The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) has announced the commencement of the grant application process for the Healthy Soil Program. Both Eligible Entities and Individual Applicants are invited to submit their proposals.
The application period for the Healthy Soil Program is open from Feb. 23 to Apr. 26, providing grant opportunities for on-the-ground projects in New Mexico. These projects should align with the five soil health principles, addressing concerns such as erosion or compaction. To aid applicants in the grant application process, NMDA has organized two webinars: one for Individual Applicants on Jan. 16 and another for Eligible Entities on Jan. 18. According to a press release by NMDA, Individual Applicants, including individuals, businesses, and nonprofits engaged in farming or land management, must complete conservation planning with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and secure project sponsorship from their soil and water conservation district (SWCD) or respective tribal entity.
New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte encourages both Individual Entities and Eligible Entities in New Mexico to apply for a grant in an effort to support healthy soil in our state," said Witte, according to a press release by NMDA. "Since the program’s pilot year in 2019, we have seen successful projects implemented in every corner of the state as a result of Healthy Soil Program grants. Please be sure to register for the webinar to learn about the application process."
In response to the 2019 enactment of the Healthy Soil Act, NMDA established the Healthy Soil Program. Annually, the department allocates grants to support initiatives that align with five soil health principles outlined in this legislative Act. According to information provided by NMDA on its Healthy Soil Program webpage, these principles include maintaining soil coverage, minimizing disturbance and external inputs on cropland, promoting biodiversity, sustaining a living root system, and incorporating animals into land management practices.
