$1 million available for on-farm freezer collection units in Sussex County - apply by April 21

Sussex County poultry growers who qualify for a new mortality management grant can get on-farm freezer collection units for free. More than $1 million in funding assistance and discounts is now available through a special one-time Regional Conservation Partnership Program grant being administered by the Sussex Conservation District. The first deadline for applications is Friday, April 21. There will be subsequent monthly application deadlines, but the money will be disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis, so those applying early will have a much greater chance of getting their requests approved.

Pursuant to program guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the grant money is limited to individuals or entities who have operated a farm for not more than 10 consecutive years. Under the current NRCS payment schedule, these "beginning farmers" are eligible for $5,224.45 in grant money for each freezer unit and its concrete pad, and there is no limit on the number of freezer units that can be funded through the program.

Farm Freezers LLC, a local distributor of the on-farm freezer units, is offering a rebate for every unit purchased through the grant program, reducing the cost per freezer unit to less than $5,100, so ultimately the growers will get the equipment for free.

The grant was made possible by a public-private partnership including the Delmarva Poultry Industry, the Sussex Conservation District, Greener Solutions LLC, the Delaware Nutrient Management Commission, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the NRCS, the Delaware Department of Agriculture and Farm Freezers LLC. Created by the 2014 Farm Bill, the RCPP is a partner-driven, locally led approach to conservation.

Using on-farm freezer units for mortality management is simple. Routine mortality is placed inside a specially designed collection unit and then the lid is closed. The grower never has to deal with that material again.

A customized collection vehicle arrives between flocks to empty the units so they are ready for the next flock. Routine maintenance on the unit is provided as part of the collection service offered by Millsboro-based Greener Solutions LLC.

Growers switching to freezer units have been able to greatly reduce the time and money they previously spent on composting, realizing thousands of dollars a year in operational savings. They've also enjoyed better biosecurity. By using sealed containers that lock in pathogens and lock out scavengers and flies, growers can reduce their risk of loss.

Nonmonetary benefits include the elimination of smells, flies and scavengers associated with composting, so the grower and the grower's neighbors enjoy a greatly improved quality of life.

For more about the grant program, call 302-856-3900 Ext. 3 or stop by the Sussex Conservation District office at 21315 Berlin Road, Unit 4, in Georgetown. For more about Farm Freezers and Greener Solutions, go to www.FarmFreezers.com or call 844-754-2742.