Browse Ambrook’s collection of grants, loans, discounts, cost shares, easements, and insurance for operations experiencing fence or structure damage.

Farmers and ranchers should check with their local FSA office to find out about ECP sign-up periods, which are set by the FSA County Committee.

FY 2025 LFPP Request for Applications (RFA) (pdf)


The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) helps farmers and ranchers to repair damage to farmlands caused by natural disasters and to help put in place methods for water conservation during severe drought. The ECP does this by giving ranchers and farmers funding and assistance to repair the damaged farmland or to install methods for water conservation.



The FSA County Committee inspects the damage to determine if land is eligible for ECP. For land to qualify for ECP funds, the damage from the natural disaster or severe drought must create new conservation problems that if not dealt with would:
- Further damage the land
- Significantly affect the land’s productive capacity
- Represent damage from a natural disaster unusual for the area (an exception to this is damage from wind erosion)
- Be too costly to repair without Federal assistance in order to return the land to agricultural production

Technical assistance to fix the conservation problem may also be provided by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Conservation problems that existed before the disaster or severe drought are ineligible for ECP assistance.

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

- Emergency Conservation Fact Sheet
- 2025 FMPP and LFPP Project Narrative (docx)
- 2025 FMPP and LFPP Turnkey Marketing and Promotion Project Narrative (docx)
- 2025 FMPP and LFPP Turnkey Recruitment and Training Project Narrative (docx)
- 2025 FMPP and LFPP Project Narrative Guide (pdf)
- Letter Verification of Cost Share (docx)
- Forms SF-424 can be found with the www.grants.gov website application submission.
- Partner Organization Letter Template (docx)


Air Quality

Carbon Capture

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Regenerative

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Coronavirus

Fencing

Trade Relief

Trees

Wildfire

Irrigation

Water Quality

Waterway Protection

Wetland Conservation

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Reduced Tillage

Drought

Flood

Hurricane

Tornado

Infrastructure

Equipment

Emergency

Weather

Disaster Relief

The funding for ECP is determined by Congress. Up to 75% of the cost to implement emergency conservation practices can be provided, however the final amount is determined by the committee reviewing the application. Qualified limited resource producers may earn up to 90% cost-share. The FSA County Committee is able to approve applications up to $50,000 while $50,001 to $100,000 requires state committee approval. Amounts over $100,000 require the approval of the national FSA office.


All applications are received on a rolling basis. Awards are determined based on a complete application and alignment of project with program goals.  
The application process follows 5 main steps:
1. Initial Application - Farm Operator submits a PSWF Application 
2. Assigned VAAFM Staff or Partner - VAAFM Staff or Partner Technical Assistance (TA) provider follow up with applicant to determine eligibility and assist with the application process and paperwork
3. Project Planning - Farm Operator, with assistance from VAAFM Staff or Partner TA provider, develops a Project Plan Map, Estimated Budget/Contractor Quotes, and a Grazing Plan as applicable. 
4. Project Review - VAAFM Program reviews project application, plan, and budget. Finalizes application paperwork with applicant. Makes an award determination and provides notification of award to Farm Operator. 
5. Grant Award - Farm Operator and VAAFM sign Grant Agreement. Project begins! 
A complete project application includes:
- Submitted Application
- Project Map 
- Project Budget 
- Grazing Plan if applicable*
- W9 
- State of Vermont Good Standing Form 
- Certificate of Liability Insurance if applicable
- Land Lease Agreement if applicable
*Applications which include rotational grazing must include a Grazing Plan. If the applicant has a full Grazing Plan developed with NRCS or a Grazing Specialist, submit that. Otherwise, use the VAAFM Grazing Plan Template, which can either be filled in on your computer or printed and filled in by hand.  A VAAFM Staff or Partner TA Provider can help you complete a grazing plan. The Grazing Plan can also be used to apply to the VAAFM Farm Agronomic Practice Program.

