RFP0430-LW_Climate Resilient Farming Program-Round 10_Application_Final.pdf

Climate Resilient Farming (CRF)

Round 10 Application

Part A – Project ID and Applicant Information

1. Project Name Click or tap here to enter text.

2. Project ID: District # -

Track # - Prioritization # Click or tap here to enter text.

3. Project Track ☐ Track 1: Livestock Management: Manure and Methane Management and Precision Feed Management ☐ Track 2: Adaptation and Resiliency ☐ Track 3: Healthy Soils NY ☐ Track 4: Agricultural Forest Management

4. Soil and Water Conservation District (Project Sponsor)

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5. Contact Person Click or tap here to enter text.

6. SWCD Mailing Address Click or tap here to enter text.

7. Contact Email Address Click or tap here to enter text.

Part B – General Project Information

1. Provide a brief project description. Click or tap here to enter text.

2. Total Number of Farm Operators Participating in Project (SW1) Click or tap here to enter text.

3. New Participant (5 points) - How many farm operators are a New Participant or Beginning Farmer?

(Any farmer who has not been awarded a CRF or AgNPS grant in the last 10 yrs. Multi-farm project only needs 1 new participant to receive pts.)

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4. Number of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) Click or tap here to enter text.

5. Are all regulated CAFO farms compliant with appropriate requirements?

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6. Have all farms included in this proposal completed the appropriate AEM plan or equivalent plan that addresses the resource concern identified for implementation?

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7. What is the name of the watershed the project is located in? Click or tap here to enter text.

Part C - Track Specific Questions Only answer the questions pertaining to the Track the application is being submitted for.

Track 1 – Questions for Cover and Flare System

1. What is the functional volume of the storage being covered? Click or tap here to enter text.

2. Relating to the GHG reduction estimation methodology outlined in the RFP, how many animal numbers are associated with the storage being covered - for dairies, indicate number of mature dairy cows and dairy heifers.

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3. Does the farm have an updated CNMP including up-to-date soil and manure tests according to their plan?

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4. Does the project include a manure storage previously funded through an SWCC cost-share program?

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5. What is the current bedding type? Click or tap here to enter text.

6. How much water is estimated to be prevented from entering the storage due to the cover?

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7. How will the water from the cover be managed? Click or tap here to enter text.

8. What are the anticipated fuel savings due to reduced manure hauling? Click or tap here to enter text.

9. Is solid-liquid separation equipment being purchased? Choose an item.

10. Describe the required flare components, including but not limited to, autoignition, ignition power source, wind shield, remote data collection capabilities, etc.

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Track 2 – Questions for Adaptation and Resiliency Projects

1. How many acres of annual cropland will be converted to perennial cropland, pasture, or riparian buffer?

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2. What is the stormwater runoff volume, peak rates of discharge, and/or storage volumes for floodwater reservoirs?

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3. For a water management project only;

Does the project location include non-farmland? If yes, how does it benefit farmland?

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4. Extent of reductions in soil erosion, as estimated by RUSLE2 or other methods.

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5. What is the level of storm duration and frequency the project is designed to, are redundancies added as necessary to ensure resiliency?

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6. Explain and include maps of local hydrology and the farm’s location in the floodplain/watershed that demonstrate high risk of adverse weather to the farm and/or surrounding community.

Track 3 – Questions for Soil Health Systems

1. Is soil health testing being proposed? Click or tap here to enter text.

2. How many acres of annual cropland will be converted to perennial cropland, pasture, riparian buffer, or agroforestry practice systems?

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3. Is equipment being purchased? If yes, what equipment is being purchased?

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4. Are there any reductions in Nitrogen fertilizer proposed (lbs./acre)? If yes, how is it calculated and what is the estimated reduction.

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5. Extent of water holding capacity improvements, as estimated by

RUSLE2.

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6. Extent of reductions in soil erosion, as estimated by RUSLE2. Click or tap here to enter text.

Track 3 – Questions for Nutrient Management Systems

1. What option will be implemented for nutrient management:

1) flat rates for new, specific nutrient mgmt. equipment purchase and application activities,

2) manure and fertilizer application equipment purchase, or

3) custom applicator services

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2. Does the farm have, implement, and annually update an NRCS 590 Nutrient Management Plan or CNMP with an AEM Certified Planner?

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3. Is an AEM Certified Planner included in the SW4 as District staff or as a consultant associated with the project to certify implementation of NRCS 590-based nutrient applications based on their review of farm records?

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4. Please confirm that the farm agrees to verify/document that the required equipment or services have been acquired and to supply application records, including field name, application date, application method, acres applied with the method, materials applied, and rate applied?

Track 4 – Questions for Agricultural Forest Management Systems

1. What are the total acres of tree planting proposed? Click or tap here to enter text.

2. How many acres of cropland, pasture, or idle lands are being converted to forest land for this project?

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3. Has the project location been cleared due to a disturbance or harvested in the last 5 years?

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Part D – Project Description, Oversight, and Work Plan (20 points) All Tracks answer the following questions.

1. Program Goals In the box below provide:

• Provide a brief description of how the project addresses the goals of the CRF Program to reduce GHG emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and/or help prepare farms for a changing climate.

• Does the project meet a priority identified in the District AEM Strategy or an existing conservation plan, watershed management plan, or similar document?

Provide sentence linking AEM Strategy to project. (Do not attach plan.)

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2. Project Description In the box below provide:

• What is the need for this project? Describe how the proposed practices are appropriate for climate related issues on farm.

• Details on the proposed BMPs (SW3 lists appropriate BMP systems).

• Details on the proposed equipment, sensor technology, monitors, services, and tools that will be purchased, how they align with the BMPs, and how they provide additional efficiencies/GHG reductions (SW6 lists equipment that aligns with BMPs on SW3).

