Happy New Year to all our customers, partners and staff! I hope that you had a great holiday, enjoying time with family and friends, and are now recharged and ready to move forward in 2025!

NRCS in Rhode Island has historic levels of funding for our conservation programs through the Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, and we encourage interested Rhode Island farmers, forest managers, oyster growers, ranchers & urban growers to apply for these funding opportunities. Our partners at Rhode Island's Conservation Districts will be hosting a series of Local Working Group meetings the next two months - this is your opportunity to let us know your needs and concerns and provide input to our NRCS Conservation Programs. Please attend one of our meetings if you can.

We are collaborating with our conservation partners and cities and towns across Rhode Island to address flooding issues from 2024 storm events, and we are currently completing demolition of flood-impacted properties in the Luther's Corner neighborhood in East Providence. We are also working to implement the Pocasset watershed flood reduction project and complete planning for the Wood-Pawcatuck and Woonasquatucket watersheds this year. And we are in the planning stages for two new watershed flood prevention projects in Southern Rhode Island - Schoolhouse Pond and Salt Ponds watersheds.

I look forward to working with you all this year to provide assistance to our clients in 2025 and many more years to come!

Have a Happy New Year,
R. Phou Vongkhamdy, NRCS Rhode Island State Conservationist

In late December the US Congress passed a budget bill that included a $220 million fund for block grants to eight states – New England, Alaska, and Hawaii – to provide relief to farmers and woodland owners for crop, timber, and livestock losses, including on-farm infrastructure, as a result of climate-related factors incurred during 2023 and 2024.

Please take a few minutes to complete to help the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's Division of Agriculture to determine how much funding to request from the federal government to help cover those losses. RIDEM is seeking reports on losses related to production, infrastructure, inputs, and other factors. Please submit by close of business on 1/17/2025.

Please note that no personally identifiable information is being requested except e-mail addresses on a voluntary basis. RIDEM will tabulate the results and inform of the same in summary form. The only goal at moment is to help USDA allocate the funding among the eight eligible states. 

Access the RI Disaster Aid Survey Here

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More than $16 million is available for conservation practices on farms, ranches, private forest land & urban gardens throughout the Ocean State. Apply by February 28, 2025, to be eligible for the third round of fiscal year 2025 funding. Call your local NRCS Field Office (401-822-8848) or Conservation District Office for more information or to apply.

Available conservation practices and initiatives include, but are not limited to,

• Combustion system improvement and energy initiative practices to help farmers and forest managers to replace outdated engines, lighting and other equipment with new, cleaner-burning technology.
• Comprehensive nutrient management plan implementation practices to minimize or eliminate surface water or groundwater pollution or to minimize emissions (like greenhouse gases) to improve air quality.
• Climate-smart ag and forestry activities that create or enhance pollinator or wildlife habitat on farms, forest lands, ranches, and urban areas.
• High Tunnel and/or irrigation activities to improve water quality; and mitigate risk through producer diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to organic farming.
• Conservation Incentive Contracts that focus on addressing the following resource concerns on cropland: field sediment, nutrient and pathogen loss; soil quality limitations; and source water depletion. EQIP-CIC provides financial assistance to adopt conservation activities on working landscapes and provides annual payments similar to CSP.
• Targeted conservation actions through the National Water Quality Initiative to improve water quality in the Sakonnet River and Tomaquag Brook-Pawcatuck River watersheds.
• Regional Conservation Partnership Projects to collaborate with farmers, forest landowners, tribes and public land managers to mitigate wildfire risk, improve water quality, and restore forest ecosystems.
• Urban agriculture assistance to help urban and small-scale farmers install conservation practices to improve the health and resiliency of their operations.

Funding is provided through a competitive process. NRCS accepts applications for conservation programs year-round but sets state-specific ranking dates to evaluate applications for funding. Application cutoff periods allow NRCS to screen and rank applications for those with the highest conservation benefits across Rhode Island’s landscapes, including cropland, pastureland, and private non-industrial forestlands. The next application cutoff date is Friday, February 28, 2025. Applications received after this ranking date will be automatically deferred to the next funding period.

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Apply by March 10 for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production grants

USDA is providing a total of $14.4 million in grants and technical assistance through two separately funded projects to support urban agriculture and innovative production. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) is making available $2.5 million for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) grants, building on $53.7 million invested in UAIP grant projects by OUAIP since 2020. In addition, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which oversees OUAIP, is providing $11.9 million in funding through an interagency agreement with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to promote the hiring of Urban Agriculture Conservation Extension Educators through the Cooperative Extension programs at Land-grant Universities. Read more...

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NRCS in Rhode Island is excited to announce the release of the new Low Tunnel System (821) practice, designed to support sustainable and efficient crop production. This system addresses two critical resource concerns: improving plant productivity and health and reducing plant pest pressure.

By creating a protective microenvironment, the Low Tunnel System helps shield crops from adverse weather conditions, pests, and diseases while enhancing overall plant growth. This practice is particularly effective for urban or small-scale growers looking to optimize their yield and maintain healthier plants throughout the growing season.

For more information on how the Low Tunnel System (821) can benefit your operation or to access resources for implementation, contact your local field office or Conservation District office, or NRCS-RI State Agronomist Liz Camps. Let’s work together to achieve healthier, more productive crops!

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NRCS and our conservation partners at the Eastern, Northern and Southern Rhode Island Conservation Districts have scheduled our 2025 Local Work Group Meetings for January - February. We invite interested farmers, forest managers, oyster growers, ranchers, urban growers, partners and the general public to join us to provide input on how we can continue to improve our programs for Rhode Island.

