Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship (IDALS)

To apply, contact your local IDALS office using this map.
Or, apply directly online from this portal.

Matt McDonald

The state of Iowa allocates funds to local soil and water conservation districts, where commissioners set priorities for their use, and field office staff assure the technical quality of practices built. Iowa farmers interested in improving their land's soil and water health can apply&#x2004;to receive cost shares for temporary or permanent conservation practices.

By investing in soil conservation, you receive the best of both worlds: you improve the productivity of your farm and keep sediment out of the water. The work you do on your farm permanently benefits the quality of life in Iowa.


**Temporary practices**

No-till

Strip till

Contouring

Field Borders

Cover Crops

Ridge till

Critical Area Planting

Contour strip cropping

Filter strips


**Permanent practices**

Diversion

Grade stabilization structures

Grass strips

Pasture and Hay land planting

Terraces

Windbreaks

Grassed waterways

Tree planting

Conservation cover



The state of Iowa allocates funds to local soil and water conservation districts, where commissioners set priorities for their use, and field office staff assure the technical quality of practices built. Iowa farmers interested in improving their land's soil and water health can apply to receive cost shares for temporary or permanent conservation practices.
By investing in soil conservation, you receive the best of both worlds: you improve the productivity of your farm and keep sediment out of the water. The work you do on your farm permanently benefits the quality of life in Iowa.

Temporary practices
No-till
Strip till
Contouring
Field Borders
Cover Crops
Ridge till
Critical Area Planting
Contour strip cropping
Filter strips

Permanent practices
Diversion
Grade stabilization structures
Grass strips
Pasture and Hay land planting
Terraces
Windbreaks
Grassed waterways
Tree planting
Conservation cover

- Financial incentive funds are available for use on privately owned land used for agricultural production. “Agricultural production” means the commercial production of food or fiber. 
- Tracts of land used for agricultural production which are less than ten acres in size and from which less than $2500 of agricultural products are sold annually may not qualify for funds.

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

Cost Share

- Program Information on the IDALS FARMS site

Landscape

High Tunnel

Air Quality

Certification

Wildlife and Pollinator Habitat

Soil Health

Reduced Tillage

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Conservation

Regenerative

Carbon Capture

Water Management

As an applicant in a financial incentive program, you agree to become a District Cooperator. As such, the District will provide to you technical assistance in planning, applying, and maintaining soil conservation and water management practices on a tract of land. In addition, authorization is granted to District representatives for ingress and egress upon the land.

Step 1: Review the Grant Guidelines
Step 2: Apply online on this page. It's a one-page application.

The Choose Iowa Marketing and Promotion Grant Program exists to identify, evaluate, and financially support programs and services that add value to agricultural products, enable new technologies, and support alternative marketing strategies.



Eligible Applicants
- Be an individual, business, agricultural cooperative, non-profit organization, or local government.
- Be in good standing with the State of Iowa 
- Currently reside or conduct business in Iowa
Eligible Projects
- Increase sales of Iowa agricultural products by increasing production capacity or expanding market access for value-added projects
- Not be in progress until a grant is awarded
- Be completed in 12 months or less
- Be conducted in Iowa
Ineligible Expenses
- Equipment and infrastructure for meat processing (funding available through IEDA) 
- Infrastructure for renewable fuels (funding available through IDALS-RFIP) 
- Expenses incurred prior to grant award 
- Start-up costs such as inventory, license fees, working capital, etc.
- Equipment/facilities for crop or livestock production
- Advertising, public relations, entertainment, and costs 
- Employee wages and benefits 
- Paying off existing debt, related collection costs, or legal costs 
- Paying off existing fines, penalties, or settlements from failure to comply with laws or regulations

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

Grant

Local Food

Farmers Market

Events

Distribution

Diversification

Trade Relief

Food Systems

- Maximum grant awards shall not exceed $25,000.
- Applicants must provide a minimum one-to-one financial match from private sources for total project costs. 
- Additional points will be awarded to applicants that provide more than the required match amount.

