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Walpole, NH (March 6, 2026) – The New Hampshire Conservation Districts are excited to once again request proposals from land trusts who seek funding to work with NH farms to conserve their land and improve the viability of their farm business.
The mission of the NH Farm Future Fund is to provide funding for farm viability planning in concert with the conservation of important agricultural soils. This program will leverage the singular opportunity of putting a conservation easement on farmland to also invest in the future viability of the farm business. The goal of this fund is to ensure that farmland is conserved, productive, and available for future generations.
There is $100,000 available in the 2026 funding cycle. Awards no greater than $25,000 will be considered. The NH Farm Future Fund is an integrated approach to funding farm viability, farmland conservation, and farmland access. Funding is available to support activities in two broad categories: financial assistance to offset costs associated with farmland conservation projects, and technical assistance to support farm business viability and succession planning.
Land trust applicants should be committed to bringing together experts in land conservation, succession planning, and farm viability to advance the farm’s business goals. Eligible Applicants must be nonprofit tax exempt 501(c)(3) organizations that have land conservation as their primary function and are actively working to conserve farmland in the state of New Hampshire.
We are asking all applicants to contact info@cheshireconservation.org by April 1st to schedule a Discovery Meeting if you plan to move forward with a submission. In your email, please provide all days and times that will work for you and your farm partner to meet. These meetings will be held virtually. In your email, please note which technical assistance services the land trust and farm partner applicant are potentially interested in.
All interested applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the “Technical Assistance Menu” in advance of the discovery meeting to better understand services available. More information on this process can be found in the RFP.
An optional virtual drop-in session will also be held for Land Trusts on March 18th from 10:00-11:00AM. This is an opportunity to learn more about the program, ask questions, and discuss potential applications. Register here! Application materials are available at www.cheshireconservation.org/nhfff.
Completed applications are due by 5:00PM on May 31, 2026 and can be submitted digitally. Applications must be emailed by the due date. Instructions for submitting an application can be found in the application materials. Successful grant applicants will be notified of award by mid July 2026.
The Farm Future Fund is a grant program that is privately funded and administered by the Cheshire County Conservation District on behalf of the New Hampshire Conservation Districts. Key partners in making this grant possible the NH Community Loan Fund and Land for Good. This year, we are excited to welcome new partners in this work: American Farmland Trust, Conservation Law Foundation's Legal Food Hub Program, and University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. Funding is provided by the You Have Our Trust Fund, the Madison Fund of the NH Charitable Foundation, and the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP). For further information, to discuss project proposals, or donations to the grant program contact: Benée Hershon at (802) 518-0993 or benee@cheshireconservation.org
This year, Cheshire County Conservation District is proud to announce additional funding for the NH Farm Future Fund through LCHIP! LCHIP funds will be used to provide funding for transaction costs associated with the conservation easement process, matched by private funds used to provide technical assistance (business planning, succession planning, etc.), to support the continued stewardship of these lands and ensure the viability of local farm businesses. By partnering with the NH Farm Futures Fund, LCHIP has a unique opportunity to support and strengthen a program that has conserved 2,402 acres of agricultural soils throughout our state, while engaging 22 farms and 8 NH Land Trusts! This partnership marks an exciting new chapter and expansion of this innovative program!
About Cheshire County Conservation District
The Cheshire County Conservation District promotes the conservation and responsible use of our natural and agricultural resources for the people of Cheshire County by providing technical, financial, and educational assistance. Our goal is to encourage the stewardship of healthy soils, productive ecologically sound farms, diverse wildlife, productive sustainable forests, healthy watersheds, and clean water to ensure those resources are available for future generations. Established in 1945, the Conservation District operates out of Walpole, NH where we work alongside the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other conservation partners For more information contactinfo@cheshireconservation.orgor 603-904-3011.
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