2024 Efficiency Grant Awardees
On-Farm Efficiency Grant
HDFFA is invested in increasing the ability of Central Oregon farmers and ranchers to overcome shocks and strains on their operations by providing financial support for on-farm infrastructure, supplies, and professional development. In 2022 and 2023, HDFFA opened applications for the On-Farm Efficiency Grant, with grant amounts for up to $3,000 in grant funds with at least a 50% match by producers.
This year, these projects were funded mainly due to the generosity of a private donor; additional funding came from the Community Food Projects grant from the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
If you would like to contribute to this ongoing effort, contact HDFFA’s Executive Director, Sharon, at sharon@hdffa.org, or donate directly on our website.
2024 On-Farm Efficiency Grant Awardees
Check out these project profiles for the awardees of the 2024 On-Farm Efficiency Grant! Hover over the images to learn more about how these funds were implemented by local farmers and ranchers. Current Partners with HDFFA have a link to their Get A Taste listing in our online Food & Farm Directory.
See projects completed in the 2023 On-Farm Efficiency Grant here.
Canyon Moon Farms
Canyon Moon Farms: Wash Pack Facility
Canyon Moon Farms moved to their new property for the 2024 season. This grant helped fund a wash and pack facility to process harvests, a vital piece of infrastructure. Not only are the washing and packing stations necessary to their business and efficiency, it also provides shade for staff and a location to track harvest targets and sales that will continue to grow as they expand in years to come.
Zarah Meadows
Zarah Meadows: Pivot Irrigation Conversion
Zarah Meadows is in the process of converting flood irrigation to a pivot system. A major expense, this was one of many funding sources to help. With the new pivot system, the first grass seeds were sprouting by June; an estimated efficiency gain of 25%; and 92% of their pasture is irrigable with this system. They expect to rotationally graze cattle as soon as the roots are more established, either this fall or spring.
DD Ranch
DD Ranch: Flood Irrigation Conversion
DD Ranch is slowly converting their flood-irrigated pasture to more efficient irrigation systems. A big up-front investment, this will have long-lasting effects on water efficiency and the amount of pasture. In this segment of the project, they reimagined their delivery ditches and adjusted head gates, resulting in better flow and less water loss.
Lazy Z Ranch: Cooler and storage facility improvements
Lazy Z Ranch is a Regenerative bee ranch and farmhouse winery. Their infrastructure aging, it’s past time to upgrade. A new concrete floor in their storage room/cooler was a priority. This sealed concrete/foam floor will reduce the energy bill related to the cooler substantially. Even on the hottest days of the year it is running FAR more efficiently.
Kohrt R&R Acres
Kohrt R&R Acres: Irrigation and hoop house install
Kohrt R&R Acres used this grant to improve their irrigation setup and get their CSA going for the first year starting in May. They installed an efficient drip tape system and built out superhoops, in addition to a greenhouse heater. This heater also meant that tomatoes came two weeks earlier than previous years!
Central Oregon Veterans Ranch
Central Oregon Veterans Ranch: Berry Trellis
Central Oregon Veterans Ranch wanted to install a T-Trellis berry-growing system to increase revenue generation, improve soil health, and create a closed loop system that minimizes waste and maximizes resource utilization.
Fields Farm
Fields Farm: Irrigation Storage Improvements
Fields Farm was experiencing flooding in their composting pile due to the water delivery system having no outlet. By digging a new irrigation pond, they successfully diverted water from the compost and are able to irrigate a lower pasture. Additionally, the new pond sets them up for future efficiency improvements by capturing the overflow water in a way that that can better utilize it in the future with a pump and piping.
Wild Grown Farm
Wild Grown Farm: Irrigation Pond Improvements
Wild Grown Farm improved the safety, efficiency, and storage ability of their irrigation pond, and the resiliency of their property against potential wildfire. By lining the pond, they are reducing leaking; they also planted plants for shade and fencing for safety, as they have small children. Since their property abuts public land, they also hope to ensure their property’s safety by having a more reliable source of water in case of fire.
North 44 Farm
North 44 Farm: Pasture Poultry
North 44 Farm used this grant to purchase infrastructure and supplies to get their pastured poultry business started. Before, they were raising enough for friends and family; with the supplies purchased through this grant, they are now able to harvest about 200 chickens a month this summer as a completely new aspect to their business and help supply a much-demanded product in Central Oregon.
Hollyhock Hollow
Hollyhock Hollow: Rainwater Capture System
Hollyhock Hollow’s goal was to figure out how to capture elusive rainwater to more reliably water their diversified flower farm. Through the new system, rainwater that falls on their larger high tunnel is funneled into a low-impact irrigation system. This can direct flow to places that need more water, reducing the cost to purchase irrigation. Photos to come!
Funding Farmers Through the Years
This is the second year that HDFFA has administered the On-Farm Efficiency Grant. In 2022, this grant awarded over $45,000 to 14 successfully implemented projects; in 2023, nine farms received over $26,000 in grant investment.
It is our ongoing goal to continue to provide opportunities for direct investments of funds to local food producers. Since 2018, HDFFA has invested nearly $150,000 in grant and award funding. To learn more about these previous opportunities and the economic impact of this funding, head to the HDFFA Funding for Farmers page. For ongoing grant and loan opportunities for farmers and ranchers offered by outside organizations, check out the HDFFA Farmer Resources page.
The OFEG through HDFFA helped our farm successfully upgrade our cold storage space and create a space to grow microgreens for our operation. Now we have the ability to grow + store more food and keep it fresh longer.
-Cultivate Farms, 2022 Recipient
I’m so thankful to HDFFA for offering these types of grants. The financial burden of farming can be rather large and sometimes overwhelming, and having such an amazing resource to help with some of the overwhelm is truly appreciated!
-Hollyhock Hollow, 2023 Recipient
[This grant] will allow up to reduce crop losses… to bacteria, mold, bruised fruit. It will also help improve the ergonomics of harvesting. We are thankful to have the support of HDFFA because it has provided us with marketing, educational and local knowledge.
-In Cahoots Apple Heirloom Collaborative, 2022 and 2023 Recipient
HDFFA’s grant and program opportunities have been incredibly impactful for our small farm operation. I’m very grateful to have an organization like HDFFA doing what it’s doing in our region to support small local farms.
-Canyon Moon Farms, 2024 Recipient
Without this efficiency grant from HDFFA, we might never have made the game-changing purchase of this root washer. Larger expenses like this are hard to commit to– even when the payoff is guaranteed.
-Mahonia Gardens, 2022 and 2023 Recipient
-Wild Grown Farm, 2023-24 Recipient
Last year, we did not have tomatoes until the third week of August. This year, because of the heated greenhouse we were able to bring tomatoes to market on the last week of June. That made us have tomatoes 8 weeks earlier than last year… We are very grateful [to HDFFA for allowing] us this opportunity by awarding us the grant this year.Â
-Fibonacci Farm, 2023 Recipient
-North 44 Farm, 2024 Recipient
Contact Info:
Andrea Smith, Agricultural Support Manager
andrea@hdffa.org
agsupport@hdffa.org
541-390-3572
This project is supported by the Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Program grant [grant no. 2020-70017-32426] and the Community Food Projects grant [grant no. 2021-33800-35848] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
