Funds Available from USDA’s Agricultural Management Assistance

SALT LAKE CITY, April 27, 2022 – The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) from Risk Management Assistance (RMA) funding. The deadline for applications is May 27,2022.
“We are excited to make this funding available,” said NRCS Utah State Conservationist Emily Fife. “We encourage eligible ag producers to apply before May 27.”

AMA provides financial assistance to agricultural producers to construct or improve watershed management structures or irrigation structures, plant trees to form windbreaks, implement practices to improve water quality, mitigate financial risk through production or marketing diversification, implement resource conservation practices to address soil erosion, integrated pest management, or to assist producers to transition to organic farming.

The following conservation practices will be available to use these FY 2022 funds:

• High Tunnel System
• Irrigation Canal or Lateral
• Composting Facility
• Conservation Cover
• Conservation Crop Rotation
• Cover Crop
• Critical Area Planting
• Dam, Diversion
• Irrigation Field Ditch
• Dam
• Heavy Use Protection
• Irrigation Reservoir
• Irrigation System, Micro-Irrigation
• Sprinkler System
• Irrigation System, Surface and Subsurface
• Irrigation and Drainage Tailwater Recovery
• Irrigation Water Management
• Irrigation Land Leveling
• Mulching
• Pumping Plant
• Drainage Water Management
• Roof Runoff structure
• Structure for Water Control
• Underground Outlet
• Nutrient Management
• Pest Management Conservation System
• Water Well
• Wildlife Habitat Planting
• Irrigation Water Management Plan – Written
• Irrigation Ditch Lining
• Irrigation Pipeline
• Irrigation Water Management Plan- Applied
• Irrigation Water Management Design

High tunnels are the primary practice that Utah urban farmers are interested in. Also known as hoop houses, this structure will modify the growing climate and allow tender varieties of vegetables, herbs, and berries to grow where they otherwise may not. Made of ribs of plastic or metal pipe covered with a layer of transparent plastic sheeting, manufactured high tunnels are easy to install, maintain, and move. Most high tunnels are designed with nonelectric venting options. It is noted that plants must be planted in the ground and not containerized.

Mulching is applying plant residues or other suitable materials to the land surface. This practice is applied to improve the efficiency of moisture management, reduce irrigation energy used in farming/ranching practices and field operations, improve the efficient use of irrigation water, prevent excessive bank erosion from streams, and reduce concentrated flow erosion, reduce sheet, rill, and wind erosion. Mulching will also improve plant productivity and health, maintain or increase organic matter content, and reduce emissions of particulate matter.
 
For more information please visit our website at  Agricultural Management Assistance Program | NRCS Utah (usda.gov) or contact your local NRCS field office.