Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA)

Most applications start with the County Agriculture Development Board, which reviews, approves, and forwards them to the SADC. The easement value is established through two independent appraisals; once a value is agreed upon and the application approved, the sale proceeds.

Stephanie Kreiser

Through the Farmland Preservation Program, landowners who want to continue farming can sell their development easements — selling the rights to develop the land for anything other than agriculture while retaining ownership. The deed restrictions run with the land in perpetuity. Administered by the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), which coordinates with County Agriculture Development Boards, municipalities, and nonprofits. Participants may also apply for cost-sharing grants for soil-and-water conservation projects.



Land is eligible if it meets the SADC's minimum criteria, qualifies for farmland tax assessment, and is part of an agricultural development area. For lands greater than 10 acres, at least 50% of the land or a minimum of 25 acres (whichever is less) must be tillable with soils that support agricultural production; for lands 10 acres or less, the land must produce at least $2,500 in agricultural products annually and be at least 75% tillable (or a 5-acre minimum). The municipal zoning must allow additional development for the appraisal.

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

Easement

Air Quality

Carbon Capture

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Regenerative

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Reduced Tillage

Education

The sale price is based on the difference between what a developer would pay for the land and what it is worth for agriculture. Preserved farms are permanently protected for agricultural use; deed restrictions run with the land and bind future owners. Landowners may still sell their land at any time. The public has no right to access a deed-restricted farm without the landowner's consent.

New Jersey-based multi-state partners submit applications by email to NJDA.Grants@ag.nj.gov no later than October 16, 2026. Applications received after the due date are subject to AMS Policies and Procedures. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to Billy (William) Conners, Contract Administrator, before submitting; NJDA provides guidance and support during the grant-writing process. A 2026 SCMP applicant webinar is posted on the program webpage.

William Conners

The New Jersey&#x2004;Department of Agriculture participates in the USDA Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) to support collaborative multi-state partnerships that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through competitively funded projects. Multi-state partners develop projects that bring together teams to solve practical problems crossing state boundaries and address the needs of specialty crop growers in food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion. For the 2026 program, USDA-AMS announced $14.3 million in competitive grant funding nationally.



The New Jersey Department of Agriculture participates in the USDA Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) to support collaborative multi-state partnerships that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through competitively funded projects. Multi-state partners develop projects that bring together teams to solve practical problems crossing state boundaries and address the needs of specialty crop growers in food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion. For the 2026 program, USDA-AMS announced $14.3 million in competitive grant funding nationally.

Applicants are organizations and multi-state partnerships (not individual farmers). Entities residing in New Jersey must apply through NJDA; entities residing in a participating state are ineligible to apply directly to AMS. Entities in a non-participating state may apply to AMS directly or contact NJDA if the project seeks to collaborate with New Jersey-based entities and/or enhance the competitiveness of the New Jersey specialty crop industry. All applicants must be domestic entities owned, operated, and located within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

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

Grant

Trials

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

Trade Relief

Inputs

Public Health

Compliance

All project area types are 3-year projects with funding ranging between $250,000 and $1,000,000.

Contact your local Soil Conservation District, which helps develop a required farm conservation plan. Determine eligibility via the online form (or printable PDF); the State generates an application document that is approved by the applicant, technical service provider, and Soil Conservation District, then forwarded to the State Soil Conservation Committee, which recommends projects to the SADC for funding. Submit invoices and documentation for reimbursement after installation.

David Clapp

The SADC provides grants to reimburse eligible landowners up to 50% of the cost of approved soil-and-water conservation projects on farms enrolled in permanent or term (8-year or 16-year) farmland-preservation programs. Projects help prevent and control erosion, reduce pollution, manage water for agriculture, and improve land and soil productivity. Eligible projects (set by the State Soil Conservation Committee) include terracing, diversions, grassed waterways, windbreaks, stream protection, drainage, irrigation systems, water-control structures, livestock watering facilities, and animal-waste control facilities.



