Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Arkansas Department of Agriculture (ARDA)

Contact your local conservation district to obtain an application. Once it is completed and endorsed by the district, the applicant can receive a loan from a participating bank. Submit completed applications via email to agri.applications@agriculture.arkansas.gov.

Deadline text on the page: No deadline; apply through the local conservation district at any time.

Debby Dickson

Program Contact

Applications inbox

General office

Arkansas agricultural landowners can get low-interest loans of up to $250,000 through participating banks to install conservation practices that cut nonpoint source pollution. Eligible practices include tailwater recovery systems, irrigation reservoirs, no-till drills, stacking sheds, livestock ponds and fencing, and land leveling. The local conservation district provides and endorses the application.



- Any interested agricultural landowner: individual, fiduciary, partnership, LLC, or corporation
- Application completed and endorsed by the local conservation district; loan subject to bank approval
- Must maintain the project throughout the life of the loan and allow USDA-NRCS site inspections
- Eligible practices: tail water recovery systems, irrigation reservoirs, no-till drills, stacking sheds, ponds and fencing for livestock, land leveling

A payment that must be returned to the provider following specified terms of repayment and interest rate.

Loan

Up to $250,000; term set by the bank, maximum 20 years; rate set by the bank with ANRC; project maintained for the life of the loan.

Published amounts: Low-interest loan of up to $250,000 from a participating bank, pending bank approval. Loan terms are determined by the bank but may not exceed 20 years; interest rates are set by the bank in conjunction with the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.

Decide on fee-simple title or conservation easement, complete the Forest Legacy Application Form and mail or email it to the Forest Legacy Coordinator by January 2, then obtain an FLP Qualified Appraisal and the 25% cost share with the coordinator's help.

Deadline text on the page: FLP landowner application submission deadline January 2 (annual cycle: SFSCC prioritizes in June, ADA submits to USFS in September, awards ~2 years later).

Shay Hoog

Forest Legacy Coordinator

Arkansas's Forest Legacy Program uses U.S. Forest Service money to buy conservation easements (or fee title) on privately owned forest threatened with conversion. With an easement the owner keeps managing and harvesting timber. The state ranks landowner applications and submits the best to compete nationally; federal funds cover up to 75%, and the seller must line up the 25% match. Arkansas favors fee-simple purchases.



- Willing seller of a conservation easement or fee simple title
- Tract lies within Arkansas Forest Legacy Areas
- Environmentally important forest threatened by present or future conversion to non-forest uses
- Priority of the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee and the Forestry Division
- Seller must secure 25% cost share

Payment per unit of land to do or avoid certain practices related to land management.

Easement

Up to 75% federal share at no more than appraised fair market value (federal appraisal standards); a forest management agreement is required if timber rights are retained under an easement; the state holds the easement or land.

Published amounts: Federal funding for up to 75 percent of the cost of conservation easements or fee acquisition; the seller must secure 25% cost share (donated easement value can count). Page gives two different project caps: '$30 million in total cost or $20 million for individual projects' (up to 5 proposals) and later '$20 million in total cost or $7 million for individual projects' (maximum of 3 proposals).

Submit your application to your local Conservation District; after district approval the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission reviews it; pay the fee (3% of approved credit, $100–$1,500). File the Certificate of Completion application when the project is finished.

Deadline text on the page: No deadline; projects must be approved before construction begins.

Christy Steward

Arkansas gives state income tax credits for projects that cut groundwater use: building water impoundments, converting irrigation from groundwater to surface water, and agricultural land leveling. Credits run 25–50% of project cost, up to $18,000 a year with 15-year carryover. Projects must be approved before construction and kept in place for 10 years.



- Individuals and entities that invest in qualifying projects: impoundments (at least 20 acre-feet), groundwater-to-surface-water conversion, agricultural land leveling to conserve irrigation water
- Higher conversion credit inside designated critical groundwater areas
- Must not begin construction before final approval; maintain project 10 years after the Certificate of Completion or credits may be recaptured

A reduction or waiving of fees for meeting a certain criteria.

Discount

State income tax credit, 25–50% of cost; $18,000/yr cap for agricultural users; 15-year carryover; 10-year maintenance; optional tax deduction for cost above the credit.

