning on farms, water quality practices, and economic planning. This award is funded with American Rescue Plan Act Funds related to Vermont’s Climate Action Plan _. _ To learn more about the American Farmland Trust: https://farmland.

org/about/how-we-work/new-england-regional-office/ * **Northeast Organic Farmer Association (NOFA-VT) - $163,375**Funding supports education, outreach, and technical assistance to organic and non-organic farms in Vermont related to water quality, as well as related to climate resiliency planning on farms. To learn more about the Northeast Organic Farmer Association: https://www. nofavt.

org/ * **Vermont Grass Farmers Association (VGFA) - $135,759**Funding supports organizational capacity development, education, and outreach related to grass farming and agronomic grazing practices on Vermont farms. To learn more about the Vermont Grass Farmers Association: https://www. vtgrassfarmers.

org/ Note: The FY2023 funding opportunity was specific to Organizational Capacity Development activities * Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Council - $218,370 * University of Vermont Extension (Center of Sustainable Agriculture) - $143,060 * Northeast Organic Farmer Association - $126,000 * University of Vermont Extension (Northwest Crops and Soils) - $100,000 * Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition - $85,000 * Scott Magnan Custom Service - $15,000 * Friends of Northern Lake Champlain - $12,370 (https://www.

friendsofnorthernlakechamplain. org/ ) * Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Council - $2,300,000 * University of Vermont Extension - $1,364,024 * Vermont Association of Conservation Districts - $700,000 (https://www. vacd.

org/ ) * Poultney-Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District - $402,400 * Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition - $355,413 * University of Vermont Extension (Center of Sustainable Agriculture) - $91,539 * Addison County River Watch Collaborative - $54,032 (https://addison-county-river-watch-collaborative-1-acrpc. hub. arcgis.

com/ ) * Missisquoi River Basin Association - $47,630 (https://www. mrbavt. com/ ) * Scott Magnan Custom Service - $21,160 ## Resources for Current Grantees: Reporting for Ag-CWIP TA visits and practice implementation occurs through the Partner Database.

Events supported by AgCWIP are tracked for DEC Clean Water Reporting. Upon request, these events may also be certified to qualify farms or custom applicators for Water Quality Education Credits. Submit a Pre-Event / Water Quality Credit Request Form online