Golden Hills has received funding to help farmers in western Iowa implement regenerative agriculture practices. This includes conservation practices that protect and build soil health, diversify crop species, and integrate livestock.
We are targeting historically underserved farmers as defined by the USDA. This includes Beginning; Socially Disadvantaged; Veterans; and Limited Resource farmers. To be eligible, you must be in one of the following Iowa counties: Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, or Shelby.
Interested in applying for this program? Follow these steps!
1. Fill out this form. This Letter of Interest has a rolling deadline. This simple form will help determine your eligibility. If eligible, you will be invited to submit a full application.
2. If approved, submit a full application provided by Golden Hills. Application includes maps, photos, and narrative. Golden Hills staff can assist with the application if needed.
3. Full applications are also on a rolling deadline. Depending on interest and availability of funds, we expect multiple rounds of funds over the next couple of years.
4. Golden Hills staff will score the applications based on the rubric provided.
5. If funding is approved, Golden Hills staff will follow up with a funding agreement and information about disbursement of funds.
Check out the video below for a summary of regenerative agriculture. More details & FAQs about the program are below the video.
Download a summary brochure here.
Email [email protected] with questions.
We are targeting historically underserved farmers as defined by the USDA. This includes Beginning; Socially Disadvantaged; Veterans; and Limited Resource farmers. To be eligible, you must be in one of the following Iowa counties: Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, or Shelby.
Interested in applying for this program? Follow these steps!
1. Fill out this form. This Letter of Interest has a rolling deadline. This simple form will help determine your eligibility. If eligible, you will be invited to submit a full application.
2. If approved, submit a full application provided by Golden Hills. Application includes maps, photos, and narrative. Golden Hills staff can assist with the application if needed.
3. Full applications are also on a rolling deadline. Depending on interest and availability of funds, we expect multiple rounds of funds over the next couple of years.
4. Golden Hills staff will score the applications based on the rubric provided.
5. If funding is approved, Golden Hills staff will follow up with a funding agreement and information about disbursement of funds.
Check out the video below for a summary of regenerative agriculture. More details & FAQs about the program are below the video.
Download a summary brochure here.
Email [email protected] with questions.
FAQs & Program Details
A few frequently asked questions and important details about our Historically Underserved Farmer program:
Application Deadline & Amount: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through the end of 2024. After that, another round will be available depending on remaining funds. Some aspects could change for round two. First round of funding will be limited to $10,000 per farm/farmer. Farmers who receive funding in round one could potentially receive additional funding in round two, although we will prioritize farmers who have not yet received funding.
Cost-share match: This is a 1:1 cost-share program, so farmers are expected to contribute at least half of the project costs. Up to half of this can be in-kind. In-kind match can include your labor, for example. Because the grant aims to support limited-resource farmers, we may still be able to work with you to find alternate arrangements if providing match will be cost-prohibitive. NRCS programs can count as match for this program.
Eligible Practices: The following list includes some, but not all, eligible practices for this program: Alley Cropping, Conservation Cover, Residue Management No-Till, Contour Buffer Strips, Cover Crop, Silvopasture, Fence, Field Border, Riparian Forest Buffer, Filter Strip, Grassed Waterway, Tree/Shrub Preparation & Establishment, Pasture & Hayland Planting, Prescribed Grazing, Streambank & Shoreline Protection, Watering Facilities. If you have questions about a practice, email [email protected].
Scoring criteria: The ultimate goal of this project is to reduce nitrate pollution in the Gulf of Mexico, so practices that reduce nutrient runoff will earn more points. We also are targeting practices that improve soil health. You must meet at least one of the "Historically Underserved" criteria. Additional points will include if your land is in the watershed of a public recreational waters (such as a state or county park lake, or a designated water trail); a public drinking water source, and new a major highway with high visibility.
Application narrative description, map, and budget also count towards scoring. Click here for more scoring details.
Application Deadline & Amount: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through the end of 2024. After that, another round will be available depending on remaining funds. Some aspects could change for round two. First round of funding will be limited to $10,000 per farm/farmer. Farmers who receive funding in round one could potentially receive additional funding in round two, although we will prioritize farmers who have not yet received funding.
Cost-share match: This is a 1:1 cost-share program, so farmers are expected to contribute at least half of the project costs. Up to half of this can be in-kind. In-kind match can include your labor, for example. Because the grant aims to support limited-resource farmers, we may still be able to work with you to find alternate arrangements if providing match will be cost-prohibitive. NRCS programs can count as match for this program.
Eligible Practices: The following list includes some, but not all, eligible practices for this program: Alley Cropping, Conservation Cover, Residue Management No-Till, Contour Buffer Strips, Cover Crop, Silvopasture, Fence, Field Border, Riparian Forest Buffer, Filter Strip, Grassed Waterway, Tree/Shrub Preparation & Establishment, Pasture & Hayland Planting, Prescribed Grazing, Streambank & Shoreline Protection, Watering Facilities. If you have questions about a practice, email [email protected].
Scoring criteria: The ultimate goal of this project is to reduce nitrate pollution in the Gulf of Mexico, so practices that reduce nutrient runoff will earn more points. We also are targeting practices that improve soil health. You must meet at least one of the "Historically Underserved" criteria. Additional points will include if your land is in the watershed of a public recreational waters (such as a state or county park lake, or a designated water trail); a public drinking water source, and new a major highway with high visibility.
Application narrative description, map, and budget also count towards scoring. Click here for more scoring details.