Agricultural Development Grant Programs

Three grant programs fall under the administration of the Division of Agricultural Development: The Agricultural Mini-Grant Program and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Program details follow.

Meat Processing Infrastructure Program

The Meat Processing Infrastructure Program (MPIP) is administered by the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food (DAMF). The grant provides funding for infrastructure investments for local farmers and meat and poultry processing facilities to increase capacity and efficiencies of the meat and poultry processing industry within the state. The goal of the grant program is to alleviate impacts of COVID-19 on the local meat and poultry processing industry by supporting increased capacity, labor saving efficiencies, and encouraging value-added products through capital investments and other related infrastructure improvements.

MPIP will award up to $750,000 through a competitive review process. The maximum award will be $200,000 and the minimum award will be $1,000. There will be one round of funding. Award notifications will be made no later than February 17, 2023.

Meat Processing Infrastructure Program Request for Grant Proposals

Meat Processing Infrastructure Program Application Template (fillable pdf)

Meat Processing Infrastructure Program Application Template

Agricultural Mini-Grant Program

The Agricultural Promotion Mini-Grant Program offers matching grants of up to $1,000 to organizations that wish to conduct a project focused on promoting New Hampshire agriculture. Grant recipients are selected from a pool of qualified applicants.

Applications are distributed and awards made as funding allows. Applications are typically available in December and awards are usually made by the following March.

• 2022 Mini-Grant Application Form
• 2022 Criteria Information Sheet

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food (NHDAMF) is eligible to receive funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under the annual Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The NHDAMF offers eligible New Hampshire organizations the opportunity to apply for a portion of these funds under the New Hampshire Specialty Crops Grant Program to conduct projects that benefit New Hampshire Specialty Crops. Specialty Crops are defined as: fruit, vegetable, nursery, floriculture, herb, maple, Christmas tree and honey crops. For a complete list of eligible and ineligible crops visit the USDA AMS website.

• Program Documents:

  The USDA has formally announcement the 2022 SCBG program. To Apply for funding through New Hampshire, see the details below.

  Deadline to apply is April 5, 2023 – 2023 program application information is below:

• 2023 NH SCBG Program and Application Details
• 2023 Application Cover Page
• Federal SCBG Application Template (Project Profile) Download and save to your computer before completing. Save again when complete and before submitting.

NH SCBGP H.R. 133 Stimulus Funding

The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food (NHDAMF) is announcing a special round of Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds for projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in New Hampshire.  In addition to the regular SCBGP funding authorized the federal Farm Bill, the United States Congress awarded extra one-time SCBGP funding to state departments of agriculture due to the COVID-19 impacts on the food system under House Resolution 133 (“H.R. 133 Stimulus Funding”). This funding is available to eligible organizations and groups to conduct projects to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in New Hampshire, via an application process.

Application deadline is February 24, 2023. Program and application information is below:

• NH SCBG H.R. 133 Stimulus Funding Program and Application Details
• Application Cover Page
• Federal SBGP Application Template (Project Profile) Download and save to your computer before completing. Save again when complete and before submitting.