Quote:
Originally Posted by Mac-77
My ag office told me the grant is only available to farmers tilling the soil not raised bed and or container growers like me.
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That is not correct. You can grow in a raised bed as long as it does not have sides taller than one foot.
No pots or benches is correct. They don't want people raising potted plants for sale.
Here is the practice standard. It is not gospel though (when you read this you might feel overwhelmed with the rules. nobody is doing all the things in this standard like uncovering the tunnel every winter). Basically you build the size you say you are going to, buy it from an approved supplier, and grow a crop in it. The rest is typical government overkill in writing rules and standards.
https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/refer...3_15_Final.pdf
Also, the lifespan for the HT program is 4 years. So after that, you no longer have to follow any NRCS guidelines and it is your to do with what you want.
And depending on your planner and your relationship with them, exceptions are made for things depending on how you document or present your ideas to them.
Such as showing it is cheaper to grow a row of 5-gallon bags, than building a 72' long raised bed, and emphasizing that you are turning a crop, not growing plants for resale.