Making BMP Funding Simple: Guiding Small Farms to Success

For many small farms, applying for "Best Management Funding" or "BMP funding" sounds like mountains of paperwork or wandering around the wilderness without a map. It may send the farmer running back to the barn! But, with a little help from a trusted conservation partner (that's you!), it's more like following a well-marked trail. Here's how to make the process feel simple, friendly, and absolutely doable.

5 Ways to Make Applying for Funding Less Intimidating

1. Start with Their Goals, Not the Program
   Talk about "fixing the muddy pasture," not "applying for Section 319 funds."
   Farmers think in problems and solutions, not program codes. Lead with their needs, and the funding conversation will flow naturally.
2. Explain What's Out There in Plain Language
   Lose the alphabet soup; keep it like you’d explain over a cup of coffee.
   Instead of agency acronyms or bureaucratic buzzwords, say, "There's a program that will pay part of the cost" or "There's a grant to try something new." And don't be shy about sharing success stories: "The Smiths down the road just got a grant for a new manure storage, saved them thousands of dollars and a lot of headaches."
3. Help Them Get Prepared
   Think of it as a packing list for a road trip.
   Give them a simple "what you'll need" list: maps, livestock numbers, existing conservation practices, so nothing gets lost in the shuffle (or in the glove box). Having this ready means fewer surprises later and no frantic "where did I put that paper?" moments.
4. Offer Hands-On Help Early
   Be the GPS, not the road sign.
   Many farmers worry they'll be "on their own" once the process starts. Let them know you're more like a trail guide than a signpost, you'll walk alongside them. Site visits? You're there. Plan development? You're there. Paperwork? You guessed it…you're there. Sometimes just knowing someone has their back makes all the difference.
5. Encourage a Start-Small Approach
   One BMP at a time, because Rome wasn't no-tilled in a day.
   Not every farm needs to leap into a full-blown conservation overhaul. Starting with one BMP, like a single grassed waterway or a roofed feedlot, can be the warm-up lap before the marathon. Each small success builds confidence and keeps the momentum rolling.

When it comes to getting conservation projects off the ground, let's look at just a few of the programs out there. There are many more that can help make your ideas doable and affordable.

ACAP (Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program) is like a "helping hand" for on-farm conservation projects. This state funding, managed locally by your county conservation district, can help cover costs for improvements such as streambank fencing, manure storage, or pasture upgrades.

For Karis of The Old Roam Farm in Washington County, the process was refreshingly simple: "It was so easy. The [ACAP] application is straightforward… I didn't feel like I had to jump through hoops or dress it up, just explain, 'Here's our problem, here's what we're trying to do.' They supported us the whole way."

Elvin of Charvin Organic Farms in Juniata County found ACAP essential for filling in funding gaps: "ACAP helped bridge the gap of that 25% EQIP didn't cover. Especially with inflation, that support made a huge difference."

Another program that can help you line up funding opportunities is your Countywide Action Plan (CAP). If you're in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, chances are your county has one. A CAP is basically the local game plan for reducing nutrient and sediment pollution. Many projects in these plans take place on farms, so if your project matches a CAP priority, it could move higher on the funding list.

Kara Lubold, Environmental Grant Coordinator with the Lebanon County Conservation District, explained how Palmyra Borough put CAP funding to work in the Spring Creek Urban Stormwater Improvement project. To boost local water quality, the Borough built two nature-based solutions. A 30.37-acre bioswale now channels stormwater through plants and soil that naturally filter out pollutants, while a nearby 51.88-acre vegetated swale slows the flow and cleans the water before it reaches local streams.

Planning ahead can literally pay off. The PACD Ag Plan Reimbursement Program, run by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, will reimburse you for the cost of getting a written conservation, nutrient management, or manure management plan. Having one of these plans in your back pocket makes it much faster and easier to apply for funding like ACAP or other programs. As Allie, Agricultural Conservation Technician at the Westmoreland Conservation District, puts it, "The Ag Plan Reimbursement Program is easy to utilize and offers assistance to farmers for the cost of developing their plans." For example, you might work with a certified planner to map out how to manage manure storage and reduce runoff. You cover the cost now, get reimbursed through PACD, and later use that same plan to apply for ACAP, skipping one of the biggest hurdles in the process.

With the right approach, BMP funding feels less like a paperwork avalanche and more like a neighborly project. Clear words, relatable examples, and genuine encouragement can turn a "maybe someday" into a "let's do it now."

For a more comprehensive list of programs, details on eligibility, and tips for applying, check out Agricultural Conservation Funding in Pennsylvania: A Resource Guide for Farmers and Conservation Professionals.