NRCS High Tunnel Grant Guide (2025): Requirements, Funding & Kits

Who’s this guide for & key takeaways

• This guide is geared for market farmers who want to get funding for a high tunnel and are looking for clarity on how to apply for the NRCS high tunnel grant.
• We breakdown the NRCS high tunnel grant application process into simple, easy-to-follow steps. No extra fluff to wade through.
• This guide is ideal for first-time NRCS grant applicants.
  • Learn the 7 steps to apply for the EQIP High Tunnel Grant
  • Know which high tunnel kits are NRCS approved
  • Understand the eligibility and high tunnel requirements
  • Review a list vendors who offer NRCS approved tunnel kits

Lessons Learned: A NRCS high tunnel grant success story!

BetterTogether Farm is a market farm run by the Seiler family in south central Oklahoma.

In 2010, they started a market garden in their backyard. Seven years later they moved to actual farmland where they grow an acre of mixed produce.

Oklahoma is an inhospitable environment for growing most premium vegetable crops. Protection from severe spring storms, strong winds, and blistering summer sun is a must.

Growing in high tunnels can make a big difference in that kind of climate.

The Seilers heard about the NRCS high tunnel grant through the USDA, but it wasn’t until 2023 that they took the plunge and applied.

Because we were uncertain how the NRCS grant worked, we procrastinated over a decade before giving it a try. It takes a little up front work and some patience, but we’ve found it to be a huge win. Over the last three years, it’s funded five 110-ft high tunnels expediting the process of getting our farm under cover. We wish we’d applied sooner!

—Aubrey Seiler, BetterTogether Farm Co-Founder

The beginner’s roadmap to NRCS high tunnel grant success

During the first five years of starting your small scale market farm, you’ve got a lot of balls in the air.

On top of figuring out the who, what, where, when, and how of farming, the expenses can pile up. It can all feel daunting, especially if you’re self-funding your startup.

The good news is there are resources out there to help you get through the startup phase and toward achieving your dream!

What is the NRCS EQIP high tunnel grant?

While there are a variety of federal grant and loan programs you may be eligible for, we’re tackling a very specific grant here: the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) High Tunnel grant under EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program)

This grant can be a treasure chest for your farm, but it’s hidden behind unfamiliar words and processes. And with the daily mental load you’re facing running your farm, the last thing you feel like doing is applying for a grant.

That’s why we’ve created this guide.

We break down the process into simple, easy-to-follow steps that can unlock this door of financial support for you.

The NRCS High Tunnel grant can help you accomplish your market farm dream sooner!

This resource is our gift to you.

What You Need to Know Before Applying for the NRCS EQIP grant

Q: Who’s eligible for the NRCS EQUIP High Tunnel Grant?
A: Market farmers fall squarely in the center of the eligibility requirements for a NRCS grant with a few exceptions:

• You have to own or have a long-term lease on the land where you’re planning to put the tunnel.
• Your three-year average AGI (adjusted gross income) can be no more than $900,000.
• You’re not farming on converted wetlands or plan to convert wetlands to enable or enhance your farm.

Q: What kind of high tunnels does this grant help fund?
A: High tunnels must meet the following criteria in order to quality for the grant:

• It must be obtained as a pre-fabricated kit directly from the manufacturer or from a supplier.
• The frame needs to be constructed of metal, wood, or durable plastic and be at least 6 feet in height.
• The plastic cover must be, at a minimum, a 6-mil greenhouse-grade, UV resistant material.
• There’s no size limitation

Q: When is the NRCS High Tunnel grant application deadline?
A: You can apply for this grant year-round. Applications are accepted continuously. However, specific application deadlines or ranking dates are set by each state, usually ranging from November to February. Applications received after the ranking date will be deferred to the next funding cycle.

To find your state’s ranking date, click here.

The evaluation and award process takes about three to six months after the ranking date. If your application is not successful in one cycle, you can apply again in subsequent cycles.

