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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Kristie Garcia
Director of Public Affairs, New Mexico Department of Agriculture
krgarcia@nmda.nmsu.edu
Office: 575-646-2804
Cell: 575-339-5011

March 28, 2023

NMDA accepting Healthy Soil Program grant applications from Eligible Entities beginning April 11

 Webinar to assist applicants set for April 18

Haga clic aquí para la versión en español.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) is accepting grant applications – specifically from Eligible Entities – for its Healthy Soil Program from Tuesday, April 11 until Wednesday, May 17.

Eligible Entities are defined in the 2019 Healthy Soil Act as “local governmental [entities] with proven land management capacity to support healthy soil” and include pueblos, tribes, and nations; acequias; land grants; soil and water conservation districts; and New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service. NMDA will also accept grant applications from other local governmental entities that manage land.

A woman stands in a large hole dug in a dormant crop field, while seven individuals surround her as she speaks
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District is currently implementing a Healthy Soil Program grant as an Eligible Entity. In addition to planting cover crops and reducing tillage, MRGCD’s project includes hosting workshops to teach local land managers about soil health. Here, MRGCD Soil Scientist/Agronomist Gabriella Coughlin offers participating land managers a beneath-the-surface look at soils near Bernardo, New Mexico. Other local governmental entities that manage land can also apply for a grant, as the New Mexico Department of Agriculture is accepting grant applications – specifically from Eligible Entities – for its Healthy Soil Program from Tuesday, April 11 until Wednesday, May 17. (Photo courtesy Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District)

NMDA will host a webinar on Tuesday, April 18 at 1:30 p.m. to demonstrate how Eligible Entities should complete the online application for a Healthy Soil Program grant. Registration is required to attend this webinar. Related information and registration for the webinar is available on the NMDA website.

Grant funding may be used for on-the-ground projects in New Mexico that focus on one or more of the five soil health principles: keeping the soil covered; minimizing soil disturbance on cropland and minimizing external inputs; maximizing biodiversity; maintaining a living root; and integrating animals into land management, including grazing animals, birds, beneficial insects or keystone species, such as earthworms. 

Section of an open, dormant crop field with small white posts in rows.
The Pueblo of Tesuque is currently implementing a Healthy Soil Program grant as an Eligible Entity. The project includes planting a multi-species cover crop mix on the pueblo’s farm, seen here, as well as reducing tillage and applying manure to increase the soil’s organic matter and fertility. All pueblos, tribes, and nations in New Mexico can apply for a grant, as the New Mexico Department of Agriculture is accepting grant applications – specifically from Eligible Entities – for its Healthy Soil Program from Tuesday, April 11 until Wednesday, May 17. (Photo courtesy Pueblo of Tesuque)

“Eligible Entities exist across New Mexico, and I encourage them to apply for a grant in an effort to support healthy soil in our state,” said New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte. “Since the program’s pilot year, we have seen many successful projects implemented as a result of Healthy Soil Program grants. Please be sure to register for the April 18 webinar to learn about the application process for Eligible Entities.”

Eligible Entity applications are due by 12 p.m. (noon) Wednesday, May 17. Applications must be completed and submitted online. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.

Visit the NMDA YouTube channel to watch a video about how the NMDA Healthy Soil Program helped an Eligible Entity improve nearly 37 acres of wildlife habitat within an urban soil and water conservation district.

A man driving a red forklift unloads a pallet with several large white bags labeled “Green Cover Seed” from a box truck.
Taos Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is currently implementing a Healthy Soil Program grant as an Eligible Entity. Taos SWCD’s project includes planting cool-season cover crops, the seed for which is seen here being unloaded from a truck, to armor the soil on 200 acres. Taos SWCD is also hosting workshops to teach local land managers about the importance of soil cover and living roots, as well as effective strategies to rebuild soil cover. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture is accepting grant applications – specifically from Eligible Entities – for its Healthy Soil Program from Tuesday, April 11 until Wednesday, May 17. (Photo courtesy Taos Soil and Water Conservation District)

The Healthy Soil Program was created in the 2019 Healthy Soil Act. Enacted by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the act’s purpose is to promote and support farming and ranching systems and other forms of land management that increase soil organic matter, aggregate stability, microbiology and water retention to improve the state’s soil health, yield and profitability.

In addition to Eligible Entities, NMDA is accepting grant applications from Individual Applicants until 12 p.m. (noon) Friday, April 21. Visit the NMDA Healthy Soil Program web page for more information, to subscribe to program updates and to prepare to apply for a grant.

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