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Maine Healthy Soils Top-Off Incentive Program (TIP) applications open on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Please review the Request for Applications (RFA) and all related documents on the program website before applying.
Application Deadline: November 6, 2026, no later than 12:00 p.m., ET.
Information Sessions: Online information sessions will be hosted through Microsoft Teams on the following dates and times:
- Wednesday, September 30, 2026. 1:00 p.m. Register
- Wednesday, October 7, 2026. 2:00 p.m. Register
- Thursday, October 15, 2026. 9:00 a.m. Register
Program Purpose: The purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide additional support to farmers in implementing the terms of their USDA-NRCS EQIP contracts.
Eligibility to Apply: Farm operations headquartered in Maine are eligible to apply.
Eligible applicants must:
- Own and/or operate a farm operation located in Maine.
- Have a USDA-NRCS EQIP contract with eligible practice codes as listed in Section 1E of this RFA.
- Have completed work or plan to complete work on a USDA-NRCS EQIP contract between January 1, 2022, and June 30, 2031.
- Produce agricultural products with a gross annual value of at least $2,000 that are intended to be sold commercially in one (1) of the last three (3) years. ALTERNATIVELY, applicants may be a farm operation that produces agricultural products with a gross annual value of at least $2,000 to support community access to agricultural products.
- Have access to at least one (1) acre of farmable land. This land does NOT need to be contiguous, and you do NOT need to have one full acre of production (the land may be rested, forest, generally out of production, etc.).
- Enroll in the Maine Healthy Soils Program by signing up for program email updates.
Funding Available: DACF anticipates awarding up to $500,000 through this opportunity.
Award Range: Payment amounts are determined formulaically based on 1) the amount of funding made available by DACF; 2) the total number of applicants to the program; 3) the practice code cost per unit as outlined in each EQIP contract; 4) the number of units for a given practice code as outlined in each EQIP contract; 5) the cost-share percentage paid by USDA-NRCS as outlined in each EQIP contract.
If you require an accommodation or service to participate in the information sessions, please contact us at or (207) 287-3200 at least 5 days prior to the event.
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