Whitetail deer. Photo courtesy USDA NRCS.
The NJ State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) recently dedicated $500,000 of funding for 50% cost-share grants to farmers for installing high tensile woven-wire fencing on permanently preserved farms. The cost share applies to fencing materials and installation. An applicant can apply for a cost-share of up to $200/acre, with a total award amount capped at $20,000. As a ballpark estimate: accounting for the farmer’s 50% contribution, the maximum level of funding would support fence installation around roughly 20+ acres.
To be eligible for the program:
- The applicant must be the owner AND operator of the farm on which the deer fencing is to be installed.
- An applicant must be an established farmer (see definition in the policy overview, per the link below);
- The land on which the deer fencing is to be constructed must be permanently preserved farmland enrolled in the Farmland Preservation Program or Transfer of Development Rights Program;
- An applicant must participate in a SADC-approved deer fence installation training session;
- An applicant must install deer fencing in accordance with the specifications outlined in the SADC policy (see policy at link, below).
Applications will be reviewed and prioritized, per the criteria outlined in the program policy (e.g., estimated deer density per square mile, crop type to be fenced, hunting status on the farm and adjacent properties, farmers’ military status, etc.). The application deadline is March 23, 2017.
Those selected for funding will need to complete a training session on proper fence installation that will be offered in early to mid-summer in partnership with Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension. An application form, the program policy, and other program details are available at the SADC’s website.