Q: Where in the United States is this grant available to market farmers?
A: The NRCS EQIP High Tunnel grant program is available for all 50 states. The high tunnel program tends to be more utilized where small scale market farming is common, but your county can access these funds.

Q: Why is the federal government giving farmers money to build high tunnels?
A: High tunnels help address the NRCS initiatives of improving plant quality, enhancing soil quality, reducing nutrient and pesticide runoff, conserving water, and saving energy costs. Basically, they want to support American farmers to grow more responsibly and efficiently so you can better serve your local communities.

The 7 simple steps to apply for the EQIP high tunnel grant

Step 1: Have your FSA Customer and Farm Record information ready.

Before you can apply for any NRCS grants, you need to be registered with the FSA (Farm Service Agency) and get your Customer and Farm Record numbers. If you haven’t done this yet, this guide from the FSA walks you through that process. This will also get you connected with your local FSA staff who can be a valuable ally for you on your farming journey.

Step 2: Schedule an appointment with your local NRCS officer.

Using the state map below, find your county’s NRCS officer.

Find My Local NRCS Officer

Ask to schedule an appointment to discuss applying for the EQIP high tunnel grant for your farm.

To make the application process as streamlined as possible, ask them what information they will need from you above your FSA farm record so you can have it ready for your appointment.

Step 3: Meet with your local NRCS officer to apply for the grant.

Your NRCS officer will walk you through the EQIP application process.

It’s possible that your farm could qualify for other conservation assistance beyond high tunnels. Your NRCS officer will present you with the options available to you. This is worth exploring. Not only does it expand the possible funding you could receive, but it also makes your application more competitive.

Your NRCS officer is your local advocate. Their job is to support local farmers like you while improving and protecting natural resources. You want to keep them on your side. They have the potential to be a great asset for your farming journey.

Step 4: Wait

This is the downside - the waiting. Funding high tunnels through the NRCS isn’t the path to take if you urgently need a high tunnel. This is the game for those who have the luxury of waiting.

If your application is submitted before the Ranking Date of your state, it will be considered in that funding cycle. Your local NRCS officer will be able to provide you with the timeline. It could take several months.

And just because you applied, doesn’t mean your application will be accepted. While your NRCS officer will do what they can to help you make your application as competitive as possible, it’s not a guarantee. But if you don’t make the cut, you can apply again (and it’s much simpler once you’re in the system).

Step 5: Purchase your NRCS high tunnel kit!

Once your application is approved and the final paperwork signed, it’s time to purchase your high tunnel. It’s at this point you’ll be notified of the amount of funds you can plan to receive to offset or cover the cost of your high tunnel. Under general EQIP processes, you’re responsible for covering the cost of purchasing and assembling the tunnel.

However, if you qualify as a Historically Underserved Farmer, you can get 50% of the grant funding as advance payment to help you offset the costs.

• Pro Tip #1: you’ll need to have your high tunnel built and inspected before a certain deadline in order to receive the funding. Make sure you’re clear with your NRCS officer when that deadline is, and that you’ll have the time and resources to get your high tunnel installed within that timeframe.
• Pro Tip #2: unless you’re a nonprofit, the grant funding you’ll receive is taxable (which means a percentage of it you have to give right back to the government), so bear that in mind when calculating which high tunnel to purchase.

Step 6: Have your high tunnel inspected

Once your tunnel is built, schedule a time for your NRCS officer to come out for inspection. If you’ve purchased a tunnel kit that is NRCS certified, this process should be very straightforward.

They’ll do the inspection and have you sign the final paperwork certifying you’ve satisfied the requirements and releasing the funds to you. Usually, the funds will arrive in your bank account within 2 weeks.

Step 7: Celebrate!

You’ve done it! You now have a brand new high tunnel partially, if not completely, covered by your high tunnel grant!

We want to celebrate with you. This is a big deal! Send us a photo of your new tunnel (whether or not it’s a Farmers Friend tunnel) to me, Dan at support@farmersfriend.com. We have a special celebration gift to send you to mark this accomplishment.

