Dairy Manure Management Incentive
Transforming the Farmer-to-Consumer Supply Chain
Future-proof your dairy farm with the funding, expert guidance, and technical support to implement sustainable manure management practices.
Overview
TransformF2C supports best practices that can revitalize your soil, improve herd health and increase productivity.
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Manure Management Incentive funds will be allocated for the implementation of practices related to manure and nutrient management in 15 select states across the country.
Incentive payments will be used to compensate farmers for the cost of adopting new climate-smart manure management practices, including storage, handling, and cropland applications that fit their site-specific needs.
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Priority access will be given to small-scale, historically underserved farmers, and applicants new to the TransformF2C Project, helping more producers participate in climate-resilient practices that enhance both farm productivity and environmental health.
See which states are eligible for funding below.
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Steps to Apply
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01 Farmer Eligibility
Dairy Farmers located in the following states are eligible to apply for the Dairy Manure Management Incentive:
CA, ID, IN, KS, MD, MI, MN, NE, NM, NY, OH, PA, TX, UT, WI
Additional eligibility requirements include: Applicant must establish and submit all required FSA documentation included in application and certify as not a foreign person or entity.
02 Eligible Conservation Practice Standards for Funding
All projects and practices implemented under the Transforming the Farmer-to-Consumer Supply Chain project must align with and meet NRCS Conservation Practice Code Standards and USDA regulations. Applicants are encouraged to have trusted advisors and qualified professionals to assist in the development of applications.
The following practice codes are eligible for funding under the Manure Management Incentive:
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03 Application Workbook
The Dairy Manure Management Incentive Application has multiple sections and requires prior research, collection of supporting documentation, and thoughtful responses. Applicants are encouraged to download the offline workbook to complete and prepare before transitioning to the online form for submission.
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04 FSA & NRCS Documentation
Applicants must have an established record with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in order to apply for this project's Dairy Manure Management Incentive funding pool. The following documentation must be established and submitted as part of the online application.
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A copy of established Farm Records with FSA tract, and field numbers in place for all acreage being enrolled
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Producer Farm Data Report (most recent copy available)
The guide linked below was developed to assist applicants in contracting and obtaining the required documentation.
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Funding cannot be awarded if the same practice(s) have previously been funded on the same acres. It is the responsibility of the applicant to review all previous contracts involving USDA dollars to ensure no duplication. Confirm with the local FSA, NRCS, and SWCD offices if applicant is unsure of your land and project history. ​
05 Contractor & Quotes
All practices funded must align with NRCS practice codes and standards. We encourage applicants to have a clear understanding of the requirements for each practice code being applied for and to source quotes from contractors who have experience meeting the NRCS practice code specifications if building plans or construction of any kind is required.
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Seeking the assistance of a technical advisor is encouraged if uncertain of practice requirements, eligible costs, or equipment. A list of NRCS approved technical service providers is available here.
07 Submit Online Application
Click the green button below to access the online application. Here you will submit final responses and documentation. You will be unable to make edits after submitting so be sure to review all sections of the application and confirm document uploads before submitting. If you leave your application and return later on your progress may be lost.
What Happens After Applications are Submitted?
Farm Data Collection Interview
After submitting an online application, applicants will be contacted by the TransformF2C Project MMRV partner, Eocene. The data collection interview will take between 30-60 minutes. Technical assistance in preparation for the interview is available upon request.
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All applicants must provide all required field and farm level data to proceed in the evaluation process and remain eligible for funding.
Application Ranking Process
Applicants who meet all eligibility requirements and successfully submit a complete application, including all supporting documentation and data, will be evaluated on the following criteria.
DEADLINE: All applications must be received by January 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST.
Funding Structure
Funding will be allocated based on the environmental impact of practice implementation and additional application review criteria outlined above. The environmental impact will be measured as metric tons of CO2e reduction and calculated by an independent third-party using the data submitted with this application. Projects will be funded based on a project-wide average rate per metric ton of CO2e reduction. Accepted applications may receive up to 100% of the proposed budget.
Upon acceptance into the program, the applicant will be presented with a detailed and pre-negotiated contract, at which time they will choose to accept or deny their acceptance of the project funding and commitment to their project participation.
Payment terms and timing: Up to 91% of project funding will be funded upon execution of a contract with the farmer. The remaining 9% of project funding will be paid in equal installments over the duration of the contracted project (up to 4 years).
Environmental and Cultural Assessment
Applications selected for funding may be required to participate in the submission of a CPA-52 Environmental Assessment. Applicants are not required to complete this form. Upon selection for funding applicants will be contacted by an Technical Service Provider provided by the TransformF2C Project. All CPA-52 Environmental Assessment must be reviewed and approved on the federal and state level before proceeding to contracting. This review process can take 6-8 months and must be completed before any practice implementation can begin.
GHG Structure
Each farm participant that receives funding for practices or any other system changes that reduces GHG emissions or sequesters carbon will retain the rights, including the underlying farm’s data and environmental assets created throughout the project period. However, participation in this project will require awardees agree to refrain from selling any environmental assets created by funded practice implementation in any available market through June of 2028 (the length of the project). Participating farms may elect to engage with a supply partner to include these reductions in Scope 3 reporting.
Participating farms will be required to engage with the project’s third-party verifier to collect yearly baseline data, practice changes, ecosystem benefits, and required reporting data. Appropriate methodologies will be followed, ensuring best-in-class accounting practices are adhered to in data security and GHG accounting.
Upon acceptance into the program, the applicant will be presented with a detailed and pre-negotiated contract, at which time they will choose to accept or deny their acceptance of the project funding and commitment to their project participation.