Kentucky Conservation Funding Application Deadline

Kentucky conservation funding is available to eligible farmers and landowners seeking financial and technical assistance to improve soil health and implement conservation practices on working lands. Submit applications for the current funding cycle through a local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office by September 25, 2026.

The opportunity is available through the Soil Health for Urban and Rural Environments, or SHURE, project, a Regional Conservation Partnership Program initiative led by Grow Appalachia, a strategic initiative of Berea College. Grow Appalachia is working with the Organic Association of Kentucky and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to deliver the program.

More Than $3.8 Million for Kentucky Conservation

The SHURE project is bringing more than $3.8 million into Kentucky to help farmers and landowners adopt conservation practices that support healthier soil and more resilient agricultural operations.

Eligible participants may receive financial assistance and one-on-one technical support. Grow Appalachia and Organic Association of Kentucky staff can help producers identify conservation needs, develop an on-farm conservation plan, navigate the NRCS application process, and understand how to implement approved practices.

Conservation practices supported through the project may include cover crops, riparian forest buffers, pollinator habitat, and other measures designed to improve soil and natural resources.

The project emphasizes soil health and resilient agricultural practices. NRCS also says the SHURE initiative prioritizes small farms of 50 acres or less in Kentucky.

Farmers Can Get Help With the Application

Farmers do not have to develop a conservation plan or navigate the NRCS process alone. Technical assistance is available to help identify farm problems and opportunities, evaluate resources, and determine which conservation practices may be appropriate.

Producers and landowners interested in the current funding cycle must submit their applications through their local USDA NRCS office by September 25, 2026.

NRCS accepts conservation program applications year-round, but the September 25 cutoff determines which applications will be considered for the current Kentucky funding cycle. Applications submitted after that date will move to a future funding period.

Farmers who applied for SHURE funding during the spring 2026 application period but were not funded may apply again during the fall funding cycle.

How to Apply for Kentucky conservation funding

Kentucky farmers and landowners interested in the program should contact their local USDA Service Center or NRCS field office before the deadline. Grow Appalachia and the Organic Association of Kentucky also offer conservation assistance to farmers who need help understanding available practices, conservation planning, or the application process.

Application deadline: September 25, 2026
Who may apply: Eligible Kentucky farmers and landowners
Program: RCPP Soil Health for Urban and Rural Environments (SHURE)
Application: Submit through a local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office

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