Cost Share Hub
Taking steps to improve your farm doesn’t have to be risky or costly.
Sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. There are millions of cost share dollars in Iowa to help you make positive changes for you and your community.
- Are you losing valuable soil to erosion?
- Do you have areas of the farm that pond or get low yields?
- Are you interested in free edge-of-field solutions that help downstream neighbors?
Cost share can help.
Where to start? Cost Share 101
If you’ve done any research on cost share, you’ve probably found yourself drowning in an alphabet soup of acronyms and a sea of program information. But it doesn’t have to be complicated! If you’re new to cost share, check out our cost share 101 guide, which walks you through common programs, acronyms, and what to expect.
Cover Crops: Learn How To Get $100+ Per Acre
Farmers asked for it. We delivered. Costsharecompare.com is our most popular resource for finding cover crop cost share programs. You can filter programs by your personal needs, not generic options and compare your top options. We even show you how to stack multiple programs for maximum benefit. Not sure if you’re ready for cover crops yet? Check out our cover crop resource page.
Private Funding: Carbon Markets 101 & Other Ecosystem Services Markets
Everybody’s talking about carbon – how to sequester it, how to buy it, and how to sell it. Why are we interested? On-farm practices that promote carbon sequestration often improve water quality, too. Carbon markets are a source of private funding to pay farmers. There are a lot of options and they’re not equal. We put together resources to help you make decisions that we personally trust and use.
Prairie: Get Rewarded For Reducing Unprofitable Acres
Whether you want a small prairie strip or a full field of native grasses, there are cost share options to cover the expenses of planting prairie. Our team of communications professionals and agronomists sifted through program paperwork and met with prairie experts to break down the best programs to consider. Download our free guide to compare them. It updates annually!
Wetlands: How To Navigate Funding Options
Wetlands can replace unprofitable acres, provide wildlife habitat, and add scenery to your farm. Cost share for wetlands isn’t as straightforward as cover crops… But the good news is that most wetlands can be 100% covered by cost share if you work with a watershed professional. IAWA has put together helpful information on which programs to inquire about, what questions to ask before you sign a contract, and what to expect.
Batch and Build: A way to get edge-of-field conservation paid for
Batch and build has been a buzzword in and around Iowa in the last five years. It’s because it’s an effective way to get conservation on the ground quickly and efficiently. If you’re a farmer or conservation professional who has been asked to participate in a batch and build, we’ve put together this landing page of resources to help you get started.
Buzzword Breakdown: Carbon Intensity
Carbon intensity and sustainable jet fuel has been a hotly debated topic in Congress as a way to compensate farmers for sustainable farming. Our partners at Iowa Corn, put together a great FAQ about what carbon intensity is and why you should care.