As Utah’s agricultural lands face increasing development pressure, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is announcing $1 million in funding to permanently protect working farms and ranches through conservation easements under the 2025 LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund.

Administered by UDAF, the LeRay McAllister Fund helps preserve working farms and ranches that are vital to Utah’s economy, food security, and rural heritage. Through strategic partnerships with landowners, land trusts, local governments, and other entities, the fund enables long-term conservation of Utah’s most productive and threatened agricultural lands.

Since 1999, over 68,855 acres of working farmland have been placed into conservation easements with funding from the LeRay McAllister Program to keep this agricultural land in operation forever. In past years, the fund has helped preserve iconic family farms in Cache Valley, ranchlands in Sanpete County, and beyond, protecting both natural resources, local food security, and rural livelihoods.

“Once farmland is developed, it’s gone forever. In a rapidly growing state, protecting agricultural land is critical to ensuring Utah’s future food production, open space, and rural character,” said UDAF Commissioner Kelly Pehrson. “The LeRay McAllister Fund helps us act now to protect agricultural land, keeping longstanding family farms in operation and ensuring land remains available for farmers and ranchers looking to enter into agriculture.”

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with two funding batches per year. Projects will be evaluated based on criteria including agricultural productivity, threat of conversion, water resource protection, and the land’s contribution to local and regional conservation priorities.

Eligible applicants include:

• Nonprofit land trusts
• Local governments
• Other entities qualified to hold conservation easements under Utah Code §57-18

Projects may leverage matching funds through the USDA NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP-ALE) or other complementary programs, such as local open space bond programs, county greenbelt rollback tax funds, and landowner donations.

Interested applicants are encouraged to review the program guidelines and application materials available on the UDAF website at https://ag.utah.gov/leray-mcallister-working-farm-and-ranch-fund and to contact UDAF staff early to discuss project eligibility and timelines.

For more information, please contact: Jeremy Christensen, UDAF Land Conservation Program Manager, at [email protected] or (385) 441-4106.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is announcing the availability of low-interest loans for agricultural producers impacted by drought through the Emergency Disaster Relief Loan (EDRL) program, a subprogram of the Agricultural Resource Development Loan (ARDL) program.

On April 24, 2025, Governor Spencer J. Cox issued a state of emergency due to ongoing drought in the following counties: Beaver, Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Uintah, Washington, and Wayne. The declaration recognizes the significant challenges the drought presents to Utah’s agricultural economy and rural communities. Eligible producers in the 17 affected counties may apply for EDRL loans of up to $100,000 per entity; up to $2 million total is available through the EDRL program. These loans are low-interest, seven year loans with no interest for the first two years, and 2.75% thereafter. Applications will be accepted until October 23, 2025.

“Utah’s agricultural producers are on the front lines of drought impacts, facing difficult decisions as water scarcity threatens crops, livestock, and long-term viability,” said Commissioner Kelly Pehrson. “We recognize the tremendous strain drought places on farm families and rural communities, and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is committed to doing everything we can to help. This loan program is just one of the tools we’re using to support producers through this crisis and keep our agricultural economy strong.”

Applicants should visit https://ag.utah.gov/emergency-disaster-relief-loan-program to review program guidelines and application materials. UDAF encourages all producers to also contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency office to explore other federal drought assistance options. More drought resources are available at: https://ag.utah.gov/droughtresources.

Cory Sudweeks operates a diversified farm in Piute Country, managing a mix of crops, pasture and beef cattle. His operation includes 145 head of beef cattle and 145 acres of irrigated land used for growing crops and maintaining pasture. Given the region’s unique environmental challenges, particularly in water management, Cory’s farm is a strong candidate for the Agricultural Voluntary Incentive Program (AgVIP).

“I learned more about soil health and keeping better records, and I’m looking forward to continuing to implement what I’ve learned and to future learning opportunities.”

– Cory Sudweeks, Farmer, AgVIP Recipient

Before joining the AgVIP program, Cory’s operation faced challenges with tail water runoff flowing directly into a nearby river, raising environmental concerns and reducing irrigation efficiency. By implementing a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP provided through AgVIP), he was able to better understand where and how much water and nutrients to apply across his fields. AgVIP funding also helped cover the costs of fertilizer and nutrient applications, making it easier for him to implement the recommended improvements.