- Online Pasture and Surface Water Fencing Grant Application 
- Printable Pasture and Surface Water Fencing Grant Application
- VAAFM Grazing Plan Template

Prior to applying, please read the important information below:
- Submitting an application does not ensure an award.
- Grant agreements must be in place prior to the start of construction.
- Farmer is responsible for financing the project during construction and will only receive reimbursement upon certified project completion.
- Final cost share payment is determined by actual project costs as documented by itemized invoices.
- Farmer’s equipment and labor costs are eligible for reimbursement.
Contact For More Information
Connor Steckel, Agricultural Water Quality Program Coordinator/Grazing Specialist
PHONE: 802-522-0065
EMAIL: Connor.Steckel@Vermont.Gov 

Connor Steckel

The Pasture and Surface Water Fencing (PSWF) Program provides pasture management technical assistance and financial assistance to Vermont farmers to improve water quality and on-farm livestock exclusion from surface waters statewide.


### **Eligible Practices**

- Fence 

- Livestock Pipeline

- Water Source Development 

- Watering Facility 

- Improved Permanent Water Area 

- Stream Crossing 

- Electric Fence Chargers 

- Trails & Walkways





The Pasture and Surface Water Fencing (PSWF) Program provides pasture management technical assistance and financial assistance to Vermont farmers to improve water quality and on-farm livestock exclusion from surface waters statewide.

Eligible Practices
- Fence 
- Livestock Pipeline
- Water Source Development 
- Watering Facility 
- Improved Permanent Water Area 
- Stream Crossing 
- Electric Fence Chargers 
- Trails & Walkways



- Be a Vermont farm as defined in the Required Agricultural Practices
- Manage pastureland where water quality will benefit from implementation of improved pasture management and eligible and/or necessary conservation practices
- Have ownership or land control for the lifespan of the practice (10 years)
- Have an insurance policy that allows for the State and its employees and officers to be listed as additional insured

Eligible Projects:
- Fence 
- Livestock Pipeline
- Watering Facility 
- Improved Permanent Water Area 
- Stream Crossing 
- Electric Fence Chargers 
- Trails & Walkways


Livestock

Cattle

Pigs

Poultry

Sheep

Specialty Livestock

Beef Cattle

Dairy Cattle

Feeder Cattle

Slaughter Cattle

Calves

Heifers

Steers

Bulls

Barrows

Boars

Feeder Pigs

Hogs

Sows

Chickens

Cornish Hens

Ducks

Geese

Turkey

Ewes

Lambs

Rams

Alpacas

Beefalo

Bison

Buffalo

Caribou

Deer

Emus

Goats

Guinea Pigs

Llamas

Mink

Mohair

Ostrich

Pheasants

Quail

Rabbits

Reindeer

Water Buffalo

Beef Bottom Round

Beef Brisket

Beef Chuck Roast

Beef Eye Round

Beef Flank Steak

Beef Flat Iron Steak

Beef Heart

Beef Liver

Beef London Broil

Beef NY Strip Steak

Beef Oxtail

Beef Rib Steak

Beef Rump Roast

Beef Short Ribs

Beef Sirloin

Beef Sirloin Tip Roast

Beef Skirt Steak

Beef Soup Bones

Beef Stew Meat

Beef Tongue

Beef Top Round

Beef Whole Filet

Ground Beef

Broilers

Chicks

Fryers

Layers

Pullets

Roasters

Ducklings

Goslings

Poults

Toms

Ground Lamb

Lamb Chops

Lamb Heart

Lamb Leg

Lamb Liver

Lamb Shank

Lamb Shoulder

Lamb Stew Meat

Bison Calf

Bison Meat

Bucks

Nannies

Slaughter Goats

- Pasture and Surface Water Fencing Information Handout - 2025

Agritourism

Water Management

- The Pasture and Surface Water Fencing (PSWF) Program provides no-cost pasture management technical assistance from experienced grazing specialists
- PSWF also provides financial assistance that reimburses 90% of the cost to install infrastructure that will improve pasture management, up to the farm’s grant amount.
    - Maximum grant amount when the project has livestock exclusion from surface waters is $15,000 per farm.
    - Maximum grant amount when there is no livestock exclusion from surface waters, but where rotational grazing will be implemented or improved is $10,000 per farm. Rotational grazing requires at minimum moving livestock at least twice per week.

List of Agricultural Funding for Operations Experiencing Fence or Structure Damage