Enchantment State News

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) is currently accepting applications for its Healthy Soil Program grants. The application period runs from January 15 to March 19, with a deadline set at noon Mountain Time on the final day.

To assist applicants in preparing their submissions, NMDA has scheduled two webinars for January 23. A session for Eligible Entities will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m., while Individual Applicants can attend a separate webinar from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Interested parties must register to participate in these online events.

Grant funding through the Healthy Soil Program supports projects in New Mexico that align with soil health principles such as maintaining ground cover, minimizing disturbance, and maximizing biodiversity. These projects may begin as early as mid-July 2025 and conclude by late September 2026.

Eligible Entities are defined under the Healthy Soil Act of 2019 as local governmental bodies with land management capabilities. This category includes pueblos, tribes, nations, acequias, land grants, soil and water conservation districts, and New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service. Other local government entities managing land are also eligible to apply.

Individual Applicants include non-governmental participants like individuals, businesses, and nonprofits engaged in farming or ranching within New Mexico. These applicants must complete conservation planning with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service by February 21 and secure sponsorship from their soil and water conservation district or respective pueblo or tribe.

"I encourage Individual Entities and Eligible Entities in New Mexico to apply for a grant to improve their soil," said New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte. "The healthier the soil is on the land you manage, the more resilient it is to drought, extreme temperatures, erosion, and noxious weeds."

All applications must be submitted online by March 19 at noon; late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

An example of successful implementation includes Graze Days in downtown Santa Fe where grazing animals are used alongside composting efforts to enhance soil health in Railyard Park Conservancy using an NMDA grant.