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Developed by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance to navigate incentive programs for cover crops, no-till, and reduced till.
Developed by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance to navigate incentive programs for cover crops, no-till, and reduced till.
Consider if you’re looking for an easy, straightforward program with little paperwork and flexibility to cancel.
Consider this program if: |
Farmers for Soil Health
Consider if you’re looking for an easy, straightforward program with little paperwork and flexibility to cancel. |
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Website and Agronomist Support |
farmersforsoilhealth.com
AGRONOMIST SUPPORT? |
In-field Practices Covered and Eligibility |
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Rates and Time to Payment |
New acres: Continuing acres: $2/acre -Sign up in as little as 30 min |
Contract length, renewability and deadlines |
3 years Deadline TBD |
Lead Organization |
National: Our Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff, National Corn Growers Association Local: Iowa Soybean Association |
Funding Source |
USDA (federal) |
Consider if you’re looking for an easy, straightforward program with no long-term contract and 50% of payment prior to verification. For beginning or scaling practices.
Consider this program if: |
Soil and Water Outcomes Fund
Consider if you’re looking for an easy, straightforward program with no long-term contract and 50% of payment prior to verification. For beginning or scaling practices. |
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Website and Agronomist Support |
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In-field Practices Covered and Eligibility |
Additionality = adding a new conservation practice to existing practices Limited acres available in 2025 |
Rates and Time to Payment |
Average payment: Rates vary by cover crop species and number of practices used Program may change due to USDA negotiations -Sign up in as little as a week -50% is paid prior to verification, and 50% is paid afterward in the spring |
Contract length, renewability and deadlines |
1 year Deadline TBD |
Lead Organization |
AgOutcomes, a subsidiary |
Funding Source |
USDA and/or Private |
You’re looking for some of the highest incentive rates and don’t mind submitting a competitive application with a waiting period.
Consider this program if: |
RCPP/EQIP
You’re looking for some of the highest incentive rates and don’t mind submitting a competitive application with a waiting period. |
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Website and Agronomist Support |
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In-field Practices Covered and Eligibility |
Competitive applications based on factors like watershed location |
Rates and Time to Payment |
Cover crops, popular options: Conservation tillage: $18/acre -Sign contract 1-12 months after application -Payment after local verification (varies by office) |
Contract length, renewability and deadlines |
Typically 3 or 5 years Rolling |
Lead Organization |
USDA-NRCS |
Funding Source |
USDA (federal) |
Consider if you're looking for a straightforward program that provides incentives for new or continuing acres and stacks well with public funding.
Consider this program if: |
PFI Cover Crop Cost Share
Consider if you're looking for a straightforward program that provides incentives for new or continuing acres and stacks well with public funding. |
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Website and Agronomist Support |
PracticalFarmers.org
AGRONOMIST SUPPORT? Yes. New cover crop users are required to do a consultation. Farmers can also call after consult with any questions. |
In-field Practices Covered and Eligibility |
*Limited acres available in 2025 |
Rates and Time to Payment |
$10/acre Additional incentives available -Sign up in as little as 10 minutes -Payments made Jan-March |
Contract length, renewability and deadlines |
1 year Renewable Aug 5-Oct 1 enrollment Can sign up before or after implementing practice |
Lead Organization |
Practical Farmers of Iowa |
Funding Source |
Private (carbon) |
Consider if you're looking for a publicly funded program with an easy, local sign-up that pays well and allows for flexibility and/or stacking with private incentives. Especially beneficial to those in priority watersheds.
