The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Hampshire is providing financial assistance for high tunnels through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Agriculture Management Assistance program (AMA). Financial assistance will be offered for a maximum of 2178 square feet (approximately 30 x 72 ft) per agricultural operation.

 Seasonal High Tunnels for Food and Other Specialty Crop Production

Some requirements for producers that get high tunnel assistance through NH NRCS:

• The tunnel must be maintained according to NRCS specifications for a period of 4 years.
• This is a 3 year pilot study. NRCS will work with producers to collect information on the effectiveness of High Tunnels for improving soil quality and managing nutrient and pests.
Producers who receive assistance will need to complete an evaluation questionnaire every growing season.
• The payment rate for new, socially disadvantaged, or limited resource farmers is $4.75/ft2 and is $3.95/ft2 for all other applicants.
• Tunnels must be gothic-style with galvanized steel ground posts and bows, roll up sides, and endwalls. They must be greater than 6 feet high and covered with at least 6-mil UV-resistant greenhouse grade plastic.
• No permanent electricity or automatic ventilation will be permitted. Ventilation must be provided through roll up sides, doors, and manual, thermal, or solar-powered vents.
• The tunnel will be installed according to manufacturer’s instructions. All designs must be approved by NRCS.
• The width of the tunnel shall not exceed 30 feet and the length shall not exceed 96 feet.

In order to be eligible, growers must have:

• At least ½ acre of cultivated cropland
• Control of the land ( i.e. own the land or have a lease or rental agreement)
• Produced or sold at least $1,000 of agricultural products in the past year

If you currently have a high tunnel then you could get assistance to build one additional tunnel, as long as the total square feet of high tunnels on your land (including the tunnel to be built) does not exceed 5% of the total acres of cultivated cropland. For example, 5% of one acre is 2178 ft2 (approximately 30
x 72 ft). If you already use one 30 x 72 ft high tunnel, you would need to have a minimum of 2 acres of cultivated cropland to be eligible for a 30 x 72 ft tunnel through NRCS. This ratio is used only for eligibility purposes; new tunnels can be installed next to each other on the same acre of land.

To apply for high tunnel assistance, contact your local field office
http://www.nh.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/directory/offices.html

• Applications can be filled out anytime throughout the year, but in order to be considered for the first round of funding, applications must be received by January 22, 2010.
• Funding is competitive. If you are not selected for funding during this cycle, your application can be deferred to the next funding cycle.
• There is a separate pool of funds for transitioning and certified organic producers; applications must be received by March 12, 2010.