NRCS funding for high tunnels. How it works.
USDA's EQIP High Tunnel System initiative helps growers cover the cost of a new tunnel. The program is national, but the rates, deadlines, and paperwork are set state by state. Start with the overview, then open the guide for your state.
What the High Tunnel System initiative is.
If you’re planning a tunnel for your farm, NRCS may cover part of the cost. The High Tunnel System initiative is a conservation practice funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. NRCS counts a high tunnel as conservation because it extends your growing season, improves plant and soil quality, and reduces nutrient and pesticide runoff. Once your contract is funded, NRCS can pay a share of the cost to put one up.
You apply through your local NRCS service center, not through us, and once your contract is funded you’re ready to choose a structure. Our part is that structure: a tunnel designed to meet NRCS requirements, sized to your contract and the way you farm, with the spec sheets and documentation your application needs. Bring a full plan or just an idea, and call us at any stage, from first questions to a signed contract. For the full application walkthrough, eligibility rules, and payment details, read our complete NRCS funding guide.
- Paid per square footRates are set annually by each state, and beginning, veteran, and historically underserved farmers often qualify for higher rates.
- Application windows, not rollingMost states run one or more batching periods per fiscal year. Miss the window and you wait for the next one.
- Wait for your signed contractConstruction generally has to start after the contract is signed, and buying early can make the structure ineligible. Confirm timing with your local office.
- A quote when they ask for oneSome states ask for a vendor quote for the size you want during the application. That varies state to state, and we'll have one ready.
The NRCS process in general.
Details differ by state, but the process is generally similar.
Talk to your local office
Find your NRCS service center and ask about the High Tunnel System initiative. It costs nothing to ask, and you’ll leave knowing whether your farm is eligible, this year’s rate, and the deadline.
Get your paperwork in order
Most offices ask for farm records, a conservation plan, and proof the site is in agricultural production. Some also want a vendor quote at this stage. Call us and we’ll put one together for the size you have in mind.
Apply, then give it time
Applications are ranked against others in your state, and funding decisions come after the batching period closes, usually weeks, sometimes months. Use the wait to plan your site and crops so you’re ready to move when the contract comes.
Sign your contract, then build
With a signed contract in hand, you choose your structure and put it up. We size it for your snow and wind, supply the documentation NRCS needs, and we’re a phone call away through the build.
How much will NRCS actually pay?
Payment is calculated per square foot at a rate your state sets each fiscal year, up to a size cap. The amount varies by state and year, so your local office is the one to tell you what applies to you.
Can I apply if I'm just starting out?
Yes. Beginning farmers are a priority group in most states and often qualify for a higher payment rate. You generally need to show the land is in agricultural production and have a farm number on file with the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Do I have to use a specific manufacturer?
No. NRCS funds the practice, not a brand. Any tunnel that meets the practice standard qualifies, and we supply the spec sheets and documentation that show ours does.
How long does the whole process take?
Start a season ahead and the timing works. Application to a signed contract is commonly one or two batching cycles, which means months rather than weeks, and you build once the contract is signed. Talk to your local office before the season you want to be growing under cover, and the wait becomes planning time.
Can I apply for more than one tunnel?
Often, yes. Toby's farm was funded for three 30' by 96' tunnels 3 years in a row! In many states you can fund more than one tunnel, in the same contract or in later years, and several of our customers have funded additional structures over time. The limits are state-specific: some states cap total square footage per operation or per contract. Ask your local office how your state handles it.
Get your spec sheets and quote started.
Tell us your state and county. We'll size a structure for your snow and wind load and send the spec sheets, documentation, and an itemized quote.
CT Greenhouse is not affiliated with USDA or NRCS. Everything above is general guidance from a manufacturer who works with these programs often. Program rules, cost-share rates, eligibility, and deadlines are set by NRCS, vary by state and year, and should always be confirmed with your local office.
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