County Cost-Share Programs Change

The County Model Cost-Share Programs will now be offered as investment areas under the umbrella of the County Agriculural Investment Program (CAIP). This will offer a more streamlined approach to applying for funds for both the program administrators and the local farmers. Since all programs will be offered in counties that adopt this program, there will be a broader access for all farmers, regardless of their focus enterprise.

The County Agriculture Investment Program (CAIP) is designed to provide farmers  with incentives to allow them to improve and diversify their current production practices, CAIP combines what were previously known as County Model Cost-Share Programs into one, where each model program becomes an investment area. This in turn provides additional decision-making opportunities for producers in their farm operations.

Another feature of this program is the establishment of a universal application and scoring system, which will ensure equity among producers across all investment areas. The following investment areas will be available through CAIP:

• Agricultural Diversification
• Cattle Handling 
• Cattle Genetics Improvement
• Goat & Sheep Diversification
• On-Farm Water Enhancement
• Farm Structure & Commodity Handling
• Fencing Improvement Program
• Commercial Poultry/Dairy/Swine
• Technology
• On-Farm Energy Efficiency & Production
• Forage Improvement Program