Water Analysis Cost Share Program

The Water Analysis Cost Share Program encourages water testing as part of a pre/post-harvest food safety program for fruit and vegetable crops. The program assists in paying for the cost of testing irrigation and/or packing house wash water. The NCDA&CS will reimburse growers up to $1,000 for laboratory analysis to determine the quantitative presence of generic E. coli bacteria in irrigation or wash water by a certified laboratory. Funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

North Carolina fruit and vegetable growers testing irrigation and/or packing house wash water as part of a pre/post-harvest food safety program.

Straight reimbursement of certified-laboratory water-testing costs, capped at $1,000 per grower: "The NCDA&CS will reimburse growers up to $1,000.00 for laboratory analysis to determine the quantitative presence of generic E. coli bacteria in irrigation or wash water by a certified laboratory." No cost-share percentage and no match — eligible testing costs are reimbursed up to that ceiling.

The cap covers the whole season, not a single test: "Growers can be reimbursed for one water test or multiple tests throughout the year. For multiple tests please have individual receipts for each test and turn in only one inclusive reimbursement form for all testing throughout the growing season." Funding comes from a USDA specialty crop block grant and is first-come, first-served. For the current cycle the department states: "ALL INVOICES FOR REMITTANCE MUST BE SUBMITTED BY June 1, 2026, Funds will not be available after this date." To be paid you must submit a reimbursement form along with receipts and a completed SUB NC W-9.

Funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Submit the Water Testing Cost Share Letter and Water Testing Reimbursement Form (with a Substitute W-9) through the NCDA&CS Cooperative Grading Service for reimbursement of up to $1,000 in certified-laboratory analysis costs.