Capital Equipment Assistance Program (CEAP)

Financial assistance is available for new or used innovative equipment that will aid in the reduction of surface runoff of agricultural wastes to state waters, improve water quality of state waters, reduce odors from manure application, separate phosphorus from manure, mitigate greenhouse gases, and reduce costs to farmers when they apply manure.

• Vermont Farms required to comply with the Required Agricultural Practices

• Custom Operators

• Non-Profit Organizations

• Phosphorus Extraction Equipment Providers

Eligible Equipment Categories:

• Precision Agriculture – to accurately and digitally observe, monitor and respond to field variability and improve nutrient management planning.

• Conservation Tillage – to reduce the frequency or intensity of tillage operations.

• Cover Crop Equipment – to increase or improve cover cropping implementation.

• Waste Management – to improve waste and nutrient management, nutrient application efficiency and methods.

• Feed Management – to reduce impacts from silage leachate and reduce feed imports.

Eligible equipment and corresponding funding caps or cost share rates can change based on funding availability and other factors, please refer to the most current Program Details for more information on eligible equipment.

Ineligible Equipment: The following types of equipment are not eligible* to receive CEAP funds:

• Frac Tanks, Manure Tankers or Manure Pumps

• Solid Manure Spreaders or Broadcast Manure Spreaders

• Tractors

• Equipment that performs full width tillage, deep tillage, or soil inversion

*Exceptions may be considered for nonprofit organizations performing agricultural research, with compelling justification.

FY2024 Grant Applications are open now. Applications must be received by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets by November 11, 2023.

(NEW! This deadline was extended to November 11 to give you more time to apply).

Please ensure that your grant application includes the following REQUIRED components:

• Complete CEAP Application

• Complete Questionnaire 

• 1-2 reputable quote/s for the requested equipment. Note that shipping or freight costs may be listed on your quote but are not eligible for financial assistance.

• Letter(s) of Support are optional and, if submitted, should be unbiased and add pertinent information about your application and its relevance to program goals.

Before you start your online application, be prepared to upload 1-2 quotes and a complete questionnaire.

Paper/PDF applications may be submitted by email to AGR.WaterQuality@vermont.gov or mailed to VAAFM CEAP Program, 116 State St Montpelier VT 05620. Please include ALL application components in the same email/envelope.

Questions about applying?

• Please review the Frequently Asked Questions before reaching out with additional questions via email to AGR.WaterQuality@Vermont.gov

• All grant applicants should review and be prepared to agree to the State of Vermont Attachment C: Standard Provisions for Contracts and Grants.

• Eligibility requirements include that farms are in good standing with the State of Vermont. Good standing for Water Quality Technical and Financial Assistance is defined in 6 V.S.A. § 4802

• Assistance is available for the application process. Please contact your local conservation district or reach out to 802-522-4655 if you are in need of assistance.

Resources for CEAP Grant Recipients:

CEAP grant agreements have an agreement length of 5 years, during which period you are expected to maintain and continue using the equipment as described in your initial application. AAFM program staff will visit your farm 1-2 times during this period to check on your equipment.

CEAP recipients are further required to report equipment usage for the first three (3) years of the grant.

This reporting requirement exists so we can document the phosphorus reductions farmers are achieving with the purchased equipment and to demonstrate how CEAP is working to get conservation on the ground. In addition, CEAP is a competitive grant program and a major aspect of the ranking and review of your applications is the scale of conservation that you committed to your application. Since recipients were selected to receive funds in part of based on the expected conservation value of your equipment being used on the acres you committed to, the program requires recipients to meet those commitments for each year of reporting. 

Annual Usage Reports cover a Calendar Year and must be submitted annually by January 15th to the Contact listed below, accompanied by all relevant corresponding maps. If an explanation or justification is needed, please submit that in written form alongside your report and maps.

• CEAP Annual Usage Report (Printable)

• CEAP Annual Usage Report (Excel)

• CEAP & FAP Combined Report (Printable)

• CEAP & FAP Combined Report (Excel)