The Brighter Future Fund’s New England Regenerative Livestock Farming Grants, part of the New England Farmer Microgrants Program (NEFMP) from American Farmland Trust (AFT), offers up to $10,000 to support regenerative agriculture practices among existing livestock farmers in select counties in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. These grants aim to promote field-based conservation projects that improve soil health, water quality, and pollinator habitats. Eligible applicants must already be operating livestock farms and producing livestock products for sale, barter, or community exchange. Start-up operations are not eligible.

The grant’s focus is on addressing water quality and soil health challenges specific to the Connecticut River Valley’s fertile regions, where livestock farmers often face environmental pressures. This initiative is part of AFT’s broader, multi-year project that combines financial and technical support for regenerative farming practices in New England, with funding provided through microgrants to promote sustainable agriculture within the region.

To apply, farmers must complete and submit an application through the online grant portal between October 1 and November 29, 2024. Applications are available in both English and Spanish, and no email or mailed submissions will be accepted. Examples of eligible projects include cover cropping, pasture seeding, pollinator habitat establishment, rotational grazing, and soil amendments that align with the program’s goals for ecological conservation and sustainable farming.

Applications will be reviewed, and funding decisions will be announced in early 2025. This grant program is now under AFT’s restructured Brighter Future Fund umbrella, centralizing AFT’s grant offerings for broader outreach and support across various conservation and farming initiatives in the New England area.