Cheshire County Conservation District

What Cheshire County Conservation District does

Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD) is a governmental subdivision of the State of New Hampshire, established in 1945 to provide local leadership for the protection of land and water resources within Cheshire County. The organization operates from a single headquarters at 11 Industrial Park Drive in Walpole, NH, and serves as the official local link connecting farmers, landowners, and residents to USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs and Farm Bill resources. CCCD delivers its mission through four core program areas — Soil, Water, Wildlife, and Farm Viability — supported by a small staff of 1-10 employees plus embedded NRCS and FSA personnel.

CCCD's service portfolio combines direct technical assistance, equipment access, grant administration, and community education. The organization operates a low-cost farm equipment rental program offering no-till drills, aerators, soil steamers, BCS walk-behind tractors, and specialty implements priced per acre or per day. It administers multiple grant programs including the Conservation Opportunity Fund, Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, NH Farm Future Fund, and NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grants. Additional offerings include Soil Potential Index (SPI) surveys using USDA NRCS soil mapping data, bulk seed coordination through King's AgriSeed, historical aerial photography archives (1939-1992), and consumer-facing resources like the Find a Farm directory and Monadnock Grows Together gardening initiative.

The business model is that of a publicly-funded nonprofit with diversified revenue: tax-deductible donations, pay-as-you-go equipment rentals, pass-through grant administration, and seed sales commissions. CCCD coordinates with 65+ local, state, and national partners including Monadnock Conservancy, Antioch University New England, Keene Public Library, and the Healthy Monadnock Alliance. The district serves a distributed customer base of more than 100 farms plus landowners, educators, and community members across Cheshire County. Marketing and outreach are conducted through social media, email newsletters, blog content, workshops, and annual reports, reflecting a community-led, event-driven go-to-market approach.

Name

Cheshire County Conservation District

Legal name

Cheshire County Conservation District

Website

https://cheshireconservation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cheshire County Conservation District is a New Hampshire governmental subdivision established in 1945 that delivers conservation programs, technical assistance, equipment rentals, and grant funding to farmers, landowners, and residents of Cheshire County in partnership with USDA NRCS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation Tillage & Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF, Compaction Reduction) (AFAGAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soil & Terrain Mapping Services (EC/EM Scanning, Topography, Zone Delineation) (AFACACAE), Monitoring, Survival Surveys & Carbon/MRV Services (Remote Sensing, Field Audits) (AFAMACAO), Carbon, Sustainability & MRV Services for Farms (Baseline, Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) (AFACACAK)

Keywords

• Conservation district services
• Agricultural technical assistance
• Farm equipment rentals
• Conservation grant programs
• Natural resource management

Headquarters

HQ city

Walpole

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from community members supporting environmental education, agricultural support, and community engagement programs.
2. Farm Equipment Rentals: Low-cost farm equipment rentals including no-till drills, aerators, soil steamers, BCS tractors, and spreaders provided to local growers in Cheshire County.
3. Seed Sales: Bulk seed orders coordinated through King's AgriSeed partnership for spring and fall plantings, enabling orders less than 1500 lbs to avoid shipping costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CCCD delivers technical, financial, and educational assistance for natural resource and agricultural conservation in Cheshire County, NH. Its core offerings include low-cost farm equipment rentals (no-till drills, BCS tractors, soil steamers, spreaders), administration of multiple grant programs (Conservation Opportunity Fund, Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, NH Farm Future Fund, Climate Resilience Grants), and Soil Potential Index assessments derived from USDA NRCS soil mapping data. Additional core services include conservation planning, seed sales coordination, historical aerial photography access, and educational workshops and community events.