Consider this program if: |
Water Quality Initiative (WQI)
Consider if you're looking for a publicly funded program with an easy, local sign-up that pays well and allows for flexibility and/or stacking with private incentives. Especially beneficial to those in priority watersheds. |
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Website and Agronomist Support |
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In-field Practices Covered and Eligibility |
*Until year's funding runs out |
Rates and Time to Payment |
Cover crops: Priority watersheds: $25/acre no acre cap Other watersheds: $30/acre* or $20/acre with 160 acre cap Conservation tillage: $10/acre* N Inhibitor: $3/acre* *new users only -Sign up in 1-7 days -Payment after proof of planting (Most receive by Jan 1) |
Contract length, renewability and deadlines |
1 year Cover crops renewable indefinitely Rolling deadline Must sign up for program before implementing practices |
Lead Organization |
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship |
Funding Source |
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship |
Consider if you don't need to offset the full cost of implementing cover crops, but would benefit from an easy, small payment for new or continuing acres.
Consider this program if: |
State crop insurance rebate
Consider if you don't need to offset the full cost of implementing cover crops, but would benefit from an easy, small payment for new or continuing acres. |
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Website and Agronomist Support |
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In-field Practices Covered and Eligibility |
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Rates and Time to Payment |
$5/acre -Sign up in as little as 30 min -Payment in spring/summer after cover crop was planted |
Contract length, renewability and deadlines |
1 year Renewable indefinitely Deadline: January Must sign up after implementing practice |
Lead Organization |
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship |
Funding Source |
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (Public) |
Consider if you are looking for a local, community-driven program plus you are an underserved farmer or live in an underserved community.
Consider this program if: |
Maquoketa River Cover Crop Initiative
Consider if you are looking for a local, community-driven program plus you are an underserved farmer or live in an underserved community. |
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Website and Agronomist Support |
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In-field Practices Covered and Eligibility |
Farmers who meet underserved criteria including women, veterans, beginning, socially disadvantaged, and low income *200-acre cap |
Rates and Time to Payment |
Cover crops: $30/acre -Apply in 30 min using online form -Payment received after cover crop receipts are turned in |
Contract length, renewability and deadlines |
1 year Can reapply in '26 Deadline: Oct 1, 2025 Must sign up before implementing practice |
Lead Organization |
Limestone Bluffs RC&D, Maquoketa River WMA |
Funding Source |
EPA dollars, sub awarded by Iowa DNR (Public, federal) |
Consider if you grow seed corn. Cover crops have an even greater benefit after seed corn harvest, due to harvest being earlier in the season.
Consider this program if: |
Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative
Consider if you grow seed corn. Cover crops have an even greater benefit after seed corn harvest, due to harvest being earlier in the season. |
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Website and Agronomist Support |
sustainableseedcorn.org
Yes, if requested |
In-field Practices Covered and Eligibility |
*Must be on seed corn acres with bushels sold to companies listed here. |
Rates and Time to Payment |
Cover crops Winter hardy (like rye): $20/acre Winter kill (like oats): $10/acre First time users: Extra $10/acre -Sign up in 20 min using online form -Payment after seeding verification (usually between Oct & Dec) |
Contract length, renewability and deadlines |
1 year Renewable after every seed corn year Oct 31 deadline Can sign up before or after implementing practice |
Lead Organization |
Iowa Seed Association |
Funding Source |
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, seed corn companies, Iowa Corn (Public + Private) |
Consider if you want a flexible practice that can reduce erosion and nutrient loss and attract pollinators. PFI offers a unique suite of incentives if you combine PFI's Prairie Strips program, USDA's CRP program, & PFI's Precision Conservation Analysis.
Consider this program if: |
PFI Prairie Strips Program (Habitat Incentive)
Consider if you want a flexible practice that can reduce erosion and nutrient loss and attract pollinators. PFI offers a unique suite of incentives if you combine PFI's Prairie Strips program, USDA's CRP program, & PFI's Precision Conservation Analysis. |
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Website and Agronomist Support |
practicalfarmers.org
Technical support included |
In-field Practices Covered and Eligibility |
* Must meet USDA standards and specs – average strip width between 30 ft-120 ft, cannot exceed 25% of land tract acres, and must be seeded with a USDA-approved prairie mix. |
Rates and Time to Payment |
Route A: Annual CRP payment (USDA) + One-time PFI payment of $256/acre
Route B: One-time PFI payment of $1,100-$1,300/acre
*Can add on PFI's Precision Conservation Program to get free field analysis and additional payments A: Consult with PFI, then sign up through FSA office
B: Sign up requires short application & 30-60 min video consult
Payment after proof of seeding; check or direct deposit |
Contract length, renewability and deadlines |
A: 10 or 15 years (PFI + CRP)
B: 5 years (PFI-only) One-time payment not renewable Rolling
Must sign up before implementation |
Lead Organization |
Practical Farmers of Iowa |
Funding Source |
IDALS (Public, state)
CRP add-on is USDA (Public, federal) |
Consider if you want an analysis of your field's profitability, to take unprofitable acres out of production, and get paid for the row crop acres that remain. You can also get paid for acres transitioned to perennial cover, such as through PFI's Prairie Strips program.
