Farmer Cost-Share Opportunities

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Farmer Cost-Share

Farmer Cost Share - Cover Crops

The WCCD Farmer Cost Share program is designed to assist area farmers and land stewards in implementing certain projects on their property or within their operations that they would not be able to achieve on their own.  This program is made possible through the support of our millage which Washtenaw County residents have continuously supported.   

  • 40+ Local farms assisted

  • 700+ Acres of cover crops planted

  • 35 Acres of pollinator habitat established

Pollinator planting

The WCCD farmer program staff review incoming application requests and allocate funds.  The staff review applicants based on eligibility, application, demonstration of need, gaps in NRCS funding and the project’s relation to WCCD’s strategic goals as criteria for funding. 

Below is an example of some of the eligible practices (this is not an exhaustive list) 

  • Filter Strip
  • Cover Crop
  • Pollinator Habitat
  • Water, soil and/or manure samples
  • Contributions towards Forest Management and Grazing Plans
  • Many More! 

Eligibility

  • Project must take place within Washtenaw County.
  • Project must not be receiving NRCS funding already.
  • The applicant must actively farm, or own land used for agricultural or conservation purposes.
  • Land may be farmland or natural areas (i.e. prairie, woodlot, wetland, etc.)
  • Applications must be filled out completely and prior to application deadline.
    • This includes all questions being answered and any supporting documentation.
    • Aerial map(s)
    • Pictures of project area prior to project installation
    • Letter of support/consent by landowner (if applicant is not owner of the land).
  • This program may only be awarded once per applicant per fiscal year (Oct. 1st-Sept. 30th).
  • Applicant must be in good standing with past conservation funding projects.
  • Applicants must be willing to share limited details or photos for outreach and educational purposes.

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: December 1st, 2025
  • Award Announcements: January 12th, 2026
  • Deadline for all documentation to be turned in to receive reimbursement: September 1st, 2026

Awardees

Your notification email will have several forms and links attached to it instructing you to fill out the following forms.  These forms must be filled out and returned as soon as possible.   

  • Award Contract
  • W9 Form (for tax reporting)
  • ACH Payment Form (for direct deposit) 

You may then implement or install your project.  Once projects have been implemented you will need to turn in the following documentation to receive your award:  

  • Any project related receipts
  • Any pictures showing project installation

FAQs

When should I submit my application by?
  • December 1st, 2025
How do I submit my application?
My project was installed already, can I still apply?
  • The program has a lookback period of 3 months prior to the application deadline.  So, if a project was installed on or after October 1st, the project is still eligible.
How will I know if my application was received?
  • Notification that your application was received will be sent out to applicants after the application deadline.
How do I know if my project is eligible?
  • You can feel free to contact one of our staff at WCCD to receive feedback on your project.
What are my chances of getting awarded funds?
  • It really depends on the number of applicants and/or how the proposed projects fit into the mission of WCCD. 
How can I increase my chances of having my application funded?
  • Keep in mind that funding decisions are influenced by a range of factors. While we primarily assess applications based on how well they align with our mission and program priorities, additional considerations—such as geographic distribution, support for underserved populations, project type diversity, conservation priorities, or ensuring we fund new initiatives—may also impact our decisions. The process is competitive, and both the applicant pool and available funding can vary from cycle to cycle, along with shifts in strategic priorities.
How much can I apply for?
  • While we don’t have a limit on the award amount, we strongly encourage you to do your research and put down the projected cost of the entire project. If possible, provide a quote or cost from a similar project. In the past we have typically covered 80% of the project cost for those that were awarded funding. If WCCD deems a project too large we will reach out to you with some cost share options from some other organizations.
How long do I have to install or implement my project?
  • All project documentation is due on September 1st, 2026.  This means all forms (Contract, W9, ACH Payment Form, After Pictures and Receipts) are due at that point.  Failure to turn items in on time may result in the forfeiture of award.
Is funding reimbursement only, is there a way to ask for upfront payments or cost share?
  • The program is reimbursement only and there is not a way to ask for payment upfront currently.
What happens if I can’t implement my project on time?
  • Life happens and we understand that.  If you were awarded funds but won’t be able to implement the project as you originally planned, we highly encourage you to let us know.  There are other projects that could use that awarded money to implement their project.  You will not be penalized if you apply again for the project in the future.
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