The applicant must be the current landowner of a preserved farm (or a farm operator with the landowner's written permission), and the farm must be permanently preserved or enrolled in an 8-year or 16-year farmland-preservation program. Each farm is eligible for a new round of funding every 8 years. Some independently preserved (non-SADC) farms may also qualify if they meet certain criteria.

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

Cost Share

Conservation

Water Management

Infrastructure

Each farm has a maximum grant designation based on $50,000 + $500/acre, up to $150,000. Reimbursement cannot exceed the maximum eligibility, 75% of the federal rate, or 50% of total actual costs, whichever is lower (the 2017-2025 average reimbursement was 42% of project cost). Projects must meet federal Conservation Practice Standards, be completed within 3 years of approval, and be maintained for at least 8 years.

Completed applications with all required supporting documentation are submitted by email to NJDA.Grants@ag.nj.gov by the annual deadline. The FY27 round closed at noon (12:00 P.M. EDT) on July 31, 2026; incomplete or late submissions are ineligible. Check the program page for the next funding round.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture, using funds under the State Food Purchase Program, supports gleaning and seafood-recovery activities through the Gleaning Support Program. Funds may be requested by eligible New Jersey nonprofit organizations that glean surplus produce from New Jersey farms, orchards, and gardens or recover surplus seafood from New Jersey sources, and distribute that food to New Jersey organizations helping to feed food-insecure residents.



Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities formed and operated in New Jersey that either glean from New Jersey farms or recover seafood from New Jersey sources and distribute the food to New Jersey hunger-relief organizations. A Letter of Determination from the IRS documenting nonprofit status is required, along with an implementation plan describing how the grant would support the organization's gleaning or seafood-recovery activities. Individual farmers are not eligible applicants; this program funds nonprofit gleaning and recovery organizations (it benefits producers indirectly by moving surplus farm product).

Local Food

Farmers Market

Marketing

A total of $518,000, subject to the availability of funds, is anticipated to be available to eligible nonprofit applicant organizations for the round. Per-recipient award amounts are not published.

Submit a completed NJATP application and all supplemental materials to NJATP@ag.nj.gov. The 2025-26 cycle closed January 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST; applications received after the deadline are considered on a rolling basis, subject to funding availability.

William "Billy" Conners

The New Jersey Agritourism Grant Program provides funding to support New Jersey agritourism businesses in their efforts to attract, entertain, and educate visitors. The Agritourism Fund is an annual appropriation established by the Division of Travel and Tourism (Department of State); the New Jersey Department of Agriculture administers the grants in consultation with NJTT.



Agricultural entities operating in New Jersey, including farms, ranches, on-farm wineries/breweries/distilleries, non-farm brewery/distillery/wineries, and other agricultural businesses pursuing eligible activities. The applicant's operation must be physically located in New Jersey. Priority is given to businesses whose agricultural products are primarily sourced from or produced in New Jersey.

Agritourism

Recreation

A total of $5 million is available; applicants may request up to $100,000. There is no match requirement, though evidence of matching funds is recommended. Pre-award costs incurred on or after January 1, 2026 may be reimbursed. Projects should not exceed 12 months (earliest start April 1, 2026; latest end April 1, 2027) and are funded through quarterly reimbursement.

Interested organizations submit project proposals through the SimpliGov portal by the annual deadline. The 2026 round closed May 14, 2026; NJDA advises checking the program page in Winter 2027 for the next application cycle. There is no cost-share or matching requirement.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture administers funding made available through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to carry out projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. For this program, "specialty crops" are defined as vegetables and fruits (including grapes for wine), nuts, horticultural products including Christmas trees, honey, herbs, potatoes, sweet corn, and other specialty crops including algae. Not eligible: feed crops, food grains, seafood, livestock, dairy, poultry and eggs, range grasses, and oilseed crops.



Eligible applicants are organizations whose projects enhance the competitiveness of New Jersey specialty crops in domestic or foreign markets. Applications should describe how the project affects and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public, rather than a single organization, institution, or individual. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners rather than sole applicants.

The NJDA received $1,023,883.78 in USDA-AMS program funding for the round. Applicants may request up to $40,000 in grant funding. No cost-share or matching requirement.

List of New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) Funding Opportunities