Product overview

The Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD) operates as a governmental subdivision established in 1945 to provide conservation leadership for Cheshire County, New Hampshire. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs organized around four core areas: Soil, Water, Wildlife, and Farm Viability. Core services include farm equipment rental (offering tools like no-till drills, soil steamers, and BCS tractors), grant programs (Conservation Opportunity Fund, Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, Climate Resilience Grants), and educational initiatives (Monadnock Outdoors, Monadnock Grows Together). Additional offerings encompass historical aerial photography access, seed sales coordination, soil potential index surveys, energy and forestry resources, and turtle conservation. The organization partners with USDA NRCS and over 65 local, state, and national collaborators to deliver technical, financial, and educational assistance for natural and agricultural resource conservation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Soil Programs Core soil health program for Cheshire County, NH offering equipment rentals, integrated pest management, no-till farming, NRCS easement outreach, soil potential index surveys, seed sales, and the Monadnock Grows Together initiative. Designed for farmers, landowners, and residents seeking to improve soil health and adopt conservation practices.
• Water Programs Clean water protection program covering Source to Sea River Clean-Up, surface water improvement projects, rain gardens, and Connecticut River watershed planning. Designed for watershed residents, landowners, and community volunteers seeking to protect and improve water quality.
• Wildlife Programs Wildlife habitat program supporting landowners in creating and sustaining habitats, including pollinator habitat, stream habitat for fish passage, grassland bird conservation, and turtle conservation. Designed for landowners and conservation partners.
• Farm Viability Programs Program bundle ensuring farm profitability, including Granite State Market Match, Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, energy stipend grants, Transition to Organic Partnership Program, Community Supported Solar, Climate Resilience Grant, NH Farm Future Fund, veteran appreciation, and farm share programs. Designed for farmers in Cheshire County, NH seeking financial and technical viability support.
• Farm Equipment Rentals Low-cost farm equipment rental program offering no-till drills, aerators, soil steamers, wood ash/lime/biochar spreaders, woodlot management trailers, BCS walk-behind tractors, vegetable transplanters, roller crimpers, subsoilers, and onion toppers. Designed for farmers in Cheshire County, NH.
• Find a Farm Directory Directory and map service helping consumers locate local farms, CSAs, pick-your-own operations, farm stands, and farmers' markets in Cheshire County, NH. Designed for consumers seeking local food sources.
• Grant Programs Grant program administration including the Conservation Opportunity Fund for wildlife habitat, Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, NH Farm Future Fund, and NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant Program. Designed for eligible farmers and landowners in Cheshire County, NH.
• Historical Aerial Photography Public viewing service for historical aerial photographs of Cheshire County (1939–1992) and Sullivan County (1946–1953), available at the Conservation District office in Walpole, NH. Designed for researchers, landowners, and the public.
• Bulk Seed Sales Coordination Coordinated bulk seed order service in partnership with King's AgriSeed for spring and fall plantings, enabling orders under 1,500 lbs to avoid shipping costs. Designed for local farms in Cheshire County, NH.
• Soil Potential Index & Surveys Soil capability rating service that calculates a Soil Potential Index using USDA NRCS soil mapping data, rating soil on a 0–100 scale for crop production capability, and provides access to NRCS soil surveys and the New Hampshire Soils Handbook. Designed for farmers and landowners.
• Monadnock Outdoors Program Partnership-based program promoting physical activity and outdoor recreation through TerrainHopper mobility vehicle loans, the Outdoor Recreation Resource Map, and the Monadnock Gear Library at Keene Public Library. Designed for Cheshire County residents and visitors seeking accessible outdoor recreation.
• Monadnock Grows Together Program Free resource program for gardeners and small-scale urban farmers offering garden tool lending at Keene Public Library Makerspace, free seeds at Frost Free Library, and workshops connecting local growers. Designed for Cheshire County community gardeners and small-scale growers.
• Energy Resources Directory Directory of energy efficiency and renewable energy service providers for farms, including solar installers, weatherization specialists, and information on USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants. Designed for farm owners seeking energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions.
• Forestry Resources Support service for forestland owners connecting them to educational resources, grant opportunities, workshops, and service providers including UNH Cooperative Extension County Foresters. Designed for forestland owners in Cheshire County, NH.
• Turtle Conservation Resources Regional turtle conservation initiative addressing habitat loss, road mortalities, and climate impacts on Spotted, Blanding, and Wood turtle populations through research, education, and community science. Designed for residents, landowners, and conservation partners in the region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 farms in Cheshire County supported through various programs and services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCCD works in partnership with NRCS, the lead conservation agency in the USDA. NRCS administers Farm Bill Programs and provides conservation technical assistance. The Conservation District serves as the local link connecting landowners to NRCS services. Together they help set conservation goals and provide workshops to landowners in Cheshire County.
• Monadnock Food Co-opcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between CCCD and Monadnock Food Co-op to support the Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, providing grants to local farmers to increase sustainable food production and wholesale sales.
• Antioch University New EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through Community Garden Connections program, providing advisory committee membership and educational outreach in Keene.
• National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Farm Business Lab program and providing technical assistance for agriculture and conservation. CCCD partnered with NCAT and Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship to host a free 7-week business planning course for specialty crop producers.
• Hannah Grimes Center for EntrepreneurshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Farm Business Lab program, collaborating to provide business planning resources and courses for farmers in New Hampshire.
• Keene Public LibrarymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Monadnock Grows Together program and Monadnock Outdoors initiative, providing garden tool lending, gear library, and community education resources.
• Healthy Monadnock AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCCD participates in the Healthy Monadnock Alliance as part of Monadnock Outdoors workgroup, dedicated to building a healthier, more connected community through nature engagement.
• King's AgriSeedmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to coordinate bulk seed orders, enabling orders less than 1500 lbs to avoid shipping costs, benefiting local farms.
• New Hampshire Association of Conservation DistrictscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCCCD holds organizational membership and participates in state conservation district activities through NHACD.
• National Association of Conservation DistrictscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCCCD holds organizational membership and participates in national Conservation District activities through NACD.
• Monadnock ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCCD serves on the Stewardship Committee of the Monadnock Conservancy and collaborates on conservation initiatives.
• Monadnock Farm and Community CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCCD serves on the Board of Directors and participates in the Food Access Working Group of the Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition.
• Harris Center for Conservation EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Monadnock Outdoors initiative and turtle conservation programs, representing 10 regional organizations working on active living.
• Connecticut River Watershed Farmers AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for equipment sharing - Wood Ash/Lime Spreader located in Fairlee, VT in partnership with CRWFA.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Grafton County Conservation District: Another NH county conservation district providing directly comparable services — farm equipment rentals, conservation planning, NRCS linkage, and grant administration to farmers and landowners.
• Sullivan County Conservation District: Sister NH county conservation district offering the same model of NRCS-linked conservation services, technical assistance, and grants. Explicitly referenced in CCCD's historical aerial photography archive as a comparable NH conservation entity.
• Harris Center for Conservation Education: Regional conservation education organization in the Monadnock area. CCCD partners with Harris Center on Monadnock Outdoors and turtle conservation — overlapping mission around land stewardship and environmental education in the same geography.
• Rockingham County Conservation District: One of ten NH county conservation districts operating under the same statutory framework, delivering conservation programs, technical assistance, and partnership-based services to county residents.