Published amounts: Impoundments of at least 20 acre-feet: 50 percent of project cost. Conversion from groundwater to surface water: 25% outside / 50% inside a critical groundwater area; maximum tax credit amount for conversion is $35,000. Agricultural land leveling: 25%. The maximum credit in one taxable year is the lesser of the taxpayer's income tax due or $18,000 ($200,000 for industrial/commercial conversions in critical areas). Unused credit carries over up to 15 years. Fee: 3% of the approved credit (minimum $100, maximum $1,500).

Submit a completed application and a 3% administrative fee to the Department; staff schedule a preconstruction site visit; eligible applicants receive a Certificate of Tax Credit Approval and may proceed. After completion, request a final inspection and submit receipts to receive a Certificate of Project Completion, which must be filed with the next tax return.

Deadline text on the page: No deadline; projects must be approved before activities begin and completed within three years of the Certificate of Tax Credit Approval.

Zoie Autrey

This state income tax credit covers out-of-pocket costs for creating wetlands or restoring and conserving riparian zones, such as site prep, permanent vegetation, streambank stabilization, berms and water control structures. Credits run up to $50,000 per project, claimed at up to $5,000 a year. Projects must be approved by the Department before work starts and maintained for 10 years.



- Any taxpayer (individual, partnership, LLC, S Corporation, or Corporation) whose project is certified and approved by the Department
- Projects that restore/improve riparian zones, create wetlands, or conserve riparian habitat (Title XIII rules)
- Not eligible: projects required as mitigation under state or federal law; cannot also claim the same project under the Water Resources Conservation Development Incentives Act of 1985

Credit up to $50,000/project, max $5,000/year over up to 10 years; complete within 3 years; maintain 10 years.

Published amounts: Up to $50,000 per project; no more than $5,000 may be claimed in any one tax year, over a maximum of 10 years; limited to actual out-of-pocket project costs. Administrative fee: 3% of the total estimated project cost.

Submit an application to the County Conservation District (October–January window); the Department reviews and approves; begin implementation only after approval; the district conducts a final inspection and the inspection report is submitted for reimbursement (processed within 60 days). Application forms are provided on request.

Deadline text on the page: Title 10 rules §1003.4: 'Applications for agricultural cost-share funds shall be accepted during the months of October, November, December, and January, unless otherwise approved by the director.' Next window opens October 2026.

Blake Forrest

Water Quality Section Manager

Title X cost-share pays 60% of the cost of NRCS-standard conservation practices that reduce nonpoint source pollution, up to $15,000 over three years, for landowners in participating Arkansas conservation districts. Eligible practices include cover crops, nutrient management, prescribed grazing, riparian forest buffers, tree and shrub establishment, irrigation and livestock pipelines, and wetland creation or enhancement. The district takes applications and inspects finished work before reimbursement.



- Individuals, partnerships, corporations, LLCs, and water-related districts with land in a participating County Conservation District
- Property must have a current conservation plan (on file with the district)
- Applicant must own or have permission/property rights for the project life; must be a district cooperator
- Practices must meet NRCS specifications and reduce NPS pollution
- Combined federal funding may not exceed 75% of project cost

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

Cost Share

60% cost-share / 40% landowner match; max $15,000 federal over three years ($5,000 per year per the Title 10 rules); practices maintained for the NRCS project life, with pro-rated repayment if removed early.

Published amounts: Page: 60% federal cost-share / 40% landowner match; Maximum federal assistance: $15,000 over three years; combined federal funding (e.g., EQIP + Title X) cannot exceed 75% of total project costs. Rules: 'No application shall be approved for cost-share funds in excess of five thousand dollars (5,000) per year.'

Submit the application to Alexsis.Mondragon@arkansas.gov by the deadline; target-area applications are considered immediately, others ranked after the deadline by a scoring system. The Department can help complete applications (Alexsis Mondragon, 870-331-0888).

Deadline text on the page: The 2026 deadline for applications is August 28th. (Page body also still says 'before the 2026 deadline, August 14' — superseded by the extension.)

Alexsis Mondragon

This program cost-shares site preparation, hardwood planting and removal of standing dead pine for landowners converting struggling pine plantations to hardwood forest. Much of Southeast Arkansas pine has been hit by brown spot needle blight. Landowners in Ashley, Chicot, Desha, Drew and Lincoln counties get priority, but others can apply; payment follows completion and a Department forester's inspection.



- Property currently or recently forested with pine
- Priority: Ashley, Chicot, Desha, Drew and Lincoln counties (others eligible, ranked after the deadline)
- Develop a long-term management plan with a Registered Forester within 3 months after approval; plan approved by the Department
- Allow Department monitoring of reforestation

Reimbursement after approved practices are completed and inspected; $100,000 per landowner per state fiscal year.