NRCS high tunnel requirements & specifications

Below is a summary of the key requirements and specifications your high tunnel must meet when applying for a NCRS EQIP High Tunnel grant.

• Kits – NRCS standards only allow for prefabricated high tunnel kits to be approved for grant funding. DIY tunnels are not eligible for grant funding
• Frame – The frame shall be constructed of metal, wood, or durable plastic and be at least 6 feet in height. Bow spacing should be a maximum of 4 feet
• Plastic – The cover must be, at a minimum, a 6-mil greenhouse-grade, UV resistant material.
• Size – NRCS does not have a size limitation for high tunnels.
• Height – Approved tunnel kits must be at least 6 feet tall.
• Crops – Eligible crops to be grown within the tunnel are vegetables, berries, or flowers. Crops must be grown in the ground or in raised beds. The raised bed with a maximum of 12” in raised depth

The principle to keep in mind is that your local NRCS officer is your ally. Meaning they will be looking for ways to make it possible for you to be awarded a NRCS EQIP high tunnel grant instead of looking for ways to exclude your farm from the opportunity.

Buy NRCS approved high tunnel kits online from Farmers Friend

All caterpillar tunnels and high tunnels sold at Farmers Friend are NRCS approved kits.

Classic Caterpillar Tunnel

Shop Classic Caterpillar Tunnel

Gothic Caterpillar Tunnel

Shop Gothic Caterpillar Tunnel

Caterpillar Tunnel Max

Shop Caterpillar Tunnel Max

Farmers Friend line of NRCS grant eligible high tunnels

Haven High Tunnel

Shop Haven High Tunnel

Guardian High Tunnel

Shop Guardian High Tunnel

About Farmers Friend 5 and 10 year storm damage warranty

All Farmers Friend Caterpillar Tunnels come with a 5-year storm damage warranty

All Farmers Friend High Tunnels come with a 10-year storm damage warranty

Tunnels with a storm damage warranty will be eligible for a 50% price reduction for any replacement parts needed to repair the tunnel, plus free shipping.

NRCS approved high tunnel kits

At Farmers Friend, we strive to be the market leader when it comes to engineering the best quality and best value high tunnel kits available! And that won’t blow away in a storm!

All Farmers Friend caterpillar and high tunnel kits meet or exceed the NRCS approved high tunnel kit requirements.

But talk is cheap.

So to put our money where our mouth is, we’ve assembled a list of our competitors who also sell NRCS approved high tunnels so it’s easy for you to comparison shop and find the best kit for you.

Below is an approved vendor list we’ve curated for the NRCS EQIP high tunnel grant program in alphabetical order. We start with the letter “F” for Farmers Friend, of course, since we did the work to compile the list. 😀 Last Updated: September 2025.

This NRCS approved vendor list is not exhaustive, but we’ve done our best to create this resource for you since there aren’t a lot of great options on the web.

If you’re a competitor of ours, you sell NRCS approved tunnels, and you’d like to be on the list, please contact Dan at support@farmersfriend.com.

We’d be happy to add you.

As always, check with your local NRCS office to specific regional requirements.

Approved vendor list for NRCS EQIP high tunnel grants

Here’s our list of approved NRCS EQIP vendors who confirm on their websites that their high tunnels meet NRCS requirements.

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If you found this guide super helpful, share this link with a market farmer you know!

Who we are and why we care

You’re passionate about providing your community with the freshest, locally-grown food or flowers available.

But market farming isn’t for the faint of heart.

Violent storms. Relentless Pests. Lifeless soil.

With large scale commercial farming dominating the agriculture industry, most farm tool innovation and support is geared towards farming hundreds or thousands of acres instead of a few.

And that’s why Farmers Friend exists. To solve the unique challenges you face as a small scale market farmer. Solutions that enable you to build a profitable, sustainable farm so you can accomplish your dream!