Photo Credit: Teresa Michael, The Fertilizer Institute
New Funding Opportunity for Farmers in Maryland and Pennsylvania
Farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed now have access to a flexible incentive program designed to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) while supporting farm profitability and sustainability.
Through a partnership led by The Nature Conservancy and funded through a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG), this program provides financial support, technical assistance, and opportunities for on-farm innovation focused on corn and wheat production.
What Is the Nitrogen Use Efficiency Program?
This outcome-based incentive program helps farmers evaluate and implement management practices that improve nitrogen use efficiency on their operations. Rather than prescribing specific practices, the program allows farmers and trusted advisors to identify approaches that work best for their unique operation.
Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) is calculated as:
NUE = Nitrogen removed in harvest ÷ Nitrogen available to the crop
How the Progam Works
Part 1: $1,000 Voucher
- Farmers will work with trusted advisors to identify ways to increase NUE in corn and/or wheat crops using a $1,000 planning voucher
- Vouchers are flexible! Any planning that has the goal of increasing NEU in corn or wheat is eligible
- The voucher can be used for trusted advisors to provide technical assistance, data management, equipment access, testing, etc. to help farmers to increase NUE
- Voucher outcomes will be shared with TNC
2. Performance-Based NUE Payments
Farmers who implement new management practices may qualify for incentive payments based on the NUE achieved.
Economic outcomes will also be evaluated to compare revenue impacts associated with the implemented practices.
Part 2: NUE Paymenmt
- Farmers will implement practices they identify from the voucher planning work with their advisor
- Baseline management will be compared to new management in on-farm comparisons or replicated trials
- NUE will be calculated for implemented practices and for baseline management
- Economic outcomes will be calculated from using new practices
- Agribusineses will receive a data reporting payment per farm to compensate for the time necessary for site visits, and for data organization, entry, and submission.
- $500 for farms up to 200 acres
- $800 for farms 201-400 acres
Farmers who implement new management practices may qualify for incentive payments based on the NUE achieved.
| NUE Achieved | Payment |
|---|---|
| Less than 60% | $15/acre |
| 60-69% | $25/acre |
| 70-79% | $35/acre |
| 80% or greater | $50/acre |
Part 3: On Farm Trials
- Three farms per year from each state will be invited to participate in a comprehensive field trial using a replicated design that will be developed with support from TNC
- A payment of $2,000 per year will be provided to farmers who participate in the replicated on-farm trials
Part 4: Social Evaluation
- Farmers will be interviewed twice: once following initial enrollment and once toward the end of the project.
- "Initial enrollment" interviews will focus on reasons for enrollment and intended activities over the course of the project. "Post-participation" interviews will focus on farmers' experience during the project, and document and how and why voucher and NUE incentives contributed (or did not) to changes in on-farm activities
- Farmers who drop out of the program for any reason will also be asked to participate in an interview. Farmer “drop-out” interviews help us understand issues with the project design and to what extent farmers intend to maintain adopted practices without project support.
- A representative from each agribusiness partner will be interviewed during the project to discuss challenges, and overall perspectives. Improvements will be made based on this input.
Who Is Eligible?
To participate, farmers must meet USDA NRCS eligibility requirements, including:
- Compliance with highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions
- Control of the land for the duration of the contract
- Adjusted gross income below $900,000 (waivers may be considered by NRCS)
Additionally, NUE payments must support practices that are not already receiving active funding through another USDA program.
Why Participate?
This program provides an opportunity to:
- Explore new nitrogen management strategies
- Receive financial support for planning and implementation
- Measure both agronomic and economic outcomes
- Contribute to ongoing research and innovation in Chesapeake Bay agriculture
- Improve nutrient stewardship while maintaining farm productivity
Questions?
For additional information about the Nitrogen Use Efficiency Conservation Innovation Grant, contact:
Dr. Kristin Fisher
kristin.fisher@tnc.org