Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost Share Program

Kentucky's state cost-share program helps farmers and woodland owners pay for best management practices that fix soil erosion, water quality and other environmental problems on their operations and put their Agriculture Water Quality plans into action. Eligible practices include animal mortality and composting facilities, heavy use areas, livestock water facilities, waste storage, grassed waterways, riparian buffers, stream crossings, pasture and hay planting, spring development and cover crops. Producers apply through their county conservation district, and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission ranks applications statewide once a year.

• 'A current AWQP is required to apply for Kentucky State Cost Share funding.' (Kentucky State Cost Share Program Application)

• By statute, priority goes to 'animal waste related problems, agricultural district participants and to producers who have their Agriculture Water Quality plans on file with their local conservation districts.'

• The application asks whether land is in a Division-approved Agricultural District, which earns extra ranking points.

• Applicants who 'failed to comply with practice lifespans or complete previous cost share projects within five (5) years prior to the application date' are not eligible.

• Non-owners use the Owner-Tenant Agreement.

• BMP categories: Livestock Animal Feeding Operation, Livestock Pastureland, Cropland, Forestland.

Up to 75% of actual installation cost, not to exceed the estimated payment rate, with a cap of $20,000 per year per applicant or operation. Practices must be built to approved design standards and may need NRCS engineer certification. Cost share must be refunded if the practice is destroyed, abandoned or the land changes hands before the practice life span ends, unless the new owner agrees in writing to maintain it.

Published amounts: 'Cost share rates are a maximum of 75 percent of the actual installation cost of the practice not to exceed $20,000 per year.' Handbook (Dec 2023, 416 KAR 1:010): 'The Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost-Share Program has established a 75% cost-share rate limit based on actual expenses, not to exceed the estimated payment rate.' 'Multiple cost-share applications, by the same applicant or on the same land, is not permitted.'

Apply at your county conservation district. 'Conservation districts can enter and submit applications on the EEC eForms website.' The applicant signs the Kentucky Soil and Water Cost Share Program Application, the district board approves or disapproves it, and the Commission ranks all applications once a year. 'Approval of applications is based on a statewide ranking criteria and the availability of funds.' District directory: https://eec.ky.gov/Natural-Resources/Conservation/Pages/Conservation-Districts.aspx

Deadline text on the page: 'Applications are currently being accepted. The Soil and Water Conservation Commission voted in 2012 to have continuous sign ups. Ranking of applications will be performed once each year on the state level by the Kentucky Soil and Water Conservation Commission at the Kentucky Division of Conservation in Frankfort.' The annual ranking date is not published. The FY2026 County Approval Summary is posted.