Developing Climate-Smart Agriculture and Markets Amongst Socially-Disadvantaged, Limited-Resource, and Urban Farmers in Ohio and Michigan

Notice: _On April 14, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the cancellation of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC). The USDA plans to reform the program into the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative. Contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for more information on how to apply to the AMP initiative. _

This project would combine monitoring, outreach, and technical support to foster the adoption of climate-smart practices by minority vegetable and beef cattle farmers socially disadvantaged and limited resource farmers of Ohio and southern Michigan. It also creates synergy between climate-smart feedlot operations and socially disadvantaged farmers. Project partners plan to recruit minority vegetable and beef cattle farmers and selected Central State University students who would receive additional training on climate-smart agriculture. Small-scale and urban vegetable farmers enrolled in this project would receive funds to cover part of their operating costs.

Individual producers apply directly — this is a real producer intake, not a partner-only project.

Who can participate, verbatim: "Eligible rural, urban, and beginning producers who meet NRCS program requirements are encouraged to apply. For farm businesses, at least 50% ownership must meet eligibility criteria, where applicable."

Hard participation requirements, verbatim:

• "Provide proof of landownership for the duration of the grant." (As published this is an ownership test — no leased-ground or tenant route is described.)

• "Dedicate a minimum of 3,000 square feet of land for a period of three years."

• "Be registered with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and complete necessary forms."

• "Provide production records for the previous two growing seasons."

What you must grow. Vegetables. The project is "designed to enhance soil nutrient availability and optimize farm productivity by promoting the use of slurry manure based fertilizers as sustainable nutrient sources for vegetable production," and it compares "vegetable production outcomes using slurry manure based fertilizers versus conventional fertilizers." Enrolled plots must follow NRCS conservation standards, "which may include: No till or reduced tillage; Cover crops, crop rotation, and mulching; Drip irrigation systems."

Where — check this before you apply. This record carries both Ohio and Michigan because the original 2023 award served socially disadvantaged, limited-resource and urban farmers of Ohio and southern Michigan. Central State University's live 2026 AMP page describes the project as supporting "both rural and urban producers across Ohio" and does not mention Michigan anywhere. No Michigan eligibility is published today, so a Michigan grower should confirm with the project leads before assuming they qualify.

No income ceiling, acreage maximum, or years-of-farming minimum is published, and beginning producers are named as eligible rather than required. First step is the interest form at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/p7uCs6Qk2c; questions go to Dr. Ibrahim Katampe, Dr. Cindy Folck, or Dr. Raj Shrestha at Central State University.

Paid participation at published per-acre rates plus in-kind inputs — not a lump-sum grant.

Financial incentives, verbatim:

• "Land compensation: $1,322 per acre, per year"

• "Labor assistance: up to $4,848 per acre, per year"

• "Production Inputs and support (valued at approximately $15,000 per acre, per year)" — covering "Vegetable and cover crop seeds or seedlings; Lime application; Fertilizers (slurry-based and conventional); Crop protection; Irrigation supplies and mulch; Soil, plant, and manure analysis cost; Rental equipment, storage, and marketing support."

• Plus "Access to USDA supported training on production practices and market access" and "Ongoing technical and educational support from CSU Extension."

What you commit in return:

• "Dedicate a minimum of 3,000 square feet of land for a period of three years."

• "Provide proof of landownership for the duration of the grant."

• "Be registered with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and complete necessary forms."

• "Provide production records for the previous two growing seasons."

• Plots must follow NRCS conservation standards, "which may include: No till or reduced tillage; Cover crops, crop rotation, and mulching; Drip irrigation systems."

No per-farm dollar ceiling, acreage cap, or match requirement is published; the project as a whole is "a $4.9 million grant." Note the enrollment floor is small — 3,000 sq ft is under a tenth of an acre — so at these per-acre rates a minimum-size plot earns a modest amount; the rates reward acreage.

Start with an online interest form, then Central State University contacts you. There is no competitive grant round and nothing goes to USDA directly.

The route, verbatim from the project page: "Farmers who want to learn more about participating can complete an interest form at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/p7uCs6Qk2c." That Microsoft Forms link is also what the page's "Participate" button opens, and it is the only intake published. Expect a conversation with the CSU team rather than a scored application — the page frames enrollment as producers who "are encouraged to apply" and then meet NRCS program requirements.

No deadline is published. Central State's AMP page (posted 4 June 2026) states no application window, closing date, or funding round, and the interest form is open-ended. Because nothing is published either way, ask the project leads whether they are still enrolling for the current growing season before you count on a slot.

What you must be able to produce. The page's "Participation requirements" are what you will be asked to satisfy, and two of them take time to arrange — so start gathering before you make contact:

• "Provide proof of landownership for the duration of the grant." As published this is an ownership test; no tenant or leased-ground route is described.

• "Dedicate a minimum of 3,000 square feet of land for a period of three years." This is a three-year commitment, not a one-season trial.

• "Be registered with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and complete necessary forms." If you do not already have a farm number, visit your county FSA office first — registration is a prerequisite, not something the project does for you.

• "Provide production records for the previous two growing seasons."

Applicants must also "meet NRCS program requirements," and enrolled plots have to follow NRCS conservation standards, "which may include: No till or reduced tillage; Cover crops, crop rotation, and mulching; Drip irrigation systems." For farm businesses, "at least 50% ownership must meet eligibility criteria, where applicable."

No budget, proposal, or letters of support are mentioned.

Check geography before you invest time. This record covers both Ohio and Michigan, because the original 2023 award served farmers of Ohio and southern Michigan. Central State's live 2026 AMP page describes the project as supporting "both rural and urban producers across Ohio" and does not mention Michigan anywhere. A Michigan grower should confirm with the project leads that Michigan intake is still running before filling in the form.

Who to ask (all published on the project page): Dr. Ibrahim Katampe, ikatampe@centralstate.edu; Dr. Cindy Folck, afolck@centralstate.edu; Dr. Raj Shrestha, rshrestha@centralstate.edu.