The Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) Improvement Fund, administered by the CAFO Improvement Fund Committee, supports environmental improvements at Idaho’s dairy and beef operations. The program provides financial assistance for projects that protect and improve water, air, and soil quality or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Funded improvements help producers strengthen manure management, reduce nutrient runoff, protect surface water and groundwater, and improve long-term environmental stewardship.
No funds are currently available for the CAFO Improvement Fund. Future grant opportunities, application periods, and eligibility requirements will be announced when funding becomes available.
Grant Eligibility and Requirements
Only CAFO producers are eligible for funding. Eligible projects support improvements to air, water, or soil quality or reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the CAFO management area.
Projects eligible for funding under the Clean Water Act § 319 Nonpoint Source Grant program or the Idaho Agricultural Best Management Practices Fund are not eligible for CAFO Improvement Fund grants.
Grant requirements typically include:
- A minimum of 40% of total project costs provided from sources other than the CAFO Improvement Fund.
- Project initiation within one year of the award and completion within three years.
- An approved and current Environmental/Nutrient Management Plan (NMP), with compliance demonstrated through the most recent NMP review.
- A plan to maintain the funded project, equipment, or practice over time.
- Project implementation within the CAFO management area.
Program Highlights: FY2023–FY2025
From state fiscal year (FY) 2023 through FY2025, the Idaho Legislature appropriated $12 million to support environmental improvement projects at CAFOs statewide through the CAFO Improvement Fund. Thirty-seven grants were awarded, ranging from projects costing less than $250,000 in grant funding to awards of up to $1 million. Ninety-two percent of funded projects are complete, with the remaining projects in progress.
Interest in the CAFO Improvement Fund exceeded available funding in each grant cycle. During FY2023 and FY2024, approximately $10 million in additional grant requests went unfunded, demonstrating continued interest among Idaho agricultural producers in implementing improvements that protect water quality and reduce environmental risks.
Funded Environmental Improvements
- Manure storage and containment: New or improved lagoons and other infrastructure to reduce the risk of spills, overflows, and releases.
- Manure and wastewater separation: Screw presses, centrifuges, sloped screens, and other separation equipment to improve manure and wastewater management.
- Water recycling and treatment: Water recycling systems, reverse osmosis, and advanced treatment technologies.
- Runoff management: Runoff diversion infrastructure and vegetated treatment systems to reduce the movement of nutrients and pathogens.
- Groundwater protection and land application: Pumps, pipelines, and infrastructure that support improved wastewater management and application across additional acreage.
Producer Investments
The CAFO Improvement Fund requires producers to contribute at least 40% of total eligible project costs from sources other than the grant program. From FY2023-FY2025, producer contributions exceeded this minimum requirement. Based on reimbursements processed through the reporting period, producers contributed approximately $17.5 million in matching funds, compared with approximately $11 million in state grant reimbursements. This represents approximately $1.58 in producer investment for every $1 in state grant funding reimbursed.
Grant Administration
The CAFO Improvement Fund uses a reimbursement process tied to verified project construction and expenditures. When projects are completed below their anticipated budgets or cannot proceed, unused grant funds may be returned to the program and reallocated to other eligible projects.
Through the reporting period, approximately $719,000 in grant funding was returned and redistributed. This included funds from projects completed under budget and two projects that were voluntarily terminated. The reallocation of returned funds allowed the program to support additional projects in FY2025 and FY2026.
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Application Process
Applications for the state fiscal year 2025 awards are being accepted July 1, 2024, through August 30, 2024. Applications will be reviewed for completeness and then sent to the CAFO Improvement Fund Committee for scoring and prioritization. Applications will be accepted online using DEQ’s Amplifund platform. The grant opportunity material will be available soon on this web page and in the Resources box below. An informational meeting will be held on July 15, 2024, and a follow-up meeting conducted on August 19, 2024, will provide assistance to interested parties.
The committee will review the applications received, prioritize the projects, and meet in October 2024 to recommend projects to DEQ for funding. DEQ will work with individual applicants to enter into subaward contracts. After the committee makes recommendations, letters will be mailed to all applicants informing them of their application status.
DEQ strongly recommends all potential applicants download the CAFO Workplan prior to starting an application (also found at the bottom of this page). This workplan will be uploaded as part of the application and will be useful in calculating your budget.
The application deadline is August 30, 2024.
- Register as an Amplifund user and login to apply for funding.
- Complete and submit a full application package in Amplifund:
- Project information
- Application form
- Budget
- Attach maps, letters of recommendation, bids/estimates, and any additional informational supporting documentation
Budget Conditions
CAFO improvement grants require the applicant to fund 40% of the total project cost. In the project application, the applicant can identify the total budget and the amount of grant funds requested. The applicant may also identify cost categories including personnel, supplies, or equipment. More information will be available in the grant application guide.
Invoice Process
Once an applicant is awarded a grant, DEQ will work with the facility to enter into a subaward. CAFO improvement projects will be reimbursed regularly after the facility submits an invoice to DEQ for payment. DEQ and the applicant will use the new software platform for invoice submittal and payment. Receipts must be uploaded through the applicant portal to process a payment request. Invoices must be legible and organized to show how a particular payment request aligns with the project work plan.
Staff Contact
Surface and Wastewater Division Administrator