Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDoA)

Landowners apply by submitting an Agricultural Preservation District Application or Forestland Preservation Area Application (available on the Applications & Forms page), or by using the online "Aglands/Forestlands/Contingent Sales – Apply Online" portal. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis for entry into a Preservation District; landowners become eligible to bid to sell their farm's development rights the year after they enroll in a District Agreement, with one competitive round of easement purchases selected each year, funding permitting. For assistance with an application, contact the Aglands Preservation and Planning Section at (302) 698-4531.

Milton Melendez

Chief of Planning, Aglands Preservation and Planning Section

DDA Aglands Preservation and Planning Section

The Department of Agriculture manages Delaware's Agricultural Lands (Aglands) Preservation Program. Established in 1991, this program allows landowners to voluntarily preserve&#x2004;their farms through a two-phase process. The first phase, which does not include any payment to the landowner, is known as an Agricultural Preservation District. In phase two, the landowner is paid to sell their farm's development rights, known as an Agricultural Conservation Easement. The Aglands Program selects one round of farms to preserve each year, funding permitting. The Foundation does not own the land but purchases landowners' development rights and places a permanent agricultural conservation easement on the property.



The Department of Agriculture manages Delaware's Agricultural Lands (Aglands) Preservation Program. Established in 1991, this program allows landowners to voluntarily preserve their farms through a two-phase process. The first phase, which does not include any payment to the landowner, is known as an Agricultural Preservation District. In phase two, the landowner is paid to sell their farm's development rights, known as an Agricultural Conservation Easement. The Aglands Program selects one round of farms to preserve each year, funding permitting. The Foundation does not own the land but purchases landowners' development rights and places a permanent agricultural conservation easement on the property.

A Preservation District is a ten-year, voluntary agreement where landowners agree to use their land for agricultural purposes only; to qualify, the land must meet the farm income requirement for the state's Farmland Assessment Act, satisfy a scoring system standard, and undergo a review and approval process. Landowners are eligible to submit a bid to sell their farm's development rights the year after they enroll their farm into a District Agreement. Landowners with forested tracts can also enroll their properties as a Forestland Preservation Area.

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

Easement

Owners in the same round compete by offering a discount from the appraised development rights value; the Foundation selects farms offering the highest percentage discount, funding permitting. Owners pay no taxes, fees, or charges at settlement and receive a lump sum payment. In the 29th round (2025), 36 properties comprising more than 2,800 acres were preserved at a cost of $14.9 million (average discount 52%).

Those interested in applying for a loan through the Delaware Agricultural Financing Program should submit an application to DAFP@delaware.gov.

Delaware Agricultural Financing Program (DAFP)

The Delaware Department of Agriculture has partnered with&#x2004;the Delaware Division of Small Business to increase the viability of Delaware's agricultural industry by broadening lending opportunities across the agricultural sector. Equipment loans will be available for supporting activities, including production, processing, packaging, aggregation, and distribution for small and large operations. The Delaware Economic Development Authority (DEDA), through the state's Division of Small Business, will provide loans of $25,000 to $250,000 with a maximum loan amount of 50% of a project's total cost. Applicants must demonstrate eligibility from a private lender for the balance of project costs.



The Delaware Department of Agriculture has partnered with the Delaware Division of Small Business to increase the viability of Delaware's agricultural industry by broadening lending opportunities across the agricultural sector. Equipment loans will be available for supporting activities, including production, processing, packaging, aggregation, and distribution for small and large operations. The Delaware Economic Development Authority (DEDA), through the state's Division of Small Business, will provide loans of $25,000 to $250,000 with a maximum loan amount of 50% of a project's total cost. Applicants must demonstrate eligibility from a private lender for the balance of project costs.

Delaware farmers, producers, and food processors actively engaged in crop, livestock, aquaculture, and/or food production in the State of Delaware. Proof of farm or food business ownership or an IRS Schedule F tax form from the previous year can be provided. All work must be performed by experienced and qualified contractors licensed by the State of Delaware whose primary business location is in Delaware. Project financing is limited to one project per business annually.