Consider this program if: |
PFI Precision Conservation Analysis (Habitat Incentive)
Consider if you want an analysis of your field's profitability, to take unprofitable acres out of production, and get paid for the row crop acres that remain. You can also get paid for acres transitioned to perennial cover, such as through PFI's Prairie Strips program. |
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Website and Agronomist Support |
practicalfarmers.org
Technical support included |
In-field Practices Covered and Eligibility |
*After analysis, producers can decide if, and how many, marginal acres to convert to perennial cover, which is required to receive payment. |
Rates and Time to Payment |
$8-26 per acre for row crop acres AFTER marginal acres are transitioned to prairie, pasture, or extended rotation ($10k cap)
*Can add on PFI's Prairie Strips program for $256-$1,300 per acre of prairie (no cap) Conservation analysis takes about a month
Payment made after proof of seeding on identified marginal acres |
Contract length, renewability and deadlines |
5 years
One-time payment not renewable Rolling
Must sign up before implementation |
Lead Organization |
Practical Farmers of Iowa and Pheasants Forever |
Funding Source |
USDA (Public, federal) |
Consider if you want a one-time lump-sum payment for up to 4 years’ worth of cover crop seeding or listed conservation tillage practices (temporary management practices), a simple sign-up process, and don't mind waiting up to several months for payment.
Consider this program if: |
Iowa Financial Assistance Program (IFIP)
Consider if you want a one-time lump-sum payment for up to 4 years’ worth of cover crop seeding or listed conservation tillage practices (temporary management practices), a simple sign-up process, and don't mind waiting up to several months for payment. |
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Website and Agronomist Support |
iowaagriculture.gov
Technical support included |
In-field Practices Covered and Eligibility |
* Many more eligible in-field practices - see program website for full details.
* Cannot enroll acres already under IFIP. Local SWCDs set application ranking criteria, and some set acre caps. See local office for details. |
Rates and Time to Payment |
* Local SWCDs may set their own payment rate restrictions - visit yours for a full rates list. -Sign up in as little as 10 minutes at your local SWCD office or online
-One-time payment made after local SWCD funding approval, and verification of implementation (minimum 2-6 months) |
Contract length, renewability and deadlines |
Maintenance agreements: 1-4 years (cover crops, no-till, strip till, ridge till)
Can only sign up once per practice Cancel any time prior to payment. Rolling deadline Must sign up for program before implementing practices |
Lead Organization |
Local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) offices |
Funding Source |
IDALS (Public, state) |
Consider if you live in Dubuque County, would like drone application and someone else to take care of the hassle of cover crop planting. Especially beneficial program for multi-species.
Consider this program if: |
Dubuque County Cover Crop Program
Consider if you live in Dubuque County, would like drone application and someone else to take care of the hassle of cover crop planting. Especially beneficial program for multi-species. |
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Website and Agronomist Support |
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In-field Practices Covered and Eligibility |
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Rates and Time to Payment |
All acres: - Sign up under an hour on-farm or in-office with Dubuque Co. Watersheds |
Contract length, renewability and deadlines |
1 year Deadline TBD |
Lead Organization |
Sand County Foundation, in partnership with Dubuque County Watersheds |
Funding Source |
USDA |