New Mexico Healthy Soils Program Funding
Grants to improve soil health are the centerpiece of New Mexico's Healthy Soil Program run by the NM Department of Agriculture (NMDA).
Every year, NMDA awards grants to implement on-the-ground projects that involve one or more of the five soil health principles: keeping soil covered; minimizing soil disturbance on cropland and minimizing external inputs; maximizing biodiversity; maintaining a living root; integrating animals into land management, including grazing animals, birds, beneficial insects or keystone species, such as earthworms.
- Application opens January 15, 2025 and closes March 19, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) Mountain Time.
- Projects selected for funding will begin July 2025 and end September 2026.
- Contact info: Email hsp@nmda.nmsu.edu, Phone 575-646-2642
Review the step-by-step application process unique to your applicant type:
- If you’ll apply for a grant on behalf of a governmental entity in New Mexico – a pueblo, tribe, or nation; an acequia; a land grant; a soil and water conservation district (SWCD); a Cooperative Extension Service office; or the like – visit the web page for Eligible Entities.
- If you’ll apply for a grant as an individual, business, or nonprofit directly engaged in farming, ranching, or another form of land management – visit the web page for Individual Applicants.
All applicants MUST meet with their local NRCS office to complete a “conservation plan” as part of the application process.
If you do not have time to complete this step before the March 2025 deadline, we encourage you to keep working on it now so that you are ready and eligible for next year’s Health Soil Programs - as well as many other USDA farm funding opportunities such as EQIP.
The NMAA team is here to support you through this application process - and you can also reach out to the NM Healthy Soils Working group for one on one application assistance.
USDA EQIP Funding
EQIP is a program of the US Department of Agriculture that provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers, forest landowners, and water management entities (irrigation districts, ground water management districts, acequias, land grant-mercedes) to address natural resource concerns, such as:
- Improved water and air quality;
- Conserved ground and surface water;
- Increased soil health;
- Reduced soil erosion and sedimentation;
- Improved or created wildlife habitat;
- and Mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility.
There are hundreds of approved EQIP practices. Some common practices funded by EQIP include - irrigation infrastructure, high tunnel initiative, soil health, fencing, and land leveling, but also support for pollinators, climate adaptation, and more.
To be eligible to apply for EQIP funding, you must have (1) establish a local Farm Service Agency office to FARM RECORD for your farm or acequia, and (2) work with your local NRCS office for support with your EQIP application - including developing a Conservation Plan.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis - but it can take some time to complete all the steps, so we encourage you to start NOW if you are interested in accessing funding for an upcoming growing season!
Contact the NMAA team for assistance in navigating this process: jason@lasacequias.org or sam@lasacequias.org
Click here for more information!
Click here to find your local NRCS office. | 
