How to apply to the Climate Smart Agriculture Program

Overview: 

The Climate Smart Agriculture Program (“CSAP”) combines MDAR’s separate water, energy, and climate grants into one application.  The three grant programs combined in this application are the Agricultural Climate Resiliency & Efficiencies (“ACRE”) Grant, the Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program Grant (“AEEP”) and the Traditional Ag-Energy Program Grant (“ENER”). By bringing the three grants under one program, MDAR is seeking to simplify the application process by allowing a single application process for these grants. 

Eligible Projects: 

This round of funding combines the applications for ACRE and AEEP into Section I: Environmental Projects. This section will provide financial incentives to allow agricultural operations to proactively address risks and strengthen their economic and environmental resiliency as they adapt to a changing climate. This is done by agricultural operations addressing vulnerabilities to expected impacts from climate change. These impacts will result from more frequent and severe storm events, increased precipitation followed by periods of drought, higher overall temperature and increased evaporation rates.  Section I: also provides incentives to agricultural operations for practices that help farmers mitigate their impacts on climate change. By providing financial incentives to Massachusetts growers for practices that that work towards improving soil health, ensuring the efficient use of water, preventing impacts on water quality, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and sequestering carbon, Massachusetts farms will work towards this objective of mitigating climate change. Proposals that address both adaptation and mitigation are prioritized for funding.

Applications for ENER, previously under the Traditional Agricultural Energy Grant Program, are in Section II: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Projects. Projects include energy efficiency projects and renewable energy projects that help farms become more sustainable and resilient while also working towards the interim goals of the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan (CECP) for 2030. This is an interim plan as part of the overall Decarbonization Roadmap to ensure greenhouse gas reductions of at least 85% by 2050 while also achieving net zero emissions. This means renewable heating & cooling technologies are a priority and there is a preference for no longer funding fossil fuel (oil, propane, natural gas) fired equipment.

Project Examples: 

Part I: Environmental

Part II: Energy Efficiency & Renewable

Eligible Applicants:

• Agricultural operations engaged in production agriculture for commercial purposes as defined in Massachusetts law M.G.L c. 128, Sec. 1A.
• Applicant must own, or be a Co-Applicant with the owner of the agricultural operation, who has a legal interest in the land whether by deed or written agreement and approval to implement the project on the land, which must be in active agricultural use and managed as a commercial enterprise by the Applicant for at least the three (3) previous years.

Maximum Funding: 

• PART I:  Climate Adaptation & Mitigation:  Maximum funding per applicant is 80% of total project costs up to $50,000.
• PART II: Energy Efficiency & Renewable:  Maximum funding per applicant is 80% of total project costs up to $50,000.

The application period for the Climate Smart Agriculture Program is now open. If interested in applying, complete the application and return with any additional documentation by the 4:00 PM deadline on Friday, June 10th, 2022.