Limited Resource/Beginning Farmer Cost Lists
 

The State Conservationist with advice from the Idaho State Technical Advisory Committee determined that Limited Resource Farmers and Beginning Farmers would receive 75% cost share costs for qualified conservation practices.  The total cost share caps of $50,000 for both Irrigation Systems and Animal Waste Systems does apply and may result in less than 75% cost share being received.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has developed an automated website for producers to determine if they meet the criteria for Limited Resource Farmers.  The site can be found at:  http://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/.  This site also contains further explanations for both categories.

The following documents will require Adobe Acrobat.

1. A person with a direct or indirect gross farm sales not more than $100,000 in each of the previous two years (to be increased starting in FY 2004 to adjust for inflation using Prices Paid By Farmers Index as compiled by NASS), and
2. Has a total household income at or below the national poverty level for a family of four, or less than 50 percent of county median household income (to be determined annually using Commerce Department Data), in each of the previous two years.

An entity or joint operation can be a Limited Resource Producer if all individual members qualify as a Limited Resource Producer.

Beginning Farmer of Rancher:

A Beginning Farmer or Rancher has the following characteristics:

1. Has not operated a farm or ranch, or who has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years.  This requirement applies to all members of an entity, and
2. Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch.

1. In the case of a contract with an individual, individually or with the immediate family, material and substantial participation requires that the individual provide substantial day-to-day labor and management of the farm or ranch, consistent with the practices in the county or state where the farm is located.
2. In the case of a contract made with an entity, all members must materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch.  Material and substantial participation requires that the members provide some amount of the management, or labor and management necessary for day-to-day activities, such that if the members did not provide these inputs, operation of the farm or ranch would be seriously impaired.

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