Published amounts: Each landowner is limited to $100,000 in cost share payments per state fiscal year. Example rates: heavy ripping site prep $131.19/acre, bandspraying site prep $31.66/acre, plant bareroot seedlings $205.70/acre (40-acre example = $14,742). 2026 round: $2,000,000 available.

Submit a pre-proposal workplan during the summer RFP window (FY27: July 1–Aug 31, 2026); selected applicants develop full workplans (due January) for EPA review; sub-grant agreements are signed in September and projects begin in October.

Deadline text on the page: FY27 RFP memo (July 1, 2026): pre-proposal workplans accepted 'from July 1, 2026 through close of business, Monday, August 31, 2026.' Annual timeline: RFP July/August; full workplans due January; projects begin October.

Allen Brown

Nonpoint Source Staff

Kevin McGaughey

Brett Galland

Jennifer Walsh

Workplan templates line

Arkansas's Section 319 program passes EPA nonpoint-source money to local partners, such as conservation districts, local governments, nonprofits and universities, for best management practices, technical assistance, demonstrations and monitoring in priority watersheds. Farmers don't apply directly: your conservation district often uses a 319 sub-grant to cost-share practices such as cover crops, fencing and alternative livestock water on your farm. A 40% non-federal match is required; FY27 pre-proposals were accepted July 1 to August 31, 2026, and the request for proposals opens each July.



- State or local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions (federal agencies not eligible)
- Projects aligned with the 2024–2029 NPS Management Plan; priority to the 2024–2029 priority watersheds with EPA-accepted 9-element plans
- 40% non-federal match

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

Grant

Federal sub-grant; 40% non-federal match.

Published amounts: A 40% non-federal match (cash or in-kind) is required. Award levels depend on the annual EPA allocation (often not known until March).

Submit the application and project plan to ADA.SPBPP@arkansas.gov by the annual deadline (August 28 in 2026).

Deadline text on the page: The deadline for 2026 applications is August 28th (extended; news 2026-08-19: 'Applications for both cost-share programs will now be accepted through August 28, 2026.').

Robert Floyd

Conservation Programs Forester

David Blythe

Forest Health Program Manager

Application inbox

Arkansas's Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Program cost-shares first commercial thinning, non-commercial thinning and prescribed burning in overstocked pine stands to head off beetle outbreaks, up to $10,000 per landowner. It also pays loggers a $3,000 incentive to take small jobs (40 acres or less). Funding comes from a U.S. Forest Service award, with one application round a year.



- Non-industrial private landowners, as well as groups, small corporations, and part-time forest product manufacturers
- At least 10 contiguous acres of pine
- Estimated stand-wide basal area of greater than 120 ft² per acre of pine

Per-acre payments for thinning; 75% of invoiced cost (with per-acre caps) for non-commercial thinning and prescribed burning; $10,000 landowner cap.

Published amounts: Each landowner is eligible for a maximum cost share of $10,000. First commercial thinning for pulpwood: $50 per acre; in-woods chips: $75 per acre; non-commercial thinning: 75% of invoiced costs not to exceed $125 per acre; prescribed burning: 75% of invoiced costs not to exceed $37.50 per acre. Logger incentive payment of $3,000 for properties of 40 acres or less of pine. 2026 total: $250,000.

Application and details are posted on the ADA Grants page during the annual window (spring); proposals are reviewed by a committee and incorporated into Arkansas's state plan for USDA approval.

Deadline text on the page: 2026 cycle: 'now accepting applications for the 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) through May 8, 2026' (news posted April 24, 2026). Grants page: 'Information about the next application period will be posted when available.'

Arkansas's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program passes through USDA funds for projects that make the state's fruit, vegetable, horticulture, floriculture and tree nut industries more competitive. Examples include food safety and FSMA compliance, nutrition education, production research and sustainability. Projects must benefit the broader industry rather than one applicant, and selected projects go into the state plan for USDA approval.



- Universities, institutions, cooperatives, producers, industry groups, community-based organizations, and individuals
- Projects must show a benefit to the specialty crop industry and/or the public, not a single organization or individual
- Minimum request $20,000

Federal grant through the state plan; minimum $20,000 request.

Published amounts: Project proposals must request a minimum of $20,000 in funding.

List of Arkansas Department of Agriculture (ARDA) Funding Opportunities