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Conservation districts seek $20,000–$50,000 to continue small climate‑resilience grants for farms
Summary
Witnesses described a small grant program that has funded 139 climate‑resilience projects across all 10 counties, awarding about $337,895 in 2025. The program provides $10,000 grants requiring a 25% farmer match; sponsors proposed an amendment reducing an appropriation request from $50,000 to $20,000 to preserve a lower‑cost option.
Representatives and witnesses described the Conservation District Climate Resilience Grant Program during a House Finance Committee work session on House Bill 246.
Ian Hanley, executive director of the New Hampshire State Conservation Committee, said the committee oversees 10 county conservation districts and that the program has funded 139 grants over four years totaling just over $1 million and reaching farmers in 58 municipalities across all 10 counties. "In 2025, we awarded $337,895 in total grants," Hanley said.
Benet Hershon, district manager for the Cheshire County Conservation District, explained the grants are typically $10,000 each and require a 25% match from the farmer. He gave examples: a rotational grazing project at 5 Sigma Farm that preserved pasture conditions during a drought, and support for an oyster farm to address increased predation tied to warming shoreline conditions. Hershon described the grants as filling gaps not covered by federal farm programs and as long‑term investments in farm business viability.
Representative Karen Ebel introduced an amendment on behalf of the sponsor that would reduce the requested appropriation from $50,000 to $20,000. Witnesses said private foundations have been the principal funders and that modest state support helps leverage private dollars. Hanley said the program had secured $400,000 for 2026 work, with $30,000 allocated to district staff time (about $3,000 per county) and the remainder directed to direct‑to‑farm grants.
Oversight and accountability: applicants must sign a contract, submit receipts and final reports, and track metrics; projects receive 50% upfront and the remainder on submission of final documentation. Districts host annual workshops to showcase projects and maintain an online interactive map with project descriptions.
Committee outcome: the work session closed without a vote; the sponsor offered the amendment as a lower‑cost option in the event of constrained finances at executive session.
Ending: Committee members expressed general support for the program’s farm resilience goals while debating the appropriate level of state funding to leverage private support.