Complete the appropriate application below, and then mail a notarized copy to
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship 
Attn: Heritage/Century Farms Program
Wallace State Office Building
502 E. 9th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319

Kelley Reece

**The Century Farms Program** recognizes and honors those individuals who have owned the farm land for 100 years or more. The program began in 1976 as part of the Bicentennial Celebration, when over 5,000 certificates and farm markers were distributed across Iowa at local ceremonies.

**The Heritage Farm Program** recognizes farm families that have owned at least 40 acres for 150 years or more.



The Century Farms Program recognizes and honors those individuals who have owned the farm land for 100 years or more. The program began in 1976 as part of the Bicentennial Celebration, when over 5,000 certificates and farm markers were distributed across Iowa at local ceremonies.
The Heritage Farm Program recognizes farm families that have owned at least 40 acres for 150 years or more.

Century Farm Program Eligibility
- Consecutive ownership within the same family for 100 years or more of at least 40 acres of the original holding of Iowa farmland.
- Present owner must be related to a person who owned the land 100 years ago.
Heritage Farm Program Eligibility
- Must have at least 40 acres of the original holding of Iowa Farmland
- Consecutive ownership within the same family for 150 years or more by the end of year applying
- Present owner must be related to a person who owned the land 150 years ago

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

Discount

- Searchable Database of All Century and Heritage Farms
- Application Directions

Certificates and markers will be presented at a ceremony at the Iowa State Fair in August.


Apply online at this online portal. Account creation is required.

Crop insurance in an integral part of the farm safety net that provides protection for farmers after bad weather impacts their crops. Cover crops can help prevent erosion and improve water quality and soil health, among other benefits.

The&#x2004;Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and partners worked with the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) to establish a project aimed at expanding usage of cover crops in Iowa. 

Through this project IDALS will provide up to $5/acre for cover crops to eligible applicants. Funding will be provided through USDA-RMA as an additional insurance premium discount through normal crop insurance processes. The premium reduction will be available for fall-planted cover crops with a spring-planted cash crop. Some policies may be excluded, such as Whole-Farm Revenue Protection or those covered through written agreements. Participating farmers must follow all existing good farming practices required by their policy and work with their insurance agent to maintain eligibility.

Farmers are encouraged to wait to apply until their cover crop seeding has been completed. Please note that cover crop acres currently enrolled in state and/or federal programs are not eligible for this program. 



Crop insurance in an integral part of the farm safety net that provides protection for farmers after bad weather impacts their crops. Cover crops can help prevent erosion and improve water quality and soil health, among other benefits.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and partners worked with the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) to establish a project aimed at expanding usage of cover crops in Iowa. 
Through this project IDALS will provide up to $5/acre for cover crops to eligible applicants. Funding will be provided through USDA-RMA as an additional insurance premium discount through normal crop insurance processes. The premium reduction will be available for fall-planted cover crops with a spring-planted cash crop. Some policies may be excluded, such as Whole-Farm Revenue Protection or those covered through written agreements. Participating farmers must follow all existing good farming practices required by their policy and work with their insurance agent to maintain eligibility.
Farmers are encouraged to wait to apply until their cover crop seeding has been completed. Please note that cover crop acres currently enrolled in state and/or federal programs are not eligible for this program. 

Applicants must be located in Iowa, and plant an eligible cover crop on federally insured acreage.

