Vermont Seeding and Filter Strip Program (SFS)

The Seeding and Filter Strip (SFS) grant program provides technical and financial assistance to support the long-term installation of perennial vegetation. The goal is to help reduce soil erosion and agricultural runoff, preventing this runoff from reaching waterbodies. The program funds the establishment of filter strips, pasture/hay plantings, grassed waterways, and associated infrastructure (e.g. erosion or grade control structures). All practices implemented under the SFS program can be harvested for hay.

• Applicant must be a Vermont farm required to comply with the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs).

• Applicant must control the enrolled land either through ownership or a lease that covers the maintenance agreement period of 10 years.

• Land must be in active use, as defined in 32 V.S.A. § 3752(15), and within 300 ft of surface water or a ditch.

• Land must be currently maintained as 1) annual cropland, 2) pasture or hayland with a prior history in annual crops within the past five years, or 3) a buffer zone as required by the RAPs.

• Project must meaningfully address on-site natural resource concerns.

Practice payment rates: Filter Strip (30-40 ft) $350/acre; Wide Filter Strip (40 ft+) $1,000/acre; Pasture/Hayland Plantings - High Risk $1,000/acre; Pasture/Hayland Plantings - Moderate Risk $500/acre; Pasture/Hayland Plantings - Low Risk $350/acre; Grassed Waterway Seeding $1,000/acre. Associated construction practices (lined waterways, stable outlets, erosion control structures, re-grading, clean water diversion structures) may be eligible for up to 90% cost share. Total grant award/payment will not exceed $50,000 per project. Practice payment occurs after successful installation and certification, based on the final mapped acreage. All enrolled land must be maintained as harvestable perennial vegetation for the length of the 10-year maintenance agreement.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but are due at least 60 days prior to the planting date. Optimal planting windows for perennial seedings in Vermont vary across the state but are typically early spring (e.g. April 15 - May 30 for plant hardiness zone 4b) and late summer (e.g. August 7 - September 15 for plant hardiness zone 4b). Apply online through the Agency's AccessGov portal. A project plan, including a map of the project and the proposed seeding species and rates, is required and must be approved by VAAFM prior to grant award and project installation.