Regional players

• Monadnock Conservancy: Regional land trust operating in the Monadnock region. CCCD serves on its Stewardship Committee, and the two organizations share conservation priorities and landowner engagement in Cheshire County.
• Connecticut River Conservancy: Regional watershed organization focused on the Connecticut River basin. CCCD runs Source to Sea cleanups and watershed planning that overlap with CRC's mission across the VT/NH border.

Others

• National Association of Conservation Districts: National membership organization to which CCCD belongs. Provides advocacy, training, and program resources for the nearly 3,000 conservation districts across the U.S., making it a peer ecosystem enabler.
• NH Association of Conservation Districts: State-level membership association for New Hampshire's ten county conservation districts. CCCD participates in NHACD's programs and advocacy, positioning it as the immediate peer coordination body.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (New Hampshire): Large national conservation organization operating in New Hampshire on land protection, water, and climate. Operates at much greater scale than CCCD but shares the conservation mission in overlapping geographies.
• UNH Cooperative Extension: Larger statewide extension service providing forestry, agricultural, and natural resource expertise. CCCD refers landowners to UNH County Foresters for forestry services, making it a complementary but broader-scope peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CheshireCCD
• Facebookfacebook.com/CheshireCCD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cheshireccd
• Instagraminstagram.com/cheshireccd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cheshire County Conservation District