Federal, state and county programs are available to agricultural and urban landowners. These programs provide technical and financial assistance to implement conservation practices.
STATE & COUNTY COST SHARE PROGRAM offers a reimbursement of 50-75% for conservation practices installed on eligible agricultural land. Qualifying practices include grassed waterways, terraces, water and sediment control basins, hayland/pasture seedings, windbreaks, forest stand improvement, and more. Technical assistance is available to help determine what practices may be needed to effectively address resource concerns and to assist with the design. Applicants are funded on a first come, first serve basis. Contact the office to learn more about what funding is currently available for a variety of practices! You may also submit a state/county cost share inquiry online through the FARMS website.
URBAN INITIATIVE COST SHARE PROGRAM offers a reimbursement of 50% (up to $2,000) for landscape practices that protect and enhance water quality and address drainage problems. 75% of stormwater runoff must be managed on site to qualify. Practices that qualify for cost share include rain gardens, bio-retention cells and swales, permeable paving, soil quality restoration (deep tined aeration and the application of compost to lawn), native landscaping, and more. Funds are limited and are approved on a first come, first served basis. Rural and urban Scott County residents and businesses are eligible to apply. This program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Scott County Regional Authority.
CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM (CSP) is a voluntary conservation program of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that encourages agricultural and forestry producers to address resource concerns by improving and maintaining existing conservation systems and undertaking additional conservation activities to enhance their operation. CSP is available to all producers, regardless of the operation size or crops produced. To be eligible, applicants must be listed as the operator of record in the USDA farm management system. Eligible lands include cropland, grassland, pastureland and nonindustrial private forest land. CSP pays participants for conservation performance – the higher the performance, the higher the payment. This program provides participants with an annual payment for maintaining their current stewardship level while enhancing their operation to improve certain resource concerns.
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP) is another voluntary conservation program of NRCS that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality. This program is available to farmers registered with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and offers financial and technical assistance to install/implement structural, vegetative, and management practices on eligible agricultural land. EQIP applications are accepted year-round with periodic cut-off dates announced for ranking and funding submitted applications.