Applications for poultry mortality management funds due April 21
Approximately $1 million is available to help beginning farmers in Sussex County implement conservation practices to address animal mortality management on their poultry operations. Financial assistance is available through a program led by the Sussex Conservation District, in cooperation with public and private partners, for the implementation of water quality best management practices such as composters or mortality freezers to address routine mortality.
Beginning farmers are faced with significant startup costs, and there is a backlog of applicants waiting for approval through financial assistance programs for composters or mortality freezers, poultry manure structures and heavy-use area protection pads. Proper mortality management is critical to prevent leaching of nutrients, spreading of disease, and the attraction of vermin.
Beginning farmers must meet the eligibility requirements of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program administered by the U.S. Department of Agrlculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. Beginning farmers interested in implementing a composter or mortality freezers are encouraged to visit the Sussex Conservation District office at 21315 Berlin Road, Unit 4, Georgetown, to sign up for this program.
In addition, Farm Freezers LLC and Greener Solutions LLC are offering a $100 rebate per freezer unit purchased through this program along with a collection fee rebate of $100 per flock for one year after installation.
A “beginning farmer" has not operated a farm or ranch, or has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years. Farmers must be actively engaged in poultry production. Applicants must not have a composter that is within its NRCS contract lifespan. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the office to ensure eligibility to participate in the program. The Sussex Conservation District accepts applications year round, The next application deadline is April 21, with subsequent application cutoff dates on the third Friday of every month. All applications will be batched monthly and will be expedited through the contract process in order to implement water quality best management practices in a timely manner.
The Assisting Beginning Farmers with Poultry Mortality Management in Sussex County project is a Regional Conservation Partnership Program project led by the Sussex Conservation District. Partners participating in the project include Farm Freezers LLC, Greener Solutions LLC, Delaware Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Management Program, DNREC's Division of Watershed Stewardship and Division of Watershed Management and Assessment, and the Delmarva Poultry Industry. The project will improve water quality and biosecurity, as well as help Delaware meet the Total Maximum Daily Loads.
The program promotes coordination among the USDA NRCS and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners. The Assisting Beginning Farmers with Mortality Management project is a 2016 RCPP project that bring additional resources to Sussex County.
For more information, contact the Sussex Conservation District at 302-856-3990, Ext. 3, or go to www.sussexconservation.org.
