Soil Health Equipment and Advising Program (SHEAP)

The PA Soil Health Coalition and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay are providing long-term support to Lancaster County farmers who are improving their soil health.

Farmers have shared about some of the challenges of starting a new management practice. In response, the Alliance started this program for farmers to receive cost-share funding for materials, equipment, and ongoing technical assistance.

Funding for this program comes from a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) grant, managed by Lancaster Clean Water Partners (LCWP) and the Alliance.

See the Flyer

How It Works

  • Payments to buy/rent equipment or hire a custom service
    • Farmers will contract with the Alliance and be reimbursed for purchasing or renting new/used equipment, making upgrades to existing equipment, or working with a custom farming service. Equipment covered includes, but is not limited to:
      • No-till drills, no-till planters, the Interseeder or high-clearance sprayers equipped with seeder kits, cover crop rollers
  • Cost-share for implementation and technical assistance while transitioning to a new soil health practice
    • Farmers will contract with the Alliance and be reimbursed for materials & supplies, and for the cost of working with Technical Assistance Providers.
      • Assistance can include choosing new practices, troubleshooting, recordkeeping,
        soil/tissue tests and interpretations, and more.

Eligible Practices:

  • No-till
  • Cover Crops
  • Diversifying existing Cover Crops and Adaptive Nutrient Management: follow a plan to diversify current cover crop mix, reduce fertilizer, and leave crop residue at harvest
  • Diversify crop rotation
  • Pasture Planting: diversify current pasture, or transition cropland to pasture
  • Pollinator strips or hedgerows: establish meadow habitat or shrub/tree habitat in marginal areas on the farm
  • Intercropping: includes strip cropping, relay cropping, or interseeding cover crops before main crop harvest
  • Rotational grazing
  • Advanced Nutrient Management: assistance following an existing NMP or developing adaptive nutrient trials that reduce overall Nitrogen or Phosphorus applications

Other soil health practices may be eligible. Alliance is happy to discuss your goals and whether they can fit into this program.

How to Apply

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is currently taking applications from Lancaster County farmers, which will be considered on a rolling basis until March 31, 2027.

  1. Contact us to get started. You can reach us via email at agcontact@allianceforthebay.org or our office phone at 717-517-8698.
  2. The Alliance will meet with you to get to know your farm and goals. We, along with your Technical Assistance Provider, will help you estimate a budget for your new practices.
  3. Please submit your budget to the Alliance to apply for funding. Rolling deadlines: Jan 31, Feb 28, Mar 31, Jun 26, Jul 24, Aug 22, Nov 21, Dec 19
  4. Successful applicants will work with the Alliance to develop an implementation plan and contract. The contract will include specific cost-share amounts and timelines.
  5. Optional: Farmers may also be paid for their work as a Technical Assistance Provider or Equipment Provider for other farmers. Contact the Alliance to learn more.

Download the Digital Application        Download the Printable Application

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement CB – 95336001 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.