You have a unique chance to foster wildlife conservation while enhancing your agricultural business. By participating in cooperative agriculture on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands, you'll engage in practices that not only support wildlife but also provide you with additional farming opportunities. Collaborating with the Service allows you to grow crops, share in the yield, and utilize their resources, all while working towards mutual conservation goals.

This program doesn't offer direct financial assistance, but it creates valuable benefits for your business. Through a Cooperative Agriculture Agreement (CAA), you can gain rights to farmland and maximize your productivity, all with the support from the NWRS. The terms are flexible, with no limits on revenue or employee numbers, making it accessible to various businesses like yours. This initiative empowers you to improve your operational capabilities while making a positive environmental impact.

The financing provided is structured as Cooperative Agriculture Agreements (CAAs). This is not a traditional loan or grant; instead, it's a formal agreement between you and the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) to conduct agricultural practices on land in support of specific conservation goals.

Repayment and Fees

There are no repayment terms or interest rates to worry about since this is not a financial assistance program. Additionally, there are no fees associated with entering into these agreements.

Eligible and Ineligible Expenses

Eligible expenses include your labor, equipment, and materials used for agricultural practices, as well as the maintenance and restoration of habitat conditions. However, the funds cannot be used for purposes outside the cooperative agricultural practices defined in the agreement, such as unrelated personal or business expenses.

By participating, you not only contribute to conservation efforts but also potentially receive a share of the crop yield, depending on the specific terms of your agreement.

• Location: Must conduct agricultural practices on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands.
• Sectors: Open to all sectors.
• Employees:
  • No minimum number of employees required.
  • No maximum number of employees required.
• Company Revenue:
  • No minimum revenue qualifications.
  • No maximum revenue qualifications.
• Legal Structure: All legal structures are eligible.
• Profit Structure: All profit structures are eligible.

Disqualifications:

• Federal funds are not available or obligated to program participants.

You can leverage cooperative agriculture to support wildlife conservation while benefiting your business. By implementing agricultural practices on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands, your business can engage in activities that help meet conservation goals, like providing food for wildlife or restoring natural habitats.

The program allows you to farm on NWRS lands in a way that aligns with wildlife conservation efforts. You may receive the right to grow crops on these lands and a share of the crop yield. In return, you can provide the Service with support through labor, equipment, or materials. This collaboration not only helps protect wildlife but also expands your agricultural opportunities.

This is a non-financial assistance program, meaning there are no direct federal funds given. Instead, you can work under a Cooperative Agriculture Agreement (CAA) that outlines the shared responsibilities and benefits. While there are no specific limits on revenue or employee numbers, this partnership can still enhance your business's growth and impact, all while contributing to vital conservation efforts.