The Agricultural Water Optimization Program from the Utah Department of Agriculture & Food has opened its next funding opportunity, with applications currently being accepted. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2024, but we encourage you to start early as there is a pre-consultation required with the Utah Division of Water Rights before you can turn in your application. Completed applications will be accepted online via the following link https://udafgrants.utah.gov/submit/280294/fy-2024-arpa-spring-water-optimization-grant-automation.

The grant is for individuals or their businesses on-farm water efficiency projects and for water management organizations like Irrigation, Canal, or Ditch companies for water conveyance efficiency projects. Those interested can visit the UDAF website for a list of Program Criteria, Ranking Matrixes, and Program Policy. 

You can add a UDAF Planner or other entity (such as an engineering firm you may be using, or other planning partner like an NRCS Planner) as an application COLLABORATOR, which gives them access to your application so they may help enter information and answer questions you may have.   Click HERE to find out how to add a collaborator.

The Agricultural Water Optimization program has planners available to help those interested in projects to answer questions related to a potential project and provide answers to other questions you may have. For help please contact any of the water optimization staff listed below, or on their website at https://ag.utah.gov/ag-water-optimization.

  • Ben Law: blaw@utah.gov - Northern Utah (Box Elder, Weber, Morgan, & Summit Counties)
  • Nick Coffey: ncoffey@utah.gov - Northern Utah & Wasatch Front (Cache, Rich, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, & Wasatch Counties)
  • Tanner Mills: tmills@utah.gov - Eastern Utah & Uintah Basin (Daggett, Duchesne, Uintah, Carbon, Emery, Grand, & San Juan)
  • Hayes Mills: hayesmills@utah.gov - Western & Southern Utah (Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, Wayne, Beaver, Iron, Garfield, Washington, & Kane Counties)

This is a great opportunity to make improvements to your water management and irrigation practices. If you have any other questions, please reach out to Terry Camp at 801-718-2769 or terry.camp@fbfs.com.