Agriculture
Flat Rate Cost Share 2026
Projects are prioritized based on Watershed 1W1P Plans.
Cover Crops
o Must follow NRCS Practice Standard 340
o One to three-year contract and effective life
o 1-2 species $50/acre/year
o 3+ species $60/acre/year
o Implementation can occur on different acres within the three-year contract or on the same acres consecutively but must be implemented on the same amount or greater acres in years 2 and 3
o Seeding dates will follow the Midwest Cover Crop Council Seeding Guide recommendations
o Cover crop must be applied to acres in annual crop production. Eligible crops include corn, soybeans, or small grains
o Cover crop cannot be terminated until after January 1 of the following year
o Stand alone practice
Nutrient Management
o Must follow NRCS Practice Standard 590
o $75/acre/year
o One to three year contract and effective life
o Implemented on the same acres annually
Prescribed Grazing
o Must follow NRCS Practice Standard 528
o $80/acre/year
o One to three year contract and 10 year effective life
o Implemented on the same acres annually
o Stand alone practice
Residue and Tillage Management – No-Till & Strip Till
o Must follow NRCS Practice Standard 329
o One to three-year contract and effective life
o $35/acre/year
o Implementation can occur on different acres within the contract duration or on the same acres consecutively but must be implemented on the same amount or greater acres in years 2 and 3.
o Stand alone practice
Residue and Tillage Management - Conservation Tillage
o Must follow NRCS Practice Standard 345 for Conservation Till
o Three-year contract
o $10/acre/year
o Residue cover following a corn crop at the time of planting the subsequent crop must be 60% or greater
o Residue cover following a soybean crop at the time of planting the subsequent crop must be 30% or greater
o Residue cover following a small grain crop at the time of planting the subsequent crop must be 60% or greater
o Implementation can occur on different acres within the three-year contract or on the same acres consecutively but must be implemented on the same amount or greater acres in years 2 and 3
o Stand alone practice
Pasture and Hay Planting
o Must follow NRCS Practice Standard 512 for Pasture and Hay Planting
o $200/acre one time payment
o One to three year contract and 3 year effective life
o
Stand alone practice
Conservation
Cover
o Must follow NRCS Practice Standard 327
o One to three year contract and 10 year effective life
o Introduced species $200/ac
o Native species $400/acre
o Pollinator species $500/ac.
o Stand-alone practice
Pine SWCD has a No-Till Drill available for rent. If you have any questions or would like to rent the drill, please call Heather at 320-216-4247. The form below is what will need to be filled out. Please stop in at the office to complete this.
Below is a video of how to properly make turns/corners while using the no-till drill. The drill should be raised when making turns or going around corners in the field to prevent increased wear and tear on the equipment.
As the cost of fertilizer remains high, ensuring proper application and amount can be vital for a farmer's bottom line. This article from the University of Minnesota talks about how the 4R's of Nutrient Stewardship can help farmers optimize and manage fertilizer and manure applications for best results:
How 4R Nutrient Stewardship can help Minnesota farmers
Interested in incorporating rye as a cover crop into your rotation? Click the link below to learn more!
Minnesota Ag Water Quality Program:
The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) certifies farmers for managing the land within their operation in a way that protects water quality. Area Certification Specialists assist farmers through the certification process. You can get started by contacting our Ag Technician, Heather Donoho, Carlton SWCD, Ryan Clark, or on the MDA website and we will follow up with you.
After you complete the program application a Certifying Agent will work with you on the assessment process, which includes an online assessment tool and on-farm field verification. Lastly, certification of compliance with existing laws and rules needs to be complete when the certification agreement is signed.