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

Loan

All loans will have a term of up to seven (7) years, with interest-only payments due in the first year, followed by full amortization. Interest rates will be fixed at 3.35% for first-time farmers and aquaculture projects and 4.25% for all other projects. Final closing will be contingent on the approval of all participating lenders.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed first-come, first-served as funding allows (no fixed deadline). Before applying, applicants must complete the Delaware W-9 Online Form and register as a supplier with the State of Delaware at esupplier.erp.delaware.gov (and obtain a UEI number at SAM.gov), then submit the Delaware Forestry Resiliency Fund Landowner Application, entering their State Vendor ID. Applications for prescribed-fire and invasive-species projects must include 3 bids from qualified contractors (not required for tree-planting projects). For questions, contact Laura Upham, Forest Stewardship Coordinator, at (302) 856-2893 ext. 104 or Laura.Upham@delaware.gov.

Laura Upham

The Delaware Forest Service received $1.5 million from the U.S. Forest Service (funded through the Inflation Reduction Act) to establish the Delaware Forest Resiliency Fund, a cost-share program through which landowners can address forest resiliency through tree planting, invasive species removal, and prescribed fire.



Open to all landowners, including non-industrial private forestland owners, homeowners associations, nonprofits, municipalities, and county government. All projects must be a minimum of three acres in size, but an eligible landowner cannot own more than 10,000 forested acres in Delaware.

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

Cost Share

Most cost-share payments will be made at 90% unless otherwise outlined for the specific project area. Landowners who have owned forestland in Delaware for 10 years or less, own properties in priority areas, are limited resource producers, or are veterans honorably discharged in the prior 10 years will receive a 100% cost-share payment. Prescribed Fire and Invasive Species projects have a cap of $10,000 per landowner; Tree Planting projects have no maximum payment. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and approved first-come, first-served, as funding allows.

To apply for cost assistance, complete and submit the Nutrient Management Plan Claim Form and required supporting documentation to the Delaware Nutrient Management Program.

Brooke Walls

Program Administrator, Nutrient Management

Delaware Nutrient Management Program

A Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) or Animal Waste Management Plan (AWMP) is a strategy to manage the amount, placement, timing, and application of nutrients and is required for anyone who manages more than 10 acres of land on which nutrients are applied, and/or operates an animal operation in excess of 8,000 lbs. of live animals. A NMP must meet the regulations of the Nutrient Management Law and can be developed for your operation at no cost. Payment of cost assistance is contingent upon funding availability.



Anyone who manages more than 10 acres of land on which nutrients are applied, and/or operates an animal operation in excess of 8,000 lbs. of live animals, in the State of Delaware.

Payment of cost assistance is contingent on funding availability. Nutrient Management Plans can be developed at no cost via a certified nutrient consultant or the State Nutrient Management Program. A related Relocation Program cost-shares transporting excess nutrients (e.g., poultry litter) from farms with a surplus to farms or projects that need them; that program is also contingent on funding availability and requires following the Relocation Program Guidelines. Recipients of any DDA funding must complete the state's online W-9 form and register as a supplier at esupplier.erp.delaware.gov before receiving payment.

Individuals and businesses must complete Form W-9 prior to applying for cost-assistance. Complete this form ONLY if you are applying for cost assistance for the first time or updating your contact information (e.g. address, phone number, direct deposit/ACH, etc.).

To apply for cost assistance, complete and submit the Relocation Claim for Payment form to the Delaware Nutrient Management Program. Payment of cost assistance is contingent upon funding availability.

Submit by email to nutrient.management@delaware.gov
or by regular mail to:
Delaware Department of Agriculture
Delaware Nutrient Management Program
2320 South DuPont Highway
Dover, Delaware 19901

Once your application has been approved, you will receive a letter of approval and a Claim for Payment form. After completion of the manure transport, you must send in the Claim for Payment form and the weight slips for payment. Payment of cost assistance is contingent upon funding availability.

The Nutrient Management Relocation Program is a cost assistance program designed to assist in transporting nutrients (manure) from areas of excess, to areas in need of nutrients. Many farms are dealing with excess manure, namely poultry litter, and need to export the manure in order to balance crop nutrient demands. The Delaware Nutrient Management Program provides financial assistance for the cost of Delaware manure to alternative use projects or farms in need of nutrients.




