Public Funding
Public agencies can help you with many aspects of successfully implementing a hedgerow, including the financing.
While a specific individual program may not pay 100% of the costs, your local service providers can often assist you in finding additional funding from other sources to make up the difference. Such sources might include US Fish & Wildlife, Salmon Recovery Board, other United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs in partnership with local agencies and landowners, and more.
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has incentive programs to help with hedgerow establishment. Contact your local NRCS Service Center office, as well as your local conservation district.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): This program provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers in order to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation or improved or created wildlife habitat. The program is administered through the USDA NRCS via local field offices.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): This program offers technical and financial assistance to help agricultural and forest producers expand or improve on existing conservation practices, while still maintaining their baseline level of conservation. The program specifies Enhancements while still maintaining or improving their baseline level of conservation.
- Planting for carbon sequestration and storage (E612B) | Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Tree/shrub planting for wildlife habitat (E612G) | Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Enhanced Wildlife Habitat Management for Upland Landscapes (E645D) | Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Establish pollinator habitat (E420A) | Natural Resources Conservation Service
- E512I Establish pollinator and/or beneficial insect and/or Monarch habitat
- Conservation cover for pollinators and beneficial insects (E327A)
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program: In exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from production and establishing permanent resource-conserving plant species, farmers and ranchers are paid an annual rental rate along with other federal and state incentives. This program is administered through the USDA Farm Service Agency and local conservation districts.
- Washington State Conservation Commission & local conservation districts: The Commission offers various grant funds for voluntary stewardship actions, and your local conservation district service provider can assist you in accessing the most appropriate funding option for your project. Funding examples can be found at the Commission’s website, and applications are made through your local conservation district. Find your local conservation district office here.
- Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) offers Infrastructure Grants that could support hedgerow projects, possibly in tandem with other funding sources.
Private Funding
- Washington Farmland Trust offers “Advancing Farm Sustainability” microgrants for more sustainable agriculture, including conservation buffers/hedgerows.
- The Tilth Alliance, through its Washington State Organic & Sustainable Farming Fund, supports conservation practices such as hedgerows that align with the Fund’s priorities. Projects must be completed in a 9-month period, and applications open once per year.
- The Rodale Institute offers microgrants of a maximum of $2,000 to farmers who are Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color. The program is geared to producers whose operations are organic or who aspire to transition to organic farming.
** If you need the content provided on this page in a different format, please contact info@nativeplantsalvage.org **