Local Working Group meetings provide an opportunity for local land managers to be part of a collaborative effort to improve natural resources within your county. Come and be the voice for your community!

You are invited to:

• Review performance of the past year’s projects,
• Help shape plans and priorities for future projects,
• Connect with partners and new audiences to seek opportunities to leverage partnership funds, and
• Learn about other NRCS programs that may benefit you.

The following is this year's meeting schedule - please contact your local field office or Conservation District Office for more info.

• Eastern RI Local Working Group Meeting: February 12, 2025, 5:30 p.m., Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Road, Portsmouth, RI
• Northern RI Local Working Group Meetings:
  • January 29, 6:30-7:30 pm, Jesse M Smith Public Library, Harrisville
  • February 1, 12:00-1:00 pm, Rochambeau Public Library, Providence (featuring Spanish, Swahili & Kinyarwanda interpretation)
  • February 26, 6:30-7:30 pm, North Scituate Public Library
• Southern RI Local Working Group Meeting: February 22, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Louttit Public Library, West Greenwich

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USDA recently announced the most significant changes to USDA’s farm loan programs since 2007. These updates from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are set to enhance financial opportunities for farmers and ranchers, ensuring their long-term viability. This includes the establishment of a new low-interest installment set-aside program for financially distressed borrowers.

The Distressed Borrower Set-Aside Program (DBSA) provides USDA direct loan borrowers the opportunity to set-aside one loan payment to the end of the loan term if they are unable to make their scheduled installment. DBSA results in the borrower accruing significantly reduced interest and allows them to become current on their loans and continue farming.

When a borrower indicates they are in financial distress or when they become 90 days past due on an FSA direct loan, they will be notified of the availability of the Distressed Borrower Set-Aside Program (DBSA), or they can request DBSA assistance at any time by contacting the RI FSA Loan Office at (401) 828-3120 (ext. 2) or email Emma Schlam at Emma.Schlam@usda.gov.

For more information on eligibility and how to apply, check out the Distressed Borrower Set-Aside Program fact sheet.

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Agricultural producers of perishable commodities including fruits, vegetables and floriculture can now get funding for controlled atmosphere storage through Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSFL) offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). Controlled atmosphere storage regulates the concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen in a storage room to increase the shelf life of crops.

In addition to now supporting controlled atmosphere storage, FSFLs also provide low-interest financing to help producers build or upgrade storage facilities and to purchase portable (new or used) structures, equipment and storage and handling trucks.

The low-interest funds can also be used for controlled atmosphere storage monitoring equipment, designed to notify facility owners immediately if potential atmospheric concerns are detected. Producers may renovate existing storage facilities to include controlled atmosphere storage monitoring equipment. Authorized loan terms for FSFL renovations are three and five years only.

To assist with monitoring gases and particle concentrations for controlled atmosphere storage, the following equipment, but not limited to, is eligible for an FSFL:

• Optical oxygen sensor.
• Low power CO2 sensor.
• Air quality sensor.
• Gas detection devices.
• Air temperature and relative humidity sensor.
• Water activity meter.
• Temperature stabilized water activity analyzer.
• Precision and performance humidity and temperature transmitter.

Loans of up to $50,000 can be secured by a promissory note/security agreement, loans between $50,000 and $100,000 may require additional security and loans exceeding $100,000 require additional security.

FSFL borrowers do not need to demonstrate lack of commercial credit availability to apply. The loans are designed to assist a diverse range of agricultural operations, including small and mid-sized businesses, new farmers and ranchers, operations supplying local food and farmers markets, non-traditional farm products and underserved producers.

For more information, see the FSFL fact sheet and contact RI FSA Office at (401) 828-3120 (ext 1) or email Lillian Toth at Lillian.Toth@usda.gov.

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The Northeast SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) state programs in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island (Tri-State) announce that their free 2025 webinars will begin in February. This year the series will focus on climate change in pasture-based livestock systems. The webinars are open to both service providers and farmers. While attendees will get the most out of the series if they attend all three webinars, it is not a requirement. 

Interested attendees should register in advance so that they can receive the link to connect along with supporting materials ahead of time. Please register at https://forms.office.com/r/gRqYQevGFk.

The Tri-State SARE collaboration among the Universities of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island helps farmers and the professionals who work with them to learn more about raising healthy animals and the development & sustainable use of pasture. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) offers farmer-driven, grassroots grants and education programs. Since 1988, SARE grantees have been putting the principles of sustainable agriculture into practice throughout the nation. Learn more...

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USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden announced on December 19, 2024, that USDA will pause accepting Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) applications for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). IRA applications are those requesting federal grant funding of up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs. USDA will close the REAP FY 2025 IRA funding opportunity earlier than anticipated as over 3,000 applications have already been received, requesting more than twice the amount of the announced available funding. This decision will allow USDA time to dedicate the necessary resources and attention to the growing backlog of applications.

Additionally, USDA will not withdraw any FY 2024 IRA applications that have not been fully processed by December 31, 2024. The Agency will continue to process the remaining IRA FY 2024 applications and FY 2025 applications received by December 31, 2024. Applications that are fully processed, complete and eligible will compete for available funding.

This decision does not affect FY 2025 applications submitted for Farm Bill funding. Farm Bill applications are those requesting federal grant funding of up to 25 percent of total eligible project costs. These applications can be submitted through March 31, 2025. USDA anticipates accepting both REAP IRA and Farm Bill applications again starting on July 1, 2025, for Fiscal Year 2026 funding. USDA appreciates your continued support and interest in the Rural Energy for America Program.

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