Farmers for Soil Health
Conservation Technology Information Center
Introduction
Farmers for Soil Health is a farmer-driven sustainability program designed to enhance soil health and promote the adoption of cover crops. With a bold vision of expanding cover crops to 30 million acres by 2030, Farmers for Soil Health is at the forefront of sustainable agriculture practices, providing technical and financial assistance to farmers planting cover crops in select states.
CTIC plays a vital role in this program by providing outreach and technical assistance to farmers in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Our dedicated, full-time Soil Health Specialists work one-on-one with farmers and their advisors. We understand the unique needs of each operation and support farmers in adopting or expanding their use of cover crops. We are committed to empowering farmers to make sustainable choices that benefit both their operations and the environment.
Application Deadline:
March 1, 2025 for cover crops planted in fall 2024
How to Apply:
Click here and click on “Enroll Now” or scroll down for contact information for your state representative.
Links & Resources:
Contact Information:
Julia Gerlach, Soil Health Specialist
414-394-9973
Ryan Heiniger, Executive Director
319-768-8348
US
Back To All ResourcesThe Details
Farmers for Soil Health is a three-year program offering an incentive payment of $50 per acre for ground that has corn and/or soybeans in the rotation and is new* to cover crops. Payment is spread over the course of the three years as follows: $25 in Year 1, $15 in Year 2, and $10 in Year 3. Enrolled farmers are required to follow NRCS 340 guidelines for seeding cover crops in their state. Farmers for Soil Health technical assistants can help farmers determine appropriate seeding rates, dates, mixes, etc. if desired.
Because Farmers for Soil Health funding comes from USDA, this program can’t be stacked with other USDA programs for the same practice. If the acres get USDA funding for other practices such as no-till or fencing, there’s no conflict.
*Farmers for Soil Health is intended for acres that are “new” to cover crops, but to qualify as new, the acres need to have only a one-year gap from the last time they had cover crops planted on them. In addition, if cover crops were planted the year before enrollment but NRCS cover crop guidelines were not followed, the acres may still qualify.
Who’s Eligible?
Active South Dakota row crop farmers with corn and/or soybeans in their rotation and who are new to planting cover crops. To qualify as new, the acres need to have only a one-year gap from the last time they had cover crops planted on them. In addition, if cover crops were planted the year before enrollment but NRCS cover crop guidelines were not followed, the acres may still qualify.
Because Farmers for Soil Health funding comes from USDA, this program can’t be stacked with other USDA programs for the same practice. If the acres get USDA funding for other practices such as no-till or fencing, there’s no conflict.
