Minnesota
Cost Share Opportunities and Options
Conservation Technology Information Center
Farmers for Soil Health
Farmers for Soil Health is a three-year incentive program designed to expand cover crop adoption on acres with corn and/or soybeans in rotation. Compliance with NRCS 340 cover crop standards is required, and technical assistance is provided for seeding rates, timing, and mixes. Outreach and support are available in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Participation cannot be stacked with other USDA programs for the same practice.
Payment Rates
Total payment of $50 per acre over three years.
Year 1: $25 per acre
Year 2: $15 per acre
Year 3: $10 per acre
Contact Information
Maria Teresa Tancredi
Phone: 218-234-2867
Email: tancredi@ctic.org
Website
Ducks Unlimited
Senior Manager of Conservation Programs
Jon Schneider
Alexandria, MN
Regional Biologist- Southern Minnesota
Jake Chronister
Windom, MN
Regional Biologist- NW Minnesota
Logan Shoup
Fergus Falls, MN
Farm Service Agency
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
CRP is a voluntary USDA program that removes environmentally sensitive agricultural land from production and establishes long-term conservation cover. It improves soil erosion control, water quality, and wildlife habitat. Enrollment options include General CRP, Grassland CRP, Continuous CRP, SAFE, CLEAR30, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), and Farmable Wetlands. Contracts are administered by FSA, with technical support from NRCS, state agencies, conservation districts, and approved partners.
Payment Rates
Annual rental payments.
Cost share assistance for establishment.
Contract lengths are typically 10 to 15 years.
Contact Information
Contact your local Farm Service Agency office for more details.
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices
Website
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs?assistance_type%5B0%5D=12
Habitat One
Free Food Plot Seed
To help ensure wildlife have access to adequate nutrition during these challenging conditions, Habitat One has established a Free Food Plot See Program. This program is designed to assist landowners in providing reliable winter food and cover for wildlife through the establishment of dedicated food plots.
Contact Information
Brooke Fricke
Operations and Administration Manager
Phone: 308-362-7061
Email: brooke@habitat-one.org
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
- Protects agricultural viability and related conservation values
- Limits nonagricultural uses that negatively affect agricultural land
- Protects grazing uses by restoring or conserving eligible grazing land
- Protects, restores, and enhances wetlands on eligible land
- Includes Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE)
Payment Rates
- Dependent on the project
- Matching funds required to be funded.
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/minnesota
Website
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
The Conservation Stewardship Program rewards producers who maintain existing conservation practices and implement additional enhancements on working lands. The program encourages long-term stewardship and continual improvement.
Payment Rates
Annual stewardship payments are provided.
Contracts last five years with minimum annual payment thresholds.
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/minnesota
Website
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers for addressing natural resource concerns such as soil, water, air quality, and wildlife habitat. The program is designed to support a wide range of conservation practices.
Payment Rates
Typically, EQIP offers a 50 to 60 percent cost share.
Rates depend on the conservation practices implemented.
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/minnesota
Website
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative
The Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative (MRBI) is accelerating voluntary, on-farm conservation investments and focused water quality monitoring and assessment resources in the Mississippi River wat
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/minnesota
Website
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)
As USDA’s premiere water quality initiative, National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) provides a way to accelerate voluntary, on-farm conservation investments and focused water quality monitoring and assessment resources where they can deliver the greatest benefits for clean water.
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/nebraska
Website
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
- Promotes coordination of NRCS activities with partners
- Expands the ability to address on farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns
- Supports on the ground conservation activities implemented by farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners
Eligible Activities
- Land management and land improvement or restoration practices
- Land rentals
- Entity held easements
- United States held easements
- Public works and watershed projects
Payment Rates
- Typically 50 to 60 percent cost share
- Dependent on the practices utilized
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/minnesota
Website
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE)
Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE) help private and tribal landowners protect, restore and enhance wetlands which have been previously degraded due to agricultural uses.
Contact Information
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more details.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/minnesota
Website
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives
Pheasants Forever
Public Access to Habitat (P.A.T.H.)
P.A.T.H. encourages enrollment of private land into public access across Minnesota, working in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Walk-In Access program.
Contact Information
Sabin Adams
Phone: 320-250-6317
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Grassland Easement
A grassland easement (also known as a habitat easement) is a legal agreement signed with the United States of America, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that pays landowners to permanently keep their land in grass. Landowners who sell a grassland easement to the Service agree to maintain permanent vegetative cover such as forbs, grasses, and low shrubs. Many landowners plan on never putting their land into crop production and can benefit from the added cash incentive of a grassland easement. Land covered by a grassland easement may not be cultivated. Mowing, haying and grass seed harvesting are restricted and may be delayed until after July 15 each year. This specific restriction is designed to help grassland nesting species, such as ducks and pheasants, complete their nesting before the grass is disturbed. Property subject to a grassland easement remains on local tax rolls. By selling easements, landowners receive funds to pay down debt, reinvest in capital improvements, or buy other lands to maintain and/or expand working lands.
Payment Rates
The Service will determine the value of the easement and will provide a written offer in a document called a Statement of Just Compensation. The statement will describe the property encumbered by the easement and the amount of the payment. A single lump-sum payment will be made.
Contact Information
AnnMarie Krmpotich
Phone: 612-710-5310
Email: AnnMarie_Krmpotich@fws.gov
Website
https://www.fws.gov/apps/service/grassland-easements
Wetland Easement
A wetland easement is a legal agreement signed with the United States of America, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that pays landowners to permanently protect wetlands. Landowners who sell a wetland easement to the Service agree that wetlands protected by an easement cannot be drained, filled, leveled or burned. If these wetlands dry up naturally, they can be farmed, grazed or hayed. Wetlands covered by an easement are mapped, and a copy of the easement and maps is provided to the landowner. The easement contract is recorded at the county courthouse Register of Deeds office. No signs are placed on the property. Property subject to a wetland easement remains on local tax rolls. By selling easements, landowners receive funds to pay down debt, reinvest in capital improvements, or buy other lands to maintain and/or expand working lands.
Payment Rates
The Service will determine the value of the easement and will provide a written offer in a document called a Statement of Just Compensation. The statement will describe the property encumbered by the easement and the amount of the payment. A single lump-sum payment will be made.
Contact Information
AnnMarie Krmpotich
Phone: 612-710-5310
Email: AnnMarie_Krmpotich@fws.gov
Website
https://www.fws.gov/service/wetland-easements
South Dakota Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
This program supports wetland restoration, grassland enhancement, and grassland restoration. Wetland restoration focuses on prairie pothole hydrology, while grassland enhancement uses managed grazing plans with added water and fencing. Restoration involves seeding cropland back to diverse native grass and forb mixes, benefiting pollinators, grassland birds, and livestock production.
Payment Rates
Funding is project-based.
Contact Information
AnnMarie Krmpotich
Phone: 612-710-5310
Email: AnnMarie_Krmpotich@fws.gov