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3. Project Planning In the box below provide:

• Description of the planning process and/or status of planning for this project.

• Description of whether the necessary permits and approvals that have been granted or will be sought before implementation.

• Summary of the tasks and activities required to achieve the objectives in the proposed project including but not limited to permitting, site planning and preparation, engineering, construction, equipment installation and testing (SW5 outlines project work plan tasks).

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4. SWCD Experience In the box below provide:

• Description of the Districts’ experience and ability to complete the proposed project (SW4 has sufficient support listed).

• Descriptions of how the project will be evaluated to ensure that proper operation and maintenance will be conducted for continuation of the project’s intended benefits.

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5. Education and Adoption In the box below provide:

• Details of project outreach and education activities.

• Description of how the project will encourage the adoption of additional BMPs in the county beyond what the grant is funding, i.e. the SWCD and farm operation provide project as demonstration site for conducting educational programming.

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Part E – Budgeting and Cost Effectiveness (10 points)

Part F – Estimated GHG Emission Reduction (5 points)

1. What is the estimated GHG reduction? (using COMET-Planner or methodology outlined in the RFP)

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2. Describe how the project will result in reduction of GHG emissions compared to existing practices or operations.

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3. Describe how the farm is committed to utilize low emission, carbon sink, or renewable energy methods on other areas of the farm.

1. How does the budget account for all necessary costs and include sufficient match (all costs are included on the SW2 Budget)?

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2. How does the budget account for unexpected costs? Click or tap here to enter text.

3. Are per unit rates being used? List the BMP and proposed rate. Click or tap here to enter text.

4. How are the BMPs that will be implemented cost-effective relative to the estimated reduction of GHG emissions or resiliency benefit?

Part G – Adaptation, Resiliency, & Environmental Benefits (15 points)

1. Are there fuel savings achieved through the proposed practices? If yes, how is it calculated and what is the estimated reduction.

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2. Does the farm have an emergency management plan relating to this project? Or is the farm or project location identified in a County Emergency Management Plan or Hazard Mitigation Plan? Or does this project have a connection to a Climate Smart Communities (CSC) or Farmland Protection initiative? Do not attach plan.

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3. Does the proposed project address pollinator protection? If so, describe how.

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4. In the box below provide:

• Description of climate vulnerabilities the farm is experiencing and the impact on the farm (increased flooding, more frequent short droughts, more severe storms, overall increased precipitation, and extreme temperature fluctuations)

• Description of how this project will reduce the negative impacts of climate change on the farm and local environment

• Description of how the project will increase the farm’s resilience to climate vulnerabilities because of the proposed BMPs and/or equipment being purchased.

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5. In the box below provide:

• Description of the environmental co-benefits anticipated from this project supported by appropriate evaluations. Examples include, but are not limited to reduced fertilizer use, water quality protection, water conservation, odor reduction, development of recycled or value-added products, impacts to surrounding communities, etc.

• Quantification of environmental co-benefits using available tools such as RUSLE2, etc.

Part H – Application Checklist for Completeness

ELIGIBILITY

Proposal must be received through the NYS SWCC SharePoint site or via email to the Program Manager by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 23, 2026

☐ Proposal is submitted by a NYS Soil and Water Conservation District or group of Districts, ☐ on behalf of one or more farm operation(s), ☐ within one Track only.

☐ State funds requested are less than or equal to 80% of total eligible costs for BMP implementation unless otherwise allowed according to the RFP.

PROJECT APPLICATION FORM & COMPONENTS

The following documents must be uploaded as part of a single PDF application packet, unless otherwise noted:

☐ Application form – all applicable questions are answered. *

☐ SW Workbook: included in PDF packet with application and as separate excel file *

• SW1 – List of Participating Farm Operators

• SW2 – Budget

• SW3 – Best Management Practice List

• SW4 – Personnel Form

• SW5 – Plan of Work

• SW6 – Other Direct Expenses

☐ SWCD Board Resolution(s) in support of the application **

☐ SHPO Map or letter of determination **

☐ SWCD Conflict of Interest Documentation (if applicable) **

• Board Meeting Minutes that reflect disclosure of a potential conflict of interest, clearly identifying any person(s) with a conflict of interest was recused (i.e., the person was not present for all presentations, discussions, decisions and voting for the project), including the times the person departed from and returned to the meeting.

• Appendix F form from RFP regarding conflict of interest questions; and

• Board Resolution for application acknowledging the conflict of interest.

☐ Supporting Materials, such as (optional – Do not upload plan documents):

• Labeled project location map and/or aerial plan map

• Before/after photographs or other documentation

• COMET Planner tool report (If not chosen as an upload, please indicate sequestration/GHG reduction estimate in proposal narrative.)

* Items marked with an asterisk are essential required elements of the proposal.

Failure to provide the item(s) by the deadline will constitute an incomplete proposal and the application will not be considered for funding.

** Items marked with a double asterisk are required elements that if determined to be missing the applicant will be notified by email and provided five (5) business days to submit the missing item(s). Failure to provide the item(s) by the designated deadline will result in an incomplete proposal and the application will not be considered for funding.

NOTE: If a project is selected for funding, any ineligible costs will be removed during Plan of Work development. The percentage of State funds may not increase because of these alterations.

Part I – SWCD Certification I hereby affirm under penalty of perjury that information provided on this application and attached statements and exhibits is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. False statements made herein are punishable as a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 210.45 of the Penal Law.

Name: Click or tap here to enter text. Title: Click or tap here to enter text.

Entity: Click or tap here to enter text. Date: Click or tap to enter a date.

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Grantee Signature

NOTE: If the project application includes eligible participating farm operator that are either SWCD Board Members or employees please document in accordance with the Round 10 RFP Conflict of Interest.