Row Crops

Alfalfa

Amaranth Grain

Barley

Buckwheat

Canola

Corn

Cotton

Einkorn

Emmer

Flax

Grains

Guar

Hemp

Indigo

Kenaf

Khorasan

Millet

Mustard

Oats

Oilseeds

Peanuts

Quinoa

Rapeseed

Rice

Safflower

Sorghum

Soybeans

Speltz

Sugar

Sugar Beets

Sunflowers

Teff

Triticale

Wheat

Malting Barley

Sweet Corn

ELS Cotton

Upland Cotton

Crambe

Sesame

Sunflower Seeds

Industrial Rice

Japonica Rice

Long Grain Rice

Medium Grain Rice

Sweet Rice

Wild Rice

Raw Sugars

Refined Sugars

Durum Wheat

Hard Red Spring Wheat

Apply to tammy.stotts@iowaagriculture.gov with

1. List of equipment planned to be purchased with estimated costs(s). 
2. Description of how this will improve the efficiency of selling produce to schools, early care centers or universities and/or increase volume. 
3. Any previous experience working with schools, early care centers or colleges/universities or plans to work with these entities.

Tammy Stotts

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is seeking applications for grants to provide fruit and vegetable growers and food hubs equipment or supplies needed to increase capability to sell produce to schools , early care centers, and colleges and universities to meet demand brought on as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.



Fruit and vegetable growers or food hubs willing to sell produce to schools and enrolled in the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School Directory.

- Information on Local Produce and Protein Program – Equipment Grant for Producers and Food Hubs
- List of recipients of the Local Produce and Protein Program - Equipment Grant for Producers and Food Hubs

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Marketing

Facilities

Paul Ovrom

The Iowa Department of Agriculture&#x2004;and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has awarded relief funds to 167 renewable fuels retail sites that suffered business interruptions or income losses due to COVID-19. Funds from the program were awarded to support 100 ethanol projects and 137 biodiesel projects. The relief funds can be used to cover expenses incurred for the construction, installation, upgrade, and retrofit equipment associated with the sale of renewable fuels. Replacement equipment must dispense a higher percentage blend of ethanol or biodiesel (for example from E10 to E15) than the existing equipment.



The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has awarded relief funds to 167 renewable fuels retail sites that suffered business interruptions or income losses due to COVID-19. Funds from the program were awarded to support 100 ethanol projects and 137 biodiesel projects. The relief funds can be used to cover expenses incurred for the construction, installation, upgrade, and retrofit equipment associated with the sale of renewable fuels. Replacement equipment must dispense a higher percentage blend of ethanol or biodiesel (for example from E10 to E15) than the existing equipment.

- List of Renewable Fuel Retail Recovery Grant * Recipients - By Project Type
- List of Renewable Fuel Retail Recovery Grant Recipients - By Retail Location


Disaster Relief

Alternative Energy

Emergency

This grant has significant application materials and pre-requisite registrations required before submitting the application. Before beginning your application:
- Read the Request For Applications thoroughly
- Look up your DUNS number or request one here.
- Register with SAM.gov

Application Procedures and Requirements Submission
Submit the the project documents separately with the exception of the support letters. Proposal applications must include the following documents in the following order: 
- Completed and signed IDALS Cover Sheet 
- 2022 Project Profile 
- Work Plan
- Letters or other evidence of commitment by partners, resource providers and documentation of matching funds if applicable 
- Three letters in support of project and its goals at least 1 from a grower/grower group 
- Printed registration page from SAM.GOV showing status on SAM.GOV
- Completed and signed W-9 Form 
- Completed and signed Minority Impact Statement 
- Completed Grantee Self-Assessment of Internal Controls and Risks 

Proposals must be received by IDALS on or before 4:00 p.m. CT on March 11, 2022. Proposals must be mailed, e-mailed, or delivered. Electronic submission is preferred. IDALS will not accept faxed proposals, with the exception that the cover sheet and W-9 forms which may be faxed because they require a signature. You must meet this deadline by delivering the application package or mailing it sufficiently in advance of the deadline to ensure its timely receipt. 
IDALS will send applicants an e-mail confirmation within two business days of receiving the proposal. IDALS may return late and/or incomplete proposals without consideration. 
Send to: 
Tammy Stotts 
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship 
Wallace State Office Building 
502 E. 9th Street 
Des Moines IA 50319 
Phone: (515) 281-7657 
E-mail: tammy.stotts@iowaagriculture.gov

USDA Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) provides the funds to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) to enhance&#x2004;the competitiveness of specialty crops in the state. IDALS will award grants up to a maximum of $30,000 from these funds.

