Senate Finance Hears Bill to Give Conservation Districts $100,000 for Climate Resilience Grants

The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on House Bill 246, which would provide $100,000 over the upcoming biennium for the state’s 10 conservation districts to support climate resiliency grants for farmers.

Representative Judy Aaron, chair of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee, told the committee HB 246 would split $50,000 per year among districts (about $5,000 each) to leverage private donations and support grant programs that help farmers adopt practices such as irrigation, soil-health measures and small equipment purchases. "So each one would get $5,000 and that money would be used towards their grant programs," Aaron said.

Farmers and district managers described the program’s impact and demand. David Trumble, a certified organic farmer, testified that droughts and heavier storms have increased erosion and the need for irrigation; he described the grants as "seed money" for young farmers who cannot otherwise afford equipment. Benee Hirshon, district manager for the Cheshire County Conservation District, said the program has provided 139 direct-to-farm grants worth over $1,000,000 since 2022 and that last year the districts had to turn away about 31% of applicants for lack of funds.

Hirshon and other witnesses explained eligibility and administration: applicants must typically have sold direct-to-consumer for at least two years, applications are ranked by a district selection committee using a publicly available matrix, awarded projects must meet insurance and contracting requirements, and most grants cap at roughly $10,000. She said the program also runs informational sessions and technical-assistance checks with USDA NRCS, UNH Cooperative Extension or other advisors.

Senators asked about prior ARPA funding for rental equipment and the program’s overall balance; the State Conservation Committee director confirmed a prior $580,000 ARPA allocation was used for rental equipment but said climate-resiliency funding remained separate. The committee recorded online sign-ups of 104 in support and 2 opposed before closing public testimony.

The bill’s backers said state funding would help leverage private donations and expand the program’s reach. No committee vote on HB 246 is recorded in this transcript.

Clarifying details: requested appropriation $100,000 over the biennium (split $50,000 each year); grants administered by 10 county conservation districts; typical maximum grant $10,000; program reported 139 grants since 2022 and over $1,000,000 in direct-to-farm grants in total; approximately 31% of applicants were turned away last year due to lack of funds.

What’s next: public hearing closed; committee action not recorded in the provided transcript.