Any farmer, person or business can apply for assistance as long as they take responsibility for meeting transport standards and follow the Relocation Program Guidelines.


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

Grant

- Relocation Program Guide
- Relocation Claim for Payment – (.pdf fillable) 
- Relocation Claim for Payment with Auto Calculator – (.pdf fillable) 
- Relocation Claim for Payment Checklist
 
- Nutrient Consultant List
- Nutrient Management Plan Policy Checklist
- NM Plan Claim Form

Waste & Manure Management

Weeds

Fertilizer

Waste & Compost

Nutrient Management

Inputs

Individuals and businesses must complete Form W-9 prior to applying for cost-assistance. Complete this form ONLY if you are applying for cost assistance for the first time or updating your contact information (e.g. address, phone number, direct deposit/ACH, etc.).

Apply through the online application form on the Delaware Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry funding-opportunities page. The 2027 grant cycle is open, with a deadline of November 30, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Applications are evaluated after the deadline by a committee of the Delaware Community Forestry Council. Delaware Forest Service staff (dda-urbanforestry@delaware.gov) can help identify a site, select species, and calculate volunteer hours toward the match. Grant recipients must complete an online W-9 before receiving payment.

Delaware Urban & Community Forestry Program

Delaware's Urban and Community Forestry Program, run by the Delaware Forest Service within the Delaware Department of Agriculture, offers annual grants to help cities, towns, and neighborhoods improve their tree canopy through tree&#x2004;projects on public land. It provides financial and technical assistance for tree planting and management, and Forest Service staff can assist at every stage — identifying a suitable site, selecting species, and calculating volunteer hours toward the match. Several grant categories are offered: the U&CF Annual Grant (tree planting or tree management — inventory, pruning, or hazard-tree removal); an Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) sub-grant for disadvantaged communities; a Hazardous & Ash Tree Removal sub-grant (requiring 1:1 tree replacement); an Invasive Tree Species Removal & Management sub-grant; and Chesapeake Bay Watershed tree-planting grants for Delaware's 15 Chesapeake sub-watersheds.



Delaware's Urban and Community Forestry Program, run by the Delaware Forest Service within the Delaware Department of Agriculture, offers annual grants to help cities, towns, and neighborhoods improve their tree canopy through tree projects on public land. It provides financial and technical assistance for tree planting and management, and Forest Service staff can assist at every stage — identifying a suitable site, selecting species, and calculating volunteer hours toward the match. Several grant categories are offered: the U&CF Annual Grant (tree planting or tree management — inventory, pruning, or hazard-tree removal); an Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) sub-grant for disadvantaged communities; a Hazardous & Ash Tree Removal sub-grant (requiring 1:1 tree replacement); an Invasive Tree Species Removal & Management sub-grant; and Chesapeake Bay Watershed tree-planting grants for Delaware's 15 Chesapeake sub-watersheds.

Grants are open to all Delaware municipalities, homeowner associations, and certified 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including schools and churches. Eligible projects must be performed on public land or open space within the community. Each U&CF Annual Grant applicant may submit one project in one category (tree planting or tree management). Priority is given to first-time applicants, designated Tree Friendly Communities, and projects that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Chesapeake Bay Watershed tree-planting grants require the applicant to be a Delaware municipality or 501(c)(3) organization within the Chesapeake Basin.

Trees

Forest Management

Disaster Relief

Emergency

Grant requests range from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $9,000, depending on the specific grant program. Grants require a 50-50 match in either cash (non-federal funds) or in-kind services (volunteer or staff time, equipment rental, or supplies) — sufficient volunteer hours can meet the match without cash. The Hazardous & Ash Removal sub-grant requires 1:1 tree replacement with a suitable species. Reimbursement is via the state; recipients complete a W-9 before payment.

The Aglands Foundation Board only accepts loan applications when funding is available. Interested individuals may submit a pre-qualification application at any time, submitting a fully executed sales contract, a loan eligibility letter from a commercial lender, and a farm (business) plan.