The project(s) must enhance the competitiveness of Iowa grown specialty crops that benefit the industry as a whole and that do not directly benefit a particular product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Additional points are awarded to projects that are within the identified priority areas.

**Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.**



USDA Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) provides the funds to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the state. IDALS will award grants up to a maximum of $30,000 from these funds.
The project(s) must enhance the competitiveness of Iowa grown specialty crops that benefit the industry as a whole and that do not directly benefit a particular product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Additional points are awarded to projects that are within the identified priority areas.
Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.

Eligible Entities 
IDALS will accept proposals for consideration for specialty crop block grant funds from Iowa agencies, universities, institutions, and producer, industry, and community based organizations. To be eligible for a grant, the project(s) must solely enhance the competitiveness of Iowa grown specialty crops that benefit the industry as a whole and that do not directly benefit a particular product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to single organization, institution, or individual. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners. Applicants must be a legal entity and have the legal capacity to contract.
Eligible Specialty Crops 
Specialty crops are defined in law as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” USDA – Agricultural Marketing Service provides a more detailed definition and lists eligible plants commonly considered fruits and tree nuts, vegetables, culinary herbs and spices, medical plants and nursery, floriculture, and horticultural crops at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop Both fresh and processed specialty crops are eligible. Ineligible commodities are also listed. Livestock and poultry are not considered specialty crops. 
Eligible Grant Projects
To be eligible for a grant, the project(s) enhance the competitiveness of Iowa grown specialty crops that benefit the industry as a whole and that do not directly benefit a particular product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Additional points are awarded to projects that are within the identified priority areas. 
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) encourages projects pertaining to the following issues affecting the specialty crop industry: 
- increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops; 
- improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems; 
- assisting all entities in the specialty crops distribution chain in developing Good Agricultural Practices, Good Handling Practices, and Good Manufacturing Practices, and in cost-share arrangements for funding audits of such systems for small farmers, packers, and processors; 
- investing in specialty crop research , including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes; 
- enhancing food safety; 
- developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops; 
- pest and disease control; and
- development of organic and sustainable production practices. 
Increasing competitiveness may include developing local and regional food systems, and improving food access in underserved communities. Applicants should describe how the project potentially impacts and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual. 

Specialty Crops

Aloe Leaves

Blackberries

Fruits

Honey

Horticulture

Mamey Sapote

Maple Syrup

Mustard Greens

Parsnips

Passion Fruit

Pineapples

Plantains

Pummelos

Raspberries

Rutabagas

Tree Nuts

Vegetables

Abiu

Achachairu

Antidesma

Apples

Apricots

Bananas

Barbados Cherry

Blueberries

Breadfruit

Cacao

Caimito

Calabaza Melon

Canary Melon

Canary Seed

Caneberries

Canistel

Cantaloupes

Casaba Melon

Cherries

Chinese Bitter Melon

Chokeberry

Citron

Citron Melon

Coconuts

Cranberries

Crenshaw Melon

Custard Apple

Dates

Dragon Fruit

Durian

Elderberries

Figs

Genip

Goji

Gooseberries

Grapefruit

Grapes

Guava

Guavaberry

Honeyberries

Honeydew

Huckleberries

Israel Melons

Jack Fruit

Jujube

Juneberries

Kiwiberry

Kiwifruit

Korean Golden Melon

Kumquats

Langsat

Lemons

Limequats

Limes

Longan

Loquats

Lychee

Mangos

- Guidelines and Request For Proposals
- Performance Measure Information Sheet

Numerous restrictions and rules apply to the appropriateness of projects and the disposition of funds. Refer to the grant guidelines (below) for details.

List of Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship (IDALS) Funding Opportunities