STATE COST SHARE
Through the State Cost Share Program, landowners or occupiers can request financial and technical assistance from our SWCD office to implement state-approved (as per BWSR guidelines) conservation practices.  This program was originally approved by the Minnesota State Legislature in 1977 and provides up to 75 percent of the total eligible costs of a practice.  Eligible practices include;  grassed waterways, terraces, grade stabilization structures and water and sediment control basins.  If you are in need of assistance contact our SWCD at (507) - 373-5607 for more information.  Remember your project must be approved by the SWCD Board of Supervisors before construction begins.
 

CLEAN WATER LEGACY ACT COST SHARE (see map)
Funds available through the Clean Water Legacy Act in the Cobb River Watershed of Northwestern Freeborn County.  Landowners in this watershed now have a new source of funding for needed conservation practice establishment.  Clean Water Legacy funds are available to cover up to 75% of project costs, not to exceed $20,000 per application.  Examples of projects that would be considered include:  Terraces or Water & Sediment Control Basins;  Grade Stabilization Structures;  Grass Waterways and Diversions.  This is a one time "special" cost share opportunity that made not be offered in the future.  All projects must be completed by June 30th, 2009.
 

REINVEST IN MINNESOTA (RIM) & CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (CREP)
Landowners are paid a percentage to the assessed value of their land to voluntarily enroll it in a conservation easement.  A variety of land types are eligible, including wetland restoration areas, riparian agricultural lands, marginal cropland, pastured hillsides, and sensitive groundwater areas.  After land is enrolled, it is managed under a conservation plan, which generally included items like wetland restoration, native grass plantings and tree plantings.
 

CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM & CONTINUOUS CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP & CCRP)
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program for agricultural landowners. Through CRP, you can receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource conserving covers on eligible farmland.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) makes annual rental payments based on the agriculture rental value of the land, and it provides cost-share assistance for up to 50 percent of the participant's costs in establishing approved conservation practices. Participants enroll in CRP contracts for 10 to 15 years. Contact your local FSA office for more information.  (507) 373-7960
 

CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM (CSP) 
CSP is a voluntary conservation program that supports ongoing stewardship of private agricultural lands by providing payments for maintaining and enhancing natural resources.  CSP identifies and rewards those farmers and ranchers who are meeting the highest standards of conservation and environmental management on their operations.  In addition, CSP creates powerful incentives for other producers to meet those same standards of conservation performance.  In short, CSP rewards the best and motivates the rest.  Through these rewards and incentives, CSP builds a foundation of natural resource conservation that will provide benefits to the public for generations to come.
 

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP)
The EQIP program continues to fund many needed conservation practices for farm owners and operators in Freeborn County. EQIP is a voluntary conservation program which supports needs of agriculture and environmental concerns through financial incentives and cost share payments. Another big benefit of EQIP is that all technical planning and engineering is completed by NRCS and our SWCD partners. This technical assistance provides the planning, survey, engineering design, design layout, and engineering oversight. Projects may take 10 to over 200 hours which with a conservative estimate would cost the landowner $500 to $10,000. Many projects would not get done if the landowner had to pay for this service.
   

GRASSLAND RESERVE PROGRAM (GRP)
 More info to come.
 

WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVE PROGRAM (WHIP) 
WHIP is another cost share program which assists landowners through financial and technical planning. The goal is to develop or improve wildlife habitat on private lands. Most projects are in upland landscapes and forested areas.  Funding for our current projects is for timber stand improvement, control of noxious weeds and new grass seeding.
 

WETLAND RESERVE PROGRAM (WRP)
WRP is a voluntary program that offers landowners financial and technical assistance to enroll land into an easement (30 year or permanent) or develop a restoration agreement (10 year-no easement). The goal is to protect, restore or  enhance wetlands for the many environmental benefits which are provided by wetland habitat.  Each option provides planning and technical assistance associated with implementing the plan which generally includes various degrees of engineering for construction of the wetland practices. The easement options also provide a financial settlement based on a land appraisal for the property rights on the easement. The program also covers legal, land survey, and land appraisal cost which can be significant.

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