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Fact Sheet for Agricultural Management Assistance Program in New Jersey 2004

Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) is a voluntary program for agricultural producers that provides incentives to address natural resources concerns such as water conservation, water quality, soil erosion, and transition and diversification issues. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservationists work with producers to develop a conservation plan, design conservation practices, and provide guidance to help implement the plan.

AMA provides an opportunity for producers who do not normally participate in government programs to apply for assistance, and for others to supplement what the federal farm programs can offer. This USDA program is targeted toward limited resource farmers, and in New Jersey AMA is available only to agricultural producers who qualify for farmland assessment.

What Practices Can Receive Cost Sharing Funding?

The conservation provisions of this program authorize cost share payments to producers:

1. To construct or improve water management structures or irrigation structures.

Irrigation System – Permanently installed upgrades to an existing irrigation system or new system where system will be 80% efficient upon completion. Full IWM implementation is required for all systems. Cost share is authorized for required submersible pumps associated with these systems.

Eligible practices:
  • High Efficiency Irrigation Systems (75% cost share rate)
    • Microirrigation (NJ441),
    • Sprinkler Irrigation (NJ442)
    • Irrigation Water Management (NJ449) (hardware only)
  • Rehabilitation of irrigation pond dams (75% cost share rate)
    • Irrigation Storage Reservoir (NJ436) (Dam Rehabilitation only)

Cost share is limited to actual construction costs. Note: NRCS engineering assistance is not provided on irrigation pond dam rehabilitation projects; all engineering will be provided by the landowner at his/her own expense. Irrigation Systems limited to 50% cost share rate.

2. To plant trees for windbreaks or to improve water quality. (75% cost share rate)
Eligible practices:
  • Riparian Forest Buffer (NJ391)
  • Riparian Herbaceous Cover (NJ390)
  • Stream Crossing (NJ578)
  • Streambank and Shoreline Protection (NJ580)
  • Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (NJ380)
3. To mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to organic farming. (75% cost share rate)
Eligible practices:
  • Conservation Cover (NJ327) (Conversion of croplands to permanent cover)
  • Contour Buffer Strips (NJ332)
  • Critical Area Planting (NJ342)
  • Deep Tillage (NJ324)    
  • Fence (NJ382) (for Grazing Lands Management)
  • Field Border (NJ386)
  • Filter Strip (NJ393)
  • Grassed Waterway (NJ412)
  • Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment (NJ548) (for Grazing Lands Management)
  • Herbaceous Wind Barriers (NJ603)
  • Mulching (NJ484)
  • Pasture and Hayland Planting (NJ512)
  • Transition to Organic farming (NJ999)
  • Use Exclusion (NJ472) (for Grazing Lands Management)
  • Vegetative Barrier (NJ604)
  • Watering Facility (NJ614) (for Grazing Lands Management)
  • Water Well (NJ642) (for Grazing Lands Management)
Eligible Practices that are Incentive Payments:

These practices are paid 100% of the amounts shown below. 

  • Cover Crop (NJ340)                            $30.00 per acre
  • Forage Harvest Management (NJ511)    $25.00 per acre
  • Irrigation Water Management (NJ449)   $40.00 per acre on Field Crops
  • Irrigation Water Management (NJ449)   $60.00 per acre on Specialty Crops, vegetables and Orchards
  • Nutrient Management (NJ590)              $10.00 per acre
  • Pest Management (NJ595),                  $20.00 per acre on fruits, vegetables or sod                  
  • Pest Management (NJ595)                   $14.00 per acre on grain or forage
  • Prescribed Grazing (NJ528A)                $25.00 per acre
  • Residue Management, No Till/Strip Till (NJ329A)   $20.00 per acre

Numbers appearing after practice names are New Jersey NRCS practice codes.

What are the Payment Rates and Terms?

The Federal share is 75 percent of the cost of an eligible practice, except for Incentive Payments noted above, which receive 100% of a specified amount. Producers may contribute to the cost of a practice through in-kind sources, including personal or donated labor and use of personal equipment. The North Jersey 2004 AMA Cost Table is used to determine cost share in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren Counties. All other counties use the South Jersey 2004 AMA Cost Table.

What are the Applicant Qualifications?

Applicants must own or control the land, agree to implement specific eligible conservation practices, and qualify for farmland assessment. Applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  1. Average gross farm sales are $60,000 or less over the last three years
  2. Total household income is 75% or less of NJ’s median household income ($50,560)
  3. Farmed land (owned and rented cropland and pasture) is a total of less than:
    • 50 acres - when income from vegetable/specialty crops is >50% of total farm production income OR
    • 200 acres (for all others)
  4. 4. USDA program payments received over the past 5 years is less than $10,000
  5. 5. Farm production income is 75% or more of total gross household income
How are Applicants Ranked?

Applicants are ranked by priority designations, as follows:

  • Priority 1 - meets all 5 of the above qualifications
  • Priority 2 - meets 4 of the above qualifications.
  • Priority 3 - meets 3 of the above qualifications.
  • Priority 4 - meets 2 of the above qualifications.
  • Priority 5 - meets 1 of the above qualifications.

The State Conservationist, with input from the State Technical Committee, will rank and select applications for funding.

What is the Contract Period for AMA?

5 - 10 years. Practices must be maintained for the official life span of the practice.

How Does Signup for AMA Work?

Producers can sign up for AMA at any time. However, only applications received by 4:30 PM on April 23, 2004 will be ranked for funding in fiscal year 2004. Applicants can visit their local USDA Service Center or Soil Conservation District for more information. NRCS staff can be reached by phone as follows:

  • Hackettstown - serving Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren: (908) 852-2576 ext. 3
  • Frenchtown - serving Hunterdon, Somerset, and Union: (908) 782-4614 ext. 3
  • Freehold - serving Mercer, Middlesex and Monmouth: (732) 462-1079
  • Hainesport - serving Burlington, Camden, and Ocean: (609) 267-0811 ext. 3
  • Woodstown - serving Gloucester and Salem: (856) 769-1126 ext. 3
  • Vineland - serving Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland: (856) 205-1225 ext. 3

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Last Modified: May 27, 2008