Preparing for a cost share meeting:

Cost share programs can be confusing and downright intimidating. We’re here to help alleviate that and allow you to meet with your DC, CA, or funding representative feeling confident.

The Process

Here’s how it works:

This process can feel intimidating at first, and it can vary widely depending on the funding source and particular conservation practice that is being implemented.

*You can also start by contacting a conservation agronomist. They’ll walk you through the process and help you meet your goals!

1. Set Goals

Identify what you’re looking to get out of implementing conservation on your farm. This will guide your decision making further down the line as you look at different options for practices and programs.

2. Do Your Research

Read about various practices, familiarize yourself with some of the programs and funders. Many of the resources on our website are designed for this purpose, especially the Cost Share Comparison Guide.

3. Get connected

Reach out to your CA, head to the local NRCS office, or talk to a conservation professional to answer any questions you may have and to formally start the application process. This is where any prep work you did will make moving forward faster and easier!

4. Build Your Plan

Work with a conservation professional to decide what practices to implement, how to stack and maximize cost share benefits, and more. Different programs require various planning timelines before beginning implementation. This step allows you to build in that timing.

5. Implement the Practice

Once the funding is approved, it’s time to implement the practice. If you’re new to it, talk with your CA or a neighbor who’s done it before. Land and water stewardship is an exceptionally rewarding path, and there is lots of support available to you.

A photo of a growing cover crop in a field

Key Considerations

Stakeholders

Every farm looks different and has different people involved. Before implementing certain conservation practices, it can be important to discuss with some key stakeholders. Depending on your whether you rent or own the land, these people can include the landowners, co-owners, renters, or your conservation agronomist. Make sure to run these decisions by them and get on the same page about it, especially edge of field structures.

Funding Source

There are a number of funding sources to choose from. With federal dollars, state funding, and private programs, some cost share incentives have different rules about what can stack, how or when to apply, and other nuances. They also have widely varying timeframes for how long the application and approval process takes, so make sure to approach each program with an open mind.

Mindset

Working with a trusted conservation partner is an important part of making this process smooth and efficient. However, some offices can be understaffed or underfunded. A major key to conservation success is to not let that experience kill your interest or momentum. There are lots of available resources and teams out there, and we’d love to get you connected with them.

Partner Spotlight: Iowa Soybean

Conservation team leading farmers through the process

ISA’s conservation team has been helping farmers maximize their cost share and conservation efforts by streamlining the process and working directly with the funding organizations. Find a CA or connect with their team to get started in accomplishing your conservation goals.

FAQs

What is the application deadline?

Deadlines can vary greatly. Some programs have rolling deadlines, some are open year-round, and others have hard set dates. It is best to check with the funding provider or on costsharecompare.com

How far in advance do I need to be having these conversations?

It is important to be very proactive in this process. These conversations are always happening before buying seed or other materials for the practice.

Iowa Soybean Conservation Agronomist, Brock Webb, advises that farmers should be fully committed by the end of fall to implement a practice in the following spring.

“You have to have your ducks in a row for sure,” says Webb.

When will I be getting paid?

This is highly program dependent and can vary widely. We recommend asking the funding provider or visiting the Cost Share Hub to learn more.

What commitments come with using the cost share?

This depends entirely on the practice, but can include terminating cover crops, mowing prairie, or raising and lowering tile water drainage levels.

Aside from this, most in-field practices require you to fill out a form after applying the practice, but it’s best to check with the funding provider.

Do I need approval from my landowner?

If you are renting farm ground, it is always best to talk with the landowner before implementing conservation practices. However, it is crucially important to do so when you are considering installing a permanent edge of field practice like a saturated buffer or bioreactor.

More Resources

Cost Share Compare Tool

Filter and compare cover crop programs.

Cost Share Compare

Cost Share Hub

Detangling cost share programs

There are millions of dollars and dozens of programs available to pay farmers for cover crops, wetlands, prairie, and more. With our tools, it doesn’t have to be confusing or overwhelming! We created a hub to learn about cost sharing and a web tool at costsharecompare.com to filter and compare cover crop programs.

Cost Share Hub

More Resources

Here are more helpful resources on watershed planning:

NRCS has a directory of programs and initiatives that they are currently funding.

Practical Farmers of Iowa offers a wide selection of programs offering private dollars for conservation practices.

CDI shares a Batch & Build presentation from Polk County’s John Swanson.

IAWA’s Cost Share Hub has lots of resources on all things cost share.