Jimmy Kroon

Chief of Planning

Established in 2011, the Young Farmer Loan Program offers a 30-year, no-interest loan to help young farmers purchase farmland, one of the chief obstacles to starting out in business. The loan is for up to 70 percent of the appraised value of the farm's development rights, not to exceed $500,000. Farms in the program are placed into a permanent preservation easement.



Applicant must be a Delaware citizen between the ages of 18 to 40, with a net worth not exceeding $300,000 and at least 3 years of farming experience (joint applicants' combined net worth cannot exceed $300,000). The farm must be located in Delaware and contain at least 15 acres of cropland, must not be enrolled in a conservation easement at the time of purchase, and the applicant must not already own more than twice the amount of tillable acres they wish to purchase.

The loan carries no interest and a 30-year term, for up to 70% of the appraised value of the farm's development rights, not to exceed $500,000; the Young Farmer loan typically covers about 50% of the purchase price, so most applicants also need a commercial loan, which is treated as the primary loan and repaid first (the Young Farmer Program loan is repaid over the remaining balance of the 30-year term). Farms financed through the program are placed into a permanent agricultural preservation easement. To date, 36 young farmers have received $8 million in loans to purchase over 2,800 acres.

Contact your service forester, who completes the practice description, acres, estimated cost, and maximum cost-share amount payable before you sign; do not begin the practice before receiving written approval. Recipients receive an IRS Form 1099-G for cost-shares received.

The Delaware Forest Service, in cooperation with the USDA, offers cost-share assistance to private forest landowners for activities such as tree planting and timber stand improvement. It is a distinct state-funded cost-share program alongside the federal CREP and EQIP; Forest Service personnel work with landowners and the USDA to ensure funds are properly spent.



Private forest landowners in Delaware. The application requires a stewardship plan (with author and plan date) and a service forester's certification of the practice.

Education

State-funded cost-share for tree planting and timber stand improvement. The cost-share percentage, per-practice cap, and program pool are not published on the Delaware Forest Service source (the maximum payable is set per applicant by the service forester). Recipients must maintain the approved practice for a minimum of ten years or refund all or part of the funds paid.

Delaware Department of Agriculture runs an annual competitive solicitation. For the 2026 cycle: the RFP was released April 27, 2026 and proposals were due to DDA by May 18, 2026 (4:30 p.m. EST); the state plan was due to USDA/AMS by June 8, 2026. Applicants use the 2026 Request for Proposal, Attachment A (Application Cover Sheet), Project Profile Template, and Sample State Plan, all posted on the program page. This cycle has closed; DDA typically reopens the RFP annually each spring — check the program page for the next cycle's dates and documents. For more information or to apply, contact Sheree Nichols, Management Analyst III, Communications & Marketing section, at (302) 698-4521 or sheree.nichols@delaware.gov.

Sheree Nichols

Management Analyst III, Communications & Marketing

The&#x2004;Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of Delaware's specialty crop industry, through funding provided under the Farm Bill and managed by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. The Delaware Department of Agriculture manages a competitive solicitation process to award the program; individual producers, producer groups, organizations, associations, state and local organizations, academia, and other specialty crop stakeholders can apply as single entities or combined efforts. For 2026, DDA is allotting approximately $402,000 through the competitive grant process, with awards available between $5,000 and $75,000.



The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of Delaware's specialty crop industry, through funding provided under the Farm Bill and managed by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. The Delaware Department of Agriculture manages a competitive solicitation process to award the program; individual producers, producer groups, organizations, associations, state and local organizations, academia, and other specialty crop stakeholders can apply as single entities or combined efforts. For 2026, DDA is allotting approximately $402,000 through the competitive grant process, with awards available between $5,000 and $75,000.

Agricultural producers, nonprofit organizations, government entities, for-profit companies, or educational institutions based in Delaware or with a business or academic affiliation based in the state are eligible to apply. Applications requesting funding for field crops, such as corn and soybeans, or animal agriculture, do not qualify for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

Competitive grants are awarded between $5,000 and $75,000, funded through a total 2026 allotment of approximately $402,000. Grant agreements for the 2026 cycle were anticipated to be completed by October 30, 2026, with an anticipated project start date of November 16, 2026 and a project conclusion deadline of September 29, 2029.

List of Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDoA) Funding Opportunities