The biggest impact Cory has noticed in the day-to-day operations since participating in AgVIP has been the improvement in record-keeping and resource management . By having better documentation of his nutrient applications and water usage, Cory is now able to make more informed decisions, improving the overall efficiency of his operation. The ability to distribute resources more effectively has not only saved time and costs but has also boosted the long-term sustainability of his farm.

Apply and learn more about the AgVIP program at ag.utah.gov/agvip. Applications close May 30, 2025.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) Commissioner, Kelly Pehrson has appointed Amber Brown and Troy Forrest to serve as Deputy Commissioners for UDAF effective May 5, 2025. Brown and Forrest were selected to fill the role Pehrson held prior to his appointment as Commissioner by Governor Spencer Cox on April 16, 2025.

“I have worked alongside Amber and Troy for many years in my role as Deputy Commissioner and I know that they both care deeply for the state, especially our farmers and ranchers,” said Pehrson. “I have complete confidence that they will serve the people of Utah well and ensure UDAF is a well-run agency.”

Brown has been with UDAF since December 2019, serving as the Senior Policy Analyst and, most recently, as the Director of Legislative and Government Affairs. Prior to joining UDAF, Brown worked as an attorney for the Social Security Administration as well as worked for the House Ways and Means Committee and for the office of Congressman Dave Camp in Washington D.C. Brown has loved working with, learning from, and supporting agricultural producers in Utah.

“As Deputy, I want to elevate the voices of Utah’s farmers and ranchers and ensure their work is not only understood but deeply valued,” said Brown. “They are the backbone of our food system, and I’m committed to advocating for the policies and partnerships that help them thrive.”

Forrest has worked for UDAF in the Grazing Improvement Program (GIP) since 2010, serving as the GIP Director since 2021. Forrest has spent his career dedicated to conserving rangeland in Utah as he also worked for the Association of Conservation Districts starting in 1998, as well as working for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on a fire crew while in college. His love for agriculture comes from a lifelong experience growing up and working on his grandparent’s ranch in San Juan county.

“Utah’s agriculture producers are facing real challenges, and they deserve practical, responsive support,” said Forrest. “As Deputy, I’m committed to listening, problem-solving, and cutting red tape so producers can focus on what they do best—feeding our state and stewarding the land.”

Brown will oversee the Specialty Products division, Regulatory division, Marketing, Communications, and Economic Development division, and the Policy Team. Forrest will be over the Animal Industry division, Plant Industry division, Conservation division, and Grazing Improvement Program.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has $1,000,000 available for local food and agriculture businesses through the Utah Food Security Grant (UFSG). This grant aims to increase the security of Utah’s food supply chain by increasing the in-state processing of agricultural products grown and raised in Utah.

“The Food Security Grant has quickly become one of the most popular and successful grants provided by UDAF,” said Kelly Pehrson, UDAF Commissioner. “We are proud to continue to offer this grant opportunity to strengthen local food processing and help prevent potential food shortages.”

The UFSG program was created in 2022 with an initial one-time $1 million investment by the State Legislature; the success of the program was continued with three additional $1 million appropriations during the 2023-2025 legislative sessions. During the program’s first three years, $3 million in grant awards was awarded to 56 businesses across the state. This program has been highly successful, benefiting local farms and ranches, processing businesses, and consumers while reducing food waste and transportation costs.

This year, grant awards will be capped at $200,000. There is no minimum award, and $20,000 will be held for microgrants of $5,000 or less. At least $500,000 will be awarded to meat and poultry businesses. Eligible entities include for-profit, non-profit, producer co-op, and state and local governments. All grant-funded activities must result in the sale of processed products; ineligible activities include homesteading, research, land purchases, and payroll, among others.

Grant Q&A sessions will be held for anyone who has questions about the grant application or the qualification requirements on May 7th from 6-8pm and June 4th from 11am-1pm.

The application opened on May 1st, and will close on June 8, 2025 at 11:59pm. For more information, to register for a Q&A session, and for the link to apply, please visit ag.utah.gov/foodsecuritygrant or email [email protected].