NRCS Resource Center

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) is a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). NRCS is responsible for providing technical and financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and private landowners to address natural resources concerns and help preserve sustainability. The NRCS operates field offices in every state in the U.S. to support growers at the local level.

The NRCS High Tunnel Initiative is a program designed to provide financial and technical support for agricultural producers to begin growing in high tunnel structures. High tunnels provide many benefits that align with NRCS conservation goals, including extending the growing season, improving plant and soil quality, reducing pesticides and reducing energy usage. Through this initiative, growers can receive funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to support the purchase of a new high tunnel for their farm.

High tunnels offer numerous benefits,the most impactful being the ability to extend the growing season. By shielding against the weather, farmers can plant earlier in the spring, harvest later in the fall, and even grow year-round through the winter.

In addition to season extension, other key benefits of high tunnels include:

• Larger harvests
• Better crop quality and more crop diversity
• Improved soil health
• More predictability in planting and harvest schedules
• More efficient irrigation, fertilization, weed control and pest control
• Low startup cost

The NRCS High Tunnel Initiative and EQIP funding is open to many kinds of growers, including small farmers and homesteaders. You must be registered with the Farm Service Agency, which is a fairly simple process put in place to ensure that you own and control the land that you are growing on. The NRCS is size-neutral, so growers of any size are welcome to apply. If you are an Historically Underserved Farmer or Rancher, you may be eligible for advance payment.

NRCS has a few requirements for what kinds of high tunnels qualify for the cost-share program. First, the definition of a high tunnel is important: the NRCS requires plants to be grown directly in soil at the site, not in raised beds or in containers on tables.

Some other requirements are:
• High tunnels must be at least 6 feet tall at the peak
• The cover must be at least 6 mil thick and made of a greenhouse-grade, UV resistant material
• The frame can be made of metal, wood, or durable plastic
• NRCS does not allow the use of used materials to construct a high tunnel
• To qualify for the program, the high tunnel must be considered a manufacturer's kit
• The NRCS does not have a maximum size limit for high tunnels, but there is a practice payment cap based on a 30-foot by 72-foot structure

The availability and amount of financial assistance can vary between states, but there is ample funding available. The NRCS is obligated and committed to distributing the funding.

Yes, all of Rimol’s high tunnel kits are NRCS-approved by design. Program requirements vary slightly by state, so there may be certain stipulations such as snow and wind loads that we need to plan for, but we can work with you to ensure that the tunnel you buy from us meets all requirements for reimbursement through your NRCS cost-share.

Our regional sales representatives have extensive experience working with growers purchasing a high tunnel through the NRCS. They will work with you to select a high tunnel based on the size of your site, what you are growing, the climate in your area, your goals for your growing operation and any state-specific NRCS requirements. Our sales representatives can also make in-person site visits to evaluate which of our structures will be best suited for your needs.

The first step to securing an NRCS grant is to get in touch with Rimol and get a quote for a new high tunnel. Then, contact your state’s NRCS office – or Rimol can help you do so – to begin a discussion with your local NRCS representative. Your NRCS representative will walk you through the application process, and then you can work with Rimol along the way to design a high tunnel kit that matches the specifications included in your application.

As part of your application, you will be asked to work with NRCS conservation planners to develop an EQIP plan of operations that addresses at least one natural resource concern. It is important to focus your application on how your high tunnel will help you to address this natural resource concern. At Rimol Greenhouses, we have experience helping farmers across dozens of states with NRCS high tunnel initiative applications, so we can share some best practices that we’ve learned from over the years. The application process is not complicated or bureaucratic – with a few simple steps, we can help you get your funding across the line!